Religion Analysis Service
In this particular class the ages of the pupils include ages 8 to 35 or 40. They are here to learn Karate. The children are concentrating just as much as the older "students." They are led through the various kicks, punches and jumps by an oriental man, who at the beginning of the class, led the entire group in bowing to the two flags at the front of the long, rather narrow, hall. One was an American flag and the other an oriental flag with some kind of oriental configuration on it.
What this group, and thousands of others like it around the country, is doing, is learning a system which was born two centuries before the birth of the Christian era and developed in various eastern countries. It is called a Martial Art because it is part of a group of similar systems that were originally considered a form of weaponless warfare. An encyclopedia definition states that Martial Arts are methods of self-defense based on Eastern philosophies or religion.
There are 56 varieties of Martial Arts, some violent and others more passive. All are disciplines designed to harmonize the body with the energy forces of the universe in order to achieve religious enlightenment. There are six to eight major disciplines.
KUNG FU was the original term describing the Martial Arts. Later, specific names were given to variations: Karate, Tai Chi. Judo, Jujitsu and Aidido. The original religious philosophy of Kung Fu dates back to 2696 BC. This discipline is the "hard school," emphasizing kicking, striking and punching. Its appeal to the average person lies in its offensive character, although it can be used to improve health. Advanced Kung Fu is used for striking vital points, causing delayed action of some sort that is known as a "death touch," and the use of psychic powers. Most practitioners do not consider Kung Fu to be a religion but rather a way of life. However, since many of its philosophies are adapted to everyday life, it then becomes, for all practical purposes, the personal religion of the adherent. Most "sifu," or Kung Fu teachers, will admit that anyone can learn the perfect physical aspects of the art but that the inner teachings are much more important.
TAI CHI is that form of Martial Arts in which the ultimate goal is readily admitted to become an immortal. This is supposedly accomplished by putting the body in harmony with the laws of nature. This form of the art can produce supernatural strength and devastating power in combat. This is brought about by concentrating on the KI or CH'I, known in the occult arts as the ''life-energy-creative force" of the universe. This is the source of power for all that is done in the Martial Arts. In a practitioner, this center of power, or KI, is located in the body's psychic center just below the navel. [Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks- This is the same point the Hindus call the Kundalini chakra, or the sexual life force.]
KI is developed by meditation, concentration, and the fundamental exercise of abdominal breathing. This doctrine was the main source of metaphysical and intellectual speculation for Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese philosophers and religious leaders. It was ultimately adopted by almost all the important schools of Martial Arts. It is not considered mysterious or magical but rather a common property of every human being. The difficult part is learning how to master it and release it profitably. It can produce effects not only within the body but also at a distance from the practitioner. It is claimed that this KI energy can be used to turn the hand into a powerful weapon, to heal wounds and diseases, or break bricks and boards without even touching them. It can be used as a shield to keep the individual from being injured. A Martial Artist can so direct the KI power that no matter how many blows he might receive, whether from fists, staves, or even swords, he will not even show a bruise or scratch on his body.
One who has mastered the art is able to strike a pile of bricks, for instance, with just a slap, and break only one pre-selected brick in the pile. This energy, it is claimed, can be used to concentrate all available KI into a loud shout which, if so desired, can actually kill an opponent. On the defensive side, a man knowledgeable in the techniques of K1, can, through concentration and meditation, be completely indifferent to physical discomfort, pain, and even death.
Without doubt, if these things real]y do take place, and there is no reason to doubt the claims made for KI, the power is not of God but of the occult and Satan, who is behind all occult phenomenon.
KARATE is that form best known to westerners. To be successful, one must first empty the mind of wickedness in order to react in an acceptable way to the "internalized god." Because of the nature of the development of Karate in its background of Buddhism, even when it is not stressed by the instructor, the art is saturated with Zen philosophy.
