| I hope it will challenge, provoke & maybe | | | | its effects. Therefore, we can only know |
| even enlighten. Give it a go. If it does | | | | anything from a human perspective. |
| arouse something in you, please feel free to | | | | |
| drop me a line & let me know what you think. | | | | The meaning of truth was summed up perfectly |
| | | | by a Greek philosopher named Parmenides who |
| The justification for self defence | | | | stated that one should "…view the world |
| | | | with an independent, or true view (that is |
| We all take part in this thing we call | | | | independent of time and position, the |
| martial arts, but at the end of the day, what | | | | accidents & peculiar view point of the |
| is the real point in the activity? What is it | | | | receiver)". This is a much better explanation |
| within man's psyche which seeks to control | | | | than that which the dictionary gives; "that |
| something as harrowing as being attacked by | | | | which is not False…conforming with |
| another? | | | | reality". |
| | | | |
| The martial arts are necessary to mankind, | | | | It stands to reason that in any situation, |
| since every person has a built-in fear of | | | | there will be many different sides, but there |
| attack. This is proved in the very existence | | | | remains only one truth. What happened, |
| of Adrenaline, a Fight or Flight hormone. It | | | | happened - that is the fact & the truth. But |
| is part of a law of self-preservation & | | | | ask any observers & each version will be |
| self-protection. Evolution has built every | | | | slightly different. Thus, the very meaning of |
| creature with this quality, which conforms to | | | | the truth, suggests that an individual truth |
| the natural law. | | | | is impossible - a mere illusion. |
| | | | |
| It is a sad truth that potential harm could | | | | The truth lies in seeing passed the |
| be caused to you by another human being. | | | | "versions"; the perception, to see the |
| There is no manner of protection you can give | | | | totality; the truth. Each martial art is a |
| yourself, but to prepare for the worst. It | | | | version of the truth, a perspective. Tae |
| makes no difference how big or strong you | | | | Kwon-Do teaches that kicks are the answer, |
| are, how intelligent you are, or how fast | | | | Judo demonstrates that throwing is the |
| your reactions. You alone will not be enough | | | | answer; Muay Thai promotes elbow & shins as |
| to defend a gang, & therefore the fear is | | | | the answer. |
| always present. | | | | |
| | | | Terminal simplicity |
| In that famous philosophical & political | | | | |
| text, the Leviathan (1651), Hobbes argued | | | | Lee had the right idea in "taking what is |
| this case most succinctly. He stated that | | | | useful & discarding the rest". With this |
| although some men may be stronger or more | | | | idea, Lee infers that martial arts have |
| intelligent than others in their natural | | | | elements that are useful, but they also have |
| state, none are so strong as to be beyond a | | | | parts that have missed the point. This is |
| fear of violent death. This consequently | | | | true since all martial arts are a "version" |
| justifies self-defence as man's highest | | | | of the truth. In the same way as a police |
| necessity. | | | | officer will ask all the witnesses to build |
| | | | up a true picture of the event, or an |
| This necessity, though slightly pessimistic | | | | historian who will look at all the sources in |
| is at the same time realistic. Even those | | | | context. It is your faculty in discovering |
| with a "Love thy neighbour" philosophy | | | | the truth to identify that which is useful as |
| recognise the natural necessity for | | | | separate from that which is useless. What is |
| self-defence. Evidence even suggests that | | | | useful is universal. This universal will |
| Jesus himself was said to have believed in | | | | appear in many art forms. Be your own police |
| the need for self-defence. In the Gnostic | | | | officer; look at all the arts, take what is |
| gospel[EN-1] of St. Thomas, Jesus tells | | | | useful, it's point of view within context, |
| Thomas; "Fortunate is the man who knows where | | | | compare with others & build a true view of |
| the brigands will enter, so that he may get | | | | the martial arts event by discarding the |
| up, muster his domain, and arm himself before | | | | rest. |
| they invade." | | | | |
