Redefining the Warrior:Exploring Balance, the Martial Virtue of Compassion,

Tools for Peaceful Conflict Resolution, and the Art of Nonviolent Communication

Jason Gould

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts, Boston

ZBBKI Summer Camp

University of Guelph, 2007

Sun Tzu“The Ultimate Strategist”

• “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”

• Know your enemy; know yourself; know yourself and your enemy

• Emphasis on strategy, maneuver before the engagement, and “winning”

• “Win first, then fight”• Principles are applicable to individual

combat or large-scale operations

544 – 496 BC

Sun Tzu’s ToolboxThe Art of War

• Deception, misdirection, misinformation• Intelligence and counterintelligence• Poisoning water systems, providing alcohol,

employing spies and prostitutes• Interrupting supply lines• Occupying key terrain• Superior maneuvering• Implicit or explicit use of mercenaries and money• Destroying the enemy’s will and/or ability to fight

Miyamoto Musashi“The Ultimate Tactician”

• “The way is in training.”

• “Know the Ways of All Professions.”

• Emphasis on constant study, training, and refinement

• Ultimate dedication and focus to ensure victory

• The moment of contact!

1584 – 1645

Musahi’s ToolboxThe Book of Five Rings

• Timing

• Footwork

• Stance

• Grip

• Gaze

• Methods of Cutting and Hitting

• Emphasis on relentlessly overwhelming your opponent during the engagement

• Sun Tzu and Musashi were masters of sen, go no sen, sen no sen

• Today their books can be found in the business section of your local bookstore!

Bu: Martial, Military

• Radical for two spears/halberds and “to stop”• To crush a rebellion by means of force• To stop a conflict

• Bushi, bujin, bugeisha, budoka • bushido, bujutsu, bugei, budo• BUTOKU

Butoku Kai: Our Shared Values, Systems, Culture, “Filters”

• Martial Arts Techniques • History, lineage, common reference point• Physical language• Skills and tools• We develop skill and efficiency thru methodical approach:

repetition, frequency duration, intensity, seeking masters

• Martial Virtues • Common set of moral values and ideals• Focus on Respect and Compassion• Skills and tools – knowledge vs. experience and embodiment• The “Warrior Archetype”

Living on One Side of the CoinWhat things might look like without “marital virtue”

"The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."— Genghis Khan

1167 – 1227

A more modern problem than you might think…

Living Our Martial Virtues

Our core values — respect, compassion, honor, integrity, and gratitude — are more than a list of words to be memorized.Our core values are a list of principles to be internalized: they should become part of our character and collective personality over time.

The more we meditate on our core values and discuss them with each other, the more likely we will be to embody them, and also appreciate them in the actions of those around us.

Bushi no Nasaki

• “The tenderness and compassion of the warrior”• Mercy, gentleness, and humanity that balances

militarism• A warrior needs balance grounded in morality• With great power comes great responsibility

• kirisute gomen• samurai

Budo: What the “Old” Masters Said

• Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957): “The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants.”

• Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969): “The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited.”

• Jigoro Kano (1860-1938): “You must perfect yourself and contribute to society, which is the ultimate purpose of the study of judo.”

Budo: Martial arts as a vehicle for self-expression, personal development, building character, & spiritual growth.

The Other Side of the CoinWhat Does a “Balanced” Warrior / Martial Artist Look Like?

• Martial Arts

• Dojo Community

• Reverence for Warriors

• Study of Weapons

• Healing Arts

• Larger Community

• Reverence for Peacemakers and Humanitarians

• Learning Nonviolent Options

The Great Seal of the United States:A Prevalent Symbol of the Desire for Martial Balance

Redefining the Warrior:Going beyond physical skills

• A warrior is someone who, through committed action, transforms knowledge into power.

• Warriors seek to overcome their fears and make maximum use of their abilities.

• A warrior seeks truth, self-mastery, and personal power instead of power over others.

• A warrior is dedicated to selfless service and the ending of suffering.

Today there are warriors for causes, too…

• The Environment

• Curing Diseases, Ending Hunger

• Equality, Justice & Social Change

Peaceful Warriors:A Brief Overview of the “New” Masters

• Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

• Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)

• Mother Theresa (1910-1997)

Mahatma GandhiA New Kind of Warrior

(1937, 1938, 1939, 1948)

“It is the acid test of nonviolence that in a nonviolent conflict there is no rancor left behind, and in the end the enemies are converted into friends.”

