Post by GJEC on Feb 4, 2016 9:31:14 GMT -5
Following a few questions online I want to put this out there.
I have the greatest respect for budo and the martial way. My instructors like Kancho Ninomiya and Sensei Nakamura are good people who rightly take pride in Japanese martial arts and the spirit of the samurai.
Having said that, it is a matter of some regret to me when I read or hear of these ways being counted as vastly superior to historic European martial arts.
The UK has a proud martial tradition of its own. No one with an interest in history can overlook actions like Rorkes Drift or the Charge of the Light Brigade without realising martial prowess, courage and skill at arms was universal. Every nation had superb warriors, from Spartans, Roman Legions, Vikings, etc. etc.
So how did we reach the point where UK martial arts are largely ignored? Simple really. While bushido was a celebrated and integral part of Japanese culture, our warriors were largely ignored once the dirty work was done. Returning soldiers were viewed with distrust and I'm sad to say their treatment is not much better today. Far too many live rough or struggle to adjust and as a society we should always question that.
The other aspect is that while martial skills were taught and refined for young people in Japan as preparation for life, apart from Baden Powell's early Scout movement our warriors rarely talked about war, much less passed on the mindset required. As a youngster I knew veterans of both world wars. To a man they didn't mention it. They stood in the cold on November 11th in silent tribute but hoped we would never need those martial skills again.
So I love martial arts but respect our own traditions. Talk of the samurai being the ultimate is, in my opinion, misguided and disrespectful to our own warriors who gave their all for a free society where kids can choose which art to study. I enjoyed and appreciated a lifetime of involvement in Japanese martial arts, with a tinge of regret that I never mastered the hand and a half sword or the quarterstaff.
If you see anywhere that practises these old ways I urge you to pop in. They are kindred spirits.
I have the greatest respect for budo and the martial way. My instructors like Kancho Ninomiya and Sensei Nakamura are good people who rightly take pride in Japanese martial arts and the spirit of the samurai.
Having said that, it is a matter of some regret to me when I read or hear of these ways being counted as vastly superior to historic European martial arts.
The UK has a proud martial tradition of its own. No one with an interest in history can overlook actions like Rorkes Drift or the Charge of the Light Brigade without realising martial prowess, courage and skill at arms was universal. Every nation had superb warriors, from Spartans, Roman Legions, Vikings, etc. etc.
So how did we reach the point where UK martial arts are largely ignored? Simple really. While bushido was a celebrated and integral part of Japanese culture, our warriors were largely ignored once the dirty work was done. Returning soldiers were viewed with distrust and I'm sad to say their treatment is not much better today. Far too many live rough or struggle to adjust and as a society we should always question that.
The other aspect is that while martial skills were taught and refined for young people in Japan as preparation for life, apart from Baden Powell's early Scout movement our warriors rarely talked about war, much less passed on the mindset required. As a youngster I knew veterans of both world wars. To a man they didn't mention it. They stood in the cold on November 11th in silent tribute but hoped we would never need those martial skills again.
So I love martial arts but respect our own traditions. Talk of the samurai being the ultimate is, in my opinion, misguided and disrespectful to our own warriors who gave their all for a free society where kids can choose which art to study. I enjoyed and appreciated a lifetime of involvement in Japanese martial arts, with a tinge of regret that I never mastered the hand and a half sword or the quarterstaff.
If you see anywhere that practises these old ways I urge you to pop in. They are kindred spirits.