The Way of the Warrior: Morals and Values

The Role of Morals and Values in the Way of the Warrior

I am not sure where this falls into the role of my blog, but it seems to me that if you engage in martial arts, training in the way of the warrior, then there is an inherent obligation to have some kind of code of ethics and sense of morality. There is an expectation, if you will, that you have a sense of honor. How do you define that? Well, that becomes vastly more complicated than most people care to talk about. I think most of us recognize there is a sense of morals and values that we need to follow. How each martial artist articulates that is up to each individual, just like how he or she expresses his or her martial art.  It is a matter of personal experience and personal choice. 

Martial arts has a tradition of a code of conduct, of ethics. I think that has largely been defined by the cultures in Asia, based on our perceptions of how we have consumed martial arts in the west throughout the 20th century. However, if we look at cultures around the world, there are morals and values and expectations attached to warriors of every culture that I can think of. Whether it be ancient Greece, Polynesia, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and the list goes on. If you look at our modern military today there is a code of conduct that is expected by the military establishment. However, in the training of empty hand martial arts, what is the expectation of us? I think it is an interesting idea to explore and this is my attempt to do so here.

The best way for me to open this discussion is how I view it personally as a martial artist. I could do research and write a scholarly article, but I will save that for a later time. I just want to discuss it on a personal level as a martial artist of over 30 years. 

I believe that ever martial artist has an obligation to develop a code of ethics and morals, because we are given a great privilege to study and learn the way of the warrior, of combat. Historically, there are many examples for this also. For me, in my personal experience, I draw from both eastern and western cultures to develop my own sense of ethics and morals. I have been raised Roman catholic and feel I have been taught to look out for those who have less opportunity or have fewer advantages than myself. That is a big part of what drives me. Within martial arts, we are taught to defend what is true and sacred to us, use honor and dignity in conducting ourselves. Just like in our training, I have tried to simplify the rules of my code of conduct. I think there is a lot built in to what I have just stated for myself. For example, if you look out for those that have less opportunity, and you try to carry yourself with dignity and honor, then I think the concept of respect is inherently built in to the value system. Respect is important in martial arts, but I think it expands beyond just the arena of combat and training. Martial arts is a metaphor for life, and I think that experience reflects how we carry our lives as martial artists. 

Our experiences mirror who we are, so the choices we make, in training, in combat, in life, and all the quiet moments in between are important in shaping our character. 

That being said, nobody is perfect. Just like in training, we make mistakes. We must be allowed to learn and grow from our mistakes. Hopefully your character and teachers have guided you well enough to avoid making any big mistakes that cause serious problems. The more we are conscious of what we do, of what is right and wrong, then the better we can grow and become better martial artists and better people each step along the way. For me, personally, every day is a matter of doing the right routine, remembering what I have been taught, reminding myself to make the right choices, and when I feel I am off to slow down and think more about what I am doing.

We operate in a world of shades of grey, not black and white. We have to develop a sense of being able to distinguish different contexts and make real-time decisions that are not always simple. We do this in our training and we must do it in life as well. It is why we not only train the physical part of ourselves, but the mental and spiritual parts of ourselves as well. We are complete people that need development in all aspects of life. It is why I like the martial arts, because it takes into account the whole person, not just part of a person. If you look at the most successful athletes, they have a balance between the physical, mental and spiritual - whether they admit it or not. Mindset, heart, and soul all matter to a person. It is something that we need to understand so we can continue to grow in both our training and in life. 

Honestly, I was just reviewing my blog and the number of views it has so far. It is a small amount. I am not sure who is going to read this, or who it will benefit, but I am hoping my thoughts and knowledge reach someone who can find an interest in them and make use. Knowledge and experience really demand to be shared. I guess, as a teacher, that is what I am trying to do as well. This whole debate about morals and values here, it is important, and I hope it reaches someone who can find use for it. Without morals and values, or even attempts to maintain morals and values, what type of society do we have. They way of the warrior is inherently dedicated to maintaining an ethical way of life. It does not mean everyone is perfect, but they at least care enough to try to do the right thing. 

The Grind

The Problem

    I am a fan of social media and use of social media in many different ways. It is great that we have it and I see influencers trying to get everyone's attention with it. I see the great videos with music telling a story of success or overcoming obstacles. It shows super talented or super fit people in dramatic settings while they look absolutely amazing. It is great advertising and marketing, all the way. However, it is misleading, and deceiving also. 

