Robert Jones
Robert Jones is ranked as a Master in Kempo Kung Fu and is an expert in training and teaching Kung Fu and Self Defense. He has 20 years experience teaching adults in the art of Kung Fu. He has three schools one in Bellevue, Kent, and Lynnwood Washington. He can be reached at 800-508-6141 or on the web at Bellevue Martial Arts and Kung-Fu or Martial Arts Instruction in Washington.
Martial Arts and Sportsmanship
- By Robert Jones
- Published 07/21/2006
Is Sportsmanship Only Defined By the Rules of the Game?
The debate continues as to whether Barry Bonds should be allowed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the time of his alleged use of steroids, it was against the law but not against the rules of the game. The same is true for Rafael Palmero. We only know for a fact that he was using steroids during one season of his career when he was tested after the steroid policy was put into place. Both players have the stats to allow them entrance to the Hall of Fame, but is it right to allow them in even though they didn’t break the rules of the game during the peak of their careers?
This brings up an interesting thought about practicing martial arts. Is a move that is potentially dangerous to opponents okay even if it’s not against the rules? For example, if you are clearly at a higher level of martial arts than an opponent, is it right to use moves that your opponent doesn’t know and clearly cannot defend – moves that could cause injury to an inexperienced martial artist? You could easily “win” the confrontation, but at what cost? You may come out ahead, but playing unfairly, while not against the “rules”, might upset the spiritual benefits you’ve received from your training.
This also leads to the difference between ring fighting and street fighting. Obviously it is much different to fight one person than it is to fight three or four people. A good ring fighter knows the rules of the ring and a good street fighter knows the rules of the street but they are very different rules and even the training varies differently. Ring fighters train for ring fighting and street fighters train for self-defense – two completely different arts. The point is that there is more to training martial arts than just the competition and defense.
Practicing martial arts is a whole-body (physical, mental and spiritual) art and all aspects need to be taken into consideration every time you choose to practice it. That’s why it’s so important to have personal integrity – especially when you are a role model in the public light. This wouldn’t even be a debate if Barry Bonds and other professional athletes were more conscious of how their public image affects the public and more willing to admit when they make mistakes.
