Utilitarianism and Martial Art.

One of my favourite subjects in Philosophy was centred around the question:

What is a good life?

I enjoyed this section of philosophy most—it was supremely practical to explore how our knowledge correlates to creating a better life. Isn’t that what we are all after? and at some point should we not check wether our efforts will actually lead us to the destination we seek? These have always been forever questions to me.

One of the principles that one inevitably will come across in the subject is the notion of utilitarianism, the idea that one should do that which creates the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people.

There are many approaches to living a good life, and no single approach that guarantees happiness. But hopefully the exploration of differing ways can help influence one’s approach or even help with adapting as situations change to create happiness in ever changing times.

So as a teacher, I often find myself examining how I create value to my students, and what that value is. Is it abs? Fat loss? Championships? an image?

How does my teaching hold value?

It is imperative that a Martial Art teacher know their value. Because it requires them to look at the community and understand its’ needs. A Martial Artist isn’t valuable simply because they know how to fight, anymore than a sword is of use on a home construction site. I wholeheartedly believe that instructors of any discipline regularly engage in self inquiry:

What problems does my community face and how am I a part of the solution?

This is where utilitarianism comes into place. In order to create the greatest amount of use for the greatest amount of happiness, we must inquire as to what are the main problems our communities face.

I think our communities need more spaces of connection. There is much division these days, which most often take place online and unfortunately precipitate in real world circumstances. Our communities are in a deficit of patience and easily irritated. Our communities are tired, overworked, and bored at the same time.

We are anxious a f.

We are in an era of rapidly shifting identities; our sense of self tied to the framework that each digital platform allows—often which exclusively serving the eye. To me this is is a major contributor to this mass anxiety our communities are experiencing; we almost exclusively experience life through one sensory input; the eye. I think we are all overstimulated to be honest with you. We need a different pursuit of beauty. This whole ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ has gone way overboard, and we need to experience beauty through different inputs.

Beauty is in health. Beauty is in strength. Beauty is in skill. Or at least can be. Or at the very least, found in the attempt to be healthy, strong and skilled.

“we almost exclusively experience life through one sensory input; the eye.”

Martial Art offers the opportunity to get away from the eye and experience the world through a different sensory input.

To me, this is the greatest amount of good I can create in my craft for the greatest amount of people. I feel so many of us are anxious and live life through very narrow inputs; and that if we simply increased the amount of inputs like health, strength and skill, that our stresses wouldn’t be so detrimental. They could perhaps become catalysts for growth if we had a path, place and way to use that stress for better means.

Hope to cross paths soon,

Kru Yai Nick