Martin Luther King, JR.A New Kind of Warrior

1964

“Here is the true meaning of compassion and nonviolence when it helps us to see the enemy’s point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition.”

Mother TheresaA New Kind of Warrior

1979

“We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace. We need love and compassion.”

“If we have no peace, it is because we forget we belong to each other.”

Conflict Avoidance vs.

Conflict Resolution

Seeking Balance:Combining the Warrior, the Pacifist and the Activist

Qualities of a Balanced Warrior My new term: “Pacific Artist”

• Moral and physical courage• Willingness to enter into conflict with nonviolent

intent• Focus on peaceful resolution / dignity and respect• Generosity, Confidence, Faith, Passion • Peace and nonviolence as a choice, not as a

default position• Martial ability

The Balanced Warrior’s Tools for Peaceful Conflict Resolution

• Patience• Fearlessness• Understanding Human Needs• Mindfulness• Strong Communication Skills

Patience

“To wait with certainty.”

“Tolerance, perseverance, and endurance.”

Exploring our FearsUnderstanding the Roots of Conflict

• Death• Pain / Physical Injury• Sickness / Old Age• Failure• Embarrassment• Loss of possessions, loss of position, loss of status• Public Speaking!

The Power of Fearlessness

“I am not afraid of the man who can kill my body. What more can he do?”

— Sensei Richard Kim

Understanding Our BasicHuman Needs

• Food, Clothing, Shelter• Seek pleasure and happiness; Avoid pain • Safety, Love and Connection• The need to be heard and understood• To Live, to Learn, to Love, to Leave a legacy• Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs• Manfred Max-Neif

The 3 Components of MINDFULNESS

1. Self-Awareness

2. Compassion and Empathy for Others

3. Perspective

Mindfulness: Self-AwarenessIn the gap between stimulus and response…

• Awareness leads to personal power • Become an observer of your thoughts and

emotions• Connect with your breathing• What am I feeling?• Is it TRUE?• What CHOICES do I have?

• “I can choose peace rather than this”• “I cannot accept the gift, the postman must take it back.”

Mindfulness:Empathy and Compassion

• Empathy requires presence and attention

• Focus on what’s happening NOW: feelings and needs

• No analysis

• Empathy is not “intellectual understanding”

• Empathy is not “sympathy”

Mindfulness: Perspective

• Personal/Subjective: Is this really important? Do I need to act/react?

• Temporal: Will this even matter a day/week/month/year from now?

• Objectivity: What is the other person’s perspective? Do I understand it?

• “What you think of me is none of my business”

The Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Process

• Not “verbal judo” or “verbal aikido”

• Not trying to “defeat” or “win”

• Focus on:• Observations

• Feelings

• Needs

• Requests

Key Elements of NVC

• Emphasis on compassionate giving and contributing to the well-being of others

• No judging, no punishment or rewards, no right or wrong

• 2 Key Questions:• What is alive in me?• What would make life more wonderful?

Philosophy Behind the NVC Process

Anger, fear, depression, guilt, and shame are tragic expressions of an unmet need.

•What is the need behind the anger?

•Focus on the other person’s humanity

Sun Tzu Redux:“To win-win nonviolently is the acme of skill.”

• Strategy & Tactics• Withdraw, Evade,

Prolong• Fear as a Weapon• Deceit &

Manipulation

• Compassion• Empathy• Mutual Understanding• Connection• Nonviolence

In closing, some words from one of “The Greatest” warriors

“I'd like for them to say he took a few cups of love, he took one tablespoon of patience, one tablespoon or teaspoon of generosity, one pint of kindness. He took one quart of laughter, one pinch of concern, and then, he mixed willlingness with happiness. He added lots of faith, and he stirred it up well. Then he spread it over his span of a lifetime, and he served it to each and every deserving person he met.”

1965 2005

Studying the Martial Virtues: Suggested Reading and a Call to Action

• The Awakened Warrior: Living with Courage, Compassion, and DisciplineRick Fields (ed.)

• The Code of the Warrior in History, Myth, and Everyday LifeRick Fields

• The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and PresentShannon French

• The Compleat Gentleman: A Modern Man’s Guide to ChivalryBrad Miner

• In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Disciplines to the Green BeretsRichard Heckler

• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of LifeMarshall Rosenberg

• The Craft of the WarriorRobert Spencer

• The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Living a Compassionate LifePiero Ferrucci

• Warrior Dreams: The Martial Arts and the American ImaginationJohn Donohue

“Wars not make one great.”

— Yoda

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Please email me at:

Jason.Gould@karateinboston.com