Fair question: What is a "way of life"?

"So, what is a way of life?"

I understand this to stem largely from the translation of the Japanese concept of "道" (do, as in judo, budo, bushido...) The mildly ironic aspect of this is that "do" can be literally understood as "street" or "path". So, then, what is a way of life? It's the path one walks. Nothing more, nothing less.

"How can someone know if someone else is living martial arts?"

Simply? They can't. They may observe them acting in accordance to the expected norms associated with the martial arts (i.e. "training"), but it's not appropriate nor is it possible to say with any certainty, "This is your path". We all make our own path, and we all travel it in the way most fitting for ourselves.

IMHO, it's two things:

One: Martial arts becomes a 'way of life' when training becomes an integral part of your daily life. You no longer view it as simply a hobby or a pastime that you do when you have some extra spare time, but as an inseparable aspect of your day-to-day activities -- along with all the supplementary exercises that come with the "package".

Two: The values that underlie your martial art of choice starts to seep into your perspective on life. It could be practical (e.g., constant situational awareness, rolling out of a fall, etc.) or more conceptual or even philosophical (e.g., low-risk behavior, instinctively trying to deescalate conflict instead of responding to taunts and threats, etc.) and of course the small things you pick up from training. For example, learning how to trust and to honor the trust of other people ("I'll lend you my arm to practice your armbar, so please take care a bit, yes? Of course I'll also take care of your arm or any other appendage I'm playing human-origami with.") can help you learn how to be a more trusting and trustworthy person outside the gym/dojo/dojang/whatever.

A way of life is just that, a method of living.

Like breathing, eating, washing, etc.

Someone who spends their entire life devoted to the mastery of themselves through some manner of existence is practicing a way of life, be it art, religion, sports, martial arts, etc.

Living according to a set of principles and ideologies.

Martial arts, as a way of life isn't simply about practicing the art but deciding how and which principles to apply creates a way of life.

Some people adopt a passive set of principles others adopt more aggressive principles; however the continued daily renewal of the art being assimilated into their character is what makes something a way of life.

A way of life in the context of martial art means to incorporated your understanding how things are done in martial art into all that you do in your daily existence. It is more than just training regularly your techniques or attending class. It means to take the discipline that helped you achieve or guide you into achieving mastery and apply it to other areas of your life. It means to adhere to the rules or code of ethics outside as well as inside the classroom.

An analogy would be how people who have successfully lose weight and kept it off think of the change in their diet not as a "diet" but as a lifestyle (way of life). Wherease those who typically fail do so because they were fixated on the word "diet" which implies something temporary and outside the norm which in turn set them up for eventual failure. If it is temporary or not normal, then the impetus is to cease and return to normalcy.

A lifestyle or way of life is something that you do every conscious moment of each day for the rest of your life. Not something compartmentized to only a certain time of certain days. To live the Way, is to see the thread of your art in every aspects of life.

In my mind, having something become away of life means it becomes a part of who you are, transcending past interest, hobby or activity and into the realm of self realization.

The traditional/classical arts aren't the only things that can become a way of life. MMA, boxing, etc., etc., can become a part of someone's life. Professionally, sure there is the aim of monetary gain, but you would have to have more than just a passion to go through the exact same motions day in day out.

An example of people who don't take martial arts seriously and it not becoming a way of life in any way, shape or form, are the people who go to class for whatever reason but don't practice at home or put any kind of effort into to accept at class, 2 or so hours twice a week.

An example of a person who takes martial arts seriously and it becoming a way of life, is someone who wakes up thinking about training. Who thinks of fighting application while brushing their teeth at night. Someone who trains daily and puts real effort into it, and has a desire to push himself.

I think it can be as simple as involving yourself in it when you're not forced to, to as complicated as having over 90% of waking their waking life involved in it in someway. It's a desire, not just an interest.

It is 1-the mechanical how to do of living combined with

2-the manner or attitude with which we attend that life.We must not forget that there is also

3-the opinion of others about that life and how they are assimilated

but mostlly the first 2

As an example:

When students of Tai-chi-Chuan learn fighting or the practice exercises, they must first learn to recognize their own ingrained behavior patterns. They learn how to let these programmed behaviors go so they can move with precise and effective mechanics.

They then learn to recognize these behavior patterns in the "opponent" so they can size up how the opponent is limited by their programming (even if that programming is the style of fighting they learned). The student then uses the opponent's limitations by moving in such ways as to magnify them, which locks up the opponent.

When that same student lives his everyday life, he is more empty of programmed behaviors than the average person, more perceptive and more creative. He can appreciate how other people are locked up in their own behaviors and how people identify with their patterns rather than with their creativity. To perceive clearly, whether in fighting or in life, your consciousness cannot be stirred up and clouded by behavior patterns which are not related to what you are actually doing.

If he or she is involved in healing, the student can use this understanding to better heal. He is also less susceptible to being manipulated by others in his everyday interactions. He doesn't act in order to reinforce his ego but to enhance his own well being and that of others around him. Ego is just another programmed behavior. When you operate from ego, you are not free.

This is just one example. Each principle of fighting applies to one's everyday life. If you are good at one, you will be good at the other. Each helps you to understand the other. Each helps you to practice the other.

A way of life is an ethos. Have you seen "The Big Lebowski"?- "say what you like about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos...". I'm kidding but the most important part of any ethos is self-awareness.

Simply put, a way of life is a method of living. It is a mindset as to how you conduct yourself in certain places, with certain people, and in accordance to certain situations you face in life, regardless as to what they may be.

EDIT: To further elaborate, I feel that martial arts is more than just fighting. With that said, everyday, to some degree or another I practice my techniques, whether I take 1-3 hours out of my day to do it or several minutes. I do constantly think about training. However, I see for myself how I live. I notice that I am aware of my surroundings. I notice that I treat others as humbly as possible (though sometimes I do come off as having a dry sense of humor). I notice that I avoid conflicts as much as I can whether they be verbal or physical. I think about other ways to improve my life, not just physically but mentally and spiritually. I think of ways to become better than who I currently am. This striving for becoming better; this perseverence to become the best that I can be is why I consider martial arts as a way of life. I am living a certain way that I feel is best for me. This is my way of life.

I don't necessarily adhere to a routine where I MUST practice my poomsae everyday or strike the striking bag for an hour everyday OR practice my speed, timing, and agility everyday. Right now I am an Army Cadet who not only has to deal with ROTC stuff but has to maintain my grades and get as high grades as possible if I wish to get Active Duty and my preferred MOS. With that said, studying, homework, academics, ROTC, and life in general doesn't always leave time or the energy for me to physically practice. But WHEN I CAN, whether it be for a few minutes or longer, I practice in my mind.

Although I don't find training to be a chore, this is one of the reasons why I started offering free lessons in Taekwondo to my battalion. This allows me to not only continue to practice my way of life but to show it to others. I show my "students" the way I live and also the ways I defend myself if I ever have to. I want to get them into poomsae so I can push them deeper into the training but just as important as learning how to defend yourself physically, I guide them as to how they can avoid getting into those kind of situations period. I am teaching martial arts when they come to learn. I am showing them my way of life. With that said, I don't care what anyone else thinks: I feel that I am living the martial arts.

This is what happens when you spend so much time in it. You begin to realize that martial arts doesn't just happen in the dojang. It happens all around us. For me, it's transcended beyond causing harm in any way, shape or form.

Does that make sense to you?

everything you do revolves around it, you can see your training in your daily life,

your training effects the way you do thing and the way you approach everything.