Theories about character, ego, spirituality e.t.c . A part of martial arts, a part of a cult, something between, or something else.?

Martial arts which embrace tradition mimic how their students were to act back in the day when such instruction was used for warfare. Soldiers were very disciplined: if you disobeyed an order you'd get your head cut off. If your son dishonored the family, you'd be disemboweled. This is true in most societies, because the preservation of the country/kingdom/empire absolutely required discipline. Imagine our soldiers in war acting like today's UFC fighters?

So schools that demand character and spiritualism are doing so out of the tradition where students needed to exercise good character. Often, military training was the only place where character and spiritualism was developed, particularly the more tribal cultures - war and spirit were one and the same.

So when I see a school that develops character and spiritualism, I don't particularly mind, but we must remember that today, most people do not get their character and spiritual development from a martial arts class that they participate in after work for an hour 2 or 3 days a week. For some, they spend more time in the dojang than they do in church, so, it stands to reason that the tradition isn't wasted.

But I wonder: if a school embraced the tradition of character and spiritualism, why then, do they not embrace all of the other aspects of culture that soldiers of old were taught? For Japanese and Korean (and I imagine Chinese) styles, there would be a full gamut of training, like language, music, art, theatre, calligraphy, gardening, teaching, math, and science. Remember: a soldier was trained for everything in the military - they joined as early as 10, so they needed to develop their culture through the only place possible: their military training. But why don't schools today teach music, calligraphy, bonzai, etc? I think it's a half-hearted attempt to preserve someone else's culture, making it a cop-out.

No, it isn't necessary, and I don't mind a school that dispenses with character and spiritual development. In fact, I prefer schools that don't do this, because often, most of us get our character and spiritual development elsewhere. I say, if you want to have a traditional martial arts school, then do it all the way: your students are live-in students, full time; you are their instructor for everything. If you are only going to pick and choose which elements of tradition you are teaching, I wonder what your motives are?

I agree, today it is a marketing gimmick for children. I'm an old dog, and there's little in the way of character development any MA school is going to teach or change in me, so there is little point in spending the time developing my character and spiritualism in one- or two-hour classes a few times a week.

The short answer is no.

These terms or terms like them are often used as a marketing strategy to get children to enroll in class. Martial arts were developed for life preservation your and others. But when they began to market martial arts classes to children they began to say it will develop self discipline, character, self confidence, self esteem. You can have that yes I can attitude. Your grade will improve. Your child will be a better person. They will wash dishes, and take out the trash. Parents love to hear those things. So they sign children up. I have studied martial arts for over 30 years. have yet to see anything spiritual in it. Sure there are some instructors that may tell their students about something spiritual. There are also some that do not believe in anything spiritual. If you want spiritual find a place like a church or other form of religious study/practice. If you want to learns self defense for to a place that teaches it. I do not follow any religious things from the far east like Japan or China. I do believe in the bible. I do not attempt to force my beliefs on anyone in class. I believe I should follow the principles of the bible. One such principle is there is a time and place for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Character is doing what one has committed to do, not just talk the talk but walk the walk.

One may not be successful in advancing in martial arts unless one is committed to learn and do all the forms and this takes character to accomplish.

Ego is self-centered perception of ones needs and desires and acting as directed by ones ego may be tactless and not result in advancement of society, good sharing and cooperation. In martial arts one driven by ego will make poor decisions, and may be suckered into exposing himself for counterattack.

Spirituality is the bigger picture in which each man is a small part, and what we do is subject to some enlightened judgement by a higher authority. If we have a relationship with God we treat our fellow men well that we may please God and live a long life on this earth that he has given us to share. In martial arts, we appreciate the humility and respect that comes with spirituality and that it may please God that we work together as a team and cooperate and collaborate and build each other up so we may all share the benefits.