8) I believe/don't believe in X. Should I train in Y?
Description
This article is from the Martial Arts FAQ, by Matthew Weigel faq@idempot.net with numerous contributions by others.
8) I believe/don't believe in X. Should I train in Y?
Some martial arts have philosophical and/or religious roots or
associations, e.g. with Buddhism, Taoism, or Omotokyo. Thus, it is
natural for people who are considering a particular art to wonder if
it is compatible with their own philosophy or religion.
Normally it is not considered ethical for a Sensei/Sifu/Master/Teacher
to try to *impose* his own views on his students. However, the
philosophical aspects of some arts may still be present in the
required training to the extent that some potential students would be
offended by it. As with so many other aspects of martial arts, it
depends on the art and even more heavily on the instructor. So, be
sure to watch for this aspect when you visit a school that you are
interested in. Have a conversation with the instructor about it, and
watch how he/she interacts with his/her students.
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