The Martial Way and the Crisis in Modern Masculinity
A New Zeitgeist
The social shifts that began after World War II accelerated anew in the new millennium, as the West (and much of the rest of the world) continued its transition into an increasingly egalitarian society. The old ways – where only a specific subset of men enjoyed the full range of human and civil rights - have been rapidly disappearing. More people believed that such rights applied to everybody. With these changes in attitude, women, ethnic minorities, religious minorities, and sexual minorities began to occupy more roles of influence rightly and openly in society. These changes in cultural sentiment brought on a reexamination of many aspects of the cultural zeitgeist. Among these was the concept of masculinity and what it meant to be a man in modern times. Masculine conceptions like dominance, solemnity, aggression, and entitlement were being openly challenged – perhaps for the first time in the modern era.
In many cases, this cultural reexamination of masculinity was part of a necessary step towards a more equal and ethical society. Wayward dominance and wanton aggression have no place in a modern civilized culture. Unfortunately, the good aspects of masculinity were being attacked and discarded as well - the baby was being thrown out with the proverbial bathwater. Some people conflated the concept of toxic masculinity into a catch-all term for every aspect of manhood. Even today, this messaging has taken over much of the discourse on masculinity. The result is an inconsistent mishmash and disjointed consensus on what healthy masculinity is – or if it even exists in the first place. Additionally, long-overdue reckonings that came about in movements such as #metoo added to the disruption of modern masculinity.
This unfortunately also set the stage for the dangerous and deadly backsteps masculinity has taken in recent years, as many men pushed back against what they see as an effort to “erase” them. The forces of social progress that elevated women, ethnic and sexual minorities were seen as a deliberate attacks. Consequently, this backlash sought to double-down and reinforce the “toxic” type of masculinity that was being challenged. This movement was motivated not so much to preserve a historical ideal of masculinity as it was to counter the perceived “enemy” of manliness. The consequences have been dire and have set masculinity, men, and society at large backward by decades.
The Crisis
“But, my friends, they’re trying to demasculate the young men in this country because they don’t want people who are gonna stand up. And so I’m telling you, all of you moms here, the people who I said were the most vicious in our movement, if you are raising a young man, please raise them to be a monster.”
— Rep. Madison Cawthorn. October 2021
The ascent of Donald Trump to the forefront of American culture was a symptom of the larger crisis in masculinity. His movement was built upon an archetypal strongman – one that exists as a counterpoise to what is viewed as the feminine, weak, yielding, and emasculated state of modern manhood. To counter this supposed emasculation of men, Trump's brand of masculinity is one based upon cruelty and dominance. Even his seemingly endless and wanton immorality is seen as a virtue because “manly” men do whatever they want to whomever they want because they are “strong”. This breed of masculinity is prized by his followers who comprise an unfortunate plurality of American society. An entire generation of boys is being raised with Donald Trump as their role model for what a good man should be like.
This mindset is centered around but a single virtue: strength, which is synonymous with dominance. Consequently, any expression of what is perceived as weakness, softness, femininity, or submission is to be viewed with nothing but contempt. We see this whenever a public figure is attempting to appeal to the Trump base – they jump in not by delivering inspiring speeches or displays of high character, but instead to say or do something incendiary. Cruelty is a part of the appeal because it displays dominance – the only value that matters.
One way this elevation of perceived “strength” above all else is demonstrated is through utter contempt for anything regarded as feminine or weak. This is part of why this flavor of masculinity has taken particularly strong roots in white supremacist, alt-right, and other fascist movements. Egalitarianism, tolerance, environmentalism, women’s rights, LGBT rights and other such social ideologies are seen as expressions of unmanly frailty. That these movements are often centered on group cooperation rather than strict “rugged” individualism just adds to their perception of weakness. On a whole, these social movements and changing cultural values are seen as a coordinated encroachment upon men and masculinity. The more these cultural shifts gain traction, the more of an existential threat to manliness it is perceived.
The dangers of this type of masculinity manifest themselves in tragic ways. The 2019 El Paso mass shooting, the Charlottesville incident, and the January 6th Insurrection are just a few examples of this variety of masculine rage in action. This sentiment has led to once-fringe organizations like the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and the Boogaloo Boys to flourish. This movement has also gained traction within the online “Incel” (involuntarily celibate) culture, wherein they direct their loneliness into rage and hatred towards all women.
Less conspicuous are things like the practice of “rolling coal”, where young men rev their pickup trucks to expel diesel exhaust onto cyclists - an activity deemed to be feminine and weak. Even something as simple as wearing a mask in the face of combatting a pandemic is viewed as the parlance of the weak – concern about other people is regarded an act of submission. Ironically, the boys being raised to perpetuate this variety of masculinity being done a great disservice - this type of malignant and cruel masculinity is fast becoming a liability in the workspace, which will greatly impact their employability.
Out With the Old, in With the Better?
