“Are you religious? Why do you use ‘Spirit’ in your organization?”
Our simplest answer is that we don’t teach or preach anything that deals with religion. There is however a deep tie to religion in the practice of martial arts. It is inherent in the work we do to ask ourselves “Why do I have this power?” “What do I do with this power?” and “What does it make me if I use this power?” These are all good questions and we at MBSMA do not try to answer them. We are however the ones literally asking the questions, and making sure that each student finds for themselves, an answer.
We ask you the question as well: “What would you do if you had the power to kill someone?” “What do you do with that power?” “When do you use that power?”
To develop your own answers is to develop the “Spirit” that we talk about.
The simplest approach works best, and that is to be a mirror for showing examples of how others will look at them if they use power/strength unwisely. Show all the consequences for the use of the martial arts (even for defense) when they could have just walked away. Part of the real cost of getting into a fight when you know what you are doing is that someone is going to get hurt (and sometimes many people). This goes back to the old adage: “No one wins a fight.”
“If you hurt someone, was it really worth your ‘ego’ or ‘dignity’? Does anyone deserve to get hurt? Could you just have walked away?”
This side of our martial arts is dealing with one more thing; the spirit is also used synonymously with “the will” of a person. It is the strength of a leader to always push forward when everyone else is unwilling or unable to go forward. Many times this means the ability to restrain yourself in tense situations and end a ‘fight’ before it begins.
By far MBSMA is more interested in the questions inherent in talking about the spirit, then about the “will” of a person. It is of vital importance in working with people that they understand:
- how powerful they are
- how powerful they can be
- their impact on others
I (Vinnie Geer, CEO) am still asking and answering these questions of myself. I am forever a student of myself, learning as I grow, and hoping to be a guide for others who maybe don’t even know they should ask the question. Religions found throughout the world only support this study of the “self” and each have their own tenants as to how one should handle all of these questions. We therefore support them all as best as we can, and often direct students to work with their religious leaders instead of figuring it all out with me. I am a guide and a teacher, not a ‘profit’ of any sort. The basis for our teachings is utilizing this mind, body, spirit through MARTIAL ARTS, as a tool for the ART of mastering the self and LEADERSHIP in mastering working with the world around you.