The big 3 Martial Arts rituals are made for Martial Arts Practitioners. But, with some adjustments, you can see how these three principles can be used in other places in life. This is not about specific ways to solve a problem it is about three ways to see behaviors.
These three things are being taken away from you. Three items that are a need within human existence.
The need for adornment, ritual, and art.
Adornment
Human beings have adorned themselves as far back as modern man can trace human existence. Neanderthals created adornment. Neanderthals, who existed some 40,000 years ago felt the need to decorate themselves.
Martial Arts has adornment. We need to add elements, a belt or a patch, the design is to signal the participants, to say, “This is a different experience.” This is different than the one that they engage in the majority of the time. And for us, the Martial Artist, this is a deep aspect of the ritual.
Ritual
Rhythm and ritual are soothing to a child. Ask parents and they can tell you about disruption. An interruption in a child’s ritual will result in disruptive behavior.
Adults are not too far removed from this behavior and it can be observed if one turns their vision to see. Often the moments are simple. It may sound like, “This is not how I take my coffee.” “This seems to be an odd way to prepare, insert a food here.”
The idea of a tour bus for a musical group is to bring a facsimile of home with them, a home away from home. Ritual is important.
Rituals are always creating a comfort level. Comfort reduces stress. No biological life is designed for a consistent state of alert or stress. Most life is calculated for rest. Being in a state of agitation is the opposite of rest. Rituals build assurances into the day that allows for a lower ambient state of alertness.
Yes, an anathema to the martial artist we train to, “Always be aware.” A wild state of watchfulness is not a good way to live. The majority of us don’t live in a world of Hypervigilance, we live in ritual.
Art
Art takes on many arrangements. In its simplest form, art is a way artist show control. An understanding of the environment. Without art we are naked. Naked to the fact we have little control over the elements and the acts of nature.
Exchanging blows with each other. Challenging each other. Working on the bag. Every one of these acts plus others you can list. All these are part of the art, the martial arts.
At its very best art fails to capture the true nature of the subject. Art at best gives a version of the truth seen through the artist’s eyes. Art is art. And art is necessary.
Ornamentation, pattern, and expression are other words to help shape the Big 3 Martial Arts Rituals.
Martial arts provide a direct answer to these three basic needs. Adornment, ritual, and art. And now it is up to us to seize these back from the times in which we live.
Here is a 13 minute, History of Ideas – Rituals explainer video from, The School of Life.
Want more? Here are a few other post you may find of interest.
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KRIS WILDER
Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Seattle Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.