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Thread: Personality Traits of Budo(ka)

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    Default Personality Traits of Budo(ka)

    I've been ask this a while back. I am not sure how to respond or ask the question.

    In psychology, there are five personality factor ( Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism )

    Are there any that defines those who practiced budo ?

    what exactly are the personality trait of a budoka ?

    I have been ask if I'm a "traditionalist" or Elitist ? I am not sure what these means to a point. Are these part of those traits ?

    Anyone up for intelligent discussion ?

    Note: I am not talking about virtue, rather I am talking attitude.
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prince Loeffler View Post
    I've been ask this a while back. I am not sure how to respond or ask the question.

    In psychology, there are five personality factor ( Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism )

    Are there any that defines those who practiced budo ?

    what exactly are the personality trait of a budoka ?
    The difference between beginners and teachers is going to be pretty big. Not least because years of budo changes ones character. Mine has gone from introverted and passive to extroverted and pro-active. I'm also a lot 'harder' than I used to be, on myself as well as others. Less likely to accept excuses as well.

    Dirk

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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk.bruere View Post
    Mine has gone from introverted and passive to extroverted and pro-active. I'm also a lot 'harder' than I used to be, on myself as well as others. Less likely to accept excuses as well.

    Dirk
    Thanks for the response Dirk. Do non-budoka or non-martial artist see you this way ?
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prince Loeffler View Post
    Thanks for the response Dirk. Do non-budoka or non-martial artist see you this way ?
    Yes - at least those who have known me since I started Shorinji Kempo 29 years ago.

    Dirk

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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk.bruere View Post
    Yes - at least those who have known me since I started Shorinji Kempo 29 years ago.

    Dirk
    Thanks again Dirk ! One last questions, ( I promised !!!!!) When did you see , feel or noticed this "transition" ? Obviously, it did not happened overnight.

    Do you believed that practitioners of martial arts (budo) have a different 'distinctive" trait over a non-practitioner ?
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prince Loeffler View Post
    Thanks again Dirk ! One last questions, ( I promised !!!!!) When did you see , feel or noticed this "transition" ? Obviously, it did not happened overnight.

    Do you believed that practitioners of martial arts (budo) have a different 'distinctive" trait over a non-practitioner ?
    I suppose it was about 10 years after I started. As for the distinctive trait, I would say that it is self discipline. If you don't have it you don't last long in budo.

    Dirk

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    I think self discipline is a good way to describe it as well. For me alot of people view my self discipline as obsessive. I also think that what most people call self discipline is actually not and is driven by external variables/desires.

    Jeff
    Jeff Brown

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    One of the things I have seen in myself is an evolution of attitude from being a highly verbal (assertive bordering aggressive) individual to a more soft spoken, internally assertive individual. I now tend to seek more harmonious resolution to problems than the "attack it frontal" approah I practiced for years. I have found that this approach has helped both on and off the mat and relationally has proven to be a big plus. I can still turn it on when I need to, but now it is a choice with which path that I choose to follow. I think that my personality now matches the old saying "walk softly but carry a big stick". Most of the great Masters I have met seem to possess these character traits.
    Rick Torres, Dojo Cho
    Integrity Defensive Arts
    Victoria, Texas
    www.ksrjujitsu.com
    [/B]

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jitsumania View Post
    One of the things I have seen in myself is an evolution of attitude from being a highly verbal (assertive bordering aggressive) individual to a more soft spoken, internally assertive individual. I now tend to seek more harmonious resolution to problems than the "attack it frontal" approah I practiced for years. I have found that this approach has helped both on and off the mat and relationally has proven to be a big plus. I can still turn it on when I need to, but now it is a choice with which path that I choose to follow. I think that my personality now matches the old saying "walk softly but carry a big stick". Most of the great Masters I have met seem to possess these character traits.
    Interesting.
    I've moved in exactly the opposite direction. I wonder whether that might be more indicative of a general trend, in that we tend to become the opposite of how we were when we started?

    Dirk

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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk.bruere View Post
    Interesting.
    I've moved in exactly the opposite direction. I wonder whether that might be more indicative of a general trend, in that we tend to become the opposite of how we were when we started?

