Right through might

Like Razorfoot mentioned in another thread, and Medulanet got me thinking in another:

Just cause we can... do we do ?
Is the only thing that validates is the ability to use your art?

Does might make right? Openended...your thoughts?

The "right" that is made by might only lasts until someone with more might comes along. "Might" is always going to fade, it can't last. If your house is built on this foundation, it will not be long before it crumbles.

Because of this, might, or power, cannot be the basis for things.
Only fight when there is no other choice, and take no delight in victory. What validates is the ways might is not used.

"Achieve results,
But never glory in them.
Achieve results,
But never boast.
Achieve results,
But never be proud.
Achieve results,
Because this is the natural way.
Achieve results,
But not through violence."

Is your style for defeating people, or protecting people? Is your style for starting the fight, or ending the fight?
Dominating, or empowering?

My style is for putting an end to suffering, not for causing it.

Ideally, I agree with wuxing.
but
Realistically, I think Med brought up a good point about the combination of culture and threat level in that referenced thread.

our social tact and manorisms that are considered non-offensive and not looking for conflict, might actually invite more risk if put in another more hostile environment.

displaying an amount of confidence and fear is perceptable in any society. depending on the relative amount for that environment, it could be perceived as over-confident or self-doubt. since the amounts change per society, so does the accepted behavior. Falling outside the local accepted behavior is what makes people at greater risk as a target.


about 'validation'. not all Arts have the same motives. If the motive is to win trophies, and they win trophies...then I guess their Art is 'validated'? I found that most ways people validate their Art is first by trusting their teacher will validate it for them...and then either later finding their own validation, or seeking out people/entities who will continue to validate it for them.

ulimately, if honest with ourselves, we are the only ones who can validate what we individually do or don't do.

On the physical side though, validation is in what we are able to do and knowing what we can't do, but aware and striving with what we are trying to do.

Quote:

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displaying an amount of confidence and fear is perceptable in any society. depending on the relative amount for that environment, it could be perceived as over-confident or self-doubt. since the amounts change per society, so does the accepted behavior. Falling outside the local accepted behavior is what makes people at greater risk as a target.

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The thing is that as we progress further down the MA path, our confidence levels often change considerably, which can in turn make us more of a target. Martial artists often differ in much of their behaviour due to a more liberal way of thinking. We have a right to behave as we truly are, in public, in every situation. And if someone wants to fight us because we're expressing it (which is often the case when social norms aren't adhered to), then i believe we have every right to defend ourselves as we have spent all these years learning how to. I suppose it all comes down to the fact that if you believe that you are within your rights then that is justification in itself.