The Philosophies of Combat and its necessity in real life

What is a Combat Philosophy?

I think it’s a belief system by which you conduct yourself, being in knowledge of combat.

It is not merely an intellectual exercise, but is a practical application of these principles, that is coupled with discipline in practice.

I practice Kyokushin Karate, and I’m trying to be good at it, and better at it everyday. The founder of Kyokushin Karate, Mas Oyama summed up his entire martial arts philosophy in eleven mottos, known as the Zayu no Mei Juichi Kajo, which are central to the teachings of Kyokushin Karate:

1. The Martial Way begins and ends with courtesy. Therefore, be properly and genuinely courteous at all times.

2. Following the Martial Way is like scaling a cliff — continue upwards without rest. It demands absolute and unfaltering devotion to the task at hand.

3. Strive to seize the initiative in all things, all the time guarding against actions stemming from selfish animosity or thoughtlessness.

4. Even for the Martial Artist, the place of money cannot be ignored. Yet one should be careful never to become attached to it.

5. The Martial Way is centred in posture. Strive to maintain correct posture at all times.

6. The Martial Way begins with one thousand days and is mastered after ten thousand days of training.

7. In the Martial Arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve.

8. The nature and purpose of the Martial Way is universal. All selfish desires should be roasted in the tempering fires of hard training.

9. The Martial Arts begin with a point and end in a circle. Straight lines stem from this principle.

10.The true essence of the Martial Way can only be realized through experience. Knowing this, learn never to fear its demands.

11. Always remember, in the Martial Arts, the rewards of a confident and grateful heart are truly abundant.

Source — http://internationalbudokai.weebly.com/kyokushin--philosophy.html

If you watch UFC or MMA sports, then I have some disagreements and criticisms against the Industry. The problem with the UFC is that it’s got no concept of what being a fighter really is. And I do share this view with a lot of people I know, but there are something’s I have to criticise because I see MMA as an art-form inherently by definition.

Any combat style that draws from other combat styles, is an art because the source of that style itself is an art.

And quite a few martial arts have a code of conduct. One of the rules, that I know personally is, to observe the rules or courtesy.

Yes I do acknowledge that trash talking has its own place in the way the UFC is marketed. But that’s the problem, it does a great disservice to the sources from which MMA itself has come into the foray. I think MMA is a great art-form of fighting in its own right, a mixed bag of techniques, but the way the UFC markets that into a cash cow for the taking, is doing a disservice to the idea of combat itself.

Combat sports are of course a game but then the reality of combat inside the ring or in a real life scenario, is a game of calmness, focus and presence of mind. It has no concept of respect or courtesy to another fighter. You could say it’s a part of the game but I disagree, because there’s got to be a modicum of respect you’re going to have to give each other before beating the shit of each other.

There’s no space for dialogue during a real life, fight or war. Just pure, thought-absent action.

As a man, I speak for men, and I think that a lot of men today, don’t understand the necessity of training in combat, and the necessity of imbibing oneself with the values that come along with training in it, instead of absorbing all the wrong things that we see in movies and the UFC for instance. I have nothing against MMA, just the industries.

And for Men and Women, you MUST train, and lifting weights is not going to cut it, because to know the limits of your body, is a necessity in the modern life of sedentary self-decay and destruction.

We need to know how to fight, and know the importance of self-restraint.