Selflessness in the Martial Arts by KJN Ronald Stone

Selflessness in the Martial Arts by KJN Ronald Stone

Sometimes when trying to define a subject it helps to review the opposite of what we are attempting to understand.

When studying the concept of selflessness, we should remember why being selfish has never been a positive trait.

Obviously, someone who is selfish puts his or herself over others under consideration and keeps to themselves anything of value, including physical items and nonphysical items such as special knowledge.  A selfish individual jealously guards anything that might bring notoriety, profit, accolades, or 

increased wisdom. Why wouldn’t they, since after all a selfish individual puts themselves over all others.

On the other hand, a selfless individual would do just the opposite.  Sharing, teaching, donating, and caring about things that benefit others are traits that describe selflessness.

So how exactly does the concept of selflessness come in to play when one considers martial arts.   Well, for one thing, the hallmark of a true martial arts warrior is that they assume the role of being a guardian.  Such a responsibility would not even be considered by someone who puts their own benefit over others.

Another consideration is that, as anyone who has ever trained realizes, martial arts are learned by being taught and then in turn teaching others.  A true martial artist gladly, willingly, and selflessly shares knowledge with both students, and fellow practitioners and would never think of guarding secrets for personal fame, profit or ego.  

It is hard to imagine a selfish person living the tenets of the martial arts since by their very nature selfish people do not live a life of integrity and honesty.  Selflessness on the other hand, by its very nature, should define the true martial artist.

About the author: R.W. Stone is currently a practicing veterinarian in Central Florida.  He is an avid horseman, a master ranked martial artist, a best-selling western author, and a firearms enthusiast. After joining a martial arts school in 1970 Stone started studying Yudo with a Korean grandmaster.  He eventually became a member of the Judo team of the University of Illinois.  It was at the University that a Korean classmate and friend introduced him to Tae Kwon do.  After graduating veterinary college, he found the martial arts becoming too sports oriented and eventually after moving from Miami to Central Florida he sought out a Hapkido grandmaster. Currently Stone is ranked 8th dan in Haemukwan Hapkido, a 4th dan in Daehan Yudo and a second dan in Kukki Taekwondo.  He is the Hapkido instructor at the American Dragon Martial Arts Academies. 

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