Much (but certainly not all) of the modern evolution of masculinity has been a necessary change and provides a net benefit for everyone. The old ways of stoicism and rigidity created unnecessary suffering and hardship for many men. Taboos around men and their inner emotional lives are eroding – doing much to finally address the epidemic of male loneliness and suicide. An egalitarian society reduces much of the pressure for men to perform at unsustainable levels just to get their emotional and social needs met. Fewer cultural constrictions on expected male behavior opens the door to more authentic lives.
However, many of these cultural changes have eroded away certain aspects of masculinity worth preserving – especially for people (regardless of gender identity) who are inclined toward action and assertiveness. This is where the over-correction of masculinity has failed so many men, where toxic masculinity has become conflated with all masculinity. Under this paradigm, even healthy expressions of strength and aggression run the risk of being regarded as dangerous and undesirable. There will always be “soft” men and women, and the ability to express that softness should always be welcomed and cherished. But the needs of “hard” men and women must be respected and nurtured as well. By failing to offer an ethical and constructive framework for action-based “hard” masculinity, the void will be filled by the truly toxic variety described earlier. Men (and women) of this type naturally foster a spark for assertive action that can be harnessed for creating great works and deeds. At its best, this masculinity is an aggressive expression of life.
Right now, there are few healthy options for this type of masculinity to flourish, which leaves most of the open avenues in the hands of the Trumpian variety. Without better options, those yearning for an action-oriented expression of masculinity are at risk. We see this in the proliferation of young men who attach their sense of masculine strength to guns and pickup trucks. In so many cases, these men sport doughy, unconditioned bodies to accompany their arsenals of firearms and vehicles – the “gravy seals” as they are jokingly referred. They dress up in body armor or as cowboys or Vikings. Their masculine power is completely externalized on things that can be bought with money – because that is the quick and easy way to feel strong and powerful. Without these objects, what is left are insecure men with little internal strength or vibrance. It is this externalized sense of power and internalized inadequacy that makes them so dangerous to themselves and the rest of society. There is a better way.
The Martial Way and Masculinity
The Martial Way is the system of virtue and ethics that stem from traditional martial arts practice. Its roots in classical warrior cultures espouse powerful expressions of loyalty, honor, honesty, and courage. The addition of moral precepts adapted from Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism result in the Martial Way being a holistic framework for life. Like any other warrior ethos, the Martial Way is unambiguously and unabashedly masculine. It is an action-oriented and goal-centered approach to life that does not shy away from assertiveness or even aggression. The aggression expressed via the Martial Way is healthy and non-destructive: it is the cultivation and application of an indomitable attitude directed at achieving goals.
Critically, the Martial Way is an avenue toward developing true internal strength. This is because it can only be discovered and expressed through diligent practice of the traditional martial arts. This type of martial arts study requires intense dedication and commitment. It is about as far from being a shortcut as imaginable. Developing martial arts proficiency forges the body and the mind systemically and gradually. The result is a powerful body and a focused mind that can only be achieved by intense effort. These are not easy to attain but are fully integrated into the self – this is far, far removed from the men who attach their masculine strength to guns and trucks. The strength attained through the Martial Way is earned through effort and sweat, not a purchase at a gun store or dealership.
Finally, the Martial Way is a system of ethics and conduct that embraces masculine traits rather than suppresses them. It is a goal-oriented and powerful way of living. Those who live the Martial Way possess a level of personal power and agency that their sedentary peers simply cannot have – regardless of how many firearms or body armor they possess. As the Martial Way instills genuine personal strength within practitioners, it teaches the value of restraint and courtesy. The power granted by the Martial Way is significant, and therefore carries a great moral burden in its expression and usage. Such an understanding of this can only be gained with true inner strength.
The Martial Way for All
Just as modern concepts of masculinity have grown out of older ideas, so too has the Martial Way of today. The roots of the Martial Way come from a time when the warrior ethos was strictly for a class of men from birth. Today, it is a calling open to anyone seeking its unique perspective on life. Just as nobody owns masculinity, nobody owns the Martial Way. That means that, despite its clear masculine outlook on life, the Martial Way is not constrained by who can discover and express it. It transcends ethnicity, sexuality, and gender expression.
This article is written expressly to address the crisis in modern masculinity - primarily in how it affects men. We lie at a critical crossroads as the old, constrained ways of masculine power have become warped into a dangerous force for violence, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism. Many well-meaning men, in their quest to reconcile their nature and identity are at risk of being swept up into this ugly movement. The Martial Way is a healthy and ethical expression of masculinity that is sorely needed in the face of the truly poisonous version that permeates today. It is possible to wield masculine power as a force for good, and the Martial Way is one such avenue.
The Martial Way is a powerful and rewarding way of living derived from the martial arts. To learn more about the history, development, cultivation, and application of the Martial Way, check out my book NOBLE ECHOES: Gifts from the Martial Arts for Modern Life. Available in paperback or Kinde e-book.