    The reel I am thinking of shows a young woman who is in phenomenal condition, training with very inspirational and motivating music. After a few challenging exercises, it cuts back to this image of her in amazing condition. There are reels with men just like this as well. They are doing exercises and talk about the amazing results if you just follow a certain plan. It crosses both genders on Instagram and everywhere else on social media. For me, it sends a message that you can achieve something with only minimal effort.

The Truth

    What is real is more like what I spoke about in my last post, where you grind away, trying to achieve a goal, hoping that you can stay healthy and not get demoralized when progress is slow or seemingly invisible. There is no glamor like what you see in the reels and videos and amazing photos posted online.

    My workouts are not very photogenic unless I make an extreme effort to present something that is photo-worthy. It is a process, with a lot of mistakes, combined with a lot of patience and determination. It could be fitness, it could be martial arts, it could be in anything. Every level of success takes a lot of patience and learning from a lot of mistakes.

    I understand that nobody is interested in boring reels or photos, so we need to put on our best face and presentation for everything we post, but the viewer needs to be reminded that progress and success are preceded by a lot of boring repetition and daily discipline that is not very glorious. I think as people who put info out there in public should try to be real, as well as inspirational. 

The Grind Looks Different within Each Age Group

    When looking at social media, try to remember a few things. Among the top of my list is the age of the influencer, especially in fitness and martial arts. Why? Because age makes a difference in the way you present information, consume information, and the way your train. If you are 50 years old or older and you are watching someone do amazing things with his or her body on a reel and that influencer is in their 20s. That may not be a realistic thing to aspire to. Twenty year old bodies are very different from 50 year old bodies, even if the older body is in amazing shape and fitness. The grind of a martial artist in their 20s has the added benefit of quicker recovery. When one is older, you have to train smarter, not longer or with reckless abandon, like so many in their youth are prone to doing. Then you have those who are in-shape and out-of-shape. Those factors affect the realism.

    Whoever you train with, make sure you train with someone with perspective, so there is a high level of realism within your training. It takes time to build skills, fitness, and abilities. They do not appear out of thin air, and it takes a lot of repetition to excel in whatever you do. Age is a factor, as well as everything else. Do not take anything for granted, no matter what age you may be at. Do not take anything for granted even if you are super fit and skilled. Always assume you can get better. Have humility and the perspective of a white belt and you will go far.

    Keep grinding and working. Don't be fooled by social media. Enjoy it if you like. Be inspired if that helps. But keep it all in perspective.

Train hard.

Chronicling My Training for the Next Test

 

The Challenge

    The Challenge is that as a 52 year old martial arts practitioner I am being called upon to do a black belt test in the near future where the test will be anywhere from 2 to 5 hours. Here is the dilemma: the average 52 year old is not usually fighting fit to do a 5 hour event of anything involving physical exercise. One of the last black belt tests administered in my school, from what I understand, went approximately 5 hours. So, that leaves me with a plethora of thoughts running through my head about how to approach this challenge. 

    First, one can be fit, yet not be conditioned to perform in a sport or given event, given their training. There are a lot of people my age who are fit. But, being fit does not constitute near enough training to be able to pull this off. I have a pretty good working knowledge of my art, and my body is familiar with all the moves. But familiarity and average training do not come nearly close enough to the training that is required for what I am about to try to do. 

    I was explaining to a friend of mine that I have to actually try to roll back the clock with my training to bring my body back to a level where I can last for 2 or 3 hours with a high level of intensity. It is like being an elite athlete when performing a test. You can take chances, and you have to be able to perform at a high level. Excellence is demanded, which is fine. It is part of attaining such an honored rank. However, the greater challenge, at this point, is getting a body that has been out of "elite" mode for some time and get myself conditioned to take the punishment that will be coming. There are multiple levels of conditioning that have to be considered, things that I did not even worry about when I tested for 3rd degree brown at 25. I was an active track and field athlete then and had youth on my side. Now I have more experience, but the physical conditioning will need to compensate for my lack of youth. Ugh. It is a challenge.

