Lesson of the Week #129

Lesson:

The Code of Bushido

Last week I listed the 7 ideals of the Budoka. These are the

same precepts the Samurai followed and are known to us as the

Code of Bushido. Some of you may be saying “so what”. We

aren’t Samurai. Truth be told, maybe we aren’t or shouldn’t be

as far away as you might like to think. Let’s look at a few

reasons why.

In recent years the martial arts media seem to have come

to a realization, of sorts, that Karate today is not the karate of

old. Somehow the journalists have discovered that the majority

of karate today is done for “sport” purposes. Some magazines

have gone so far as to call ALL karate sport karate.

There is certainly nothing wrong with “playing karate” if one

chooses this avenue. There is, however, something terribly

wrong with sport being taught to our children and even adults

under the name of “combat karate” or some such catchy title.

Sport is just that. It’s a game played to win a trophy or medal.

Again, there is nothing wrong with choosing to do that but

it should be a conscious choice. The expected outcomes of

“sport karate”, “karate do” and “karate jutsu” are, and should

be, different.

As an example Tae Kwon Do is, today, an Olympic Sport.

Well-conditioned and highly skilled athletes play it, as a sport. I

contend that they are not martial artists and Tae Kwon Do, as

an example is not a Martial Art. It is a Martial Sport.

Where do we fall along this continuum from sport to

combat art? I would suggest that we fall toward, but not at, the

combat art or Karate Jutsu end of the spectrum. A large part of

how far along the continuum we go is predicated upon our intent

when we train.

Do we, and our students, train with combat intent? Do we

train with the requisite intensity? Does our training enhance our

conditioning to a point where we can defend ourselves

effectively? Do we think about and analyze what we do? This

can make a huge difference to the achieved outcome.

Do we think of ourselves as karate players or Martial artists?

As Martial artists we are modern day Bushi (warriors) and should

be aspiring to live up to the code of Bushido. We may never

throw a punch or kick in anger or even self-defense but we

should live a life based on the precepts of the Samurai.

Another way of looking at this is that, without a code of

ethics and conduct, our training would prepare us to be thugs

and street fighters as opposed to “warriors”.

As you read through these precepts again, give thought to

how they speak of much more than combat. They are a blueprint

to living a full and rewarding life that is based on honor and

service.

The following are some precepts that we should examine

and see where we meet them and where we fall short.

 Rectitude or Justice

o To do what is right even when no one is looking

o Right reason

 Courage

o The spirit of daring and bearing

o Valor

 Benevolence

o Love for others

o Sympathy

o Pity

 Politeness

o Courtesy

o Propriety

 Veracity and Sincerity

o Bushi no ichi gon (the word of a Samurai)

 Honor

o Personal dignity

 Loyalty

o Allegiance

o Duty

 Self-Control

o Fortitude

 Redress

o To make up for errors and slights

Where do you see yourself? What is your

commitment to your art, to others and to yourself?

Do you expect to get back more than you’re willing to

put in??

Living the Code of Bushido is the way of the

budoka.

Train hard and well. In the way, JWA