| | | | This being said, however, what Lee didn't |
| So the case for self-defence as a necessary | | | | quite reach is the fact that what is useful |
| human endeavour is apparent. It does not | | | | will always be the same. Perhaps this was |
| matter how much money you have, how many | | | | part of his theory which was not fully |
| bodyguards you surround yourself with, the | | | | explored. Why is it that he opted for Boxing |
| fear of being attacked is a | | | | techniques in his JKD? I believe that it is |
| homo-psychological "ball & chain". | | | | because they are natural techniques, which |
| | | | follow a principle of natural simplicity. He |
| The need to critique Lee's works | | | | didn't use "Boxing" techniques, he used |
| | | | techniques which are natural to the human |
| How many people have actually considered | | | | body, which happen to also be in boxing. Why |
| Bruce Lee's ideas & taken them further? Let | | | | did he not use Karate gedan barai? How many |
| us not forget the death of this legend, but | | | | non-martial artists do you see use a Gedan |
| also let us remember that he died whilst many | | | | barai in a pub brawl? Techniques with more |
| of his theories were still evolving. As great | | | | artifice than reality are useless and are |
| as he was, (which I do not disagree with) he | | | | therefore the first methods to be discarded. |
| was a single man who was a part of the | | | | In accordance to the dictionary description, |
| evolution of martial arts as Newton was to | | | | these techniques are not true because they do |
| physics & his ideas were evolving | | | | not have a basis in ordinary reality. |
| continuously. Lee himself stated that: | | | | |
| | | | So why these specific techniques? The Roman |
| "The founder of any branch of Chinese gung fu | | | | philosopher Marcus Aurelius stated that "To a |
| [or any form of martial arts] must be more | | | | reasoning being, an act that accords with |
| ingenious than the common man. If his | | | | nature is an act that accords with reason." |
| achievement is not carried on by his | | | | The explanation as to why nature is a perfect |
| disciples of the same ingenuity, then things | | | | example of reason & structure is too complex |
| will only become formalized and get stuck in | | | | to argue in this article. Nevertheless, |
| a cul-de-sac; whereby breakthrough and | | | | nature has an inert way of being terminally |
| progress will be almost impossible." | | | | simple. It is only our human inability to see |
| | | | the bottom of the iceberg that makes our |
| In other words, Lee has pinpointed the reason | | | | minds consider the world as complex. |
| for crystallization and tradition in the | | | | |
| martial arts (or indeed any subject). The | | | | The secret to mastery of any martial art: |
| fact that truly innovative & ingenious people | | | | Ding An Sich |
| are rare, means that if it is carried on by | | | | |
| people with less ingenuity (not to be | | | | Take your mind away from your body, & what |
| confused with intelligence[EN-2]), through | | | | you have left is an object. Imagine that your |
| the attempt to retain the innovation, the | | | | body is an object like any other. The body is |
| system is taught in a formalised way, lest | | | | a weapon like any inanimate object - it has |
| any secret be lost in digressing. Eventually, | | | | its very own armoury in the form of bones. |
| the system becomes stale & hence | | | | Conversely, the human body has many weak |
| "breakthrough and progress will be almost | | | | points; where nerves converge, where tendons |
| impossible". Lee's concepts were like the | | | | are just beneath the skin & where bones |
| prism to a beam of light. His concepts showed | | | | cannot protect the vital organs well enough |
| the spectrum of colour present in light. But | | | | (the floating ribs for example). This is a |
| he did not invent light. | | | | good argument for the proof of Dim Mak or |
| | | | fabled "Death Touch". |
| We must remember, that as innovative as Lee's | | | | |
| ideas are; they can always be improved upon. | | | | Now if your body is a weapon, consider it |
| The danger lies in when people are satisfied, | | | | "Ding An Sich", or "The thing in itself". |
| or accepting of the ideas & unwilling to | | | | This was a philosophical idea popularised by |
| challenge them [EN-3]. This is the very | | | | a German philosopher named Immanuel Kant (22 |