Zen is a Buddhist discipline that stresses meditation and direct teaching from master to student. It was introduced to China by a Buddhist monk who had studied Buddhism in India. While Buddhism teaches that it takes a lifetime to "arrive"at an "awakening," Zen teaches that the goal may be reached immediately. The aim of Zen is complete control of the mind to attain a state of enlightenment and a sense of detachment from the physical world. This is the one essential of Zen: the direct experience of enlightenment. Encouraging, deepening, and expressing that experience in all of life is its sole purpose. In Zen there is no past nor future because the most important thing is the experience of the "now" or present moment. Zen has no concept of sin, has no god, and so needs no deliverance. It is generally acknowledged that Zen was the foundation of the Martial Arts in Japan and that it reputedly provides the Martial Artist with the disciplines for developing strong character and personality. Zen Buddhists say, "When sitting correctly in Za-Zen one is not practicing towards becoming the Buddha: while sitting correctly, one IS the Buddha."
According to THE OFFICIAL MANUAL OF THE JAPAN KARATE ASSN., which was written by their Chief Instructor, M. Nakayama. "Karate is, and always has been, a method of self defense, never a technique of aggression. But it is much more than that. To the sincere student, it is a form of combined physical and mental discipline from which he can learn the value of personal attributes such as kindness and sincerity." Gichin Funakoshi, the man who introduced karate into Japan, often told his students, "The spirit of karate is lost without courtesy."
JUDO and JUJITSU. Jujitsu is a blend of Rung Fu and Japanese martial arts. Judo is basically Jujitsu minus the killing aspects. It was the first, according to THE COMPLETE MARTIAL ARTS CATALOGUE, to reach outside the Orient to the Western world, where it became at first a fascinating, secretive fighting art and later an internationally recognized sport. By the beginning of World War II, there were judo schools in almost every major country, and following the war, it became a recognized Olympic sport.
Devotees are warned in some judo manuals that the art should not be learned without the inclusion of meditation exercises. The "Catalogue" quoted above states that the founder of judo, Jigoro Kano, taught that the ultimate goal of judo was, "The harmonious development end eventual perfection of human character."
These are some of the different forms of Martial Arts but all have similar religious backgrounds and goals. Since their roots are in Taoism and Buddhism, they view the universe as an interplay of opposites expressed in eastern philosophy and religions as the YIN and YANG. The goal is to arrive at the Zen goal of stilled senses where one is able to merge with the "Universal Consciousness."
Almost without exception those involved in some kind of Martial Arts training complain about anyone finding fault with the Arts because all they want to do is learn self-defense or physical prowess. Matsutatsu Oyama, who in 1947 won the All Japan Karate Championship, came to the United States in 1952 to represent the Karate world of Japan. He wrote in his book, MASTERING KARATE, "Always more vital to karate than techniques or strength is the spiritual element that lets you move and act with complete freedom. In striving to enter the proper frame of mind, Zen meditation is of great importance. Though we say that this meditation involves a state of impassivity and complete lack of thought, we mean that through meditation we can overcome emotion and thinking and give freer reign to our innate abilities than ever before. The Zen style of selfishness is the same condition of disregard for selfish thoughts and concern for personal welfare that the artist experiences in the heart of creation. The man who wants to walk the way of karate cannot afford to neglect Zen and spiritual training."
A few would argue that a person does not study the philosophical or religious aspects of the Martial Arts but only the physical. People that argue that way must hear American 5th Dan Master Instructor, Bob Miller, who initiates boys as young as five years old into his own free-style version of Hapkido, which is a Korean Martial Art similar to "soft style" karate. He said, and this is quoted in MARTIAL ARTS -- ARE THEY HARMFUL, by Mike R. Taylor available from Religion Analysis Service, "While I teach them on the physical level, I throw philosophy at them." It would take an unusual individual, who possessed a great amount of discernment to try to sift the physical benefits out of a Martial Arts program and not be affected in any way by the philosophical, occult or spiritual. Alter all, the power for KI is not of God so it must be of Satan, and is not something with which a Christian should have anything to do.