    I embrace it as a process. I look at it as part of the journey. I try to analyze and plan the training so it can fit my new self. What do I have to do to pull this off? Well, it is a lot. First, my general lifestyle is this: I have a family that I support; I am 52, not 25; I work full time as a teacher and extra hours as an athletics coach; I have no more than a 2 hour window each day to fit in whatever training (mental and physical) that I need to continue making progress towards my goal; and I have general physical aches and conditions that must be monitored in order to safely and effectively training without interruption. It is a lot to handle. Planning is key and discipline is 100% necessary if I am to be successful at this point. 

    I have to be in bed by 9:30 pm, roughly, and I must wake up around 4 am to 5 am each day so I can fit in whatever I need to. It's like when I was back in college and training as a division 2 athlete for track and field. The schedule was different, but the discipline was needed all the same. You can't play around with something like this. I did a quick search on statistics. The answers were somewhat anecdotal, but they help demonstrate a point. I was once reading (with respect to college sports), that less than 5% of high school athletes ever go on to play any level of college sports. In researching about how many people who start a martial art and go on to achieve a black belt the estimated percentage was between 1%-6%. very similar numbers. I guess my point being is this, to achieve this level, you must be prepared and you must be disciplined. The knowledge and the learning of the way of martial arts is a journey that you must find joy in. However, the push to the "top" is not easy. The one thing that has helped me is that I embraced the fact that there is no "end point" in martial arts where you are done. You either embrace the way and the training, or you don't do it. I guess, for me, the intensity has to increase for a time, but the journey is worth it. It is like life. It is changing and evolving, but if you are able to grow with the art, then it becomes easier to understand.

Continuing the Training

    In a continuation of what I started writing from before, I decided to add to my entry. It is August 24, 2023. I continue the journey of training. There are distractions, to be sure, but my path continues to be consistent, which is what I need. This Thursday is a strategic day of rest. The personal trainer in me tells me I need one day off to let myself recover just a bit. The martial artist in me says to push on and ignore any need for rest. I am not sure which is better at this point, considering the goal, but I listen to my body's need for recovery more than the imagined immortal warrior yelling at me to train on, no matter what, even if it hurts or does not make sense. I suppose there is a place for strategy, since Sun Tzu was made famous for his musings on various strategies.

    As a side note, in actuality, earlier this week I was in a fair amount of pain and stiffness from the other day of training and I trained through all of those days. So, if anything, I did push through, but in principle, the body does need to rest in order to recover and push harder. It is a matter of science and common sense at this point in the 21st century.

    However, there is no amount of science and common sense that make training for this any easier mentally. The chore is real. The mental and physical battle with myself is real, because life is full obstacles and this on stands in front of me and requires overcoming. I know, no matter the level of difficulty, it will be a valuable achievement to persevere with. We cannot learn without challenging ourselves. It is in the difficult moments that we learn what we are able to do, because those are moments of learning. In one way or another, it is a moment of learning. Every moment is a moment of learning, but especially when times are difficult. 

    I am partially inspired by our track and field athletes at the world championships. They persist in the most difficult conditions, with the most challenging competitions, and find what they can do. For, in this way and on this journey, I find myself on a similar path. It is not a world championship, but I am testing the limits of my physical ability, and trying to find solutions to obstacles that stand in my way of reaching my goal. I must train daily, and train with a plan, so I can be successful. I must remain undaunted by what I face so I do not fail. In that way, sports and martial arts mirror life. We all must persevere, and we all have challenges, we all must remain vigilant and have a plan to help us find success - however that may look or consist of. It is a mirror for what we face in life. 

September 30, 2023

    More than a month later, I have been able to continue the training. That, in itself, is a major hurdle that I was able to overcome. Working full time as a coach and teacher, it is hard to find time to train, and I was able to do it. It is a process on a road where travel is measured in feet and inches, not miles or kilometers.

    Part of the journey for me is knowing my priorities. First, I must sleep enough, so I can function each day. That is a must. Second, is eat correctly and monitor health. Without those two things, everything can fall apart quickly. Third, understand when I can fit things in. I try to train 3-5 days per week, depending on the home and work schedule. Home and work are not exactly routine schedules every day. Things shift. When things shift, I find having flexibility is the greatest ally. As long as I can keep the 3-5 days per week in of training, I feel that I am on track. Fourth, I recognize my big blocks of time are on weekends, so 2 of the training days come there, that means 1-3 days during the week are trained the same days I work. 