| reason for martial arts becoming crystallised | | | | April 1724 - 12 February 1804). He argued |
| and traditionalised. When no fluidity & | | | | that because the mind bases it's knowledge of |
| flexibility is present, death commences. | | | | the world around it from the senses, we must |
| | | | recognise that these senses are a purely |
| Your own path to the truth; the secret of | | | | human perception. Therefore, objects exist in |
| ingenuity | | | | & of themselves & do not need someone to |
| | | | perceive it in order for it to exist [EN-6]. |
| "Seek not to follow in the footsteps of great | | | | This means that we should consider the weapon |
| people; but seek that which they themselves | | | | in itself - take the hand for example. |
| had sought" | | | | |
| | | | The most powerful parts are the knuckles, the |
| -My philosophy | | | | palm & the base (when clenched). The |
| | | | application of these areas to the open |
| There are many different paths which will | | | | targets of the opponent creates a phenomenon |
| lead to enlightenment. However, mastery can | | | | more commonly known as a "technique". I argue |
| extend from understanding the path which | | | | that many martial arts teach techniques |
| so-called "Enlightened ones" have taken. The | | | | without looking at their elemental purpose. |
| secret is not to assume it's impossible | | | | If the body's weapons were considered Ding An |
| because you find it hard. But to recognise | | | | Sich, alongside the target of application or |
| that if it's humanly possible, you can do it | | | | it's point of convergence, then the |
| too [EN-4]. Basic psychology tells us that in | | | | techniques will happen naturally. |
| most situations, under the same stresses, | | | | |
| people act & react in much the same way. | | | | If we take these possible techniques as the |
| Therefore, given the same impetus as Lee had, | | | | parameters of fighting we can begin to |
| taking the same course of study & reading the | | | | construct the truth in combat. Parameters & |
| same books as Lee, you will come to realise | | | | elements are present in every subject. Music, |
| that which Lee realised. For that reason, my | | | | for example, is based upon the same notes. |
| philosophy is not to blindly follow Lee's | | | | Any kind of music, from classical to Punk |
| method, but to study that which he himself | | | | rock uses the same basic notes. With this in |
| had sought. Furthermore, this resonates in | | | | mind, all humans have two arms & two legs, |
| the understanding of anything. I read that | | | | which means that all movements possible are |
| which Aristotle read, so that I may come to | | | | limited to the range of motion possible with |
| the same conclusions as Aristotle. Given the | | | | these limbs. |
| same impetus, most people will come to the | | | | |
| same conclusions. Everything in the world | | | | Once you have identified which parts of the |
| manifests itself. | | | | body are best used as weapons, we must also |
| | | | consider the targets on the human body in |
| The secret of realising the so-called secrets | | | | which these can be applied. |
| of martial arts is to look at what is in your | | | | |
| sight. The secret is that there are no | | | | [1] The Gnostic gospels are thought by some |
| secrets. Consider that the secrets descend | | | | to be the true Christianity. These texts were |
| from the founder of the style. The founder | | | | discovered in Egypt & are referred to as the |
| of the art discovered the truth, & naturally, | | | | Nag Hammadi. Arguably one of the most |
| after his passing this truth was protected by | | | | important archaeological finds of the 20th |
| his followers in order to keep control of the | | | | Century, they are texts much closer to Jesus' |
| school. However, if the founder discovered | | | | original teachings. Some even pre-date the |
| it in his own path, you may follow the path | | | | more well-known 4 Gospels in Roman-Catholic |
| to reach the same conclusion [EN-5]. In the | | | | Christianity. These texts have gained much |
| words of the Greek philosopher Meno, "by a | | | | modern popularity because of conspiracy |
| process of mere questioning, will he attain a | | | | theories as well as The Da Vinci Code. For a |
| true science, knowledge in the fullest sense | | | | good account of the texts & the religion, see |
