Archives of Budo, 2008; Vol. 4: 1-3

Received: 2008.03.25 Accepted: 2008.03.27 Archives of Budo – dialogue about the personal safety Published: 2008.03.28 and action worth the man

Roman Maciej Kalina1, Bartłomiej Barczyński2

1 Faculty of Physical Education, Rzeszow University, Poland 2 Index Copernicus International SA

Full-text PDF: http://www.archbudo.com/get_pdf.php?IDMAN=12499.pdf Word count: 1639 Tables: - Figures: - References: -

Subject of all articles published in “Archives of Budo” primarily with the practice. These associations are be- from the beginning of the existence of the journal ing transfer to the fi eld of sports and defense (from 2005) concerns two closely interpenetrating arts. It is interesting that an organizers and observers issues of the widely understood personal safety and of popular shows like „Gala of Budo” accept besides action worth the man. Adopting classifi cation cri- traditionally Japanese and combat sports teria of contemporary science one can locate the performance with European and American, India and subject on borderland of biomedical, social and the Asia origins. The nascent phenomenon of the budo humanistic sciences. The more detailed classifi ca- culture in the global dimension causes that the more tion is authorizing to point on sports medicine and and more people distinguish that , , , physical education (accepting, that in scientifi c sub- , are traditional . discipline physical education includes sports science, That “capoueira” is a combat dance deriving from but not inversely). Therefore, there is also an offi cial Brazil and Indian „kalaripayatt” has much longer identifi cation (character of an articles and scientifi c tradition (the ancient Indian art of self-defence). That disciplines) of scope of an „Archives of Budo”. In “” arise in Israel. That amongst Caucasian the part of that identifi cation under the „journal’s nations are very popular all sorts of and description” we are exposing neither issues of the combat dances (at the same time systems of the hand- personal safety, nor issues of action worth the man. to-hand fi ght). That “” is a traditional Russian However, we are informing potential authors and system of the hand-to-hand fi ght and an author of readers that the scope of an “Archives of Budo” is currently developing system of the fi ght in the close to promote research in martial arts, combat sports, contact “unifi ght” is an Olympic champion at the defence arts, and related areas. judo, a Russian dr. Sergey Novikov etc.

Why after three years we are making above speci- The etymology of the „budo” is placing in the tradition fying? and the culture, as well as in the language of Japan. Today “budo” is an integral part of the education The reason is correlating with the second part of the of Japanese youth. Practice of “budo” (sumo, judo, journal name “Budo”. Many people all over the world kendo) is a compulsory element of exercises as part are associating the „budo” term with martial arts, of the physical education at schools of Japan, and

Author’s address: Roman Kalina, Faculty of Physical Education, Rzeszow University, ul. Towarnickiego 3C, Rzeszow, Poland, e-mail: [email protected]

