ARE THEY STILL RELEVANT?

 By Phillip Starr

In the midst of the seeming madness of the world in which we currently live, some martial arts practitioners undoubtedly wonder if such arcane arts are still relevant. I cannot pretend to have all the answers to that question; but I can speak from the viewpoint of a (now) senior citizen who has seen more than his fair share of violence and who has practiced martial arts for more than six decades...

To begin, I believe that regularly attending classes in a traditional school has considerable benefits in that the (traditional) school provides us with an unchanging discipline and structure; things that often seem to be absent in modern society. We sweat and our muscles strain and ache as we endure the rigors of training, always with an eye toward polishing the techniques and form and thereby polishing our spirits. It never changes. Much of it is done solo (without a training partner) and we are admonished to push ourselves further. It is a world away from the one in which we live and work.

And that's okay. It can be an escape of sorts, a place where the stressors of daily life are left outside the door. That is as it should be. It is a world with which we have become very familiar and comfortable. It is unchanging, always there. We understand that we see the world as WE are, not necessarily as it is; we all wear colored glasses of a sort, from the rose-colored spectacles of a Pollyanna to those that may be very dark. What we see depends on how we are.

Of course, there are many who, when they hear the term “relevant” equate it with “pragmatic.” So, are these archaic arts that involve combatives performed with swords, sticks, and bare hands still practical in today's violent world where people are too often cut down by gunfire or bombs? I would answer with an enthusiastic “Yes!”

There are those who would/will disagree but what possible defense can there be against a sniper or an explosive device? Well, not every act of violence necessarily involves such things. I think that learning effective self-defense nowadays is more important than ever; not just for their practical use against violent aggressors but also because they foster the development of self-confidence and personal security, both of which are important ingredients for living a more fulfilling life. They help to partially remove the “coloring” of our glasses and assist us in seeing more clearly.

Surely, martial arts is not a panacea for the lunacy of our world or society. But they can help us see more clearly, calm and strengthen our hearts and spirits, and deal more effectively with all that surrounds us.