| by the recovery of such science out of | | | | Ehrman's "Lost Christianities". For the full |
| himself." | | | | copy of St. Thomas' Gospel, consult Ehrman's |
| | | | "Lost Scriptures". |
| Only then will what was once hidden become | | | | |
| plain to you. Others will recognise the | | | | [2] It is evidenced in many martial arts |
| innovation of your thought, because they | | | | systems whereby the founders ideas are not |
| realise it has always been there - but they | | | | furthered & are not progressed. A good |
| were unaware of it. Gravity has always been | | | | example would be Lee's JKD. Some masters |
| present on the earth, but the innovation of | | | | have taken the art further, looked into what |
| Newton was that he brought it to people's | | | | Lee was studying & improved the system where |
| attention. If gravity had always been | | | | Lee was interrupted. Others on the other hand |
| present, what did he truly say that was | | | | state, sometimes ignorantly, that Lee's ideas |
| innovative? He simply saw what was in his | | | | can never be improved & describe the highest |
| sight (the apple falling) & what was once | | | | point achievable in the martial arts. This |
| hidden (the existence of gravity) became | | | | would be a mentality based upon faith rather |
| plain to him. | | | | than informed reason. |
| | | | |
| Lee looked at what was plain to him; the | | | | [3] Einstein once remarked that ingeniousness |
| movements of the human body & their | | | | was a unique combination of knowledge & |
| application to fighting - and what was out of | | | | imagination. Many people are intelligent, & |
| sight became visible. His own teaching of | | | | knowledgeable, but few are ingenious. |
| this path was what he called Jeet Kune Do. By | | | | |
| looking at what is in your sight; what is | | | | [4] A truly inspiring statement, however, I |
| unknown will become evident to you. That was | | | | have simply paraphrased the words of the |
| the purpose of JKD. "Again let me remind you | | | | great Roman philosopher Marcus Aurelius, Book |
| Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to | | | | 6, 19. For more inspiring lines, see |
| get one across, and once across it is to be | | | | Aurelius' Meditations. |
| discarded and not to be carried on one's | | | | |
| back." | | | | [5] Although my philosophy is geared towards |
| | | | self-teaching & learning, there are many |
| So consider those basic techniques you | | | | pitfalls. The study must be made soberly, |
| practice over & over. Do not wish for more, | | | | looking at all the possible areas of study & |
| for you have the secrets already. When you | | | | viewing the whole picture. That way, any |
| can truly understand this, then you too will | | | | knowledge gained can be put into context. We |
| have the secret of ingenuity. | | | | must consider the main exponents of the |
| | | | study, say Bruce Lee, Morihei Ueshiba, et al, |
| An individual truth or a universal truth? | | | | and seek to learn the underlying principles |
| | | | of each masters method. We cannot rule-out |
| Bruce Lee once stated: "The Truth in Combat | | | | any masters ideology based upon our own |
| is different for each individual." | | | | favourites, or our own opinions. |
| | | | Self-teaching means you must act in two |
| To critique this statement, we must first | | | | minds; as a student & as your own critical |
| look at what "truth" is. To the philosophical | | | | teacher. |
| Pessimism movement in Western philosophy, no | | | | |
| truth can ever be known, because our entire | | | | [6] Remember that well known saying; "If a |
| understanding of the world around us is | | | | tree falls in a forest, does it make a |
| constructed by what our senses tell us (and | | | | sound?". Consider this carefully. The word |
| our senses can often be mistaken). | | | | "sound" infers a sense - which needs a living |
| | | | being to perceive it. Since trees have no |
| For example, our perspective of fire tells us | | | | sense to perceive "sound", would the tree |
| that it is hot & causes pain & damage; but if | | | | falling make a "sound"? In effect, the |
| we were to view it from the perspective of | | | | phenomenon of "sound" cannot exist without a |
| granite, fire would not cause any damage at | | | | sense to make the vibrations of the air mean |
| all. It's powers of destruction are purely | | | | anything. |
| relative depending upon the subject receiving | | | | |