Traditional Arts in Today's World

from the March, 2009 issue of Kiai!

Traditional Martial Arts in Today's World

Kyoshi Sarah Ludden, Co-Executive Director and Head Instructor

One day, over a decade ago, I realized that my karate practice and teaching, activities I deeply loved, had in fact become my life’s work, the contribution I am making to society. I had to ask: is this a good thing, a righteous choice? Of what value are martial arts ––a military science from the days of brutal hand to hand combat, swords and horses, bandits and fiefdoms, samurai and zen training—in today’s world? How and when does teaching karate become a progressive force for peace and justice?

I looked to the historical roots of Seido karate for answers.

With the end of the feudal period and the transition to modern democratic life, the Japanese military arts evolved into a physical cultural practice. It was a valiant effort to preserve the sophisticated but antiquated martial skills of the samurai, the vigorous physical and mental training, and the values of bushido— bravery, honor, respect for ancestors and lineage, truthfulness, etiquette, self control and self sacrifice.

The Okinawans developed empty handed fighting systems to resist foreign occupation and to defend their lives, land and honor.

Chinese martial arts history is interwoven with its healing arts; the place to strike the body to injure or kill is a place to stimulate with acupuncture or acupressure to heal. Lethal attacks and effective defense can be seen in the flowing, meditative, health restoring motions of tai chi. As the military use of chuan fa (generic term for Chinese martial practice) became outdated, the personal self-defense and health and fitness function remained, thereby preserving this unique strand of cultural history.

Martial Art Spreads to the United States
Following the US involvement in World War II and later the Korean War, servicemen and women returned home with training in Asian martial arts. Travel to the US from around the world, including Brazil, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and the Philippines produced martial arts schools in immigrant communities, later spreading to other communities. The American martial arts boom began.

Martial arts schools surfaced in countless neighborhoods, people bringing their own perspectives, politics and ambitions to their teaching. Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura, in 1976, created a new style, Seido Karate, the “sincere way.” His goal was to offer karate to the widest range of students, and viewed training primarily as a vehicle to develop character and improve our ability to contribute to society.

Roots in Social Justice Movements
The struggle for racial and sexual equality informed this next generation of martial artists. Violence as a tool of racial discrimination, and violence against women, sexual assault and the repression of women culturally, were politicized. FIGHT BACK! was a revolutionary statement. Women, including Nancy Lanoue, co-director of Thousand Waves, sought training from martial arts teachers, demanding to be taught, systematically extracting the relevant techniques which could be used by a woman to resist an assault.

Some women left their teachers with this rudimentary skill base, connected with other women and collectivized their knowledge to develop the first women’s self-defense curricula and trainings. The National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, now over 33 years old, was created during this time.

Over these last 30 years, we have studied the patterns of violence, the forms of psychological, verbal and physical violence, the scope of violence, from personal to interpersonal, from within the family to international conflict. FIGHT BACK! is a complex notion, demanding disciplined and multi-disciplinary analysis.

Rights and Responsibilities of Self-Defense
Not wanting to perpetuate the cycle of violence and revenge, we have broadened our definition of self-defense to include non-violent conflict resolution skills, boundary setting skills, the ability to de-escalate a tense situation before it escalates into verbal or physical violence, and anger management strategies. We have rights and responsibilities as self-defenders to stand up to injustice and do our part to stop violence. Nancy Lanoue and Marie O’Brien, Director of Violence Prevention Programs at Thousand Waves, have been leaders in this important work nationally.

At Thousand Waves, we ask each karate student who is testing for advanced brown belt, the last rank before black belt, to write an essay explaining how their training is not violent, but is in fact a practice which enhances our ability to move through the world non-violently. Students have cited the development of self-confidence, self-discipline, self-control, compassion, physical conditioning and emotional healing. We practice in a social structure that emphasizes community, respect and responsibility to self and others; meditation enables us to withstand pressure and respond to stress calmly; and we hone fighting skills to respond appropriately to violence.

In sum, we gain the skills and courage to fight back, the skills and courage to NOT fight back, and the personal discipline to choose our response to violence appropriately. This is the purpose of martial arts training in today’s world. These are vital life skills, as important as first aid, CPR, sex and health education, fire drills and financial planning. From feudal Japan to 2009 Chicago…quite a journey—a military science transformed to an art form, a health and fitness regime, a thoroughly modern violence prevention curriculum.

Students Gain Discipline and Courage
At Thousand Waves, children experience the joy of “learning hard things,” and discover that discipline is essential and rewarded, their personal integrity is respected and that they have the responsibility to be peacemakers in the world. Classes give members the opportunity to develop cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, speed, coordination and endurance and offer well earned relief from the pressures of work and family responsibilities—the blood flows, the body sweats, the mind is engaged, and the student leaves spiritually restored.

The training is exhilarating— feeling one’s power on the heavy bag or when breaking a board is life altering. It is the power to accomplish, succeed in life, overcome hardship, heal from abuse, take on life’s challenges and set the bar high.

Teaching Traditional Martial Arts Today
Martial training is facing fear, taking responsibility for our shortcomings and committing to grow and change. As a martial arts teacher I examine the craft of teaching, the methodology of transmitting the specific skills of Seido karate and self-defense, and am confident we are doing a good job in this arena. What is more complicated is deciding what is needed to promote the personal discipline, the reflex training and conditioning of spirit that is needed to “choose appropriately” when confronted with violence. This unique element distinguishes karate from yoga, dance class, and functional fitness training.

We must create an atmosphere that facilitates concentration and focus, inspiring courage to face fear, dedication to push ourselves and not accept excuses for failed effort. Every student has the right to reach their potential so we must challenge each student, and challenge them appropriately. To care as a teacher is to be strict and demanding, to expose students to heights they had not imagined being able to climb, and convincing them they can, if they work hard. To communicate love and gentleness, respect and admiration, and expect the most. And being exemplary students ourselves, training hard, learning and growing, expressing humility and gratitude.

I believe we are on the right path, promoting peace and justice, healing and empowerment. The historical roots of our martial arts provide an edifying foundation and contemporary realities provide focus and direction. I am grateful to be a part of Thousand Waves and play a role in helping the Center fulfill its mission of promoting health and fitness, empowerment and violence prevention and am deeply indebted to the intelligent and brave leadership of Jun Shihan Nancy and Kaicho Nakamura. Osu!