Historically, traditional martial arts has been closely associated with spirituality and religion. In the case of Kung Fu, some examples are Buddhism to Shaolin Kung Fu, Taoist to Tai Chi, and Muslim to some northern styles influenced by 12 spring kicks (tan tui).
So what is the significance of spirituality and religion in martial arts? To answer this, we need to analyze the human history and it's psyche.
The brain is in either two states, "flight or fight" or "rest and recovery". During cave man time, we faced numerous threats, and when we did, we either chose to escape or fight it. When the threat was over, we returned to a rest and recovery state, often reflecting over the situation on how to better equip ourselves from similar scenarios. Even today with an argument, we often replay the conversation over in our heads, and come up with what could and should have been said.
In the case of combat, we also reflect to take the corrective measures to ensure our well-being, which turns into the practice of martial arts. This practice of 'developing our best through being in the worst' makes the human experience unique from other species.
Well-being can be concluded that it is the most desired state. It might not appear significant at first glance, but we can now begin to ask a profound question, "how and what are our common origins to desire this state of well-being?" In fact, the desire we seek is often perfection, which can be said only God, Source, Prime Creator, or any other names we call the Omnipotent power can be.
Some religious scriptures have an underlining message that, 'God created man in his image'. If this is true, all our experiences including combat/martial arts, is a journey in search of and returning to our origin and most desired state of well-being.
So what is the significance of spirituality and religion in martial arts? To answer this, we need to analyze the human history and it's psyche.
The brain is in either two states, "flight or fight" or "rest and recovery". During cave man time, we faced numerous threats, and when we did, we either chose to escape or fight it. When the threat was over, we returned to a rest and recovery state, often reflecting over the situation on how to better equip ourselves from similar scenarios. Even today with an argument, we often replay the conversation over in our heads, and come up with what could and should have been said.
In the case of combat, we also reflect to take the corrective measures to ensure our well-being, which turns into the practice of martial arts. This practice of 'developing our best through being in the worst' makes the human experience unique from other species.
Well-being can be concluded that it is the most desired state. It might not appear significant at first glance, but we can now begin to ask a profound question, "how and what are our common origins to desire this state of well-being?" In fact, the desire we seek is often perfection, which can be said only God, Source, Prime Creator, or any other names we call the Omnipotent power can be.
Some religious scriptures have an underlining message that, 'God created man in his image'. If this is true, all our experiences including combat/martial arts, is a journey in search of and returning to our origin and most desired state of well-being.