The philosophy behind Progressive Martial Arts Bacerra Method is decidedly Christian and Bible-based. Most martial arts schools in America have adopted a Western success-oriented philosophy in their teaching, but retains much of the Eastern religious thought. The martial arts is one avenue helping to propagate Eastern religions like Zen Buddhism and Taoism. There is a growing trend now among Christians who are martial artists to teach without intertwining Zen Buddhist/Taoist philosophy or pantheistic/animist beliefs and instead teach with the Christian worldview. This does not mean there is preaching with each lesson, but because the instructor is Christian, it means his life and words reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ. PMABM is one of those schools which provides the Christian response and offers people who are interested in the martial arts an option to learn with a unique perspective from what one would expect from a typical martial art school.

The Spheres of Combative Arts

When it comes to anything dealing with philosophy, whether academic or lifestyle, it is important to define some terms, since not everyone has the same definitions to the same words. To better understand the martial arts, it is best to know what it is not and what it is different from. There are many perspectives and approaches to the larger topic of combative arts. All of these are connected in some way to each other: martial arts, self-defense, combat, fighting, dueling, vitality, spirituality, and tradition, with training at the center of it all. These are the Spheres of Combative Arts. Each one can be discussed in many ways and have connected spheres of their own. Here is a summary to describe the essence of each sphere. (This explanation is influenced by Marc MacYoung's approach to the subject).

Training - Preparation and practice
Training is the integral center sphere that connects the other spheres. It is the process and the preparation to becoming the best at the time of performance. Developing yourself continuously is a life-style.

Combat - Efficiently eradicate the enemy
This is used for military activity where the mission is the goal. The conflict itself is secondary although it is a necessary means to reach the goal. Training takes a short amount of time and is made for groups. Even though technologically advanced weapons are preferred for eradication, the hand-to-hand combat is simple, effective, and devastating. This is where the rule "kill or be killed" applies.

Dueling - Anger and arrogance in action
While the goal of the combat sphere is set by a larger entity, like the government, the dueling sphere is more about the individual. More so, the individual is wrapped up in an egotistical pursuit to have his honor restored and/or be respected and feared. Sometimes one side is innocent and has only become the unwitting participant in the other's arrogant bravado. But always, one side is prideful and calls the challenge. Many fighting styles emerged from individuals who have participated in these matches. Most of the world's martial arts were developed from cultures where dueling was practiced, whether legal or not. In contemporary America, dueling is illegal. Aspects of dueling can be easily intertwined with fighting sports (for example - the rules). This sphere is the farthest removed from the true meaning of martial arts.

Fighting - Contest and challenge
Whether it is a street brawl involving many people or a legal, organized event, fighting is all about establishing dominance and/or to acquire something. This is a general area because the word "fighting" simply means conflict. It is right next to dueling since the motivation is sometimes based on pride. Streetfighting is the overlapping area between dueling and fighting and near combat since arrogance is involved and the elimination of your opponent, no matter how it is done, is the goal. In essence, streetfighting is more akin to a selfish survivalist mindset and is opposite to the true meaning of martial arts. Legally arranged tournament fighting is good as a sport with set rules to keep fighters from severely injuring each other. The article "Tao of the Dog" by Guro Marc Denny is a great resource to better understand the fighting sphere.

Vitality - Health and fitness
When it comes to becoming a good athlete, it is always important for the individual to be in good shape. This is when the individual focuses on health and fitness. The more athletic the individual, the better the chances for victory. In anything involving physical activity, it is in the participant's best interest to be concerned for the preparation of the body, and this means a greater understanding of how the body works and what is involved in making the body perform at its peak and enter the zone, the area where the mind and body has become one unit.

Spirituality - Dependence and development
The term here is used generally. God programmed the human mind with a natural desire for spirituality in order to find Him. From the time we are born, we are aware of the immaterial within and beyond ourselves. No matter what background, humans depend on this immaterial part, whether internal or external, for protection, guidance, and wisdom. Among warriors of old and soldiers of today, there is a dependence on the spiritual for protection and victory. Spirituality also has a lot to do with the philosophy and ethics of the individual. All this assists in a person's overall development.

Martial Arts - Analysis and assessment
Martial arts literally means "war-like skills." It is the development of combative skills and is closely connected to the other spheres. Martial arts is the study of combat that would efficiently protect an individual and/or deter an assault. It is not the system itself. The system, or the style, is simply a method to learn martial arts. In observing the martial arts from many cultures and the overall motivation for its study, it is simply defined as the scientific analysis and practice of self-defense with an ethical system that promotes personal and social well-being.

Tradition - Culture, courtesy, and code
Martial arts is usually associated with ancient traditions of a foreign culture. Through the ages, those who studied the most effective means of combat systemized their knowledge to pass down to future generations. Martial arts as purely the study of self-defense became martial arts as the system or the style of self-defense. Also, the culture from which the style came from automatically melded with that "martial art," be it the religion (ie Buddhism inherent in Shaolin martial arts) or the behavioral norms (ie bowing is a given in Japan so bowing in a dojo is a natural result). Tradition offers the opportunity for the student to have a greater respect for the past, a more disciplined present, and a more stable future

Self-defense - Safety and survival life-skills
When people think of self-defense, they think of countering an assault. This is only a small aspect of self-defense. Self-defense is a lifestyle of awareness. It is not being deathly afraid or constantly suspicious of your surroundings. It is acknowledging that there is evil in the world and creating habits in your life to avoid having that evil overcome you. This begins with knowledge of how the world works and how people think and behave. Developing your resourcefulness, your awareness, and your people skills will help you in the prevention of an assault but will also help you live a better life.

More to come soon!