After a three month process, the Global Martial Arts Federation under Grand Master Chi Ping Lum and its current president, Master James Dussault, have given the Gospel Martial Arts Union official recognition as a martial arts organization. Dr. Kent Haralson, president of the GMAU, was presented with the hand-crafted banner last month during a meeting with Dr. Dussault. Dr. Haralson was also recognized as a 7th Dan Black Belt with a Master level status by the GMAF.
"...I am writing to express my appreciation to the GMAU..."
- SB, Wyoming, USA
"...I thank the Lord for showing us that we are not the only people who are working for His Kingdom through the martial arts..."
- DI, Nasik, India
"...It is refreshing to get your newsletter and read about Christians in the martial arts..."
- CH, Ohio, USA
"...Just reflecting on what the Lord has done excites me..." - SK, B.C., Canada
"...Many thanks for your newsletter. It is very enjoyable and useful as I translate it and read it to my students after class..."
- AS, Ukraine, CIS
Make plans to attend the 7th Annual Southeastern Regional GMAU Clinic in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 4 & 5, 1994. In addition to workshops for students, there will be special black belt seminars and black belt examinations. Cost will be just $30 for the weekend.
Since receiving accreditation nearly six months ago, the College of Christian Martial Arts has received considerable interest. We have processed requests from 26 states and 3 foreign countries. This continues to be an ideal way to pursue your academic degrees and improve your scholarship level in the martial arts.
If someone asked you to meditate, what would your response be? Would you decline? Would you accept but have reservations? Or would you agree? If your response is a negative one, or you are presently practicing zazen, this article will provide you with a Biblical focus of meditation. Is your time with the Lord what it should be? If it is, you will find spiritual growth as well as enhancement of your martial skills. It is this disciplined time which you must incorporate into your training that will bring your overall development to fruition.
Before continuing, I must firmly state that all meditation practices must have a strong foundation in the Almighty Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. A Christian martial artist cannot allow a total emptying of the mind. This allows Satan to have an access to an open door policy to your mind. With these thoughts in mind we'll proceed to the means of acquiring the benefits that God has given us through the old practices of meditation. The Psalms tell us 74 times of its use, which verifies the importance of our need to focus on God. A time to pause and think, a Selah time, which is a learning time to be quiet. And a learning time to listen to our heavenly Father. In I Thessalonians 4:11, it states, "Study to be quiet." This again reflects the need to learn to be quiet and enjoy the world of contemplation of God and the relationship you have with Him. As a martial artist, you strive for a well-rounded development (i.e. spiritual, mental and physical) and include training precepts in your activity that will provide this overall development. In Isaiah 30:15 it states, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Meditation or Selah therefore is an activity where you stop, pause, and become mindful of God, thinking about Him and His work in your life.
You cannot expect to train yourself without the use of discipline. According to the New Merriam-Webster Dictionary, discipline is defined as the following: it corrects, molds and perfects. It is also defined as a verb: to train and develop by instruction and exercise, especially in self control. Through this discipline of training the martial artist is perfected. As self control is also perfected, you also hope to cultivate the Life of the Spirit within you. You can develop this through study and Selah time which reinforces the discipline concept. Through this you will learn to better control the external influences that come from the world about you which affect the internals or your inner self. When you receive Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit and through grace obtain an inner peace and joy only a Christian can know. Then an inner transformation occurs, and your life is changed. Meditation is worthy of your attention because it cultivates your self-control through cultivating of the Holy Spirit. Selah, therefore, is a scheduled time with God so that you can truly know Him. Just as David uses the term Selah to denote a change or pause dwelling on the son he wrote, it is used in this context of meditation to do basically the same thing, to dwell on God. (Psalm 1:1,2; Genesis 24:63; Psalm 119:78).
Once you recognize the need for improving communication with God through Selah time, you can then establish it as a discipline to improve your life's walk or way. This disciplined time is set aside to be used to reflect on, review or visualize a specific moment or your entire day. It is a time to contemplate the Lord, seek answers and directions or be utilized as a special time to enjoy the Lord's goodness. A time of Thanksgiving/Selah forces you to be alone with your thoughts. It can become an excellent learning experience and a great time to just think. But Selah has no point and no reality unless it is firmly rooted in life, which we know only comes from God.
