Iaido (Japanese sword fighting) & Catholicism

  • Thread starter Thread starter DL82
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

DL82

Guest
I would like opinions and, if there are any, Church teaching on whether Japanese sword arts are compatible with Catholicism.

I have practiced Koryu (old-style) Kenjutsu for some time (Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu school to be precise), though am still an ungraded beginner (the koryu schools don’t have coloured belts, only beginners and dan grades). This consists of Kendo, the fencing side of the art, and Iaido, the traditional forms, which are performed with a replica sword.

I know most people (except fundamentalists) say that martial arts are compatible with Christianity, but usually they are thinking of something like Karate or Kung Fu, which are mostly about physical sport. There is a strong psychological/philosophical element to sword fighting, which I’m not sure about the compatibility with Christianity.

Firstly, there is the idea of the ‘no sword school’ - when you begin learning the sword, you use the longsword with both hands, this is the one sword school, traditionally, once you progressed further you would hold the longsword in the right hand and draw the shortsword with the left, though this is rarely taught these days, this is the two sword school. The highest form of kenjutsu is the no sword school, i.e. when you are so highly regarded for your sword skills that you win a challenge without ever drawing the sword, that way you win without fighting. This win without fighting approach seems consistent with Christianity, though it is open to a certain amout of pride.

There is also the idea of ‘shido’ literally ‘the way of death’, which sounds more spiritually dangerous. The idea is that, when practicing the iaido forms, every cut is done with the intention of killing an imaginary opponent. At first, this seems to directly contradict the words of Our Lord that anyone who hates in his heart has committed murder in his heart. However, the opponent is the ego-self. This is what we aim to cut and kill. Is this compatible with a Catholic understanding.

I feel that my swordcraft has helped my understanding of my faith, particularly with regard to Hebrews 4:12 and Luke 22:38. It is also a useful way of learning self-discipline. It’s also worth remembering that there were Catholic Samurai, for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirishitan#Military_activities

I am uneasy with some elements of kenjutsu though. In particular, I am concerned at the ‘fruits’ that I see in my instructor and some of the senior students. I’m not sure whether those bad character traits are things that they developed because of their sword practice or just the results of not having Christ in their lives to begin with. I know it’s important to keep it in perspective and subject to my calling in Christ. I’d like to hear what others have to say from a Catholic perspective on what I’ve said here.
 
I’d say in general there doesn’t appear to be too much wrong. Not based on what you’ve said here, at least.

I don’t think imagining your own self as your enemy is entirely appropriate, after all we’re all created good and in the image of God. I’d adapt a little, and instead imagine it’s my sins or sinful tendencies I’m fighting.
 
Hard to say. People seem to be divided on this issue. I’ve heard various contrary opinions.
 
The self is a perfectly acceptable enemy. The writings of the Saints constantly discuss death to self, rooting out self-love, and a book by Fulton Sheen I just read last night said that if we properly participate at Mass, we are led to slaughter in the offertory, slain in our lower selves at the consecration, only to rise to new life in our higher faculties at the communion.
 
batteddy said:
The self is a perfectly acceptable enemy. The writings of the Saints constantly discuss death to self, rooting out self-love, and a book by Fulton Sheen I just read last night said that if we properly participate at Mass, we are led to slaughter in the offertory, slain in our lower selves at the consecration, only to rise to new life in our higher faculties at the communion.
Click to expand...
I don’t know if I’ve read the same Fulton Sheen book as you (The Priest is Not His Own), but while in this book he definitely wrote of the need for the priest’s identity to be “submerged” into the identity of Christ, he said nothing of seeing oneself as an “enemy.” The only part the book that would get remotely close to this idea is the teaching that we need to fight against the sinful aspects of our human nature, but not simply destroy our human nature.
 
DL82 said:
I would like opinions and, if there are any, Church teaching on whether Japanese sword arts are compatible with Catholicism.

I have practiced Koryu (old-style) Kenjutsu for some time (Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu school to be precise), though am still an ungraded beginner (the koryu schools don’t have coloured belts, only beginners and dan grades). This consists of Kendo, the fencing side of the art, and Iaido, the traditional forms, which are performed with a replica sword.

I know most people (except fundamentalists) say that martial arts are compatible with Christianity, but usually they are thinking of something like Karate or Kung Fu, which are mostly about physical sport. There is a strong psychological/philosophical element to sword fighting, which I’m not sure about the compatibility with Christianity.

Firstly, there is the idea of the ‘no sword school’ - when you begin learning the sword, you use the longsword with both hands, this is the one sword school, traditionally, once you progressed further you would hold the longsword in the right hand and draw the shortsword with the left, though this is rarely taught these days, this is the two sword school. The highest form of kenjutsu is the no sword school, i.e. when you are so highly regarded for your sword skills that you win a challenge without ever drawing the sword, that way you win without fighting. This win without fighting approach seems consistent with Christianity, though it is open to a certain amout of pride.

There is also the idea of ‘shido’ literally ‘the way of death’, which sounds more spiritually dangerous. The idea is that, when practicing the iaido forms, every cut is done with the intention of killing an imaginary opponent. At first, this seems to directly contradict the words of Our Lord that anyone who hates in his heart has committed murder in his heart. However, the opponent is the ego-self. This is what we aim to cut and kill. Is this compatible with a Catholic understanding.

I feel that my swordcraft has helped my understanding of my faith, particularly with regard to Hebrews 4:12 and Luke 22:38. It is also a useful way of learning self-discipline. It’s also worth remembering that there were Catholic Samurai, for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirishitan#Military_activities

I am uneasy with some elements of kenjutsu though. In particular, I am concerned at the ‘fruits’ that I see in my instructor and some of the senior students. I’m not sure whether those bad character traits are things that they developed because of their sword practice or just the results of not having Christ in their lives to begin with. I know it’s important to keep it in perspective and subject to my calling in Christ. I’d like to hear what others have to say from a Catholic perspective on what I’ve said here.
Click to expand...
//////////

What you’re learning, like other martial arts, are more of an art form than for use in combat. In fact in todays world, its pretty useless.

So, its not against Catholic teaching to learn such arts, if they are done for nothing more than art, and you don’t get involved in the spiritual aspect. You can include Catholic spirituality within it.

Jim
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top