The Martial Way
Lurking beneath the surface of the martial arts is a rich tradition of virtue and ethical living. It is a confluence of many divergent and seemingly incompatible ideologies - the classical warrior ethos, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. These philosophies are bound by a single common thread: that a life worth living is one that is focused on self-cultivation through righteous conduct. Martial arts practice is the vehicle in which this self-cultivation can be realized.
The ethical frameworks of the Martial Way were originally the exclusive domain of people who were born into the warrior classes at birth. Their social position granted them certain social privileges and power (especially military power) that made them dangerous, and thus in great need of moral grounding. Therefore, virtually every classical warrior culture is imbued with an emphasis on virtuous conduct.
Traditional martial arts eventually became obsolete as methods of warfare, and so they transitioned toward self-defense and personal development. With this, the warrior ethos further merged with other moral philosophies to become the Martial Way of today. These systems of virtue, having once been the sole domain of the professional warfighter, became available to everyone. What had once been only a birthright had become a calling for anyone with the fortitude to pursue it.
The Martial Way is often convoluted with the trite “Way of the Warrior” namesake. Pop-culture commonly portrays it as a rigid obsession with physical dominance and “honor” as a matter of saving face. The true Martial Way is nothing like this. The cultivation of high character is the ultimate aspiration of the Martial Way. Martial arts training is vigorous and helps develop the physical and emotional strength often required for righteous action. This conception goes both ways – the destructive power realized through the martial arts requires great care, and so there is an imperative for martial artists to be wield ethical restraint.
What is the Martial Way? Simply put, it is a way of living derived from the virtues found in traditional warrior cultures and the classical martial arts. It is a lifestyle dedicated to personal excellence, restraint, discipline, responsibility, and indeed proficiency in self-defense combat skills. Adherents to the Martial Way are focused on internal, character-building pursuits. They seek perfection of character and use the martial arts as a methodology to get there. The Martial Way is not a sporadic exercise nor singular moment of reflection—it is a way of life that guides a never-ending pursuit of high character, professionalism, and personal excellence.
The Martial Way is a lifestyle, but not one that you are born into or imposed on. To live it is a deliberate choice – an expressed yearning for a powerful life of meaning and agency. To live the Martial Way is to make a commitment to personal excellence and righteous conduct. As it is discovered and expressed through diligent martial arts study, it is a lifestyle that is neither an easy nor quick. In fact, it is not so much an attainable goal as it is an ongoing process of self-improvement. The Martial Way is endlessly enriching and rewarding, but only for those who willing make the commitment to themselves. It is a declaration. It is an avenue to become the best version of yourself.