Martial Art as a Spiritual Practise (1)

by Marc Kahn

The following paper discusses the martial arts as a form of spiritual practice that concerns itself with the cultivation of a balanced and integrated individual in mind, body and spirit. The traditional Western scientific paradigm does not provide sufficient explanation for certain experiences in the martial arts and does not recognise the higher realms of human potential that are often achieved as a result of such practice, I have therefore situated the martial arts within a paradigm that effectively embraces such experience namely the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism.  

Martial arts have existed since the birth of nature - the tiger stalks the herd and pounces, the swallow senses the danger of the stalking cat and escapes its grasp in flight, the cobra hypnotises, and then with lightning speed strikes. 

These animals' martial arts are the maps of nature, not only is their survival dependent upon it, but the survival of nature itself rests on this central harmonious ecological balance. Their martial art is the very thread through which they live, it dictates what, where and when they eat, how and when they protect themselves and procreate, it is the very map of their consciousness. Humans are no exception.

We have always practised the martial arts and always will. Each time we negotiate a path in the traffic, buy at a shop, have a discussion, play a sport, cook, eat, sleep, dance, prey and make love, we are practising our martial art. Fundamentally, the very struggle and then fusion of sperm and egg is in itself the base chart of martial arts.

True martial arts, as differentiated from the media variety, originate at the very base of our being, and as such are not easily defined. "Rendering its essence into words is like describing the moon to a blind man," (Minick, 1974, p. 1). If for a moment it could be reduced to its least common denominator it would be as the public sees it - a form of self-defense, but while personal combat is indeed a significant segment of the art, martial arts outgrew these narrow confines thousands of years ago (Minick, 1974).

Murphy explains that as much as any transformative practice, true martial arts facilitates a many-sided, integral development of human nature, simultaneously promoting moral sensitivity, athletic abilities, and a degree of unitive awareness. He adds that they are superior to modern sports in their reliance upon spiritual principles, and superior to quiet meditation in their cultivation of stillness in action (Murphy, 1992, p. 448).

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