The Spiritual Dangers Of Participating In The Martial Arts

I would like to thank Father Lawrence Brassil and Pauline Edwards for their help and assistance . This story is Dedicated to them , for without them it would never have happened .

My name is Joe Livingston , and I was a Karate Instructor , for a few years . I travelled all over the world in my job as an engineer. I began my Martial Arts Training in Zambia Africa in 1973 . I gained my first White Belt there . I gradually moved up through the Karate Belt Gradings, passing Gradings in Canada and Scotland , until finally I was teaching Martial Arts . I was also entering Competitions . About this time , I was also a member of the P.B.A. ( Professional Bodygaurd Association ) .


My first Encounter with The Spiritual Dangers Of The Martial Arts , was when my local Priest came to our home for a visit , I stayed there with my Wife and two Children . It was the Summer of 1989. The visiting Priest asked me in conversation , what we do at the start of each Karate Class . I told him that I would get my Students to line up in an orderly fashion in front of me , and then , at my command – we would kneel down and then with both hands together form a triangle and bow slowly to The Sun . After explaining this to the Priest, he said,
“ Joe, do you know you are worshipping a False God when you do this Action. You are breaking The First Commandment Of God , - "I am The Lord Your God You Will Not Worship Strange Gods Before Me .” also later , I discovered a Reading in Deuteronomy 17v2 where it says that Worshipping The Sun is Strictly Forbidden . At the time The Priest was telling me about The First Commandment of God , I felt Confused, and didn’t really study the consequences . But over the next few months, I gradually began to Search my soul about what the Priest had told me .

Month by Month during this time of Soul Searching , ( although the full Impact of this did not occur to me until a good time after ) – in The Martial Art Of Karate each Student is taught that there is a Self Energy called KI . and so I came to realise that it was more about EGO than Energy, it was all about ME . this began to Disturb me . I also began to Question some areas of the Supposed Self Control that Karate was Supposed to induce . I particularly remembered an Incident that happened in a Karate Club ( Dogo )in Canada in 1975 . In each Karate class, you are taught to Free Fight or Spar as it is called . Usually towards the end of each Training Session, we would split in to Pairs , Bow to each other , and then Free Fight ,Practicing techniques of kicking and punching to enhance our Karate Style . During this particular Free Fighting Session , I noticed out of the corner of my eye , Two Black Belts Sparring . All of a sudden they seemed to be getting more and more Aggressive with each resounding Kick and Punch , until The Sparring Session developed in to a full blown Combatitive Fight . One Black Belts Nose was Broken in the ensuing Fight with Blood Pouring all down his White Karate Gi ( suit ) …..As I continued to think about this Incident , all those years before , I really began to question my whole involvement in Karate and Competitions . Within weeks of this pondering , I completely stopped my Training and began a new phase in my life , completely free from attachment to The Martial Arts .It was around 1990 when I stopped training, it was a full Eighteen Years since my Martial Arts Career had started in Zambia .


One Important Factor to remember in this whole story , it is Very Important to keep The Balance in Life . There is Nothing wrong with being able to Defend Yourself in times of Unprovoked attack , even some Priests were taught Boxing Techniques in Seminaries . The Karate Experience did teach me Discipline , but when any Self Defence Mechanism involves worshipping The Sun or any other False God, the Discipline will be Breached by Self and Ego . When I shared this Story at Father Lawrence and Pauline Edwards Seminar at The New Dawn Conference in Walsingham I was approached afterwards by a Married Couple who told me that , in the Book Stall was a book called Taming The Tiger it was by a former World Kung Fu Champion called Toni Anthony . His story is very similar to mine and one day I hope to meet him and Share Experiences .


Around March 1993 I had a very Powerful Saint Paul Type Spiritual Experience , which completely Transformed My Whole Life . Jesus is Now My Guide , My Helper , My Friend, and The Ultimate Source of Everything I do . I Praise God The Almighty Father, and Thank him for Everything he has done for me and my Family . I praise him for The Love and Mercy he has shown me , and Gratefully thank him for The Ultimate Peace which ensued from his Mercy – a Peace I did not experience in The Martial Arts .
I think it is Important that people should hear this Testimony, Especially The Youth of Today who seem Lost for Direction .
I am also involved in my own Healing Ministry, which Jesus gave to me Freely , from his most Compassionate Heart, I Praise him for this also.
I am also involved in Talks , so , if anyone reading this Testimony , would like me to come and speak in your School ,College , Prayer Group, or Church etc , I would be happy to come and Share My Experiences with you . I can be contacted through Paulines Website, or my e-mail address is joelivingston@hotmail.co.uk     My Telephone Number is 07445 810350

With Love and Peace,
Yours In Christ, Joe Livingston .