Joe is a bit of a jerk.
Joe joins a dojo.
Joe practices martial arts for 12 years.
Joe is still a jerk.

We've all met Joe. At least a few times. That's the short of it. The fact is studying budō is not a guarantee that you will become a better person. Joining a yoga group will not make you a better person. There is this idea that you can learn respect and grow humble from the study of martial arts. The sad reality is that if you don't want to change anything, then you will come out as you went in.

People want to claim that studying martial arts will help you learn to respect and have confidence. There is, of course, the opportunity to learn these things, however, if you are not an open-minded person willing to change, then you will not. The real pursuit of budō is the pursuit of developing oneself.  Often the idea is heavily focused on technique. The technique is, of course, important. Our hearts and minds, though, are the real core we need to work on continuously.

The amount of childish behavior is rampant in even the highest echelons of martial arts. The oldest bujutsu schools in Japan are not exempt from lies, immature cold-shouldering, snobbery, backstabbing, and discrimination.  People like to throw the word McDojo around to signify an inferior and bulls*** school. However, even the "best" schools in Japan are full of problem teachers and students alike. There is no shortage of morons in budō.

Reflect

If you're reading this and feeling some anger or annoyance, then you should step away and think about why you are upset at reading my viewpoint. Social media and avenues such as forums and Youtube create spaces where we can lash out at people while remaining anonymous. It helps bolster us to make disparaging comments and insults. The budō community is full of these types of people. Why? If budō practice is supposed to make us better people why all the childish behavior? Where is the compassion?

budo and buddhism mind
We are all connected

I often make mistakes. I am not perfect. I have done stupid things in the past. I have unintentionally hurt people with careless words or actions.  I have, however, always apologized for my transgressions and owned up to them. The day after some folly, I try to understand what I did wrong and avoid doing that again in the future. I try. I work hard.

Those that do not try hard to adjust their perspective and attitudes are forever lost in the sad little game of collecting techniques or tattoos or certificates or school names for themselves to build up an image of a martial artist. There are many people practicing budō that are righteous and sincere. They are a bit overshadowed though by the selfish and malicious. If your heart and mind are tainted and you're not open to change, then you will walk out of the dōjō the same way you walked in. It is almost the same as drinking alcohol. You are just an intensified version of yourself when drunk. Practicing martial arts tends to be the same.

Complete change is scarce, and it certainly doesn't happen if you have a crappy attitude and don't try to work on yourself. I am certainly not better than anyone else. I do try to work on myself, though. Without the constant attempt to change myself for the better, then I would be another jerk with a sword. I would instead not study bujutsu if that were the case. So with every swing of the sword, I attempt to eradicate, ignorance, ill-will, and hatred from my heart. Martial arts doesn't change you into a hero. You have to apply yourself within martial arts to change.

If you have a stone in your heart budō will not magically remove it for you. You need to work hard to become a better person.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts.

©2019 S.F.Radzikowski

sword instructor shinkan ryu

ラジカスキー真照

館長

Saneteru Radzikowski is the head sword instructor of Shinkan-ryū Kenpō. He lives and teaches Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu from Nara, Japan.