tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post7886750462170558873..comments2023-09-05T04:07:56.024-07:00Comments on Walking the Sea: Kung Fu QuakerSarah Katreen Hoggatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09703761712115121944noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-14550995175812729772011-02-09T23:52:52.641-08:002011-02-09T23:52:52.641-08:00One of reasons that I am a Quaker is my very much ...One of reasons that I am a Quaker is my very much militant mind. Quakers pasifistic attitude directs my actions to something construktiv.<br />I have a green belt in karate but I whish to get black belt in peacework.Markku Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-8115498616723563742011-02-09T23:11:49.938-08:002011-02-09T23:11:49.938-08:00Yeah, I'm a pacifist alright. I'm a pass-a...Yeah, I'm a pacifist alright. I'm a pass-a-fist through your face. <br /><br />Seriously, I am reminded of the fact that pacifism is more like alcoholism. Until we recognize our own capacities for violence and lay down our weapons we cannot take up the weapons of the Spirit. Good luck in learning your capacity for violence and how to control it.<br /><br />GilUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08672159908402808436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-18086694225795420742011-02-09T19:09:18.134-08:002011-02-09T19:09:18.134-08:00Early Friends used the image of "The Lamb'...Early Friends used the image of "The Lamb's War" which for me means an aggressive making of peace as a pacifist not as passive.Tom Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12194918323559385371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-34368259188730949142011-02-09T10:23:29.300-08:002011-02-09T10:23:29.300-08:00Gandhi said he couldn't do anything with a cow...Gandhi said he couldn't do anything with a coward. I know many Quaker parents who are happy to take their kids to Kung Fu classes for all the reasons you've given. Thanks for this post,<br />RosemaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-32009414904720747072011-02-08T21:40:15.050-08:002011-02-08T21:40:15.050-08:00An attender from another Friends meeting here in t...An attender from another Friends meeting here in the SF Bay Area once told me he liked to think of Quakers as warriors. However, when he shared that thought, he had been met with some shock at that meeting. To him, it was about Friends' tenacity, standing up for what's right, and being a witness and minister amid conflicts. <br /><br />Somewhat like Charles's example! Thank you, Charles, for that story.Chris M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05125825966802002625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-77667430796983587472011-02-03T01:10:02.796-08:002011-02-03T01:10:02.796-08:00I love it, kung fu quaker.I love it, kung fu quaker.Aliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14329295581168412157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-92163286219049102812011-01-31T18:53:50.821-08:002011-01-31T18:53:50.821-08:00Four to five nights a week martial arts training w...Four to five nights a week martial arts training was a bit much, but it was expected. It was a hard and in the long term rather grim pursuit. What was it exactly was I training for? In the absence of an adequate answer, mayhaps I should have gone ballroom dancing.Tim Mageehttp://catsbob@msn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-750985935847579072011-01-25T19:16:02.723-08:002011-01-25T19:16:02.723-08:00Participation in martial arts class tends not to i...Participation in martial arts class tends not to involve games or aggression. Normally such training is so demanding that a person discovers many things about themselves through what amounts to hardships that are inherent to this activity. Also, the idea of clobbering somebody a good wallop loses it's appeal for most people if there was any there to begin with as a result of arduous training. <br /> Yet I admit I've seen sociopaths use martial arts training as an additional threat to others. Such people use anything they can lay hold of in the pursuit of cruelty.Tim Mageehttp://catsbob@msn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-4610333795338046132011-01-25T10:04:44.843-08:002011-01-25T10:04:44.843-08:00Dear Sarah:
I read your piece and found it well w...Dear Sarah:<br /><br />I read your piece and found it well written and provocative. Physical fitness in the broadest sense is glorifying God’s creation. Our bodies are out temples literally. Self-defense is part of physical fitness, the ability to disarm violent people is a gift. Caution is always necessary when using physical force. In fact being able to avoid the violence is really what enables the practice of non-violence. Some years ago I attended an all day peace conference. During one of the presentations a crazy guy got on the stage and was ranting away at the presenter. Some of us intervened. Another man was so agitated by the crazy guy that I was afraid fisticuffs were going to break out. I and another Friend talked the crazy guy down and got him to go out-side. I talked with him for about 1/2 hour. I think that he needed to vent and was unable to do so in a way that is acceptable by normal people because of his mental incapacitation. After talking with him I realized that most of the people at the conference would have agreed with what he was trying to say if he could have talked with them rationally and peacefully. I was also aware that once the first blow was struck it would have been impossible to have brought about a peaceful resolution to the event. Jesus told his disciples that when they traveled in the ministry that they were to bestow their peace upon those who accepted them in their ministry. And if they were rejected to take back their peace when they left. I’ve pondered what that means. Do you take your peace with you when you minister? Is your participation in games of aggression a preparation for your ministry? Does it enable you to tap into the peace that is within and is that gift from Christ? If so you should participate at your fullest, if not then you should consider if it enables or diminishes your preparation as a minister.<br />Peace be with you,<br /><br />CharlesCharles martinhttp://charles@innerlightbooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-72058364853766980502011-01-23T18:00:43.559-08:002011-01-23T18:00:43.559-08:00Martial Arts helps a person find their voice as yo...Martial Arts helps a person find their voice as you pointed out. I would not have found my voice without intervention of some kind.<br />Also the awareness of being alive from the soles of the feet up is a feeling I value.Tim Mageehttp://catsbob@msn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9127490623710030049.post-32971594466316680562011-01-23T17:02:15.259-08:002011-01-23T17:02:15.259-08:00I have mixed feelings about my longtime involvemen...I have mixed feelings about my longtime involvement in Korean Tae Kwon Do.<br />One thing that made an impression on me was the growing realization that the Koreans greatly feared the Japanese. A Japanese Karate master had permission to attend Korean sponsored tournaments up in the Seattle area. When he would arrive at the venue with some young students, the temperature there would drop 20 degrees the second he came into view. After a while, attention would refocus elsewhere. My experience with Tae Kwon Do was one I found sobering in many ways. Holy cats.Tim Mageehttp://catsbob@msn.comnoreply@blogger.com