New Essay: Fighting Skeptic - Of Martial Arts and Magic Arts

[Webmaster]

A new essay is now available in the Essays section:

Fighting Skeptic - Of Martial Arts and Magic Arts

[Keith Culbertson]

hah, just read it before checking the Forum! I remember chatting with JC about this a couple of times and am glad to see his thoughts organized for the site----I agree completely and appreciate the nod to perception and psychology as key skills for a warrior

[RayMcCullough]

Great article JC. Most of the "chi/Ki" examples given by folks on the net, tv, and in person are things that I have seen at the circus. I have a close friend who studies traditional Japanese M.A.'s and can do alot of the "tricks" very well.

What the East calls Chi/ki Masters, in the west we call Mentalist, psychics, strongmen, magicians, etc.... LOL
What is not part of the parlor trick that is called Chi/ki are examples of simple physics as you say.

Awesome!

[Gene Tausk]

A new essay is now available in the Essays section:

Fighting Skeptic - Of Martial Arts and Magic Arts

Great article. Totally agree that there is a link between the art of magic and art of defense. Further agree that the way people delude themselves in both life and combat is not only sad, but leads to horrific consequences if unchecked. In combat, people who delude themselves as to reality end up dead. In life, people who delude themselves are taken in by charlatans and fakes and, if they are lucky, escape with only their money being taken.

[s_taillebois]

M. Clements as usual well organized and written.

Although western martial arts had it's share of mystical or superstitious beliefs (such as the talisman origin of the shape of some sword pommels) that is a matter for historical research and the lingering remnants of cultural or personal belief. We are remote from their world and it could be presumptuous to be taking on the entirety of symbols, beliefs, and superstitions for which we no longer have a viable context. Unethical and to a high degree fraudulent and presumptuous.

The chi and etc is as noted often little more than a veneer for practical applications or a blind for mountebanks.

Ultimately there are practical and often quite similar ways to use a sword, dagger, staff or etc and most cultures who used such things for their end use, had to be pragmatic and devote a great deal of time to developing that proficiency. Hag stones and etc were only meant to symbolically ward off the dead...avoiding becoming one of the deceased meant being capable with ones weapon and possessing some luck. The historical martial artists knew this quite well.

Since most of us will never live or die by the use of our chosen martial weapons we do not need to or presume to take on the faded beliefs of those who did live or die by such means. To do so, ultimately dishonors them because it becomes fantasy.

[Steven Ott]

War is deception. If you can convince your enemies you have super-powers you have defeated them before the battle. Though I don't personally believe in chi, I don't knock those who do. I do believe in mental focus and in what modern athletes call "Being in the Zone"