    Martial arts is a lifestyle, and a way of life, so I find where it fits in and make it happen. There is certainly nothing easy about it. There is nothing glamorous about it either. I wake up at 4 am a lot of the time so I can fit in 30-60 minutes of training, before I run off to a crazy day at work. I don't have the luxury of training with my classmates on a regular basis because I live 3 hours away from my instructor's school. Often times it is lonely and cold, or I am stiff and trying to overcome the least efficient hour of the day to train so I can burn in some material in a way that I can become more efficient with it. I fit it in where I can. If I were to make a video, I would try to make it pretty and glamorous and show only the interesting and relevant side of training, but most views who look at social media want music video stuff that lasts about 60 seconds before they move on to the next clip of whatever they find interesting. With any hope, maybe you snag a couple of followers who may or may not come study with you and help you build your list of students or your school. But it is not about that. If you do what you do, make it a part of your life, eventually you find people who recognize what you do as real and worthwhile and they eventually follow along for the ride. That is when you can share your skills and knowledge that you have spent years developing.

    It is what you do in private, in the dark of night or the chill of the morning, that makes the biggest difference. What you do in public or post to social media is entertainment version of what is done. I have a few people who have followed me for years that understand it is a way of life and want that to be something for them. It is for those few people, myself, and my family, and my brothers and sisters I have trained with that I do this. After so many years, there is no way I stop. As I sit here now, I can feel certain aches and stiffness from it just being morning and knowing that I have to go through a process to prepare myself just to train so I can perform my martial arts practice with a certain level of fluency. However, I embrace the process and journey because I recognize it is a way of life. I sensed it was a way of life years ago when I first started. Now I embrace it and make it my own. I want to share it with my friends, family, and the world because I think the study of martial arts is a physical and academic endeavor that can make us all better and I hope to inspire maybe just a few people to do the same, or inspire them and maybe they take a different path, but it is still worth sharing and trying to inspire others. 

Martial Arts and the Aging Warrior

 How Does Our Training Change As We Age?

    As martial artists start to age, or maybe they pick up martial arts late and he or she is contending with the aging process already, it is important to remember that the practice of martial arts, the way of the warrior, is a large part very athletic. For those that practice something more traditional than MMA, there is a philosophical and artistic side to it that can be emphasized more as age catches up with us, but that is almost like cheating ourselves out of what we can do with our art.

    I have been doing martial arts and sports in general my whole life. Martial arts started while I was 18, sports started in elementary school. So, being active is just in my nature. When I was 18, I had this amazingly young and athletic physicality about myself that made martial arts just another athletic endeavor for me at that time. Over the 30+ years I have trained and practiced, I have felt the differences in my body as I go through what I have learned in Kenpo. Now being 52, I have had to seriously re-evaluate my position on how I train. My body is different now. Which, is obvious. 18 and 52 are two very different ages. But how I operate and function is just different. I am definitely trying to reconcile the changes with the training I want to do now. It is a process.

    Fortunately, I have a background in athletics and fitness that has not quit for my whole life. Sports is just part of who I am. I even reinforced it by getting certified as a personal trainer. Now, I look at training as a wholistic, multi-layered process that does not end - it just evolves. 

Warriors and Training

    From ancient times, warriors have been inherently athletic because they were called upon to do incredible physical tasks that warriors have been trained to do since time immemorial. We are athletes. Pure and simple. How we choose train ourselves is our decision, and we come in all shapes and sizes, and the methods may differ, but we are athletes and we should not look at ourselves otherwise. Now, can martial arts be accommodating to anyone who may have some limitations or physical differences? Yes. Absolutely. Part of this journey is finding our best selves and meeting the challenges in front of us. but that does not mean we should train to anything less than our full potential. Therefore the athlete behind every martial artist should be realized.

    This is where the idea of adjusting and accommodating training for the aging process comes in. It is pretty common knowledge, you can't stop training in martial arts and expect to keep your skills. It is necessary to practice all that you learn and know, as well as teach and expand on that knowledge. It is a physical and mental process that requires rigorous time and study. There is no substitute. 

