However we are living in a world today of chaos, imbalance and yes barbarianism.  Sadly much of the barbarianism is from the martial arts industry. Martial Arts and Responsibility is important!

Martial Arts and Responsibility. 

I am going to offer you something to read, which is an excerpt from my book Kosho Natural Laws of Motion.  This is a true story and something to ponder. 

Meeting Terry Lee / Nimr Hassan.

This took place at a seminar in Toronto in 2001.

However meeting Hassan, love him or hate him changed my direction. I was brutal in my training and my teaching. At this session Hassan demonstrated a rather odd block for a waza. This was what I call a “W” shaped block. And I am going to retell this because I hope to emphasize the importance of the lesson! We practiced this blocked in a pair, and then found a training partner and used this block to defend against 2 punches.

This was awkward but doable.

After this he instructed all of us that after the two blocks to do some technique from our style to finish the waza. For mine I hooked around the head, and broke the neck. Hassan walked around in silence watching everyone practice their techniques. He stopped at me and said “Excellent! Great form and movement.” I thanked him. He stopped everyone and asked me to show the groups. The groups was about 150 people. I happily demonstrated my technique.

Martial Arts and Responsibility - My demonstration

Hassan then queried me “what is the best and worse case scenario for damage in this situation?” I replied “broken neck with permanent paralysis, or death.”

Hassan then stated, “but Master Art, the man punched you unsuccessful twice and then you killed him.” This was the greatest GUT PUNCH I ever had in my then 18 years in the arts. It changed my direction in the martial arts, and my direction in life. Hassan committed a horrible crime, murder. But his attempts to atone for it had influence on at least one person. Me...

At dinner that night we sat together and he told me, confessed to me about the crime. He also exonerated James Mitose. Mitose had NO PART in the murder. He apologized to me for embarrassing me in front of all those people. But I thanked him for it.

Hassan is haunted by this past. He save me from this. His life was changed forever by not controlling an altercation. Martial Arts and Responsibility, we all have one. 

Martial Arts and Responsibilityn Conclusion

And I have heard a hundred times martial artist bragging about injuring the opponents. 

This is nothing to brag about, it is something to be ashamed of.  I too am guilty, but I try to always take the higher ground.

I released a book recently called Kosho Ryu Street Strategies: The Art of Escape.  Perhaps consider this. "In true self defense there is no body contact."

Thank you for reading Martial Arts and Responsibility.

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Thank you for taking time to read this article about Martial Arts and Responsibility. Also please visit my History of the Martial Arts page. 

Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! Keep Learning!

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