The Ancient Oriental world is a fascinating one. In the Orient, all knowledge has been linked into a unified whole. This unification has been expressed in its medicine, philosophy, language and arts. This unification has been represented within the Tai Chi symbol. In the Tai Chi symbol, the Ying and Yang live in complete harmony with each other. This represents the ultimate unification of apparent contradictions. Oriental Martial arts are a particular area where unification has been achieved. Oriental martial arts have united the exercises of mind and body. Physical training has become philosophical training. However, the Western world requires the same unification, particularily in Canada. Canadian martial arts must embrace a unification which links all seperated endeavours.
Unification in the Oriental martial arts was a great benefit to it's participants. Students of the martial arts could have all their needs as human beings fufilled through martial training. Students could manage to keep their bodies fit while gaining philosophical insight. The Oriental masters came to the realization that the mind moves the body. Therefore, cultivation of the mind through Mushin (no - mindedness) could enhance performance in the martial arts. This would improve students spiritual attitude as well as their self defense skills. By linking mental exercises with physical exercises, students of Oriental martial arts would grow in more than one aspect.
Unification in Canadian martial arts would be of great benefit to the whole of Canadian society. The poor levels of fitness shown in the average Adult Canadian is an indicitive of a need for a national exercise regime. Unification of martial arts and philosophy in Canada could provide a form of exercise which would attract the layman. Martial arts philosophy makes one focus on ones own progress and to ignore comptiveness. Such a philosophy could help motivate the average Canadians to exercise as he / she would not be discouraged if he / she is already in poor physical condition. Personal and realistic goals would be set for the student. This would provide a rewarding feeling to a student when he / she has achieved their goals. This type of philosophy would help motivate the average Canadian to exercise. The loss of philosophy has been caused by Martial arts transition to sports. If martial arts re-united with it's original philosophy, it could provide an form of exercise which the average Canadian could enjoy.
Unification in Canadian martial arts would be a bold statement of Canadian ideals. Multi-culturalism is a characteristic which makes Canada distinct. Canadians are exposed to a variety of martial arts. This may work to the benefit of martial artist and the average Canadian citizen. Uniting different martial arts would be a positive demonstration of the success of multi-culturalism in Canada. Uniting the arts would underline Canadian ideals by showing that different arts of different cultural backgrounds can unite.
In retrospect, martial arts in Canada must form a unity. Unity within the Canadian martial arts could be of great benefit to Canadians. It would provide a mental and physical exercise, a national exercise regime and a assertion of Canadian values. Unification would do more than benefit the field of martial arts; it would enrich the individual Canadian in all faucets in life.
