Very interesting point hoplite. . . .
"Spirituality entails values that exit independent of the practitioner, and these spiritual values extend beyond the martial arts to influence all aspects of life.
If the practice of a martial art requires training for action contrary to a practitioner’s spiritual values, and the practitioner does not reconcile the contradiction between belief and practice, then the practitioner is compromising their spiritual values.
Also, if a practitioner reconciles a contradiction between their spiritual values and martial practice by reducing the efficacy of their martial art, then the practitioner is compromising their martial ability.
Thus if a style or instructor claims the special importance of spirituality to their martial art, then it is possible their spiritual values or their martial ability has been compromised."
First of all I agree that values exist without the practitioner and do effect all aspects of life as you say. However, I believe spirituality as being the understanding of those values and ethics as well.
So yes. If someone has contradictions between their spirituality and their martial art then this is obviously a bad thing. If your values are contradicting with a martial art then why would you take this art?
Forgive me if I am not quite picking it up(3 hours of sleep in 2 days cause of sickness gets to you)
. But I fail to see the connection between the fact that someone is spiritual MAKING their martial skills deteriorate. Yes, for some this might be true. But does that make an art flawed or less effective?
For instance, someone who happens to be kind in nature. Can they train to build up a "killer instinct"? Maybe, maybe not. Can they make the decision that if someone makes an attemp at their life, as to what they will do(ie in a situatiion where it is kill or be killed)? Think about whether they would be able to live with the consequences of taking a life or if they would be able to even live with taking a life. All very hard questions. But, if you know what you HAVE to do then you will be ahead of most people that find themselves in this situation. If they choose that they couldn't kill the person does that mean that their art failed? No, they did what they needed to do(in fact they preserved another life). Now I am just rambling so I will shut up now. lol
Oh yes, and the other random thought that came to mind when I was reading this was that martial arts aren't all about self defense(reason for the ART in the name). So what is art? I would call it the purest form of human emotion(very closely related to spirituality). Damn it I'm rambling again!!
