There are several qualities that martial arts teach. Most of these are valued qualities, qualities that are meant to make all martial arts practitioners better human beings. The martial arts performers may be lethal machines, when it comes to attack, but they will never use their abilities in the wrong cause.

In fact, all true martial arts artists are courteous not just to people but to all living beings. This is because martial arts practitioners are not destroyers of life but preservers. People who practice martial arts are people who have integrity. There can be no martial art without this. Integrity is what separates a true martial arts artist from an exhibitor.

In testing times, a person trained in martial arts can calmly and systematically reduce his opponent to pulp and then forgive him and carry on his way. This is because the violence used was for self-preservation and was only used as a last resort and in a rational manner.

Patience and perseverance are important principles that martial arts teach. Learning an art form and mastering it is a life-long pursuit. Like any other artist who seeks perfection and seldom finds it, a martial arts practitioner also spends long years in perfecting his art. To synchronize one's body with one's soul and walk a long rough path is not an easy journey and very few people finish it. Yet, the true martial arts artist never gives up.

Self-control is another important quality that is common to all martial arts practitioners. A martial arts expert without self-control is like a ticking bomb in a crowded market place. Dangerously equipped and dangerously short fused. This is just what the martial arts curb by training. Most martial arts drill self-control and self-discipline in their disciples.

Finally, humility and honor are two very important principles that martial arts ingrain in all their students. Humility because they realize that vanity only weakens the spirit and therefore the body. Honor is the great tradition of all great martial arts practitioners. In Japan, no martial arts master will ever become a mercenary. This is against the code of ethics.

The martial arts students are also trained to respect their environment. A true martial arts practitioner knows that everything has a place under the sun and he does not seek to disturb that. He gives everything its due and goes his own way, stepping on no toes. He is like the samurai who rides the lonely road. Only he does not kill for money, he just guards the road.