Our Creator has provided us by His Word the directions that state the need to meditate on Him to seek our answers, directions or gain strengths and assurances (Joshua 1:8). The Christian's perspective on meditation is to fill the mind and body with God's power and grace so that he/she can claim the promises and rightful position as heir. The Eastern philosophies center on the emptying of the mind without any replacements, only a detachment. The goal is to put in to obtain the wholeness that is needed to grow. You detach from the world's pressures or externals only to attach yourself to God for the power to control the internal reactions. If you believe in Jesus Christ then you believe in the spiritual realm and a personal God who delights in talking with you. Selah time is that communication. Meditation or Selah is not only ancient but is central to Christianity. It should be a blessing and a joy becuase it is used to break the holds of sin such as pride, fear, anxiety, loss of control, etc. These things are detrimental to a martial artist's focus and execution of his/her style. The psychological impacts caused by such negatives will quickly bring defeat. You have been provided by the Lord an excellent remedy by linking yourself closer to Him. By doing so, the internals calm down and the ability to handle the world's bombardment becomes easier. Situation are handled with a clearer, calmer and stronger approach. This leads to a quiet, confident and controlled martial artist.
Meditation is not performed by special body positions or postures. There are no chants or cantations or humming. To do so would cause a self-hypnosis and an emptying of the mind. Meditation the Christian way is through prayer and conversations with your Father in Heaven. Choose a quiet place where there are no interruptions. Plan to set aside at least half an hour (you may be done in 15 minutes). But as you have your quiet time more often, you will find that a half hour is a norm. The choice of place is purely individual. Many find that being surrounded by God's wonders of nature is beneficial (e.g. a park, a beach, or going for a walk). Remember that if you become too comfortable while in a seated position or lying down, a sleepy state may be induced. I prefer my back porch where I can see the woods and have peace from the phone, music, and family noises. Selah time becomes a needed activity once you begin because of the great benefit you feel when you talk over your concerns with the Lord.
You cannot expect to bring your body into optimal condition unless you include God's input. Selah not only gives you spiritual growth and strength but also increases your focusing ability. This helps provide confidence and self control needed in a martial artist. Through this quiet discipline you can break the holds of self will and enhance your physical well-being simply because of improved inner strength. And because confidence is secured, improvement in the execution of technique would be gained.
Meditation need not be feared by Christians. We as God's people must be cultivated through the Word and daily contact with Him, receiving consistently the message that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. As you stop and pause to contemplate His power and glory, you will reinforce your focus and attain your goals by the benefits acquired through the quiet time of meditation with the Lord.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sheryl is a 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and has 6 years of experience in the martial arts. She is a licensed rehabilitation specialist and registered nurse. Sheryl is an assistant dojo sensei with the Gospel Karate Team of West Palm Beach Florida.
Lake Odessa, MI. Phil Lewis reports that he recently gave a 3 hour seminar on kicking & Arnis fro Soke Riedner of the Christian Black Belt Association in Gaylord, MI. Phil was to test June 12th for his 3rd dan in Kobudo and his 4th dan in Shiho Karano Karate. Please pray for the development of a demonstration team this fall. A couple led to the Lord through karate is now attending church with their family. The classes include students of all ages and are taught by Professor Phil Lewis, head of Tora Karano Shinsei Kenpo, and assistant Sensei Kirk Stuart, Nidan in Wado Kyu. If you are interested in information on low cost videos which Sensei Lewis has produced on escape techniques, combinations, Arnis drills, etc. write to him at Tora Karano Shinsei Kenpo Kai, 1635 Jordan Lake Ave., Lake Odessa, MI 48849.
Minneapolis, MN. Solid Impact Ministries, an outreach & discipleship ministry of Northwestern Bible College has continued to grow. See article entitled "Solid Impact" for more information.
Rawlins, WY. The WSP Self Defense Systems dojo is a Christ-based martial arts program which currently operates from the Wyoming State Penitentiary. Recent promotions include Mike Turner - Red/Black Tip; Warren Rathbun - Green; Rick Daniel - Gold. WSP Self Defense Systems is taught by Mr. Scott Bailey, a 2nd dan in Tae Kwon Do.
Sioux Falls, SD. The Spring has seen a renewed interest in the team, with several new adult and former high school age students re-involving themselves. Currently, both beginner and upper level classes are being held. The Gospel Martial Arts Club is a ministry of Empire Baptist Temple.
West Palm Beach, FL. The Gospel Karate Team reports a registered membership of 83 students. A new student just recently accepted the Lord as a result of the team visitation efforts. Ray Askew was tested for and received his Purple Belt (4th Kyu). The team also welcomed Sensei Christin Mehdipour, an advanced brown belt, to the ministry. During the summer, Sensei Sheryl Rainfrette (Shodan) will be conducting special karate classes for the church's summer day camp in addition to our regular weekly classes.
