“If we look at the world we see arts for sale. Men use equipment to sell their own selves. As if with the nut and the flower, the nut has become less than the flower. In this kind of Way of strategy, both those teaching and those learning the way are concerned with colouring and showing off their technique, trying to hasten the bloom of the flower. They speak of “This Dojo” and “That Dojo”. They are looking for profit.”
-The Book of Five Rings
I have always found this quote of Musashi’s to be a timeless critique of martial arts schools and instructors who get so “off the path” into the “art” side of things that they forget what the whole point is. The “Nut has become less than the Flower” translates into “The Go has become less than the Show”.
Give this passage a little thought and compare it to things you have seen in the martial arts world.
January 9, 2009 at 2:11 am
I know where you’re coming from. After many years of coaching and training in martial arts, and having a forced break, only to go back and be dismally heartbroken by the lack of quality martial arts is too much to bear. Once you experience quality and integrity, you can’t settle for anything less. And here in Australia, true martial arts schools are difficult to find. Bad technique…lack of integrity…no respect…no awareness…it’s very sad. Luckily, there is one Sifu I’ve known who has all the qualities of a true martial artist and has the skills, experience, knowledge and technique to carry me through until I die.
January 10, 2009 at 2:04 am
MM’s comment is fitting to our time as well since MM grew his following during a time of relative peace, so fencing schools/martial arts schools were really more a matter of fashion and ticket punching than battle prep…
This is parallel, IMO, to the ‘fashion’ of martial arts practice as a recreational activity in our time.
How many times do we see “Combat proven” systems being headed by those who’ve never even touched the chance to be in ‘combat’ beyond tournament…