Wushu, Warriorship Applied to life

Trials from life usually encompass the sender and the receiver....That seems to be the case anyway, always something to learn. How people treat us,,,yes sometimes it's like a full body blow or a kick to the heart...(I use a lot of martial arts terminology, because Wushu, Kung fu, or whatever... is like life, that's the beauty of it.) We have to learn to feel the intention, because sometimes we aren't aware enough of the impending kick. When we see the knee raise up (warning sign) it's time to side step and deflect. But silly us, and I have been guilty of this.. we take the blow to the heart, and we keep taking the blows until we have been trained to avoid them or see them for what they are. We should train just like in Kung fu...until not only can we move aside and deflect but we can also have the choice to return a devastating blow. But "the sword of no sword" is more about deflecting then returning the blow. The fact that we know we can return a devastating blow, and don't that's where honor comes in. knowing we can.. gives us courage and confidence, but the fact that we don't is the honor.
In Tai Chi another Chinese art, the momentum of the persons kick is redirected or used to throw the person off balance and fall on their face... better to loose face and to learn, then to have to receive a lethal blow. Think about that in terms of putting a person in their place with softness or crushing them with devastating blows (sharp cutting words). I have been through so many kicks to the heart physically and mentally, as many of us have. You train so you don't have to worry about it. When you are first learning, the ego says devastate that S.O.B.,,but as you progress, you don't see the need, because they are devastating themselves, or you can avoid it entirely (the sword of no sword)... this can apply to how we deal with our internal thoughts that become opponents, or self induced hate that tries to kick us to the heart.

Role Models

As far as role models, that's ok if we know our role models,,,or we take the good from the role model, because no one is perfect...take the good, overlook the imperfection. Lets remember though that's the problem with titles...even when we take on a Sensei or Sifu, to learn the martial arts,,the person is not to be worshipped but just respected for what they know and can pass on to us. Usually the motive for a sifu is to help us cope with the violence around us but teach us spiritual values too. He is not out to hurt us for glee! He is beyond that! The problem with modern warfare or even some historical warfare is that its built on devastating the opponent, it's about body count. It's about shock and awe. It isn't about applying enough force to redirect or make them say uncle (tapping out or slapping on the floor with your hand) its about complete destruction. Where is the honor in that? I highly recommend taking some form of Martial art both hard and soft and applying the spiritual principles or concepts in your life as a means to insure your well being and survival.

-Wakiya