What was it that you are studying again? Was it Tae Kwon Jutsu or Tae Kwon Do? Across the country, we have teachers and students proudly wearing the banner of Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Judo, Kendo, Tang Soo Do...I would submit that they have violated the "truth in packaging" laws. They are not into the "do," but are really into the "jutsu."
Throughout the last several centuries, regardless of the style (ryu) that you study, there have been two primary branches of the martial arts. There are philosophical and physical ramifications of each branch. If you are a part of the "do," then the focus was on the ethical, educational and spiritual aspects of the martial arts. The martial arts was a "way of life." If you are a part of the "jutsu" branch, then the focus was on the fighting mentality (which has been civilized into the tournament craze of the last few decades), and the martial arts was a "method of power, fighting, and dying."
The "do" was a way or path. It focused on the total person, strove for balance and control in the person. The martial arts is used as a vehicle for traveling the path that leads to a correct and fulfilling life. Individuals would strive for overall perfection through the physical training of the martial arts. To be sure, this training would also equip you for a potential physical battle, but that was not the primary purpose in studying the art. This was seen in the arts typically classified as Budo .
The "jutsu" was a concentration on method or technique. It was seen in arts classified as Bujutsu (military arts). The "jutsu" arts were the predecessor and antithesis of the budo arts. For the "jutsu " student, the martial arts were used as a way to build a practical way of destroying an opponent.
The "do" was for self-realization. The " jutsu" was for self-preservation. The Christian is here to develop our total being under the control and direction of the Holy Spirit. That reflects itself in our focus on the total man. It also shows in our greatly diminished focus on tournament and kumite (sparing). Where is your school? Are you guilty of "false advertising?"
Solid Impact Ministries is a martial arts oriented team ministry with both an evangelistic and discipleship component. The evangelistic component is provided by a demonstration team of 7 martial artists and 2 power lifters. Demonstrations consist of a variety of feats of strength, martial arts skill, and theatric flair. Special effects such as strobelights, smoke machines, and music are used to catch and keep the attention of the audience. Both during and following the demonstration, a hard hitting gospel message is shared, with excellent results. Solid Impact team members have done demonstrations for banquets, retreats, camps, church services, youth conventions, prisons, and shelters.
The discipleship component is provided by martial arts classes taught at churches, schools, and colleges. The curriculum was developed from the ground up by Solid Impact instructors, and is Bible based and designed for mizimal student retention and practical use. The curriculum is balanced between classical karate, sport karate and practical self defense techniques.
Solid Impact in its present form is a result of the Lords leading on a number of individuals. Sensei Ed Komoszewski, a former competative bodybuilder, and 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do began what was known as the Break Away Demonstration Team in 1991. Due to an unintentional duplicity in title with another ministry, the teams name was later changed to Solid Impact. The team's initial thrust was primarily evangelistic, although a class at Northwestern college was held to supplement the teams income. Sensei Scott Hoffer, 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, used his background in the Christian martial arts, to begin teaching discipleship oriented martial arts classes as an outreach of a local church in 1990. The classes were known as the Solid Rock Karate Team. Unbeknownst to either sensei, they operated within 10 miles of each other. Through much trial and testing, the Lord finally brought Ed and Scott togather in 1992 at which point, after much prayer they combined their ministries to better reach the lost. Since that time, the ministry has grown exponentially, and the Lord has blessed in a miraculous way. Solid Impact does between 2 and 5 demonstrations a month, and their discipleship classes average 60-70 students during the school year. If you're interested in booking Solid Impact for your church or school, you can call Solid Impact at (612) 782-9607.
Would you like a book with a general Would you like a book with a general view of the martial arts, a view that gives the history, a basic introduction, and commentary on the influence in today's society? Then The Martial Arts Companion by John Corcoran is for you. General in scope but detailed enough to make it all fall into place, Mr. Corcoran does an excellent job of describing the history and culture of the martial arts from a secular view. After reading about the cinema influence, it is not difficult to understand why there are so many false notions about the martial arts in the public consciousness.
Published by Mallard Press
Reviewed by Larry W. Phillips, Ikkyu
All material published in the GMAU Journal is Copyrighted 1996 by the GMAU. Permission to use material found in this GMAU Journal for non-profit purposes is granted as long as credit is given to the author and issue in which it appeared.
| |
|
|
Copyright 1996 by the Gospel Martial Arts Union
All rights reserved.