Virtue in Karate

[Guest]

HAH HAH! Yeah, I remember that! Even funnier is the place was owned by her own students parents!

[Dana Sheets]

by: Victor Frankl
from: "Mans Search for Meaning

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our
freedom."

[Guest]

Choice is an illusion Dana. People believe that because it appears they can make a choice, that the Logos and Mans desires are a paradox. The truth is that man neglects to realize that his own inspiration is defined by the Logos, therefore the actions he chooses are part of divine order.

What this means is that some people are truly "chosen ones" while others are born losers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos

[Dana Sheets]

I completely disagree. For example the follwing statements:

You make me angry.
I am angry at you.

The first implies that other people control our reactions, the second implies that we control them. I may not alway be able to control all my emotions, but I can definitely choose my actions.

To say that choice is illusion is, to me, an excuse to not take responsibility for your chosen actions.

[Guest]

It's about energy and matter Dana. For energy to compress into matter, there must be resistance. selfishness, is resistance. Everythings behavior is what allows the universe to evolve.

In creation there is a balance of self and all-encompassing. I can suddenly drop my baggage tommorow and become "one with the universe" but there will be another guy, somewhere else with a chip on his shoulder, just like mine, to carry what was once my load. Why let him have all the fun? i'm getting my battle scars and am growing in wisdom!

Things like guilt, contempt, anger, love, etc, these are all real emotions and their polarity is what causes creation to evolve, but according to Heraclitus (A "dead old guy"need I remind you) they are not spontaneouos, but pre-determined.

Think BIG!


Heraclitus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus

[Stryke]

choice is built on perception , and perception is bound by rules .

your both kinda right , I guess it depends if your an enlightened one or a born looser eh Tony .

It [dharma] is, so to speak, the essential nature of a being, comprising the sum of its particular qualities or characteristics, and determining, by virtue of the tendencies or dispositions it implies, the manner in which this being will conduct itself, either in a general way or in relation to each particular circumstance. The same idea may be applied, not only to a single being, but also to an organized collectivity, to a species, to all the beings included in a cosmic cycle or state of existence, or even to the whole order of the Universe; it then, at one level or another, signifies conformity with the essential nature of beings…

but Philosophy makes my head hurt

[Guest]

choice is built on perception , and perception is bound by rules .

your both kinda right , I guess it depends if your an enlightened one or a born looser eh Tony .

Thats my point, whom or what imposes those rules? That is Logos! Your right Marcus in that the only reason I understand Hermiclitoris as well as I do is because I am Gods favorite!!!!

[Stryke]

It all comes from the flames Tony ?

I guess he had an angle on energy and quantum physics , long before anyone .

It`s a common theme Mate , call it logos , Dharma , Tao etc , theres no denying the basic nature of the universe/God/inspiration .

[Guest]

It all comes from the flames Tony ?
.

The flames of the cosmic libido! Actually, I just made that up... hah hah...

[brothermanontario]

This is a decent thread with good solid disscussion. If I am allowed I will add my 2 cents. The bottom line of Martial Arts is that It is a Martial Art. We are training to learn so we can defend ourselves and our loved ones.

The virtue I see is freedom from fear or being intimidated by others. With this freedom is responsibility. We can be a moron and add to the world's violence or we can use our training to learn self restraint. we can also as Dana says learn to overcome our petty emotions, but to me the bottom line is Health Freedom and Self defense.

Thank You for listening

[Guest]

Interestingly, freedom, as you call it, must be fought for. It is not free for the taking. To get Freedom to express yourself in Uechi Ryu (hence the term "art") you must beat up your Sensei. Especially if he/she is the "Thats not uechi" type. It's the only way.

[benzocaine]

Thanks Brothermanontario for the contribution

I think most everyone here agrees that we should always use self restraint and not be violentpeople. IMHO Asian martial arts by their slow and tedious nature should definitely teach patience.

I bet most agree that we should train hard and kindle a flame to unleash with great fury should we be attacked physically. It is my belief that we should never confuse pacafism with virtue. On the other hand we should not be trouble makers out looking for a fight.

[Guest]

On the other hand we should not be trouble makers out looking for a fight.

Yes, and no in my opinion. There are times when one must provoke the question to be asked "how hath the mighty fallen"? In other words, sometimes you must seek out the baddest mother fuq'r around and bring him down hard. Why is this nessecary? Because power is what people respect, not virtues, not kindness, power. Take notice of John G. and how he flaunts his Sensei's martial accomplishments as if they where his own. John is aborbed in his karate lineage like a piece of tofu. That power is all he respects.

So how do you win the respect of others? You take the big guy out.

Suddenly, you can practice the way you want, breath the way you want, ASSOCIATE with whomever you wish, and all with impunity.

[benzocaine]

Tony.

I am without words.


Honestly.

[Guest]

it is not a new concept ; it is an ancient concept and is often used by the Mafioso when moving into new territory. Why has this strategy withstood the test of time for all these years? Because it works.