East Asia: Masters

of the
MARTIAL ARTS
 MARTIAL ARTS
• Derived from Latin as “Arts of Mars”the Roman
god of war
• Originally referred to the combat system in Europe in
1550s
• HISTORY: It dates back to the Mesopotamia ‘hand-
in-hand combats
 EAST VS WEST
MARTIAL ARTS
1. Process Oriented vs. Goal Oriented.

In the West, we are hyper focused on goal setting. Nothing wrong with
that. I love smashing goals myself.

But in the East, it’s about the journey. It’s about reaching, not
achieving.
• Meaning – to get a black belt is not nearly as important as being one.
And to win a championship is not nearly as important as being a
champion.
• Get it?

That’s why the Eastern martial arts have the suffix “-do” attached to them
(i.e. Judo, Kendo, Aikido, Karatedo etc.). Do literally means “path”, or “way”.
• But of course, this is not a literal pathway. It’s a spiritual one.
• A constant journey of self-discovery.
• Progression over perfection.
2. Learning by Asking vs. Learning by Doing

In the West, we love asking questions. Often we want the answer before we
even know the question!

• In the East, it’s the total opposite…

Typically, a Western student wants to know “what, why, how” before
attempting an exercise. Otherwise they don’t see a reason for doing it,
because they don’t know the goal (see previous point).

But the Eastern student is encouraged to find the answers by practicing.

• The role of a Sensei is actually not to answer questions, but to aid
self-discovery.
• Again, it goes back to my previous point of being process oriented.
• Learning in the East happens through the act of doing. The kina esthetic
sensation of practicing (versus the intellectual pursuit of questioning)
leads to the answers being physically manifested in the flesh.

A Sensei can literally make you practice the same technique for hours
before you finally “get it”.
• That’s why the technical level is so high in the East.
• Practice pays off.
3. Capitalism vs. Culture
Finally, let’s talk money…

In the East, a dojo is not run like a company. Why? Because martial arts
are part of their cultural identity. It’s a life philosophy.

In the West however, many people offer Karate like any other service
or product.
• They call their students “customers”. They call dojo
visitors “prospects”. They call themselves “CEO”. They don’t award
belts, they sell them. They have binding contracts.
The list goes on…
• I call these places McDojos.

In the East, this concept is strange. That’s why a Sensei usually has
a side job (i.e. taxi driver, cook, janitor, school teacher), because the idea
of monetizing their Karate expertise is unconceivable.
It’s a way of life – not a business.

Reference
https://www.karatebyjesse.com/eastern-western-karate-differences/
Chinese Traditional
KUNG-FU: Harmony and Balance
• 3 Life Goals: compassion, humility and moderation.
• Taoism is about living within nature’s laws and in harmony with the cycle of nature. It is about recognising that
everything is interconnected, that everything you do affects everything else around you. Taoists seek to live in
harmony with the Tao.

In Taoism, Qi (pronounced chee) means air or breath, Qi is considered the basis of life.

“Control of breathing and effective use of Qi to maximise inner strength, physical power, and promote sound mental health”
 AIKIDO: Spirit of the Circle
• Aikido is the realization of Love.
• Reconcile the world and make human beings one family.
The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring
ourselves into accord with the universe itself.
• Circular movement, for harmony is brought about and all conflict resolved through the spirit
of the circle.
• The Budo of Aikido springs from the mastery of the spirit of the circle. The essence if this
Budo is to embrace the complementary action of cause and effect and to draw into yourself
all things as if they were held within the palm of your hand.
• You have a spirit, therefore you must realize that each person has a spirit. When the life
processes are connected with the spirit and the fundamental principle of the circle is given
birth in Aiki, all things are led to completion through the circle. All things are freely created
by the circle. The secret of the circle is to create technique by piercing the very center of
Space.
TAE KWONDO:
5 Commandments of Hwarang
• Courtesy (yeui / 예의, 禮儀)
• Integrity (yeomchi / 염치, 廉恥)
• Perseverance (innae / 인내, 忍耐)
• Self-control (geukgi / 극기, 克己)
• Indomitable spirit (baekjeolbulgul / 백절불굴, 百折不屈)

