Martial Arts Philosophy Thru Biblical Principles (part 3)

​Originally written by Dr. Clement Riedner, Shiho Karano Publications
Submitted for this blog post by Kyoshi Frank DeAngelo
________________________________

This article is the third part of a Bible training program that utilizes the philosophy and principles of the Martial Arts as an illustration of basic Biblical principles of salvation and the Christian life. The first part talked about laying a foundation in both martial arts and in life. The reader was challenged to examine their faith and see what their foundation is. It is our hope that your foundation is in Jesus Christ. Without a strong foundation, we stand on sinking sand and will be easily swept away. Part 2 showed a relationship between the principles and attitudes involved in both physical and spiritual warfare. This third section, we'll talk about the Principles of Spiritual Warfare that help us to stand firm in our faith.
(**indicates a Bible memory verse).

Photo from wbingram from Wallpapers.com

​
II. THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL (CONTINUED)

With the 4 elements of the Karate Mind (from the last post) - Humility, Mushin (Mind Like Water), Lack of Prejudice & Action vs. Reaction, one develops their outward mental and emotional character. To develop one’s inner spiritual character there are some things which must take place. As the principles of physical training will help in ‘Killing the Ego’, the principles of spiritual warfare will help us stand spiritually and thus be a complete Martial Artist. These principles are found in Ephesians 6:10-18 and complete the intermediate level of training. There are 10 of them and they will be studied individually.

1. In who’s power or strength should one stand? Of course our strength needs to come from our Lord.

**Eph 6:10 – Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

**Zech 4:6b – Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.

**Prov 3:5,6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight.


2. In the Martial Arts without the basic principles of training the individual has no real foundation to perform or execute successful technique. Even so, in the spiritual realm the individual must have a sound foundation of spiritual truth to carry him/her through, and the Whole Armor of God can provide the solid foundation that is needed.

**Eph 6:11 – Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.


3. To successfully defend oneself one must know who and what the enemy is. In the spiritual realm, we battle spiritual foes.

**Eph 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

In a very real sense the principles and training of the Martial Arts in the physical realm should help prepare the individual for the warfare of the spiritual realm. This is further evident in the rest of the passage.


4. A Martial Artist must be fully prepared for warfare as much as humanly possible. Here in Eph 6:13 the apostle Paul is telling us basically the same thing.

**Eph 6:13 – Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

The whole armor of God is needed. The Christian must be complete just as the Martial Arts student must become complete. In the remainder of this passage we see the needed individual elements of that armor.


5. The ‘Truth’

**Eph 6:14a – Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth,

That ‘truth’ is the foundation of the word of God which must be laid. The students memorization of the Bible verses in this program is part of putting on that armor of truth.


6. ‘Righteousness’

**Eph 6:14b – and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

This ‘Righteousness’ is salvation, the laying of the foundation of Jesus Christ in one’s life. This was covered in Part 1 of this series - THE BEGINNER LEVEL - LAYING A FOUNDATION.


7. The ‘Gospel’

**Eph 6:15 – and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace;

"From a human perspective, a Martial Artist's peace increases as the lack of peace (fear) decreases due to the growth of one’s Martial Arts ability or skill. One works diligently to obtain this. Spiritually it works differently. All of us before receiving Christ as Lord and Savior were enemies of God in rebellion against our Creator. Upon receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior (the gospel) one has peace with God. And as a result of that growing relationship one works bearing fruit, which is a natural process." - Black Swift


**Zech 4:6b – Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

**Rom 5:10 – For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shale be saved by His life.

**Rom 10:9,10 – that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

**John 15:5 – I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.


8. ‘Faith’

**Eph 6:16 – In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

The student must have faith in his/her instructor and in the validity of what they are teaching. Faith is the key as it is our trust and belief in the validity of the principles of the bible and of Christ

“Faith is an action word. True faith in God brings righteousness. Abraham believed God and acted on it, and thus, it was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness. Gal 3:6. The written law came 430 years latter. Gal 3:17. Faith is a matter of the heart not the intellect. Go back to Rom 10:9,10 with the heart man believes and confesses with his mouth. With our mind we make the decision to believe without seeing it, we choose to believe. In Mark 9:23,24 we see a man tell Jesus “I believe, help me with my unbelief”, this man, I believe is in that very spot, choosing to believe while not seeing. Try studying Gal 2:21-3:19, Heb 11:1-39, James 1:5-2:26.” - Black Swift


**Gal 3:6 – Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

**Heb 11:1 – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

**Heb 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

**James 1:6,7 – But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord.

**James 2:21,22 – Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the alter? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.


9. ‘Salvation’ and the ‘Sword of the Spirit’

**Eph 6:17a – And take the helmet of salvation,

“We have talked of salvation earlier. A helmet protects the head. In the martial arts we would block or redirect a strike to protect. But being saved, in having salvation, we have the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. It is He that empowers us to live the life God calls us to live. So in having the helmet of salvation our thought processes can be protected. Couple that with the sword of the Spirit.” - Black Swift


**Eph 6:17b – and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

The Holy Spirit is also our teacher.

**Heb 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

**Rom 12:2 – and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

**John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.


10. ‘Pray At All Times’

---

**Eph 6:18 – With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the spirit and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

In the Martial Arts, we are also taught to serve and protect. As warriors for Christ, prayer is essential for serving and protecting others. Remember “our struggle is not against flesh and blood”.

​​“When it comes to listening to music on your device you need to have a power source and then turn it on. Upon accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior from your heart, you are connected to the power source, the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the switch that turns on the music. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, he is the one who uses it in battle as He works in us and through us." - Black Swift


This passage in Ephesians completes the Intermediate level of Spiritual training for the student. He/she is now ready for the final level of spiritual training and that is for the Advanced student. This final level will prepare the students for Black Belt.