An Answer to a Question

By Bob Kiernan - FJJA

The other day I was thinking about a question Rego Sensei had asked me as a part of my test for Orange belt. The question he asked me was, “Why do you think knowing and studying the history and philosophies of our Kokondo system is just as important as the technical martial skills?” First I would like to talk about the code of Bushido (the way of the warrior).

1.Justice – Moral rightness, lawfulness.
2.Courage – the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, etc. without fear (or despite it).
3.Benevolence – Desire to do good to others, kindness, goodwill.
4.Politeness –Showing good manners towards others, courteous.
5.Veracity – Habitual observance of truth in speech and statement, truthfulness.
6.Honor – Integrity in one’s beliefs and actions
7.Loyalty – Faithful to one’s oath or obligations, the state of being loyal.

One would think that a code of such famous warriors would be more like:

1.Viciousness
2.Cruelty
3.Blood thirsty
4.Inhumane
5.Savage
6.Strong
7.Fast

But such is not the case. Why? Well let’s look at the history. The main reason martial arts were developed in the first place was to protect one’s self from tyranny and oppression. Now let’s hold that thought for just one minute.

1.When we have a strong body and a weak mind will achieve very little.
2.If we have a strong mind and a weak body we can achieve much more.
3.If we have a strong mind and body and a poor heart (spirit) what we achieve will not last.
4.But if we have a strong mind, body, and spirit we can achieve greatness.

It would seem to me that a good spirit (heart) is just as important, if not more. When I say this, two people come to mind, Gandhi and Martial Luther King Jr. These two people won major battles and stood victorious, all without striking a single blow—the only blow struck was a moral one. Because their cause was just and they had the courage to stay loyal to their convictions, victory was inevitable. Therefore our health can be a little off and we don’t’ have to be geniuses, but our hearts and spirit must always be strong and good. If we look back now, to the code of Bushido, we can understand the reason for choosing these seven. Righteousness truly is a formidable weapon. So in answer to sensei’s question: it is important to know the history and philosophies of our Kokondo system, so we can understand that the real strength of Kokondo comes from the spirit that lies deep inside each of us. This is the true heart, spirit, and soul of our art – Jukido.