Philosophical Origins of the Martial Way
Though the development of the Martial Way started with the traditional warrior ethos, it found full maturity through the integration of additional non-combative philosophies. The most influential of these philosophies are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Unlike many other parts of the world, Asian fighting methods remained in practice long after their utility as methods of warfare waned. These martial arts systems adapted into methods of self-defense, physical fitness, and moral development. Hence, the primary philosophical influences on the martial arts were primarily of Asian origin. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were the dominant ways of thinking through much of the history of the region – principally due to China being the dominant cultural influencer of the continent for many centuries.
Confucianism is perhaps the most overt philosophical influence on the Martial Way. We can see its practice in nearly every traditional martial arts training hall the world over. Ritual is a key practice in Confucianism. From bowing before entering, to class structure, to the etiquette observed in how students are to address one another, Confucian ritual is everywhere. One need not spend too long in a martial arts training hall or dojo to notice the air of seriousness these rituals create.
Ritual and etiquette help develop both discipline and self-control – both important aspects of the Confucian goal of perfection of one's character. This ideal type of person, known as a junzi, is a principal goal for practitioners of Confucianism. This goal is not an endpoint, but an ongoing state of being that is available to anybody who puts in the time and effort. This conception of character building toward an idealized moral character is the essence of the Martial Way.
Buddhism is famous for its strict stances against violence, so it initially comes as a surprise that it is influential on the martial arts and the Martial Ways. To understand this paradox, one must understand a big difference between eastern and western moral thought. In the west, morality is based on absolute moral laws and lifestyles. In the east, there is more emphasis on the proper mindset and intent from which ethical behavior emerges on its own. Hence, where western moral tradition focuses on observing rules, eastern tradition emphasizes cultivation of the mindset. Buddhist practice involves the cultivation of the mind and attitudes – just as is the practice of the Martial Way.
Cynically, most of the Buddhist influence on the martial arts came from its pragmatic value for combat. Warriors often must face imminent death frequently. In civilian life, self-defense situations also involve the possibility of being killed or maimed. Effective fighters are better able to cope with the prospect of their own mortality. Buddhist practice, primarily through meditation, is a highly effective way of coping with death. Buddhism is a philosophical framework wherein impermanence and dying are very much a focus, and so it is a useful mindset to have for warfighters and martial artists alike.
Buddhist practice has another utilitarian use for martial arts – Zen meditation. Zen, or Chan Buddhism uses meditative practices to cultivate a mindset that is focused on action, hyper-awareness, and what is known in modern psychology as the “flow state”. Zen is less concerned with ethical ruminations than it is with immediate, unhindered action and movement. The states of mind that advanced Zen meditation cultivates is perfect for fighting – it fosters fast reaction time and decisive action in critical situations. This is why Zen meditation was and continues to be practiced by martial artists today.
The final philosophical influence on the Martial Way is Taoism. With such an ubiquity in eastern thought, it is natural that Taoism would influence the martial arts and thus the Martial Way. Just about every “internal” system of martial arts is a direct manifestation of Taoist concepts. Like the Martial Way, Taoism is focused on self-cultivation. Practitioners seek to harmonize themselves with the ultimate way of nature. In fighting techniques, martial artists seek to make them effortless and second nature. They are seeking to harmonize their bodies with the proper way of performing these techniques so that it is effortless. Taoism is also the basis for why so many martial arts systems have the suffix “-do” in their names, such as karate-do, tae kwon do, kendo, and jeet kune do. “-Do” means “way” and indicates the intention of the martial arts system. In these cases, it denotes cultivation of the self in accordance with the proper “way” of the system and philosophy. So too, is the Martial Way a path toward moral cultivation.
The Martial Way itself is a philosophy all its own. It emphasizes personal strength, restraint, right conduct, compassion, and justice as expressed through martial arts practice. The Warrior Ethos, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all contributing philosophies to the Martial Way. These philosophies are not whole cloth integrated into the Martial Way. They integrate only aspects that complement the overall goal of moral character development that the Martial Way serves. It is an amalgamation of ideas that comprise the greater whole of the Martial Ways. The Martial Way is not a Buddhist, Taoist, or Confucian philosophy – it is a separate philosophy of living that stemmed from these traditions.
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.