Martial Arts Philosophy Thru Biblical Principles (part 4)

​Originally written by Dr. Clement Riedner, Shiho Karano Publications
Submitted for this blog post by Kyoshi Frank DeAngelo
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This article is the fourth and final 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 for beginners 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 two showed a relationship between the principles and attitudes involved in both physical and spiritual warfare. In the third section, we talked about the Principles of Spiritual Warfare that help us to stand firm in our faith. Part four discusses the Code of Bushido.
(**indicates a Bible memory verse).

III. THE ADVANCED – THE CODE OF THE BUSHIDO
This code is required for the advanced student in preparation for the Black Belt level.

The Japanese Samurai Warrior culture developed a very strict code of conduct known as the ‘Code of Bushido’. It was this simple yet strong code which kept the highly skilled Samurai from becoming wanton killers, taking human life at every whim of temper. This code, while originating with the Samurai, was amazingly parallel to that of the European Christian knight as well as with Biblical teaching and principles. Therefore, a study of the ‘Code of Bushido’ from a Christian perspective can be very profitable to the student.

Seven basic tenets of the Bushido have Biblical parallels and applications. They are:

1. RECTITUDE OR JUSTICE: This principle is most important in the Code of the Bushido and closely akin to Bible principles. For the Samurai, crooked dealings, etc., were thought of as going against the ideals of their Code. Justice, meaning being just, and dealing with others honorably. We find many parallels in Scripture concerning honesty, being just, and fair dealings with one’s fellow man. A good biblical example is found in Romans.

**Romans 12:17,18 – Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

**Romans 12:21 – Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

**Galatians 5:16,22-25 – I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no Law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

2. COURAGE: For the Samurai, death must be for a just cause to be an honorable death. Courage ties in with the cause of righteousness. A good biblical example of this although speaking of life, gives the courage, the ideal of the Christian.

**Philippians 1:21-24 – For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard pressed from both, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Life must be godly and thus our death a gain for Christ, not a thing to be feared as if our life had been wasted.

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Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting despite fear. Training causes or allows the warrior to react without thought. Before a competition or test, students will be very nervous or fearful due to unknown factors and some just fear failure. When the fists and feet start flying, so to speak, the student will do what he or she trained to do if their mind does not get in the way.

A young Black Belt student being the best fighter in the dojo loses his first fight at a tournament, why? In the dojo, he fought how he trained to fight. At the tournament he was thinking about points, thus, did not fight as he trained to fight.

The Japanese word Mushin directly translated means “no mind.” A warrior in combat is focused on the battle and will react as he trained to do. When you eat with a fork are you concerned about stabbing yourself? No, shoving food into your mouth, sometimes furiously and without thought is Mushin.

Tony G., a Vietnam Veteran with a lot of combat experience told me, “the waiting was the worst. When the fighting started it was like a release.” While waiting, you are dealing with the fear and anxiety. When the firefight starts you resort to your training and react accordingly.

“As Christian warriors we are taught to trust God with all things and as we grow in faith this becomes more natural. In Proverbs 21:31 it says, “the horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.” We are to trust Him regardless what the outcome may be. Christians, of all people, should not fear death for we know where we will be and that is called home.” (B. Swift)

General Stone Wall Jackson, in the midst of a battle while on his horse, was approached by a captain concerned for his safety, suggested that he should get down from his horse. Stone Wall Jackson’s response, “Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”

3. BENEVOLENCE: While Justice and Rectitude were a part of the life of the Samurai, these qualities were to be balanced by Benevolence, a love, a compassion for others. This helped keep a human side to the Militaristic nature of the Samurai. The most basic Biblical principle is that of love. While many passages teach this, we will look at only a few.

**1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; It does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

**1 Corinthians 13:13 – But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

**Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

4. RESPECT/POLITENESS: The Code of the Bushido taught that being polite or respectful was to stem from a regard for the feelings of others. It was this view of love in its expression which guided social  dealings. The ideal of respect/politeness can be applied many ways in a Biblical sense. We would look at it as an honest attitude of putting others first in our dealings one with another.

**Romans 12:17,18 – Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
One Biblical application has to do with judging others over areas we have God’s approval but yet we disagree.

**Romans 14:4,5 – Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.
Perhaps the following verse most accurately reflects the samurai attitude of respect/politeness.

**Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor

5. HONESTY/VERACTITY: To the Samurai, lying was cowardly and led to shame. Always speaking the truth spoke volumes about his character. When a Samurai gave his word it was written in stone. He would die before he broke it. This obviously is a Biblical principle which the Christian often fails to practice.

**James 5:12 – But above all, my brethren do not swear, either by Heaven or by earth or with any oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under Judgment.

**Ephesians 4:25 – Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

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​6. DUTY OF LOYALTY: In both ancient Japan and medieval Europe, loyalty to one’s master was deemed the most noble quality of both the Samurai and the Knights of Europe. Loyalty to one’s Master, and in the spiritual realm, to Christ, is most certainly a Biblical concept and admonition. Directly tied in with loyalty is the quality of Faithfulness and Service. The Samurai and Knight were  servants, serving their master with full and complete loyalty. The same is expected of the Christian.

**1 Kings 8:61 – Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His Commandments, as at this day.

**Ephesians 6:5-9 – Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing  that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And Masters, do the same things to them, give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in Heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

7. HONOR: Honor was very important to the samurai, both in his external bearing and personal dignity. Honor was an attitude of being. Perhaps this concept of honor might be best described in scripture in terms of our self-worth in relation to God, i.e., as how God views us. To God we have honor, and self-worth…

**1 Peter 1:18,19 – Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile ways of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Honor also includes all the other basic tenets of the Bushido. A person of honor will be Just, will display Courage, is Benevolent, always respects others and is polite, is honest, and loyal.

What person can live up to such a standard? No one can. The best one can do, is to do the best one can do. This is like trying to keep the Old Testament law. It is not possible for man. That is why Jesus died. We must put our faith in Him.

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In Romans 5:8 we read, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 10:9,10 we read, “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.”

Hebrews 11:6 we read, “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.”

Deuteronomy 4:29b we read, “Seek the Lord your God and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.”

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This completes “The Bible Training Program” for CBBA clubs taking the student to his 1st degree Black Belt. This program is by no means comprehensive in covering the entire scope of possible teaching on basic Christian living, etc., but serves to give the student a reasonable foundation utilizing the primary tenets of the Martial Arts as a focal point or track and is to aid the instructor in discipling His students. The Instructor must add to this skeleton as the student develops.

This work is dedicated to Soke Clement G. Riedner, God’s servant. The Lord has used him to bring many to Jesus. Soke had been a Mentor to me for many years and I intend to keep many of the things He wrote alive and relevant. Soke lived what he wrote.
- Frank J DeAngelo

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Authored by
Dr. Clement Riedner founder of the
Christian Black Belt Association 

Edited by
Kyoshi Frank J DeAngelo
Soke of Seigido Ryu

Quotes by Black Swift