• Philosophy of Tae Kwon Do seeks to bring students to a level of consciousness known as

“Present Time.”
• This occurs when one is completely in tune with oneself and nature to the degree that ones
actions and reactions are always perfectly coordinated with the forces in life whether that be
in the sparring ring, in a social setting or even when alone.
• Such a person cannot be made upset by anything it encounters in life.
• True masters of Tae Kwon Do are noted for their serene personalities, which stem from their
living in Present Time.
SKIN PORCELAIN WHITE
in EAST ASIA
CHINA
JAPAN
KOREA
TAIWAN
MONGOLIA People believed that the color
of one’s skin was reflective of
their social status – having
pale skin showed that you had
the luxury of being able to relax
indoors instead of working in
the fields.
• Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons
such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental
and spiritual development; and entertainment or the preservation of a nation's intangible
cultural heritage.
• Aikido is the realization of Love.
If you think that ``martial art'' means to have opponents and enemies and to be strong and defeat them, you are mistaken. The true spirit of the martial arts is to be
one with the universe and have no enemies. The essence of the martial arts is the spirit of loving protection of all beings in the universe.
Never defeated means never fighting. This is not mere theory. You practice it. Then you will accept the great power of Oneness with Nature.
As the words for ``harmony'' and ``love'' can be pronounced ai, I decided to name my unique budo (martial art) Aikido, although the word aiki is an old one. The
word which was used by the warriors in the past is fundamentally different from that of mine.
Aiki is not a technique to fight or defeat an enemy. It is the way to reconcile the world and make human beings one family.
The secret of Aikido is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself.
Aikido is non-resistance. As it is non-resistant, it is always victorious. Those who have a warped mind, a mind of discord, have been defeated from the beginning.
There is no conflict in love. A mind of conflict, thinking of the existence of an enemy, is not consistent with the spirit of the universe. Those who do not agree with
this cannot be in harmony with the universe.
Don't look in the opponent's eyes, or your mind will be drawn into his eyes. Don't look at his sword, or you will be slain with his sword. Don't look at him, or your
spirit will be distracted. True budo is the cultivation of attraction with which to draw the whole opponent to you.
A mind to serve for the peace of all human beings in the world is needed in Aikido, and not the mind of one who wishes to be strong or who practices only to
defeat an opponent.
When anybody asks if my Aiki budo principles are taken from religion, I say, ``No.'' My true budo principles enlighten religions and lead them to completion.
I am calm however and whenever I am attacked. I have no attachment to life or death. I leave everything as it is to the spirit of the universe. Be apart from
attachment to life and death and have a mind which leaves everything to that spirit, not only when you are being attacked but also in your daily lives.
The source of Bu is divine love. It is the spirit of love and protection for all things. The training of Budo is the forging in our minds and bodies the power of divine
love, which produces, protects, and nurtures all things in the Universe. The techniques of budo are signposts pointing the way which leads to this.
Aikido is love. You make this great love of the universe your heart, and then you must make your own mission the protection and love of all things. To accomplish
this mission must be the true budo.
Even though our Path is completely different from warrior arts of the past, it is not necessary to abandon the old ways totally. Absorb venerable traditions in Aikido
by clothing them with fresh garments, and build on the classic styles to create better forms.
Our techniques employ four qualities that reflect the nature of our world. Depending on the circumstance, you should be: hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow,
smooth-flowing like water, or as empty as space.
The body should be triangular, the mind circular. The triangular represents the generation of energy and is the most stable physical posture, The circle symbolizes
serenity and perfection, the source of unlimited techniques. The square stands for solidity, the basis for applied control.
A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind. The key to good technique is to keep your hands, feet, and hips straight and centered. If you are
centered, you can move freely. The physical center is your belly; if your mind is set there as well, you are assured of victory in any endeavor.
Do not stare into the eyes of your opponent: he may mesmerize you. Do not fix your gaze on his sword: he may intimidate you. Do not focus on your opponent at
all: he may absorb your energy. The essence of technique is to bring your opponent completely into your sphere. Then you can stand just where you like, in a safe
and unassaiable position.
When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.