The Bible tells us that physical training profits little. As Christians, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit --- and I believe that we are to be good stewards of the physical bodies God has given us, by maintaining and protecting our health through good diet, proper exercise and, if necessary, self-defense. But, if we take the eternal perspective, we realize that our bodies will not last forever and shouldn't be our highest priority.
If Keichu-Do was just concerned with our fleeting physical health and safety --- important as that is --- I doubt that I would have made it all the way to black belt. For me, it is the spiritual aspect of our mind-body-spirit training that gave me the motivation to keep going through up the ranks.
Keichu-Do means "devoting oneself entirely to the way". Of course, for Christians, the meaning of "the way" is clear and without question. The Word of God states that Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. It is that higher devotion that becomes so compelling for many of us.
I don't just train my mind and body. I believe that Keichu-Do can do even more than build strong bodies and strong characters in children and families. For many, Keichu-Do will be no more than an excellent martial art system, without any religious or spiritual trappings --- and that is fine. As a Sensei, it is my responsibility to teach the martial arts. It is not my responsibility to preach or thrust my faith at others. At the same time, I am not ashamed of the good news of Jesus Christ or the fact that my faith should permeate all that I do, even my martial arts training.
When I train, I try to train as a warrior for Christ. I don't believe that Christ needs or wants an army in the physical sense, because His Kingdom is not part of this world. The lessons I learn from my training help equip me to understand the battle and fighting imagery of the New Testament ("...we wrestle not against flesh and blood...") and to stand firm in a difficult and even evil age. On the dojo floor, I learn persistence, diligence, courage, integrity, and more. I learn how much I lack and how much I need Jesus Christ to give me strength and humility to serve Him all the days of my life.
I train because God tells us that whatever our hand finds to do, we should do it with all our might, heartily and for Him.
From Psalm 144:
1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
3 O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
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