There Comes a Time

As with many of you older martial artists, I trained intensely as a young man, and tested my skills and myself many times. I believe this to be a natural process for anyone wanting to be serious about martial arts. We all want to have knowledge, and we all want to know if this knowledge is correct. Was my teacher correct? Will this really work? Is my mind and will strong enough?
 

The Japanese sword master, Miyamoto Musashi, fought more than 60 life-and-death duels, and lived to old age to write a book of memoirs, The Book of Five Rings. He fought his first duel when he was 13. At 20, he went to the capital to test himself against anyone he could find, and by the age of 30, he described his path in this way. “I practiced fervently morning and night, seeking to grasp the principles of the Way more deeply, and around the age of 50, I came to a natural realization of the Way of Martial Arts.”
 

It has been noted that “martial” in calligraphy is written in two characters, which means, “stop” and “spears.” When we are younger, that means physical spears; physical attacks upon our person by another human being. We are all somewhat obsessed with this, and I am not suggesting that this is wrong. I think this is part of the natural process in the life of a martial artist.
 

During ancient times, these times of testing often resulted in maiming another human being, or even resulted in someone’s death. Fortunately, during the modern times, we can do so more humanely and without endangering the lives of others, because, of course, this cannot be allowed in a civilized society.
 

Therefore, to test ourselves in a more sporting environment in which we seek to defeat, but not to maim or kill, is well within the natural process, and should not be considered only ego gratification. It is an honest seeking for what is true; and it is learning to stop the spears.
 

However, as we grow older and gain more confidence, there are other natural things that should happen. Like Musashi, we should see our egos dim, our self-control developed to a high degree, and we naturally begin to look for some reasons behind the life path we have chosen for ourselves.
 

Eventually in our life as martial artists, we figure out that the “spears” that attack us in life are many, and they aren’t all made of wood and steel. We can face “spears” like health issues, economic problems, lack of focus in life, or even relationship problems with students, friends or family.
 

As martial artists, we recognize that all of these are “spears” that we must “stop.”
 

I believe that this is why older martial artists gravitate to studying the health benefits of martial arts training (such as tai chi or acupuncture), the expression of their creativity in other ways (such as painting, music or writing), and a tendency to spend more time talking to old comrades or students.
 

Young people become impatient with this. (Study Gichin Funakoshi’s experience with his students in Japan.) Some older martial artists become impatient with ego-driven younger adults. Instead of the young being impatient with the older martial artists, and instead of the old forgetting the history of their own path, each should recognize this important truth. If we walk down a path for a full day, then we will notice that the path offers a different view at the end then it did at the beginning; but it is the same path. The path to the Way.
 

In one of my recent conversations with one of my old comrades, Rudy Pavletic from northern Indiana, I said, “I’m not as interested in learning five more ways to kill someone. I would like to learn five new ways to heal them.”