Violence

Below is an excerpt from an article by Nick Lowry, a senior martial artist regarding something which is at the heart of a martial art, violence. It's a thought provoking article and well worth reading. The whole article may be read here.

“Meditations on Violence” by Nick Lowry

Some starting points: How do we hold the realities of violence? How do we interact with the suffering and trauma of violence? How do we transform and heal in the face of violence? What do dojos and budo (martial arts) have to do with all this?

We are all touched by violence. No one comes through the door of a dojo who has not been marked by this fact. Some are victims, others are victimizers. Some want relief from fear, others want to gain more power and control over their world in the face of chaos. Some dream of becoming a hero, wielding power like a weapon and doing violence for “good and just” purposes; vanquishing evildoers for the greater cause. Others just enjoy the paradoxical dance, the dance that turns so beautifully on the edge of something so ugly— the dance that somehow, transcends.