Anyone reading this essay is probably already involved with the martial ways.  I use the term “ways” to cover the variety of intent involved with these practices. Let me take the three basic approaches that are practiced in the 21st century martial ways.

The most recent of these has really developed just since the 1970s. These are martial activities. Whole martial schools have developed:  to provide a place for individuals and families to exercise and learn some basic self-defense and, to provide a sense of discipline that has begun to fade in our society. Some of these dojo have after-school programs for children and even provide transportation.  Some provide a wide range of activities, including:  kick boxing, weight training, martial aerobics, weapons, grappling, etc. Parents and children can do these activities together, providing family time and bonding relationships. This is probably the most positive development for martial awareness in current culture.  The only way for the average American to be unaware of martial activities is to avoid TV and all of popular culture. It has become very socially acceptable to be a martial activity student.

And then there are martial sports.  There have always been contests between martial artists throughout history. Most of these ended in death of one or both of the participants.  After the end of World War II, martial sports began to develop and to compete with other sports for their continued existence. Rules for contests, proper techniques to win, and having a sportsman attitude all became priorities. Sports have fans, coaches, trainers, a lot of support personnel and, of course, sportsmen (and women, and now even children).  Martial sports have become an industry. They are based out of martial schools that practice all of the other martial activities. But some schools really emphasize the competition.  This is not bad in itself, but like all sports, there is a finite time limit for a competitive athlete. Then what?  Does the martial sportsman become a teacher, or just retire?

And now we come to the martial arts.  By this, I am referring to martial methods that do not embrace sports or an activity for the family or for a healthy lifestyle. Traditionally, martial arts were meant to kill people. These were military arts on the whole, or practiced by families to ensure survival. The U.S. Military and ISIS both practice martial arts.  Martial Arts can be used for good or evil. Martial arts techniques are not taught for sport or for discipline. They are used to cause intentional harm to other human beings. When I was learning Judo, I was taught to do the least possible harm. Restraint and arrest techniques were emphasized. While studying Aiki-Jujitsu, I was taught how to kill and to take prisoners.  As one of my instructors said, “Arresting someone is difficult.  You are not trying to hurt them. Taking a prisoner in combat is easier, they just have to be able to walk and answer questions during interrogation. They don’t need arms for that.  Killing is the easiest. But you have to live with it.”  Pretty grim.  

These three types of martial methods tend to blend martial arts schools in the modern world. A school that is mostly about families and children will usually have a sports component and even an emphasis on self-defense (at least for the female students). Other schools are more sports oriented, but will have the other aspects. And, a few very traditional schools will also allow for sports (a little) and for families. 

Let me address one last area of martial methods. The MMA (mixed martial arts) are sports.  They are a very dangerous sport and are usually practiced in an even more un-Christian manner than most. There are Christians in MMA, but relatively few.  It is not an activity that lends itself to humility.

Michael E. Proctor

At last year’s conference, I encouraged black belt instructors in attendance to begin praying about creating a strategic plan for each of their academy/dojo locations. I challenge all of you leaders to prayerfully develop a strategic plan that focuses on evangelism and discipleship. A plan that focuses on reaching students. A plan that fosters student recruitment, retention, and resiliency through evangelistic and discipleship initiatives.

As God solidifies the strategic plan in your heart and mind; I encourage you advance this plan into the implantation phase. The implementation of your strategic plan begins by effectively communicating the VISION the Lord laid upon your heart. This can incorporated as a theme within martial arts school (and in particular your devotional time as well as discussed at monthly Parents Meetings at your school). Once the vision has been effectively communicated, the journey continues by adopting growth mindset infrastructures within your martial arts academy(ies) that nurture the desired culture necessary for implementing God’s strategic plan. Let us consider OUR COMMITMENT. Understand that the strategic plan for each of our schools is going nowhere without commitment of a critical mass of your students and parents. The unavoidable truth is that necessary but disruptive changes for strategic planning will not happen unless there is a real commitment to making them happen.

· DUTY: it is our responsibility to get our students and parents fired up and ready to embrace and, in some ways, take the lead in growing the strategic growth culture.

· EARNED: it is important for us to remember that commitment cannot be commanded or demanded; it has to be given… it has to be earned; by YOU. Please note that there is a big difference between COMPLIANCE and COMMITMENT. Compliance is, "Tell me what to do and I will do it (whether I like it or not… and even if I don’t agree with it)." You certainly can command compliance with your strategic plan. Your students want to advance… they want to be a “good martial artist” and they will most likely comply. However, if your students are simply told what to do, but lack a deep understanding of why it is important, the outcome, and in particular student learning outcomes/growth/dedication will not be what you set out to achieve.

Commitment, on the other hand, means, "Tell me what results are needed and I will make sure they happen." It is only in the second case that your academy students and your parents begin to take responsibility for the strategic outcome. When your people know the "why" and believe in the value of the outcome, they will take responsibility for outcomes. They will use their initiative and do things no one asked them to do because they believe the results are worth it.

COMMITMENT COMES FROM HAVING A SHARED VISION: Creating an inspiring vision and strategic plan for your martial arts school’s future is an essential requirement for you as the ministry’s servant-leader. The vision and plan must be a compelling statement that motivates and energizes students, parents, and even the hosting church to become actively engaged in creating the transformational initiatives that will establish a solid foundation for your academy structure and foundation. It is important to note that a compelling vision is a vivid picture of a possible future that students and others find inspiring. It lets them imagine in detail what will be different from today that will make them excited to be in that future. Each of your students and stakeholders within your martial arts school must be able to see themselves (and others) "doing something great". For the plan to be embraced, people need to visualize what it would look like if each strategic goal were being realized magnificently. In this future picture, students, junior leaders, and even parents can see a how far they have come in just a few years. Each will see the positive impact GMAU involvement is having on the success of students. It is a picture of an academy that is not just surviving but actually thriving.

John R. Russell

Romans 12:9-21 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitaltiy. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengence is mine, I will repay says the Lord.’ To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” At GMAU we use Romans 12:18 as part of our training and the main focus with our Hands of Peace form. But recently I have been studying the entire chapter and especially versus 9 – 21. In the ESV Bible is is called the Marks of the True Christian and gives us as believers and martial artists so much wisdom if we choose to hear and abide. It first reminds us to love, and not just go through the motions but to be genuine. Love like Christ loved, everyone. It also warns us to “abhor” evil, but do we truly know what that means and do we practice it. Abhor means to inspire disgust and loathing or repugnant. Do we look at evil with disgust, do we stay away or do we dabble with it? The scripture continues by telling us to try to outdo one another by showing honor, not by other vain competitions. We are not to be lazy but to find ways to serve Christ. And it goes on about how as Christians we should act. I want to pay particular attention to the end. Verse 19 tells us how we are to treat those that we would consider our enemies. This is right after we are told that we might not be able to live at peace with everyone. We are supposed to provide for our enemies. Elsewhere in scripture it indicates that we should pray for our enemies. This is hard, I know it first hand but it is commanded by God’s word. This along with forgiveness are probably two of the hardest things we are called to as believers. But we must do it. We must put aside differences and even if unable to get along we need to forgive and love. Why, because Christ loved us. –Corey Britcher