Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 03:03:02 -0800 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 11 #549 - 1 msg X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Subscribed-Address: kma@martialartsresource.com List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. 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Copyright 1994-2004: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. 1800 members. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Today's Topics: 1. Sword Arts and MARTIAL Arts (mdealba@pacbell.net) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "mdealba@pacbell.net" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:49:05 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Sword Arts and MARTIAL Arts Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Greetings Mr. Boyd, Ouch, ouch......With all due respect Sir, it really pains my ears to hear some of the comments that you just made. Only because I've heard them so many times before from other people as well. Now, I believe that I understand where you were trying to go with this, but I couldn't disagree more with how it came out. (or at least how I interpeted it). There are a couple of points that need to be clarified and elaborated on here. I'll get to the orginal subject of this post (sword/weapon arts = self defense), but first let me say that the martial arts are many things to many people. We all have our own reasons for starting and staying with them. Weather they be for self defense, health, fun, etc. BUT, MARTIAL Arts ARE originally intended for self defense. PERIOD. Weather they be weapon or non-weapon arts, they were born as fighting methods. Some more sophisitacted than others, but non the less, the name says it all: MARTIAL ARTS (ie: Arts of War, Military Arts, Fighting Arts, etc.). NOT, martial Activity, martial Sport, martial Endeavor, etc. Although they certainly can be all the above. But, Moo Sul, Jitsu. Wu Shu (Or Moo Do, or other Do's...etc..) are all the forms of MARTIAL Art, or MARTIAL Way. Now, they can certainly be construed as martial ART, in which case the practicioner is obviously not in it neccesarrily for self defense or fighting. And that's all good. But that is not the original intent. I see the apples and oranges comparison, but one does not do baseball to improve ones ability to hit a ball in the sence of say...golf. They are distinct. If one wants to get in shape, or get involved in a fun social activity, we can join a health club, yoga, church, etc. There are many avenues, but if one wants to learn to defend oneself, we choose some sort of Martial Art. That is what they are for. As I said, can they mean other things non-self defense oriented to certain people. Sure, and that's great. There are many positive attributes that come from training in a martial art. But let's not deminish the main reason that they exsist. SELF DEFENSE. As for the question of the practice of the sword equate to self defense. Absolutely. Self defense is 99% mental (and attitude). The technical aspects are ultimately secondary. I can think of few training methods that develop Focus, Timing, Distancing, Footwork, Respect of the Attacker, Respect for the weapon, Respect of Oneself, Becoming "One with Oneself", etc. such as serious training with the sword. One small mistake can prove disasterous to both the practicioner, as well as any partner they might have. On the technical side, there are soo many universal concepts that come from the practice of weapons that translate to both common weapons as well as empty hand skills. I could really go on and on, but I'll stop, and once again let me say that I mean no disrespect to your comments, that were obviously from the heart. I believe that I understand that you may have been trying to say what this sword training means to you. And you are quite right. As I said in the beginning, the martial arts are many things to so many people of all walks of life. That is thier beauty. In the end as practicioners, we and those around us are the ones who benefit. But we must remember that these are very serious arts passed on to us from many, many year ago, preserved by blood, sweat and tears, and if used wrong, they can cause grave harm. But, if used correctly, they will enhance our lives like very few things are capable of. With respect and brotherhood, Grand Master De Alba -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang http://the-dojang.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/the_dojang Copyright 1994-2004: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of The_Dojang Digest