| It's said that the roots of many of the Martial Arts is | | | | unmoving for hours while in deep meditative practice. |
| in India, with Buddhist monks. While many sources | | | | The Martial arts they practiced were a great means |
| give conflicting data, it's known that in Japan, the only | | | | of physical exercise while still being based heavily on |
| places that were large enough to allow for indoor | | | | their philosophical beliefs of peace through |
| training during inclement weather, were the huge | | | | "understanding conflict."Zen, the most popular form |
| Buddhist temples. In fact, much of what is done in | | | | of Buddhist thought known today, is directly related |
| Martial Arts schools with a Japanese background | | | | to the cross-cultural interchange between Martial Arts |
| comes from, and can be traced back to this | | | | and the many philosophical systems that came |
| connection.For example, white uniforms were the | | | | together as these teachings travelled from India, |
| attire of Japanese Buddhist monks and lay-people | | | | across the Himalayas, through China and into Japan. |
| alike. The kyu and dan "class" and "level" grade | | | | Ironically, many Westerners have no idea that Zen is |
| rankings were originally developed for and used as | | | | a form of Buddhist study and practice, nor is it |
| markers for how much a monk had learned and | | | | usually seen as much more than "seated meditation" |
| progressed through his training. And, much of the | | | | to most martial artists - both teachers and |
| etiquette within dojos "training halls") is identical to | | | | students.Japanese Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru |
| those used in these same temples to show respect | | | | often wrote about Zen and the principles of Bushido, |
| to all that has gone before me and to all that I aspire | | | | or "the way of the warrior," which grew, in part, out |
| to become. In fact, the Japanese kanji characters | | | | of Buddhist thought.The principles of:Gi: Having the |
| used to write the word 'dojo' actually refer to "a | | | | right decision, right attitude, the truthYu: Bravery |
| place where enlightenment takes place."Now, before | | | | tinged with heroismJin: Universal love; compassionRei: |
| you run out and scream about quitting for fear of | | | | Right action; courtesyMakoto: Utter sincerity; |
| being converted to Buddhism, Hinduism, or some | | | | truthfulnessMeiyo: Honor; high ethical characterChugo: |
| other 'foreign', sacrilegious cult - don't panic. Buddhism, | | | | Devotion; loyaltywere the common ground between |
| while often practiced like many conventional Western | | | | the monk and the warrior. In fact, there is no |
| religions, is not really a religion at all - at least not the | | | | difference between the two.Deshimaru emphasized |
| way most people define or practice a so-called | | | | that the learning and practice of these principles is a |
| 'religion'.As developed by the founder Siddhartha | | | | lifelong process, and needs to take place "...in the |
| Gautoma, refered to as the Buddha ("one who is | | | | body, through the unconscious." The ancient tradition |
| awake"), and fine-tuned over the past two and a half | | | | of the Martial Arts is an internal process, a gradual |
| - plus centuries, Buddhism is a philosophy of personal | | | | connection with one's own deep-seated intuition. |
| development whereby the practitioner works to | | | | Deshimaru explains: "In the spirit of Zen . . .everyday |
| understand his or her true nature and the immutable | | | | life becomes a contest. There must be an awareness |
| laws of the universe that govern the world and | | | | at every moment: getting up in the morning, working, |
| everything in it. It is not at all a belief system as are | | | | eating, going to bed. That is the place for the |
| many religions today, but instead relies on the | | | | mastery of self."Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and |
| student coming to an intimate understanding of | | | | master instructor of Warrior Concepts International. |
| reality and truth through direct, personal | | | | A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of |
| experience.One of the monks credited with | | | | Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways |
| developing martial Arts in the Buddhist temples of the | | | | of self-protection and personal development lessons |
| time was known as Bodhidharma, the founder of | | | | in a way that is easily understood and put to use by |
| Zen. This new training was readily adopted by the | | | | modern Western students and corporate clients. |
| monks for many reasons. And while the monks may | | | | Through their martial arts training, his students and |
| have been interested in defending themselves from | | | | clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to |
| unfriendly outsiders, it is also likely that they also | | | | help them create the life they've always dreamed of |
| wished to prepare themselves for the demands of | | | | living, and the skills necessary for protecting that life |
| their daily lives - lives which required that they sat | | | | from anything that might threaten it. |