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is recognized as the heritage of the culture. Some and in such a form enforced, the tradition can slow specialists explain even that distinguished across down this progress. In the longer perspective, it can the world “physical education” just enter the word turn out to be counterforceful action. “budo” but not inversely. Budo is philosophy and the practice of worth, creative live. The road of the It is our general point of view about the “tradition non-aggression and oppose evil in every form. Budo – a global perspective of budo”. The reader can reach is teaching do not give up adversities of fate but sur- an articles which authors with the great competence mount them. bring closer traditional sense of the “budo” term, i.e. when combine the tradition and the culture of During even the best prepared “Gala of Budo’ it is Japan, whether more widely with the culture of the hard to hand over to a mass audience, i.e. people di- Orient. However, authors of these articles generally versifi ed in terms of age, sex, education, experience are taking back the budo conception to the European and many other factors, the deepest value of budo. prospect, to the Western culture. Professors Waldemar They concern the sphere of the spiritual development, Sikorski and Stanisław Tokarski make so in a book the state of mind, ethical and social attitude. During “Budo. Japanese martial arts” (1988 – edition in such a gala the attention of audience is focused on Polish), Prof. Matthias v. Saldern in a book „Bushido. diversity, dynamics and the perfectionism of masters Ethik des. japanischen Ritters” (1993 – edition in of separate martial arts (let us explain that every German), Prof. Wojciech Cynarski in the monograph is at the same time martial arts, but “The theory and practice of martial arts in European not inversely). The phenomenon of budo – in short perspective” (2004 – edition in Polish). Historical – depends on the fact that the most reliable method and cultural differences in the teaching martial arts of simultaneous hardening the mind, the ghost and in Japan and in America and generally speaking dif- the body is leading through the practice martial arts. ferences of concepts of sports in Japan and in the It does not matter a kind of the practiced art (aikido, Western culture explain a group of Japanese and judo, ju-jitsu, karate, kendo, capoueira, kung fu, krav American scholars at the collective work „Japanese maga, unifi ght, wrestling etc.) but tutor. Budo is ac- Martial Arts & American Sports. The Historical and complishing then, if a tradition is carry on. Cultural Background on Teaching Methods” (1998) edited by Minoru Kiyota and Sawamura Hiroshi. We think that from a perspective of thinking in global categories, thinking in universal way, and the word “Budo” in the title of our journal is performing the “tradition” concerns only one issue – respecting su- symbolic role. We are not dealing strictly with his preme criteria of value. Hence, in our understanding interpretation. However we think, that perception the real master, would be recognized that is able to of this word is in the global society more signifi cant transfer leading criteria of values pupils and instruct than, the knowledge of the tradition and the knight’s them, in order to they lived according to these criteria. culture. There is no fundamental difference between Label dojo (of training room) is an important element the bushido code and fi ght rules obliged in Greece of education – external expression of internal harmony of times of Homer, the oldest in ancient India of and discipline exercising people (of the master and his “dhanurvedy” martial art, or the knights of medieval pupils). Many times the tradition is being identifi ed Europe. Average level pupils in the major of schools with “secrets” of the given fi ght school, in addition on every continent in one breath explain who was those secrets are being combined and the sphere of Bruce Lee and why for many is an unattainable pat- motor abilities (secret blows, grasps etc.) and with tern of the bravery. We doubt whether so easy they methods of teaching and training. An advantage of would explain who was Homer. contemporary science is possibility of solving eventu- ally these secrets, which concern phenomena being Close budo ideals are both a praxeology and inde- subject to a measurement. On the pages of “Archives pendent ethics (independent of any world point of of Budo” we provided empirical evidence that it is view, religion, politics etc.). The real author of the possible to increase the effectiveness of practiced praxeology – the theory about effi cient action and the blows in the (range and power), if we will conception of independent ethics is prominent Polish use knowledge in physics and biomechanics. We pub- scientist Prof. Tadeusz Kotarbiński. Many praxeologi- lished the teaching conception of self-defense accord- cal directives we fi nd in recommendations of action in ing to the psychomotor adaptation principle based on accordance with budo. Founder the judo, Prof. Jigoro contemporary pedagogy, psychology, system sciences, Kano, gave not only solid praxeological rules, but and knowledge about the functional anatomy of the also principles of action in accordance with ethics (an human, the physiology of effort and possibilities of independent ethics). Let us remind two – „recede in the learning of motor activities. Narrowly understood order to win”, „by acting well each other, for common

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good”. In praxeology and independent ethics, appears of the systems classifi ed to martial arts. Large pos- crucial category “bravery”. Brave is the one who acts sibilities of the complementary infl uence on the man effi ciently in matters worth the man. Neither praxe- are resulting of the logic connection the relations of ology, nor independent ethics propose the solid system “master-pupil” with physical exercises and spiritual of exercises, teaching methods, and training in order systems of martial arts (in everyone the most im- to make action effi cient and at the same time staying portant is fi ght in the direct clash, because it learns in accordance with ethics, in accordance with criteria self-discipline, respect to the competitor and own of value. In this regard, the practice of budo (at the corporality, demonstrate the necessity of constant multitude of methods and forms) is an unattainable respecting principal criteria to value). model in the global dimension. Competent master of martial art, who is loyal to Contemporary man, tempted by promises of the principle of the self-improvement (susceptible to the comfortable life, possibilities of modern technolo- constant education), stays in front of alternative of gies, simplicity of migration does not make increased being an expert of the modern health training. A goal muscle effort etc., however is exposing to the loss of of such training is a somatic health, a mental health; health and viability with the higher probability than its a social health and motor competence to survive. ancestors were. Appearing conceptions of developing These four elements are included in a „personal and keeping positive health based on physical educa- safety” notion. Among actions worth the man, it is tion models and methods borrowed from the sport hard to fi nd more responsible than, taking care of training are little effective. Much higher effectiveness the safety jointly and severally. The dialogue to this of the health training we can fi nd in the adaptation topic cannot have the end ever.

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