Recently I submitted an article titled, "Martial Arts Training Could Be a Tragic Mistake" to an online forum.

Taken at face value, these are fighting words, at least to fellow black belts that have invested 8 years as I have, or even longer, earning their rank and skills.

But of course, as you can imagine, I go on to explain:

(1) If you are being bullied and bloodied, or that is happening to someone you know and love, then getting martial arts instruction is a great idea.

(2) If, however, you are a person that is looking for trouble, who is projecting his own hostility into the world, and is training to deflect what he is creating, then your training is a tragic mistake.

I build on the ideas in the Tao Te Ching, which says:

"The greatest tragedy is to have an enemy."

I believe a great tragedy is to needlessly CREATE an enemy, and for those that fall into this trap, martial arts training isn't the way to break free.

Two types of responses were launched based on my posting:

(1) REFLEXIVE ones, the knee-jerk kind, that mindlessly defend martial arts training, saying it is great for everyone; and

(2) REFLECTIVE ones, with thought informing them, that gave serious consideration to my thesis.

Almost all writers replied that they believe the SECONDARY GAINS of martial arts training made the undertaking more than worth their while. They cited everything from self-discipline to patience to fitness. Also, they noted that they overcame fears for their personal safety.

Why, I was asked, did I post this piece?

I wanted to stimulate discussion, especially regarding the simple, karmic thesis that I've been entertaining that says the world sends back what we send forth.

If we're looking for negativity, for conflict, and to fight, complementary forces are out there, and in short order they will hew to our call and march to our doorsteps.

Some of the greatest luminaries in the martial arts have said that fighting is a last resort, that it is not an enlightened way to address conflicts. Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate, said:

"To win 100 victories in 100 battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."

Aikido echoes this sentiment.

I ask, where are we most likely to learn the skills that Funakoshi describes, where will we cultivate combat alternatives? Should we look to a martial arts school?

In other words, where do we get the best chance to practice peace?

We need to search our souls to discover our inner-bullies, our drives that are making us seek the protections that martial arts training seems to promise.

Here is the formula: Our hostility and anger creates fear of retribution. Fear of retribution makes us believe we'll come under attack. Thus, we seek self-defense training.

But the reason we're desperately seeking a shield is that we're unwittingly pointing our swords in all directions.

Stop your own belligerence and you may not require a sword or a shield, or training in how to wield them.

Some respondents to my piece have said, in effect: "Now that I have achieved my Black Belt I realize I don't have to fight; I have alternatives!"

This reminds me of playwright Edward Albee's character in "The Zoo Story," who said: "Sometimes you have to go a long distance out of your way to come back a short distance, correctly."

Or as folks say, "Before you study Zen, a cup of tea is a cup of tea. Then it is about everything but tea. After you study Zen, a cup of tea is again a cup of tea."

Do we need instruction in this?

I suppose some of us do.

But training is not everyone's cup of tea.