The Body - Mind - Spirit Connection of Martial Arts

The martial arts world has changed so very much since I was in my youth and began the journey. Now this is only opinion, based on what I think. That does not mean I am right or this is true. My ego is not big enough to assume I am right.

Today the focus seems to be on the BODY. I look at some of the amazing physical feats people can perform. I think this may have been part of the natural evolution. And self improvement requires great disciple. So these acrobatic feats, feats of strength and endurance etc are impressive.

But training beyond this seems to not exist. Why do I think this? Because many have said this to me. Looking to see if I see it too.

Kyusho Jitsu has been maligned for years. Actually I think it is a personal attack on George Dillman more then Kyusho. But again I could be dead wrong. But one reason I see is that Kyusho is not a physical pursuit and people think it should be. It is a study of the mind. And honestly not everyone can do it. And today that statement will get me attacked. But it would not be the first time. The issue however is that when someone does not realize that Kyusho is an intellectual entity, then they tend to just mock what they think they see. This is also goes hand in hand when we only focus on physical training and not mental training, expanding the mind. Our minds close and we become very opinionated.

The big issue with this focus on intense physical training is it is not sustainable! No matter what you feel about that. The body wears out, especially when you use it hard and without rest. When we are young we never believe we will one day we will be old. That the body will falter and betray us. But time has no mercy.

Sometimes I wish I could grab the younger generation of martial artist and shake them. Tell them "your training is not even close to being finished." Tell them to stop mocking what they are not mature enough to understand. But I know they will not hear me!

Many things have been kept from us by the masters of old. I have been lucky to have had people who wish to share these knowledge's with me. Things like Kyusho Jitsu and Octagon Theory. Without this kind of information there cannot be a connection from the body to mind and then the spirit. And that is the ultimate goal. If the mind is not properly exercised, then you only have the body-mind connection. And this connection is reserved only for muscle memory type of improvement.

What other issues come from this incomplete training? Loss of mental focus, inability to control emotions, and tendency to fall for extreme views. Education today has become indoctrination in a viewpoint, with nothing of substance there.

Bruce Lee's quote "all knowledge is self knowledge." echoes in my mind. This is one of the greatest truths ever spoken. And martial arts needs to refocus on the Body - Mind - Spirit of training. Change its direction to what matters in life. Hopefully this will happen in time. Martial Arts training came from Buddhism, and the quest for self knowledge. Not on egotism, barbarianism and extreme views.

It is about the balance of the body, the mind and the spirit. But the path has no destination. It is the journey that matters.