Many of us are familiar with philosophy on a basic level — the Socratic method, Plato’s Republic or the Allegory of the Cave, Aristotle’s Ethics, lessons of the Stoics and motivational quotes from existentialist philosophers. But, most of us encounter philosophical topics indirectly, as a side effect of other pursuits. We go about our daily lives largely on autopilot, driven by routine and habit, leaving little room for reflection or exploration. As a result, we have become a society of actors — acting without thought, and often without authenticity. It is only when we are forced to confront our mistakes that we take time to reflect.
As a society, we have become out of tune with thinking critically. Philosophy is becoming a lost art. At it's core, philosophy is the act of reasoning about one’s existence. It is the practice of observing reality and making sense of it. There are many forms of philosophy, but what connects them all is an individual's curiosity about the underlying principles that govern human life and the world.
The Unknown has been replaced with a never-ending carousel of illusory information. So, if we are all merely actors doomed to pushing boulders up a hill over and over again, what will break the pattern?
We have our routines. Our schedules. Our careers. Our hobbies. Our time off. And, much of what we do can be done mindfully and with a critical eye, but oftentimes the familiar isn't enough of a stimulus. We need something that continues to challenge us. Something that is novel every time we reengage with it. Something that is all-consuming.
In order for something to be all-consuming it has to overwhelm our senses. It has to require all of our focus. It needs to stimulate both body and mind. We have reduced much of what we are capable of. Specificity has become a curse. We find remnants of the renaissance men in today's entrepreneurs, but we used to be a species that celebrated bravery in thought and action. In order to reengage with this past vocation, I've taken it upon myself to view martial arts and philosophy as two practices that work towards unifying critical thought with critical action. Boxing, a martial art and sport that requires the use of punches, particularly stands out. It requires discipline, consistency, technique, strength, functionality, mind-body connection, balance, and coordination, among other skills. It’s no easy task. There’s a reason boxing is called "The Sweet Science" — it emphasizes technique and strategy as much as physicality. Boxing is as mental as it is physical.
For this reason, boxing has the potential to be a great vessel for what I call “philosophy in action” — putting your viewpoints and ideas about existence into practice.
What does it mean to be strong?
What does resilience look like?
Who am I as an individual?
Boxing is so dynamic and broad in its applications. It can be deeply meditative. It is effective for self defense. It is intimate and oftentimes forces solitude upon an individual. Boxing and philosophy can work hand in hand. Those new to boxing can instantly find something stimulating and invigorating. And while it is easy to focus solely on the physical aspect of boxing, the mental and existential aspects of the art are what truly shine.
The Philosopher Warrior is someone who discovers the bridge between fighting and philosophy. He understands his existence through questioning every movement and reflecting on every action. She is committed to critical thought and prepared for self-defense. She is in tune with the connection between mind and body, and the moral code behind her actions.
A Philosopher Warrior is not just a good fighter and a deep thinker, he is a challenger. He challenges himself every single day so when the time comes for him to rise to an unexpected challenge he can meet it with grace and strength.
A Philosopher Warrior is someone who is self reliant. She is resourceful, thoughtful, crafty, multi-faceted, knowledgeable and capable. She can fight in an environment and think through any situation. Philosophy teaches us to reason and look deeper. Training to fight allows us to understand our own strengths and weaknesses.
A Philosopher Warrior is someone who is in tune with the internal and external environment. We use philosophy and boxing as vessels to train those facilities within us, but it is not all that we achieve by doing so.
It’s time to bring back a trend where we train to think critically and move with intention. We act with authenticity and prepare for whatever comes our way.
