The "Martial Arts Community" & Martial Arts Culture

Martial arts can range from a passion and way of life to simple hobby. Martial arts community is a bunch of people who like talking about martial arts online. Martial arts culture are the people who train daily and fight (here I give credit even to competition martial artists) using their art. The legitimacy of the martial arts community lies in certificates and what someone else did. Because of this they like to call people frauds. Martial arts culture finds it's legitimacy in knowledge, hard work, training and self-discipline.

This train of thought began with me when I watched a video by James Yeager (we have no association) about the "gun community..."

I laughed a bit when I first saw this because much of the same arguments heard from Yeager's friend is much the same "problems" claimed about me and my "dangerous" training methods. Things like sparring full contact in the dojo, sparring multiple opponents, using "war games" to practice infiltration and stealth and of course the combat survival course I use for testing for black belt. In which case

Yeager's video has prompted several other videos about the gun community Vs gun culture, NeverEnuffAmmo from YouTube has a great take on the "gun community" and "gun culture."

Likewise, I share his opinion in regards to the "martial arts community" as being an online community; web forums, YouTube, Facebook groups, etc. where as the Martial Arts Culture is based a set of ideas and values.
Shotokan:

• Strive for perfection of character
• Be faithful
• Endeavor (demonstrate Hard Work)
• Be Respectful of Others
• Avoid Violence

Goju-Ryu:

• Be Humble & Polite
• Train Considering you Physical Strength
• Practice Earnestly with Creativity
• Be Calm & Swift
• Take Care o Your Health
• Live a Plain Life
• Do Not be Too Proud or Too Modest
• Continue Your Training with Patience

Ryu-Te:

• Strive for Good Moral Character
• Keep an Honest & Sincere Way
• Cultivate Perseverance
• Develop a Respectful Attitude
• Restrain Physical Aggression through Spiritual Attainment

Bushido:

• Loyalty to Duty
• Courage
• Valor
• Faithfulness
• Simplicity

US Army Core Values:

• Loyalty
• Duty
• Respect
• Selfless Service
• Honor
• Integrity
• Personal Courage

Budo-Kan:

• Show Courtesy, Respect & Honesty toward others
• Develop Confidence through Knowledge, Honesty & Strength
• Never use Violence for Personal Gain
• Seek Perfection of Character

Martial arts communities are based on so-called online experts interested in claiming legitimacy through up holding the status quo without understanding the context on which it is built. I've already dealt with subject in previous blog: 21 Foot Rule, Tactical/Speed Reloads & other Internet Expert dumb shit... & Self-Defense Awareness Philosophy (to a lesser extent) & (more directly in) The Absurdity of Martial Arts on the Internet. A martial arts culture is built around a certain philosophy of self-discipline, self-improvement & self-responsibility, courage and hard work.

 Webster's defines Culture as; The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as, the culture of the mind.
In our specific context this means The act of training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man.

 Webster's defines Community as; A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common home or with some apparent association of interests.
In our specific context this means A body of people having common interests, or with some apparent association of interests. We can't say they live in the same place but are connected due to their online activity.

Ultimately, the individual must decide what is for them the culture (values) or the community (association). They don't have to be mutually exclusive but one must be dominant. What dominates your approach to martial arts, having a community to discuss the martial arts and feed your self-gratification or having a culture of values and self-improvement to make you a better person which is far less glorifying. The martial arts community tries to decide what martial arts culture should be with talk and discussion however, martial arts culture is found in training & defines is culture by doing.

So are you apart of martial arts culture or the martial arts community?