JMAC Philosophy
People who practice budo are members of a special group. They are seekers after truth, people who want something more from life than a paycheck and a nice home. Their abilities allow them to make unique contributions to their communities and to the world. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about budo, held both by non-practitioners and by those within the ranks of martial artists. Because of the incomplete or poor education of many of our so-called "masters," martial artists are often seen as aggressive people, overly concerned with fighting and winning. While these stereotypes may often by true, they are not reflective of the ideal martial artist.
We need regular reminders of the high standards which we must set for ourselves. Since we set out to learn unique and dangerous skills, we must have a code of behavior to ensure that we do not use those skills for wrongful purposes. Such a code, bushido (literally, "the way of the warrior"), has existed in Japan for centuries, but it is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to understand how the antiquated and sometimes odd-sounding rules of this code apply to them. In the few places where they have been written down, these rules are enmeshed in an enormous amount of information about the culture that gave birth to them, which can make it difficult to understand their practical value. It is helpful to study how they are applied and to determine their purposes if we want to know how and why we should follow them today.
In fact, the non-physical qualities of good martial artists - such as sincerity, politeness, loyalty, honor, and courage - are qualities that actually help them succeed. Martial arts practice, like most human endeavors, is a social act, and none of us can succeed without a great deal of contact with other people. The rules of bushido govern our interactions with those people, our teachers, our peers in the dojo, competitors, and junior students whom we help.
At JMAC, we strive to embody the values of bushido, and to instill them in our students. Every interaction is an attempt to cultivate excellence, in technique, in character, and in our relationship with the world. You do not need to be a master to join JMAC, but we will do everything in our power to help you become one.
Portions excerpted from Budo Mind and Body, by Nicklaus Suino. Weatherhill Books, 2006.