Martial Arts

These are just the Martial Arts philosophies that influenced me, and the ways I look at things.

These are just the basic philosophies of the east, or at least ones that I took from Martial Arts and influenced me, and the ways I look at things. Two different people using different mediums, skills, and different points of view, may believe the same core concepts, but the expression may be quite different.

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~ Aristotle Sabouni

These are just the Martial Arts philosophies that influenced me, and the ways I look at things: Martial Arts • [10 items]

Choosing a Martial Arts School
A few people have asked me about Martial Arts schools, and how they should choose. This is my answer in 1987 and Today. Most people start off backwards, they want to leap to Choosing a Martial Arts Style, and while that's not bad if you really have your heart set on a particular system. But if you don't, then this might help narrow your choices.

Choosing a Martial Arts Style
In Choosing a Martial Arts School, the instructor is the most important of the variable, the Students are a reflection on the teacher. But they are not the only factors. Here is some information on what to expect from different styles, cultures and arts. This information can help you choose a "style" as well, and maybe give you a starting point.

Ethics of a fight
Ethics of a fight: know yourself, and know others. Since nobody wins a fight, the best way to avoid loosing one, is by not getting in one. To avoid doing that you should understand your motive and theirs, understand aggression, escalation and take responsibility for your actions and even reactions.

Fighting Spirit
Fights are often more mental than physical. It is a battle of wills, and an important factor is who has the most to lose. This is a reason that you don't want to corner wild animals, or wild humans. If they have no path out, then they are much tougher combatants.

James Mitose
James Mitose was an Japanese American that learned the hard way about our legal system and how the public views Martial Artists. He is well known in some Martial Arts circles, because he brought Kenpo/Kempo over to Hawaii and the mainland from Japan, and is one of the important Masters of the art.

Karate
I call it "Karate", but really I did Shaolin Kenpo/Kempo for about 20 years as my primary art (teaching as well as doing), and Aikido, Aikijujitsu, Judo, Gracie Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do, Escrima, Arnis, Kali, Jeet Kun Do, Tai Chi Chuan, Shotokan, and a few other arts as my secondary arts.

Legalities of a fight
A fight isn't over when the last punch was thrown, that can be when the lawyers get involved. Legalities are different than realities. Laws vary widely, but a fight is about "intent"; yours or the other guys. The law (DA) isn't looking for heroes, it sees two people who weren't smart enough to avoid combat, and they might want to make an example of at least one of them.

Pacifism
Pacifism: when is fighting is better than the alternative? These are my thoughts. To me, the aggressor is not the one that throws the first punch, but the one who insists on fighting -- and it is not the person who won't fight because they can't win, but is the person who tries to avoid fights and exhausts all alternatives despite knowing that they would probably win.

The Art of War
This simple book was written 2500 years ago, by a relatively uneducated peasant philosopher and General by the name of Sun Tzu. It is about learning to control others, in order to control yourself, to control a situation, and the costs of failure. It tries to teach people to think of the costs and consequences of their actions before hand. So they can win at life.

Unbendable Arm
As an ex martial arts instructor, I sometimes demonstrate Chi (or Ki), using the Unbendable Arm. (This is basically where using visualization, technique and mind, you can increase your strength dramatically). I basically wrap it in Western Explanations for how it works. But the facts are that it does work, whether you believe the mystical aspects or not.

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