If someone were to ask me as to whether I ever get emotional about the martial arts and karate in particular, the answer is “Yes”. Now, there’s emotion and there’s emotion. I’m not talking about the following things, which I experience quite often: the feeling of fulfillment anytime a student “gets it right”, or the awe of seeing a great karate technician execute flawless technique, or that feeling of comeraderie one shares with his/her fellow karateka in class, or even the thrills and excitement of a large tournament or a hard examination, etc. Instead, I’m talking about the deep emotional responses that can bring mixed feelings of pride, love, devotion, loyalty, and so on. You know, the kind of fierce, deep feelings that can almost bring tears to one’s eyes, and a strange warming of the heart.

As dumb as this sounds, this most often happens if I’m watching a particular movie, which, under the right conditions, can evoke a response from within me. Right now, that old 1960 movie, “The Magnificent Seven”, is playing on my television (hence, the inspiration for today’s note). It’s one of my favorites, and I have probably watched it twenty times or more, over the years. Even after all this time, as soon as I hear the strains of that familiar music, you know, the same one from the Marlboro cigarette commercials when I was a kid, my heart immediately responds with the martial feelings of fellowship, courage, righteousness, etc. M-7 was about fighting for the underdog, against overwhelming odds, defending a way of life as your own way of life was in final decline, about placing your life on the line for something you believe in. The Magnificent Seven may have only been an above average western, but it struck a chord and still has mass appeal for folks till this day.

If you remember the Magnificent Seven, you also know that it was an Americanized version of a Japanese movie from several years earlier, Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, “The Seven Samurai”. I suppose it was an obvious idea, to make an adaptation of similar lone folk heroes (the ronin – masterless samurai, and gunslingers -hired hands) during similar times (the late 1800’s), who, due to vast changes in their lands (westernization in Japan, taming of the Wild West in North America), find themselves out of a livelihood. In the movies, these “outdated” men redeem their hard-earned martial skills to help the innocent (rural farmers in Japan and in Mexico) overcome the villains in the films…villains who are not so different from our heroes, villains who also wield blade and gun in order to oppress the poor villagers. In both movies, good triumphs over evil, the humble farmers are saved, and both they and their protectors (those who survive), mature immensely and learn something about themselves, and about the value of sacrifice. As designed, both movies not only elicit a mix of emotions from me, but leave me feeling good and a little sad by the time the credits are rolling, at the bittersweet endings.

There are other martial arts movies with many of the same themes and characters, that I enjoy watching for the same reasons. The Karate Kid, Return of the Dragon, Kung Fu Hustle, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and so on. You’re familiar with the scenarios and the protagonists: the thin, bullied kid who re-invents himself through martial arts; the simple nice guy who just happens to be lethal with his hands/feet; the petty crook with the stopped-up chi who is transformed into a champion of good; the young girl who is fearless in her pursuit of martial arts perfection; etc. Not to mention, all of the various variations of wise, kind, incredibly fast and strong old masters who (sometimes reluctantly) cajole, guide and train their charges to attain and release their true potential to face the great challenges and enemies in their lives. Most times, the storylines are predictable, with the same old characters in the same old situations. Still, this is enough to get us to identify with and empathize with the protagonist, especially those of us who have spent a lot of time in the training halls.

Hey, I know that this genre (called chambara in Japan, and more derisively – “chop-socky” in American cinema) has far more than its share of poor movies; with the occasional exception such as Seven Samurai or Crouching Tiger. However, these have also managed to inspire a large minority, if not an outright majority of folks to tentatively enter a dojo for the first time. The movies that prove to be popular are so much more than just about punching or kicking or shooting. They touch something in our hearts and spirits and we should recognize that those who do start on, and stick with, the path of karate-do, also do so for reasons that far transcend just physical training. As you know, in our ministry, we open in prayer and don’t normally recite the Dojo Kun, though its principles closely resonate with our Christian ideals. I would suggest, however, that even in dojos where the Dojo Kun is consistently yelled out at the end of each training, its meaning may or may not sink very deep into the average karateka’s psyche. By contrast, when any of us are touched by the right movie, at that moment, we are brought closer to the true spirit of karate-do, to: Seek perfection of character, Be faithful, Endeavor, Respect others, Refrain from violent behavior.