Spirit Martial Arts, Ruakh Drakhim, Where Jesus is the Master we serve.

Although Ruakh Drakhim® is a martial art designed to be effective in physical combat, this is not the main focus of our art. The main focus rather is to prevail, through the Power of the Holy Spirit, in spiritual warfare. This war, which we fight in every day of our lives, has eternal consequences. And, only the Lord can empower us to fight and have victory.

One might ask how this relates back to martial arts. The answer is simple. The discipline we receive during our martial arts training, like any other discipline received for the love of Christ, can help us to mature, become stronger, and to be conformed more and more to the image of Jesus Christ.

Therefore the emphasis in Ruakh Drakhim® is not in overcoming others but in overcoming our own sinfulness and the demonic forces which tempt us toward our fallen selfish impulses. When we practice our techniques, we do not visualize a human opponent as our foe but our own sinful nature and the personal demons with which we battle every day.

As we learn and grow in the art of Ruakh Drakhim®, we will experience pain, suffering, and injury. This is unavoidable for we live in a fallen world. However, when these same pains, sufferings, and injuries are offered up to the Lord in love, every part of our training becomes a prayer to the Most High God. Our prayers, because of the merit which Christ earned for us on the cross, then become like the deadly weapons that God’s heavenly angels and saints utilize against the enemy. They also aid in leading the lost to salvation in Christ.

We are God’s warriors on this earth, the Church militant. With our prayers, our praise, our works, and our intercession, we do our part to help the heavenly army of Christ do battle with the forces of evil who seek to devour the souls all mankind. Therefore our aim is not so much to use our skills and gifts to win trophies, fame, and honor in the eyes of men, but to wage war against the forces of evil and lead a many souls as possible to the Lord’s Kingdom until He comes again.

That’s great, but why practice martial arts? I’m glad you asked. First, we live in a fallen world; a world ripe with violence. The innocent in our world need to be able to defend themselves from the enemies of Truth. This is because there are certain evil forces at work in our world who will not stop until they wipe God’s children from the face of the earth. All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Therefore self defense is not only a right but a grave responsibility.

While it is true that Christ did not offer resistance to those who hurt Him, it is also true that He is the same One Who will come at the end of time to slay the wicked with the sword coming from His mouth. He is the same God who wiped out the Egyptians in defense of His people and He is the same God of whom it is written “The Lord is a warrior.” (Exodus 15:3).

While it is certainly right and holy to be a martyr when we choose this for ourselves, it would be nothing more than cowardice if we chose martyrdom for another innocent person rather than fight to defend them. Such extreme pacifism could also be a poor choice for parents, whose children depend on them for their very survival.

Upon examination it becomes very clear that our God is neither a pacifist, nor a war monger. He is a loving God who uses His great power and infinite wisdom to protect His children, for human life is precious to Him. And what’s more, He commands us in His word to imitate Him. (Ephesians 5:1)

In Ruakh Drakhim®, we strive to imitate our Creator by following His precepts and His example. In self defense this would mean not using more force than is necessary to thwart our aggressor and if at all possible protecting our adversary as well as ourselves. This is not always possible often because of the great advantage in skill it takes to do this. Nevertheless, this non-hurting style of defense of self and others is the epitome of Christian self-defense. There is even an example of this in Scripture when many people try to push Christ from a cliff and He “passes through the midst of them.” (Luke 4:29 & 30).

While it is true that there are many techniques in Ruakh Drakhim® which are designed to cause pain to an adversary, most of these same techniques can be utilized to subdue rather than injure an opponent. For instance a strike used to break a bone can also be directed to pressure point to cause temporary pain and distraction in order to render the opponent harmless with a joint-lock or compliance technique. It is difficult to attain the level of skill which enables a person to apply these kinds of techniques to a resisting opponent, but it is not impossible. And, as we know, with God, all things are possible.

Why are dangerous techniques included in the curriculum of Ruakh Drakhim®? Again the answer is simple. There are times when because of a dire situation, utilizing these kind of damaging techniques may be a person’s only hope of surviving the attack. If the opponent has a knife or a gun or if there are many opponents or even if you have to defend yourself against an opponent of superior size, strength, or skill, you may have to use such drastic measures simply to ensure the survival of yourself or a loved one. In this case, it is not so much your techniques that are hurting the opponent, but the opponents own desire to harm which will cause him pain and chastisement.