The Ethics of martial arts

I grew up in a... Wait let me start that over again... I got beat up, then I learned how to beat people up when I was a kid; up to when I was an adult... Yeah, that sounds right...

I didn't grow up learning the secret fighting arts from some old wise man that lived alone in some zen-Tao-Buda shed in the back of some forien/American restaurant.

I had many teachers/senseis/sempis/masters/instructors/friends/whatever else they call themselves these days in many different places that taught me almost eveything you can learn on how to "hurt" another person. Or beat the shit out of a bag of sawdust.

Most of them taught and subscribed to respect and honor. When I realized what it meant to show honor and respect to my fellow human being, I began to realize that the "majority" of what I was learning was the exsact opposite of honor that I was suppsedly being taught. Really, how do u show respect and honor by smashing someones face in really effectivly? Really? Even if u are being attacked. A finger to an eye, a knee to the groin, yadda yadda,.. Fine... Not 3 pulls, a head butt, 4 systematic strikes and a finishing blow.

Regretably this came to light in my mind when I was competing and realized that if I had not pulled my strike at the last second becouse I wasn't really paying attention, I could have possibly killed my opponent. All of it had become second nature.

So, I guess I now subscribe to 1 view of violence. Just don't get hit. That's it.

It is entertaining actually to watch someone try their hardest to hurt you and fail over and over becouse all u r doing is dodging, blocking and moving out of the way... Even better, when u are just smiling the whole time. They eventually give up... Eventully. I wouldn't last long anyway since I don't train anymore and spend most my time behind a desk.

A couple quotes come to mind,

"The art of fighting without fighting" -Bruce Lee

"So, when punch comes. You not be there." - Mr. Miaggi

"When it's time to get hurt, let them hurt themselves" - Jo Fuin

So... I guess bending like a reed in the wind and moving like you are surrounded by bees is good advice when in a fight. And if you get beat up, atleast it was entertaining to watch...

An image of Cris Farly just popped into my mind.

To sum up this sporatic mess; the only ethical thing a "fighter" should teach you is how to not get into a fight in the first place. Self defence is another subject entirely.

"Everything else is just the LOTRM" - Lui Mourbauker

-- Posted From My iPhone

The bus ride

On any normal day the alarm would go off at 4:30 and I would wall to get to the bus stop by 5:20am. Now on and normal day the bus would arive 5 minutes after.
Let me repeat that... On any normal day.
The facts are these. The snooze button, the inability to get my shoes on, forgetting my computer, the bus arriving very early before I get there, usually while I am walking down the cross street and see it pass by, or I forget to set my alarm the night before. Did I mention when the bus arrives early? Or how about when the bus in an hour late, those days are interesting.

So on an abnormal day this is what happenes. Everything foes as clockwork. I get up, get ready, walk to the bus stop, get on the bus, get to the transit center, catch my transfer bus, get to my work and realize it is a holiday and the office is closed.

Shit... Did I keep my transfere ticket?


-- Posted From My iPhone