As we change our calendars, and celebrate an arbitrary day as the new year, we ask what the future holds for us. We make plans to change, we have high hopes, and some like to discuss the doom and gloom of the future. This is just being human. So, Happy New Year!
Since we are on the subject, what is the future of our beloved art? I’m hitting 46 soon, and my generation of teachers and Masters, basically the ones of us around the late 30s to mid-50s, are at the point of our training that we can guide our arts into new directions.
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The Past
The masters of the early 1900’s drastically changed how the ancient art is categorized with progress so it can survive the new world of society and politics. This is when the ideas of belt rankings, national pride in the art, and even categorization of internal vs external fighting arts started. Because of this, we started to be divided among different styles, but the arts survived.
Many complain that we lost the traditional aspects, and this is partially true. The thing is, are all traditional aspects still necessary to keep as they were? For example, as martial artists, we do not need to learn cavalry techniques. We do not need to learn training techniques that were effective only on the battlefield when the average age of most soldiers was pretty young because so many were killed. I read somewhere that the average age of a samurai was 25. The death rate was pretty high, so the injuries during training did not become debilitating in old age. They did not affect them like incorrect body hardening practices. A master I trained under told me a story of a kung fu master with the best of iron fist abilities, but he couldn’t feed himself because the hand was so deformed he couldn’t hold chopsticks.
The Future
Life, society, and the health of humanity will drastically change this coming year, decade, and century. For the good and for the bad. AI, computers, instant streaming, better healthcare abilities (yet simultaneously worse actual “care”), and all the wonderful things modern life will give us…. As well as technically better ways of killing in war, mass migration, climate change, pollution, chemicals and plastics in the air, water, and food, and food insecurities…. These are the things that our ancestors could not imagine, or prepare us for. The basic question of what it means to be human, and humane, is not an easy thought exercise to ever finish. What will “sentient being” or “intelligence” mean when AI can think like us and become self-aware? Philosophers are trying to figure out how to make new definitions.
It is not to ask if we are still relevant, but how can we contribute with our unique knowledge, wisdom, and love to the world? We will always be relevant, but how will we teach the world that our traditions are not just still essential to being human, but how we can contribute by bringing our lessons of humanity to deal with the revolutions of modern life. The questions will always lead us to rediscover what it means to be a martial artist. That is, we do not have re-evaluate, but rather discover deeper wisdom of our ancient lessons that our ancient masters did not even know existed within their lessons. Like when feudal Japan changed to a united kingdom in the 1600s, the old ways of the samurai were no longer “needed”. But they discovered and incorporated new parts to what it means to be a samurai. It became more than just being warriors, but so much more. They continued to train the ways of a warrior, but they also studied art, poetry, and spirituality. Re-read “The Five Rings” by Musashi. They didn’t lose their ways, their paths took new directions.
Our Inspiration
One of our most admired martial artists, Bruce Lee, and many of his generation challenged the old ways and brought it to the wider world. Now, masters are on every continent and every nationality, every skin color, religion, and language. Some of the best masters are found outside of the origin of the art. We do not have to travel to Asia to find the best karate or kung fu masters.
Our (my generation of masters) masters went against the basic customs and our generation exists because of their changes. They made their contribution to our arts. It is our time to make our contribution. What are we going to improve, add, or deepen? It’s not creating a new style, like MMA, it’s not just teaching the younger generation, and it must definitely not be self-serving.
My Contribution
I have my ideas. They are more of an academic nature. We have academic degrees in all sorts of things that most people think of as pointless to the wider world. For example, I understand, but don’t understand, a PhD in romantic era art. If they can, why can’t we? We have so much knowledge, and wisdom that why isn’t there a college degree in martial arts? We have everything from philosophy and ethics to kinesiology and military tactics. But that is just me. I am not a professor or part of any academic circle, so I have no idea how to make this happen. So, my contribution is to write articles, and work on publishing a book, on aspects not related to fighting, but our philosophy of ethics. I know some of you are doing the same. Keep it up. Our understanding is a contribution that will inspire personal change and growth. But for those who are on a different path, what is yours? What different or unique new contribution is a passion within your years of experience that you can give the next generation? 
Happy New Year and to a better future that we can help create!!!
I recently finished writing my book on virtue. Please go to my Facebook page of Virtues Path and follow for more essays on virtue. Also, please visit my website thevirtuespath.wordpress.com
- What is Your Contribution? - January 4, 2024
- Teaching Martial Virtues - October 23, 2023
- Martial Arts and Diet - October 11, 2021
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