Living the Martial Way

I have just started a new book which I would highly recommend 'Living the Martial Way' by Forrest E. Morgan. The focus is to help shift your way of thinking of treating your martial art like a hobby which you practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (while you practice bowling on Wednesday evenings instead). Instead, your martial art should become your way of life, you follow the Way of the Warrior where you are practicing your art with each breath you take. He writes about how many martial arts have been eroded in the West, as a sport version has been created to make them more popular and when winning points becomes the focus only the techniques that win the artificial points are studied and the true art is lost. While he acknowledges the physical benefits of training this way, this is not a martial art, this is not the Way of the Warrior.

Morgan was trained in the Japanese arts of Shotokan Karate and Aikedo, so his main understanding comes from the Japanese arts. His greatest inspiration seems to be Funakoshi, perhaps the most famous Karate teacher.

"You must be deadly serious in training. When I say that, I do not mean that you should be reasonably diligent or moderately in earnest. I mean that your opponent must always be present in your mind, whether you sit or stand or walk or raise your arms."
Gichin Funakoshi's first rule for the study of Karate-Do.

This is a contrast to the idea in Kung Fu that we "play" at Kung Fu. I am sure when you look into kung fu at a deeper level then this approach to play may not be so far removed from Funakoshi's rule.

Following the Way of the Warrior means you need to set yourself apart from the rest of the population to some degree, you are exceptional in your pursuit of physical, mental and spiritual excellence. Following warriorship is a powerful way to live, and by upholding a higher degree of honorable and ethical standards these people tend to excel in their careers as well.

Nick
Green stripe sash