The Mysticism of Martial Arts

Henry’s Corner September 2011 (2)  

THE MYSTICISM OF MARTIAL ARTS?

Dear Friends , 

As practitioners of Taekwon-Do, especially those who are black belts, have you ever stopped and given thought to the reaction you often get when you reveal that you are an exponent of this art? Besides the interest and admiration you might engender, the uninitiated implicitly senses that you are engaged in something more than a physical discipline. Many people harbour inklings that there is a mystical element to martial arts including Taekwon-Do. What are we to make of this?

I presume a lot of you would have seen martial arts films, popularly known as Kung Fu flicks, where the actors perform fantastic feats that defy the laws of physics and the boundaries of human endurance and strength. People receiving countless blows to their heads and body but continuing to fight like they have been merely bashed with a pillow, actors moving as if there was an absence of gravity and eliminating scores of opponents as if they were swatting flies are some of the familiar scenes.  

Not only are these films poor entertainment but they do a disservice and trivialise what is meant to be a serious discipline. To be fair there have been some productions which have aspired to impart higher morals to the audience but most of them have had wanton violence as their main ingredient when gratuitous violence is the very antithesis of the spirit of martial arts. Look at our third, fourth and fifth Student Oath. “I shall never misuse Taekwon-Do.” “I shall be a champion of freedom and justice.” “I shall build a more peaceful world.” However, it is not the mindless violence which violates these principles that I wish to focus on here but the general public’s perception that martial arts is more than a systematized form of self-defence.

Throughout history there has been a myth perpetuated about martial arts being disciplines that possess some formula that allow their practitioners to transcend the limits of normal human ability. Like any other form of systematized physical activity, in martial arts output is a function of input, that is, the level and quality of performance depends on the level of effort and methodology. Speed, power and agility of a martial artist are dependent on the same physiology as any other physical movement. The mental and emotional aspects of martial arts are important factors determining the efficiency and effectiveness of the techniques but this also holds true in any sport.

I had the opportunity to watch a demonstration by the Kung Fu monks from the world famous Shaolin Temple some years ago. They were magnificent athletes with extraordinary skills but nothing they did could be labelled supernatural. They were highly trained, disciplined and skilful but so are other elite athletes.

Then what is it about martial arts and more specifically Taekwon-Do that is qualitatively different to mere sports? In other words, what makes our art transcend the psychology and mechanics of a sport? It is our higher purpose. It is not mysticism, it is our higher values.

I mentioned in one of my previous contributions that there are two objectives to boxing. Firstly, it is to knock out your opponent and secondly, to make money in the process. Acquiring a sound body and a sound mind is an objective of any sport but that is where it ends apart from the potential financial benefits of being a professional. However, Taekwon-Do is supposed to be a way of life with a nobler purpose.

There is a recurring theme which underlies the tenets and oath of Taekwon-Do. I suggest it is humanity. This is a quality, whose absence would forbid us from pursuing the higher goals of Taekwon-Do. Even the tenets of perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit which ostensibly concern the self, in fact, ultimately allow us to serve others better. Hence the accomplished Taekwon-Do practitioner is one who shows humility. He or she is not ego-centric and is humbled by the realization that the more knowledge we acquire the greater our understanding of how little we actually know.

Taekwon-Do is not a mystical art per se. It transcends the realm of sport through its core values which ultimately aim to create a better world.

Noble in motive and fluid in motion!