Throughout history the majority of martial arts have operated
within a culture of honor. Warrior classes from Vikings to
Medieval knights to modern military personnel have shared this
tendency as well. The ideal has always been to combine martial
skills with ethical codes of behavior. In Japan this ethical
code of conduct was called Bushido (“Way of the Warrior) or Budo
(Way of the Spirit.) Bushido was intended to permeate the life
of the samurai. Specifically, it developed these seven character
traits: right action, courage, benevolence, respect,
truthfulness, honor, and loyalty. Many modern day Jiu Jitsu
practitioners still find the concept of “Bushido” to be an
important component of their practice. Why have codes of moral
virtue been combined with martial skill? Charles Darwin
suggested an answer – he was puzzled by a phenomenon that seemed
to contradict the most basic premise of his Theory of Evolution,
that natural selection should favor the ruthless. People who are
kind and generous should therefore di