Browsing by Subject "Martial Arts"

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    Clashes of Civilizations Gave Rise to Martial Arts, but Enlightened Martial Philosophies Reveal the Better Way
    (2012-06-08) Andregg, Michael M.Mar
    Human beings have studied how bodies can move from time immemorial. Some of those studies have focused on the disciplined development of various skills, like acrobatics, dance and martial art. Millennia of genocides, wars and lesser atrocities have concentrated more attention on the latter than the former, although the former are more beautiful. Thoughtful practitioners of the deadly forms have often devoted considerable thought to ethics or other philosophies that should accompany their craft. This is especially important in martial arts, because to teach those skills means arming people for life with deadly capabilities. So thoughtful teachers in particular have had to worry often about what their students might do with skills once learned. Most of this brief review will be academic history, since ISCSC is a Comparative Civilizations Society, but one of the truisms of martial art is that it is never strictly ‘academic.’ Words on paper cannot begin to express some things at the heart of the art. Therefore, I will begin with a very modern example, towards which the history leads, and end with a physical demonstration. The modern example is the attempt to teach martial ethics to soldiers in the context of learning technique. The soldiers are US Marines who study the forms described by the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) adopted in 2001 CE (1) and logoed thus:
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    Debating to Win: a discourse on dialogue with some techniques
    (Pusan National University published this in South Korea, in Korean language, but I do not know where, 2007-11) Andregg, Michael M.
    Debating to Win a discourse on dialogue with some techniques prepared by Michael Andregg of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, November, 2007 for the MBA program of Pusan National University in Pusan, Republic of Korea mmandregg@stthomas.edu First Principle: There is a vast difference between debate and dialogue, which should be thoroughly understood by people who want to make a difference on this earth. Second Principle: The concept of “winning” has nuances. What, for example is at stake? What are you trying to win: a classic debate, a court battle, an academic argument, a contract, a boardroom dispute, hearts and minds, or a nuclear war? You should answer this question before selecting technique. Third Principle: You are usually talking to multiple audiences simultaneously. All audiences matter, but differently. And many audiences use language quite differently. Fourth Principle: How you say what you say is often more important than what you say. Body language and emotional tone convey more information in many debates than words, and are often more persuasive. But of course, words matter too. Fifth Principle: Insults are often tempting but usually counterproductive. Whenever possible focus on the message, not the messenger, and avoid attacking critics or opponents personally. Humor is far more powerful, if you can do that well. That noted, the difference between debate and dialogue is now essential. With dialogue you can be kind to your opponent and better enlighten the entire community. In debate you must “win,” so you may have to destroy his argument or credibility.