    Unfortunately, in the martial arts world, I often see aging martial artists continue to practice while their physical ability slips away with time and age. Everyone has a choice and I am not in a position to criticize anyone's choices. We all have our own paths to walk, for sure. But for me, what I have learned, is that I have had to employ a larger range of tools in trying to stay "fighting fit". Often times I have to battle nagging injuries that prevent me from doing what I physically want to do. This is where each of our unique training requirements start to really come into play. Everyone of us needs to try to understand what it takes to stand and be effective at the end of the day of training.

    Our training must become as unique as our expression of the Kenpo principles. We all have our own expression of how we do martial arts and how we move. Our training must start to reflect that uniqueness more as we age. It is part of the reason why I have tried to branch off into personal training, as well as martial arts. Sports today have become highly specialized in their training based on the types of moves that they do. Martial arts is no different in that respect. We have specific needs that need to be addressed when combined with specific physical requirements.

Things to Remember

    There are some key points to think about when training in martial arts. I will go over what I think are some of the important things to consider from a personal fitness and training aspect.

1. Mobility

When I was a college athlete we talked some about mobility, but nowhere near what is discussed today. Martial arts was kind of ahead of the times because mobility was considered key the practice. However, the depth and range of mobility exercises out today for athletes to use and consider is mind-boggling. Also, because martial arts can be hard on the joints, it is even more critical to practice mobility exercises to stay injury free. In addition to the fact that as we age we need additional mobility work, a good mobility program is absolutely essential in order to be an effective martial artist.

2. Strength Training

There are a lot of options for this. Each person is going to be unique in what they desire. There are TONS of options. If you want to do something more sport or art specific, programs can be built. If you want to cross train and go more in terms of weights and plyometrics, that can be done too, you would just need more time. If you want a hybrid, there are many choices. It would be best to seek out a martial artist who is also a personal trainer. They will have the most complete skill set to help design a program that can increase the strength related to martial arts practice. 

3 Cardio Training

It is not necessary to really go outside of the art if you do not want to cross-train. I, myself, like to cross-train, so I look for opportunities to do cardio outside of my martial arts practice. There are huge benefits if that is the route you choose. You are more efficient if you choose to do cardio that is sport specific. However, the cardio training that you need to do as you age needs to be monitored carefully and with consideration. As we age, our maximum heart rate level comes down. I have come up to the edge of my limits and not realized it. Wearing a smart watch with health functions helps a lot. It can monitor heart rate, calories burned, and other metrics that can assist with training. Work with a trainer to determine what is the best method to up your cardio training.

4. Injuries Are More Common As We Age

Aging brings about a predisposition to injury. This is one of the main reasons we have to be more mindful of our training. Do not take for granted your health. Take every precaution and work with your trainer or coach or instructor to avoid injuries, because if you are injured you really cannot train. It is a battle, every day. If you do things right, you can still train a lot, but just be aware of what is needed to stay healthy.

5. You Are What You Eat

Food is very important. We are what we eat. Therefore, the nutritious food is really important when we are older. Our bodies cannot recover from junk food like when we were kids. Nutrient dense food is key. I have another blog where I go more into fitness in nutrition. If that is something you are looking for, you can find it here. 

    So, I could go on and on about this subject, but the reality is that as we age, we need to adapt our training. There are many things to consider, and many options to use to adapt with time. The potential for obstacles multiplies as we age, so we must keep up with that by trying to stay one step ahead, if possible. Don't become a victim of aging. Don't let your training suffer because you are changing. Take the steps to adapt your training and lifestyle and continue to be the complete warrior that you want to be. This is what I have dedicated myself to now, as an aging martial artist. Trying to help others train as they progress in age and in life, wherever they may be at in their journey. I enjoy the challenge of doing innovative training. If you have questions about what I have experienced, or want ideas to explore in your training, email me. I am happy to discuss what I know. 

Continue to train hard!!

**Photo: Model: Jesse Brown, Photographer: Gina Navarro-Brown, Editor: Jesse Brown

Being A Complete Warrior

 Contemplation of the Warrior's Path

    I was sitting here trying to imagine what might be useful in this next entry. I realized that a path does not have much meaning unless one can sit down and process what is being done. Over 30 years ago I started on this path of martial arts. While it may not have unfolded as I might have predicted, it is still my path, and one that has taught me a lot. I have appreciation for what I have done and what I have trained in the martial arts, and that the journey is still vibrant and interesting, and there is not shortage of people to learn from and discuss things with. It takes a lot of work, a lot of thinking, to figure out what your path and what your art of training, and of expression, means for each person. It is with this on my mind that I approach today's entry. 