    Dirk
    I don't think we become the opposite of how we were when we started, but instead bring to the surface who we truly are. Martial arts are about using energy and movement efficiently, and just as how we eliminate wasted energy from our movements, we eliminate waste from our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
    Jose Navarro

    Hakuhoryu Aikibudo

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    I think that both Dirk and Mr. Navarro have both hit on relative truths. I believe that our character tends to evolve in the direction our collective life experiences drive us to. We are influenced both by nature and nuture and both can have tremendous influence on the characterological development of an individual which will impact atitude. In my case I grew up in a New York Ghetto which shaped my agressiveness as this was a survival skill and fueled my early desire to study martial arts. Being able to fight effectively and efficiently was a way to acheive respect and decrease conflict by establihing a rep and not being viewed as weak (talk about Budoka attitude!!!). As an adult and moving away from these circumstances, securing education, becoming a parent, and obtaining upward socioeconomic movement allowed me to evolve the side of my character that was softer and less hypervigalant and conflictual ( ibelieve this is how I wanted to live even as a youngster). MY studies in Martial arts have parralelled my emotional development. Early studies were in hard styles such as TKD and Goju, in my late 20's I started Jujitsu and Judo training and in my mid to late 40's I started more indepth study of Aikido and Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Roppokai. I have come to love Aikido and DR tremendously, even though I still practice and teach the other arts. Sorry for the long post but this subject sparked much introspection.
    Rick Torres, Dojo Cho
    Integrity Defensive Arts
    Victoria, Texas
    www.ksrjujitsu.com
    [/B]

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    Bringing this thread back alive for a bit; Can anyone response to this part of my question ?

    What exactly is the difference between a "traditionalist" or Elitist ?
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Quote Originally Posted by Prince Loeffler View Post
    Bringing this thread back alive for a bit; Can anyone response to this part of my question ?

    What exactly is the difference between a "traditionalist" or Elitist ?
    No idea, but I am all in favour of elitism based on meritocracy. A traditionalist in my opinion is someone who strives to keep alive the original art, both technically and from a philosophical point of view.

    Dirk

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    Quote Originally Posted by dirk.bruere View Post
    No idea, but I am all in favour of elitism based on meritocracy. A traditionalist in my opinion is someone who strives to keep alive the original art, both technically and from a philosophical point of view.

    Dirk
    Hi Dirk !

    Can they be construed as the one and the same ?
    Prince Loeffler
    Shugyokan Dojo

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    Prince, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by the terms "traditionalist" and "elitist" in this context, but ignorance has never stopped me from voicing an opinion before, and now that I have my third-year practice certificate I'm far less likely to let a little thing like that stop me. Here's my best take on the question. I think that it is very easy for traditionalists to become elitists, but it isn't always the case. It is possible to prefer traditional martial arts and even to believe that the traditional way of doing things is superior without believing that only the "chosen few" of traditional martial arts have anything to offer.

    To give an example, Shimizu Sensei of the Shindo Muso Ryu seems to have been a traditionalist. Oh, he might have made some modifications to jodo in keeping with the times, but from what I've read he seems to have stuck to the old ways wherever possible, and his values and beliefs certainly appeared to be extremely traditional. But then he went and said things like, "Everyone on earth should practice jodo," and worked to make the art available to the masses rather than to just a handful of elite retainers of one clan. To me this is clearly an example of a traditionalist who is in no way an elitist.

    Now, some traditionalists in budo think that true budo can only be handed down to the few-- that it just isn't for mass consumption. Does this make them elitists? Maybe. It depends on how you are defining that term. To say that only people willing to make a huge time commitment and even to modify aspects of their lifestyle for the sake of budo can get the full essence of a tradition is not necessarily to say that they are superior to the rest of the population. It is possible to view budoka as specialists in a particular field without viewing them as a chosen elite, I think.

    Just my opinion, and the usual disclaimer applies.
    David Sims

    "Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - Terry Pratchet

    My opinion is, in all likelihood, worth exactly what you are paying for it.

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