Neville Chamberlain in a forum on martial arts!
Brilliant!
In one fell swoop, someone has managed to imply (that’s imply, not infer) that I am a coward, a cur, and that I am a poser that doesn’t really know anything about martial arts.
Now I don’t want to turn this into a personal argument (which it seems to be in danger of becoming) but I do want to set the record straight.
So to set the record straight:
I never said nor implied that I had studied Shaolin kung fu. Other systems, yes, but not Shaolin. But I have learned about Shaolin.
And, anyone who knew anything about Shaolin would recognize my earlier quote:
“When confronted with violence, there is a simple and preferred method… run away.”
as part of the centuries-old Shaolin Creed, which continues…
“Learn the ways to preserve rather than destroy. Avoid rather than check; check rather than hurt; hurt rather than maim; maim rather than kill; for all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.”
Now were the Shaolin (real Shaolin, I mean) cowards or curs?
And, for the record, there was another Teacher who said:
“When someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other cheek, also.”
That same Teacher also said:
“Whoever lives by the sword shall die by the sword.”
Now was that Teacher a coward or a cur? Or was he someone who would lay down his life for his friends?
And what about those who take those teachings seriously? Are they cowards or curs?
I am by no means a pacifist, neither am I a kung fu expert.
But, as my sensei often said:
“Best defense… not be there.”
I think the other teachers on this forum might agree.
Still, If you must know, I have sometimes found myself in harm’s way or placed myself in harm’s way in order to protect someone else.
Given that I have never been much bigger than the classic Charles Atlas 98-pound weakling, putting myself in harm’s way must because of either:
a) I have a profound sense of justice and feel compelled to help others;
b) I have a profound death wish and feel compelled to rescue damsels in distress.
Good thing for me I now know how to block!
But as the Shaolin Creed points out, you don’t always have to bash somebody to protect yourself or someone else.
Mahatma Gandhi was neither a kung fu expert nor a Christian. But he was often confronted with violence and took the Teacher seriously.
I think Gandhi said it best when he said:
“I am prepared to die. But there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill.”