Changing the Fate of the Martial Arts World

20 years ago, I made a choice that would change my life forever. I chose to enter a world that balances itself between the polarity of Yin and Yang; rotates on an axis called the Dao; and requires of its inhabitants to willingly "eat bitter", drown ourselves in blood, sweat, and tears, and risk masochistically bruising and injuring our bodies on a daily basis. To others, it is a world that sounds more torturous than peaceful. Regardless, this world is where many thrive on the nourishment of wisdom, develop a persevering attitude, and establish lifelong brother/sisterhoods. This is the world of Martial Arts.

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How We Arrived Here

Prior to the 20th century, people knew the martial arts world as being one of great discipline, honor, respect, humility, and unquestionable devotion. Not only was it a way of life, it was also an employable service and a reputable form of business that brought strength, stability, and protection to local villages. Additionally, if a well-known martial artist was teaching in a specific area, it would draw attention far and wide attracting students from across the country ultimately bolstering the local economy. Consequently though, the downfall was the ensuing invitation for trouble through open challenges and "wars" between martial arts families/styles. Even to this day, the plague of open challenges is creating a rift between martial artists forcing practitioners to question its relevance, effectiveness, and overall place in today's society.

Throughout the 20th century, the martial arts world took a severe beating during specific times of global transition (for example, World Wars I & II, the Great Leap Forward, and the Cultural Revolution) forcing people to flee, go into hiding, nearly starve to death, or even be killed. However, thanks to the latter part of the 20th century, and with the help of Hollywood (and dare I say westernization), the world of martial arts continues to spin, but not at the same velocity as in the past.

Today, many martial artists attempt to run their schools in a similar manner as schools of the past by kowtowing to their teachers, passing on knowledge to those who are "worthy", and carrying forward the lineage of which they have been accepted into. I myself being "raised" in this traditional and ritualistic manner treat my Kung Fu family in a similar way. ​As described later in this article though, these practices have not always had a positive effect on the evolution of martial arts.

A Lesson from History

An important lesson taught throughout history is that everything must come to an end.

In all of my martial arts training, one of the most important lessons I have learned is how not to hold on both physically and mentally. Without learning this lesson, one's opponent immediately gains the advantage. So, why is it that so many martial artists cannot demonstrate an understanding of this lesson by clearly being unable to let go of the past? Why have they not accepted the fate of the martial arts world and begun the next stage of its evolution for the sake of the next generation? A disappointing truth is that our world can no longer thrive on ancient methods and traditional ways of thinking and acting. Not because they don't matter, but because much of the rest of the world is moving forward and shedding the parts that no longer serve their current direction (including certain aspects of martial arts). Why are we not doing the same? 

Martial arts was brought to life by ancient wisdom, cultural transformation, and the gifts of nature. This life will soon expire if we do not begin to take action and shed the skin that has been peeling off for the last century. Therefore, I am urging you and every other martial artist to think seriously about the future of martial arts because the unwillingness to accept one's fate is futile, guaranteed. Furthermore, many years from now, you and I will be looked upon as the ancients of martial arts, and we will either be praised or we will be criticized for doing (or not doing) what was necessary.

​So, better than history coming to an abrupt "end", how about we look at it as a "new beginning".

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Ask the Right Questions

Here are some questions we can begin to ask ourselves regarding the fate of the martial arts world:

1. How will the world of martial arts evolve together with the modern technological movement and, more importantly, can it keep up to speed?
2. How will the world of martial arts contribute to the health of a world in which diseases are created at a far rapider pace than they are eradicated?
3. Where does the word practicality fit into the current phase of the martial arts world's evolution, and how do we filter out the elements that are no longer practical?
4. What benefits does the martial arts world offer that others will be inclined to acknowledge, accept, and adopt ultimately assisting us in a new direction built on a refined purpose?
5. What current practices and traditions can you recognize (without judgement) as no longer serving the present state of the martial arts world, and, most importantly, can you personally let them go?

These types of scrutinous questions, as painful as they might be to answer, have the potential to help us design a new landscape for the sake of adapting to the needs of modern society. Today, the average student will rarely devote time to diligently practicing the movements they are taught. Nor will they spend much time studying the wisdom intricately woven into each action. Many teachers respond to this by teaching form after form without enforcing the need for repetition that allows students to understand more than just the sequence itself. This is proof that the world of martial arts has transformed based on the needs and wants of the student, not of the teacher, nor of the traditional style being taught. Additionally, the levels of discipline, motivation, and devotion no longer resemble those of the past. And due to the unwillingness to accept this unfortunate fact, many martial arts schools' enrollment numbers have dwindled, while at the same time, membership costs surge leading to survival being the only option. Consequently, this choice of survival has caused the sacrifice of something once considered to be sacred; tradition.  Thus, the martial arts world now revolves around such things as colored belts handed out faster than Bruce Lee's one-inch punch.