    A person can train and fight as hard as he/she wants, all day and all night, but if  that person does not stop to contemplate the actions, the training, then what progress is made and what lessons are learned? I would say not so much has been learned, not near enough as if time had been taken to think through analyze what has been done. 

    This lesson is always being taught to me, over and over again, when I meet with my sensei. He always says you need to sit down and analyze why things are and how things work. It is the only way you can make progress, real progress, and move forward in a meaningful way. Am I saying if a warrior does not sit down and reflect that makes him or her less of a warrior? No. But that person is only a shadow of the warrior that he or she could be, if time had been taken to stop and contemplate the path that is being walked. 

The Road Not Taken

    A famous poem, by Robert Frost, goes by the same title. It makes me think of this entry about contemplating a warrior's path. What is the value in contemplation? It is a good question to ask and an even better one to think about. What value do we gain if we think about our actions, our knowledge, and the direction we are going? I would argue we would gain quite a lot of valuable insight if more of did this actively.

    If you have not read "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, read it. You can find it here. It is very philosophical and will make you think about what the value of the road less taken can mean. Each person's path is for that person. Sometimes people share part of your path, but your path is your path alone. If we are lucky, we have people who frequently intersect our path and provide us company and guidance. If that path is the one less traveled, then how does that play into our journey? If it is more traveled, how does that provide value and guidance to each person? It is a question that each of us can only answer for ourselves.

An Art of Principles (of Motion)

    Kenpo is an art based on principles of motion that can guide each person on what to do and what not to do. In my art, Kenpo Karate, created by Ed Parker, the idea is not for everyone to do the exact same moves all the time, but to take elements of different moves, ideas, and concepts and express Kenpo that is unique to that person. We share the same principles, but our self expression should be unique. I think the path of a warrior is similar. Warriors share a great deal in common. We have many things we can bond over from one art to another, on discipline to another, but each person's path is unique an expression of what that person needs it to be.

    I would argue there are some base principles that each person should strive for as they seek the way of martial arts. It is up to each person how they pursue this, because we all make our own decisions. I think the path of the warrior needs certain things to be a complete warrior, and a complete person. Obviously there could be a lot of debate about this, but this is just purely my reflection after so many years of training. 

Knowledge

Knowledge is critical in understanding the choices you make. Every practitioner is always learning, no matter how many years of training he or she has been through. Without knowledge, how does one grow? We must be willing to learn new things, and understand that learning is an evolutionary process. If we refuse to evolve, than how can we learn new things?

Reflection

Reflection is necessary because it allows us to process new knowledge. Knowledge without reflection runs the risk of creating problems more than helping someone become better. As  teacher, I have needed to reflect over the years and try to grow with each new year of experience. An important part of that process is reflection. It helps us to understand what we have experienced.

Humility

Humility enables us to be able to reflect and appreciate what we learn. If we become too attached to a certain way of doing things, or a certain set of guidelines because we think that this is the only way, the best way, we lose out on so much knowledge and potential to grow. Humility is the catalyst that allows for growth within each warrior. 

Compassion

Compassion allows for us to apply our knowledge in a way that promotes the world around us in a positive way. Compassion comes from sensitivity. It is not being soft, but it is being aware and being humble at the same time. It gives us an appreciation for others. 

Morals

Our morals are the compass by which we navigate the world and make decisions. Each of us should have a moral compass. With the knowledge that we learn, we have responsibility to watch out for each other and protect that world that is our world. It builds positive character so that we can live in an inclusive world, and not be exclusive in how we live. 

    The path of each warrior is filled with decisions and obstacles, ones that are not easy to navigate and require great strength of character to overcome. It is in our training we find hope that we can do the right thing and make the best of our decisions. Martial arts is a reflection of life, and that path of the warrior is a way of looking at the world that can help us feel connected and responsible to those that we train with, as well as our general community, if we are just willing to stop and process our training means.