Four Virtues of a Martial Artist

The four virtues of Confucius are benevolence [仁], righteousness [正義], propriety [妥当性] or etiquette [礼儀], and wisdom [知恵].  Invariably and unrealistically living these four virtues for all humanity is just impossible but to achieve high levels with family and the group/tribe/clan is possible and most desirable.

This is also a matter of "survival" where the hierarchy ends with the clan/tribe/group. As far as an entire society it takes a group oriented set of virtues that allows for harmonious cohesion which is a more difficult endeavor often leading to "war." Again, survival is imperative for the group/clan/tribe therefor the importance of the four virtues is critical.

In today's wold we have gravitated toward a more singular, me, model where the need to adhere to the four virtues is perceived as unnecessary and that in my opinion is a mistake leading to the downfall of a society, clan, tribe or group.

These four virtues are familiar with martial artists, at least those who look at MA as a traditional/classical form of Asian practice, as part of the virtues of the samurai. Where the rubber meets the road is the ability to practice them vs. just knowing of them.

It is a characteristic of all martial systems yet often overlooked for the often self-gratifying aspects especially regarding the more sportive aspects of today's practices. It is the more esoteric aspects glossed over for the more easily practiced physical. I believe this to be the reasoning behind awarding students the ken-po goku-i silk certificates in those early years of western involvement, i.e around the 1950's and 60's. The koan of the martial arts is how I describe the goku-i.

Benevolence [仁]: the characters/ideograms mean "benevolence (esp. as a virtue of Confucianism); consideration; compassion; humanity; charity. It is in the dojo clan that through proper guidance and mentoring one can foster an atmosphere of compassion and consideration for one another, i.e. the Sensei-deshi, Senpai-kohai models. Humanity and charity are the products that foster a camaraderie between practitioners that complete this circle.

Righteousness [正義]: the characters/ideograms mean "justice; right; righteousness; correct meaning along with the first character meaning, "correct; justice; righteous," and the second character meaning, "righteousness; justice; morality; honor; loyalty; meaning."

With out honor you have brutality. With out meaning you have an empty shell. With out loyalty you have chaos. With out morality you have cruelty. With out justice you have criminality. The true dojo, the true classical form of training and practice, and the true traditional meaning of the way cannot reach its greatest heights or enlightenment with out this virtue.

Propriety [妥当性]: the characters/ideograms mean "propriety; verification; validity with the first character meaning, "gentle; peace; depravity," the second character meaning, "hit; right; appropriate; himself," and the third character meaning, "sex; gender; nature," or étiquette [礼儀]: the characters/ideograms mean "manners; courtesy; etiquette," and the first character meaning, "salute; bow; ceremony; thanks; remuneration," and the second character meaning, "ceremony; rule; affair; case; a matter."

It is through courtesy, the manners we extol to others of the clan that foster the virtues. The rhythm and customs of ritual are the means of creating a connection that fosters the virtues of martial arts. The symbolism brings about understanding and teaching of intuitions that transcend the spoken word and fosters a non-verbal communication of respect and honor toward others.

Wisdom [知恵]: the characters/ideograms mean "wisdom; wit; sagacity; sense; intelligence," the first character meaning, "know; wisdom," and the second character meaning, "favor; blessing; grace; kindness."

The dojo leads to the understanding and discriminations between relations. Relations of man or humans is the most volatile and chaotic one often leading to conflicts. The education and understanding from the learning reaches beyond any relational reality gap bridging a path to one another. It is the ability to create a attitude and belief that is founded on showing keen discernment, sound judgement and farsightedness that allows is to reach out to one another and build the group/clan/tribe in to "one wholehearted" cohesive holistic "one."