So what truly is the best way to train students for the sake of the future, and who should be the target clientele from here forward?

Should we only focus on rigorously training the body? Should we limit ourselves to building a curriculum that requires only memorization skills for the forms which are taught?

What truly is the best approach?

In any stage of transition, there are always more questions than answers. Moreover, if you think you have the answers to all of the questions I have been asking, then you have not yet learned to listen.

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Think Outside the Box

This final section offers a brief example of an evolutionary step for the martial arts world that potentially could serve its future:

THE CORPORATE WORLD

In a world where most people express difficulty in slowing down their minds, it is our responsibility as teachers to train students to gain control of them. In order for the world of martial arts to not only survive but to thrive in a new form, we must teach in a deeper and more combined fashion. What I mean is that we must meld together the body and mind through the wisdom of martial arts (mind) and the actions through with they are expressed (body). Therefore, the message of any martial arts school and instructor should be to exemplify the importance of training the mind FIRST for learning tactics applicable to interactions in life, critical thinking skills, effective communication, and mental well-being. This may seem counterintuituve to the traditional training approach, but remember, we are no longer teaching people with a traditional lifestyle.

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By training someone to gain better control of his or her mind and use it constructively with enhanced bodily awareness, the confidence of an individual will undoubtedly skyrocket.

Take the following as an example:

You have made a decision to target and propose to a local company your own personally designed workplace training program using the training methods of martial arts. Your pitch to them is that through this program this company would benefit (secondarily) from reduced healthcare costs and healthier employees, which is nothing new to them. The main part of your pitch though is to instead highlight the potential for their employees to achieve a range of distinct attributes applicable to their work ultimately in favor of the future of their company. As a matter of fact, this is the core of your program, which is delivered through a unique combination of mental techniques reinforced with physical movements proven to enhance a person's well-being and productiveness. Here are a few of those distinct attributes you pitch:

• Laser-focused attention
• Multifaceted and strategic thinking
• Fine-tuned, active listening skills
• Confident and persuasive presence
• Highly-trained ability to anticipate outcomes

If you were the CEO of that particular company, wouldn't you want to hear more? Also, wouldn't this be a giant step beyond the common characteristics of martial arts, such as simply obtaining black belts, winning championships, or becoming the next undefeated fighter? By training someone to gain better control of his or her mind and use it constructively with enhanced bodily awareness, the confidence of an individual will undoubtedly skyrocket. Now, do not confuse this with a simple exercise program because exercise is of course a necessity for good health but will never become a priority in people’s lives until a consistent level of activity is developed and supersedes their ignorance towards their own body. Additionally, the future of the martial arts world has to focus on much more than just exercising the human body, hence the need to focus on the mind first. The potential attributes listed above are only scratching the surface of what the mental preparation of a martial artist can bring to the table, especially in the workplace.

Creating the Way Forward

Towering trophies, engraved medals, and beautifully-woven belts or sashes are short-term reminders of one's great accomplishments and provide much more meaning for children than adults. Beyond this, they provide nothing other than a grand collection of dust. Now, let me be clear. The time for celebration and acknowledgement of our accomplishments is important and necessary. However, we must equally acknowledge that they are temporary. For it is how one moves forward from these accomplishments that will reveal one's true potential.

The same is true for the world of martial arts. How we move forward in this world, after first acknowledging all that has been accomplished, will reveal the true potential of the next phase of our journey and the quality of life we produce for the next stage of its evolution. Therefore, I am challenging you, and all inhabitants of the martial arts world, to be open to every possibility that comes your way and, above all,  to think outside of the box. It may appear to some that we are losing our footing in today's society, but let us alter this perception and make it known that the martial arts world is about to spin in a whole new direction.


​Peacefully,

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Justin Flinner is a forward-thinker and non-conformist in the areas of healthcare and martial arts. Licensed as a Board-Certified Acupuncturist and being the owner of My Metro Medicine as well as a national champion in martial arts, he offers an empowering environment where his patients and students can experience real change. If you wish to speak more with Justin about the thoughts and ideas in this article, please send and email to [email protected].