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On Martial Arts Arts Studied | Reading List | My Current Workout Schedule (best view with IE Explorer) You might be wondering why I've included a page about martial arts on a website that examines secularism. Simple. The philosophy behind certain Eastern arts have greatly influenced how I think. In particular, I'd have to say that I am in debt to the writings of the late Bruce Lee for introducing me to his personal philosophy of Jeet Kune Do. Before I talk about Jeet Kune Do I need to give you some background about martial arts and how they might relate to religion. Simply put, for those of you who may have practiced martial arts you'll likely agree that many practitioners are as dogmatic and "religious" about their particular style as any organized religion. In fact, rather than seeing the value and worth in all styles, a few schools still teach that their way is the "only" and "right" way to practice martial arts. In short, these schools are the martial arts equivalent to religious fundamentalists because they preach their own gospel truth. I liken martial arts to tools in a tool box. Certain tools work best in certain situations. However, no one tool has the gospel truth when it comes to combat. In fact, any one art--given the right circumstances--can be defeated by someone who is not skilled in "a" art. This is where the essence of Jeet Kune Do philosophy comes in:
(Excerpt from John Little's The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee.) In other words, by following Bruce Lee's personal prescription for individual growth, one can have a positive framework from which to examine all phenomena in life. Through your own experiences you are able to examine a thing, keep what is useful, reject what has no use, and also personally add to it. Thus, Lee's method is a prescription for personal growth whereas dogmatism is a prescription for stagnation. As noted in Little's book, Bruce Lee was an atheist and, in my opinion, he was certainly a freethinker in the broad sense of the term. However, I would not consider him to be a luminary of freethought or secularism. He was an artist and philosopher who happened to express himself through his martial art. Moreover, he was far more intelligent and insightful than Hollywood or his movies portrayed him (e.g., he was a voracious reader of many topics and once studied philosophy). Whether you are a religious or non-religious freethinker (or "free thinker" if you prefer) I would highly recommend the above title by John Little. Reading it will teach you how to apply Lee's philosophy of Jeet Kune Do to all aspects of your life. |