Does martial arts training make us better people?

[Jonathan Anderson]

ftp.pwp.att.net/w/a/wabokujujitsu/articles/psychsoc.htm

I would like for everyone to look over this article, and to know everyone's thoughts. It addresses the idea as to whether or not martial arts training actually conveys the personal and/or spiritual benefits that are customarily associated, such as reduced/controlled aggression levels, better self-esteem, self-confidence, improved focus and inter-personal skills, etc, as compared to other, more truly sport-oriented activities; such as rugby, walking, jogging, badminton, etc. It also suggests that the training methods that are used may effect these things - traditional vs. modern training ideas. Further, it suggests that the attitude/example of the instructor themselves has a direct bearing on the attitudes of the students.

I'd really like to hear/read everyone's thoughts and opinions regarding this concept, as it resonates with me personally, and I think it may generate some good, thought-provoking conversation. I have my own opinions on the subject, which I will share, but not until after a few of you give your thoughts.

[sk8ter10121]

It raises some good points and I both agree and disagree with what it said, First, I agree that study of martial arts does lead to higher self-esteem, this I can attest to first hand over the last year. Second, I would have to say aggression varies on a lot of things, the persons background, what ways the dedicate themselves to what they are doing, etc. The lead by example concept that is presented I view as only partial, yes each of us weather or not we know it learn something from our sempai each and every time we meet. However, I also feel that this to a point only gets applied in a small way in our daily routines, starting small at first and gradually building upon itself as the interactions continue. Now when it comes to the matter of stress I feel as though that would differ based on the person. I personally stress during our practices because I guess in a small way I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I have been in essence "brainwashed" to win, although this has decreased the longer I practice. Look at that you got me to type something of a tangent =D.

[Jonathan Anderson]

I'm glad to hear that you feel that your self-esteem has improved. If you're agreeable, I'd like you to elaborate a little bit on what you may have noticed as being different in yourself and your life - not too detailed or anything, and as I mentioned, if you don't mind. The effects of aggression can be a bit complicated, but then, so can everything being mentioned in the article. The writer himself even implies that none of these concepts are black-and-white. Kendo, by its very nature, increases aggression. I'm sure you got a feel for that last weekend - in a way you hadn't so far, anyway. ;D In fact, I'd be surprised if you haven't also noticed a change in your own aggressiveness. The question to me is, is this aspect of Kendo, the increasing of aggression, good or bad? Aggressive behavior isn't, by itself, positive or negative; it's where the behavior is focused, and how it is used. For instance, bullies are obviously aggressive, but it's the direction they focus that energy - toward the (to their own view, anyway) small and weak - that is negative. The aggressive energy, if directed toward learning, a career, a hobby, a positive relationship, etc. would, in my opinion, then present a positive result. By the same token, too much aggressive energy, even applied to what most would consider a "good" area, may still result in an overall negative outcome. Consider the people that have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If, for instance, their OCD drives them to excel in their career, and accept nothing less than perfection, they may well alienate every other person in their lives even as their career flourishes. For a darker example, video game playing, despite what some media hounds would have people believe, is a fairly innocuous hobby. Yet there are cases of people playing some long-running, mostly MMORPG, games to the point that they have died because they ignored the little things, like water, eating, sleeping, going to the restroom, for days. This, I would say, is certainly aggressive behavior; and while I've been known to get aggressive about a video game, I keep it in moderation. This is the key question to me: if Kendo, and the martial arts as a whole for that matter, generate increased aggression, do they also teach the proper focus for that aggression? Do we learn, not only to BE more aggressive, but where/how to direct that aggressive energy to be, not destructive, but beneficial to ourselves, and to our society? On the other hand, we have Iaido, which certainly teaches its own variety of aggression, but also an immense measure of calm as well. What outcome do the two arts have with regard to aggressive behavior? Does the meditative aspect of Iaido temper, clash with, or moderate the more raw, explosive aggression found in Kendo?

With regard to example set by the sempai, I can't very well speak to that too much, as, in the words of Sir Alec Guinness, "He's me." What I can say is that I very much hope that the example I set is a positive one for everyone. Further, the influence of example is not a one-way street. My Tae Kwon Do instructor used to say that he learned more from his students than his students could possibly learn from him. Being in the company of such excellent kohai, I must say that I constantly reflect on the wisdom his words hold. What I'd like to add to that is, what effect does everyone think your fellow students have on you? Do you feel that you learn by example from not only myself, but from the students to either side of you?

The effects of stress are certainly important to be aware of, but like aggression, stress can be positive or negative. No one can deny, particularly given the events of the past few years, that economic hardship creates stress. Just like aggression, however, the stress is not, in and of itself, a bad thing - bear with me on this one. Stress is a natural part of life. It is what drives us to do anything. When you first wake up in the morning, be it from a buzzing alarm clock, or because of sunlight, your body recognizes a type of stress, and reacts to it by waking up. If those stressors did not exist, you (theoretically) would never wake up. When you feel hunger, that is your body feeling stress due to the need for nourishment, and triggering your brain to find something to eat. In these situations, we respond to stress by doing something positive to relieve it, so just as with aggression, it's the focus of the energy created by stress that determines if it creates a positive or negative outcome. With regard to financial woes, what does one do in reaction to stresses created by economic difficulties? In some examples, we have businesspeople jumping out of their office windows - clearly the poorest choice possible, and the worst outcome one can imagine. Clearly these are negative results of stress, but can the exact same stressor create a positive outcome? Is a person destined to give in to despair as a result of events, or could they take the stress, just like feeling thirst, as a sign to take action to make the situation better? You refer to feeling stress in class due to being a perfectionist. There is nothing wrong with that, in and of itself. Wanting to improve oneself, I would view, as the most basic effect of stress - it drives us to better things. This too could become a negative if it is allowed to go to extremes. For instance, if you were to reach a point that you felt that you could never live up to what you see as perfection, or that the pursuit of that perfection had long since smothered the enjoyment you derived from training. This, I would define as the result of a positive stressor generating a negative outcome. What my question with regard to this topic, as viewed from the original discussion (tangent indeed), is: Do Kendo and Iaido, and the martial arts in general, equip us to constructively deal with all the various stresses we encounter on a daily basis? Particularly, do the Arts give us tools to deal with those stresses that we either cannot obtain otherwise, or cannot gain as easily via other means?

Other thoughts, everyone?




[glow=green,7,300]By the way, THAT is how to do a tangent![/glow] ;D ;D