A Martial Arts Manifesto (Patreon)

Since we're a podcast run by politically left martial artists (hence our name), thought we'd share some social justice oriented reasons for training martial arts (besides self-defense paranoia and competition) that should be acknowledged and encouraged:

1. The most important part of martial arts many people miss, so I have to stress this, is consent. This IS the primary ethic of martial arts whether you realize it or not or got the message or not. And is a great teacher of consent ethics if properly explained. What's the difference between a spar and assault? The difference between fighting in a cage and violence? Consent. It's always been there. It's been there since day 1. It's been there whether you started at 5 or 40. Martial arts is a place where physicality must be consented to and that's what makes it ethical. And this ethics of consent is something we should carry into all things. The way we do one thing, martial arts, is the way we should do all things. Asking for permission, getting consent, respecting boundaries, and creating boundaries. This concept has not changed for thousands of years. Whether we slap hands or bump fists or bow, we are giving consent. It's always been there and has been the primary philosophy and somehow we forgot or never noticed.

2. Empowerment - To feel worthy, capable, and of value. Empowerment is a feeling, it's a way of thinking about yourself. And scaring people or dismissing their abilities does not create empowerment. So this is NOT the same as just feeling empowered to defend yourself against some racist trope or stereotype. And that type of stereotyping isn't even good self-defense, it doesn't prepare people for what's statistically most likely to happen. That if there is an assault, it will most likely be from someone you know, someone you trust, someone like you, someone who looks like you, and not the Other. So much of people's biases transfer into their martial arts teaching, it's no wonder there's often a toxicity problem in martial arts.

3. Self-expression - In a sedentary world, this is becoming more and more important. To be able to move and express your physical body in a way other movements can't do for you. In martial movements, you feel yourself and authentic.

4. Reclaiming the body - A lot of people come to martial arts because they went through violence and trauma. Then the sole reason isn't to make them fearful that this might happen again and this is what you should do next time. It's now about healing and reclaiming your body as yours. That this time when you have some bruises and nicks on your face and skin, it no longer means that trauma. It means a job well-done. This body is yours.

5. Fun and exercise - It's okay if you're only training for fun, not to be a ninja assassin. It's okay you're doing this for your health, as doing anything for your health is the ultimate form of self-defense.

6. Define your own success - Why you train and what you want to get out of it is up to you, regardless of what others tell you. Regardless of what your instructor tells you. Your personal experience and wants and dreams are yours to dictate and no one should take that away from you. 

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