If it's illegal to hit people then why do they teach karate, etc?

Question

I was reading this post: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoOMsgUG9QW32BIksaPekUPzy6IX?qid=20060807145100AAHrXMA

and I began to wonder why do people teach martial arts if you can go to jail for hitting someone? I mean, they even teach little kids to hit people! Doesn't something seem wrong about that to anyone?

Answer 1

not everyone obeys the law so you should be able to defend yourself.

Answer 2

"I have chosen as a subject tonight, how far a judge is free in rendering a decision, because I know that in many people's minds there is much confusion about it. To some it seems that a judge ought to look to his conscience and follow its dictates; he ought not to be bound by what they call technical rules, having no relation to natural right and wrong. Others wish him to observe very strictly what they consider the law, reading it as though it were all to be found in written words, and never departing from the literal meaning. ... I believe that neither side is right, ...

"As I have said, there are two extreme schools, neither one of which is really willing to apply its theory consistently, usually applying it when its interests lie along the path it advocates. One school says that the judge must follow the letter of the law absolutely. I call this the dictionary school. No matter what the result is, he must read the words in their usual meaning and stop where they stop. No judges have ever carried on literally in that spirit, and they would not be long tolerated if they did. Nobody would in fact condemn the surgeon who bled a man in the street to cure him, because there was a law against drawing blood in the streets. Everyone would say that the law was only meant to prevent street fighting, and was not intended to cover such a case; that is, that the government which passed the law, although literally it used words which covered the case, did not in fact forbid necessary assistance to sick people. ..."

Answer 3

If you've ever studied martial arts, the primary goals are self-confidence, physical fitness, and to a lesser degree self-defense.

It's not illegal to spar in a practice ring. Or to use those movements for physical fitness.

As with most things, how you use it is what counts.

Answer 4

Martial arts are taught in terms of self-defense, not offense. The instructors make it crystal clear to never use the techniques unless in danger.

Answer 5

martial arts teach disipline and self control Then someone trained in martial arts has enough sense not to hit someone else except in self defense.

Answer 6

No it is an art of self defence,you learn disapline,balance and understanding,it is not just about hitting like in the movies.

Answer 7

Its taught for self-defense. You get some weirdo's out there who actually like to beat up people, act like *******. Thats why knowing how to DEFEND yourself is a good thing.

Answer 8

No. It's wrong to hit people, but it's alright to hit someone back. There's nothing wrong with knowing how to defend yourself if you're attacked.

Answer 9

For self defense, its good for your health too, exercise. I lost 20 pound learning it. My Hubby recomended it since I am 5 foot, 1oo pounds.

Answer 10

For self defense

Answer 11

They hang me upside down in class and use me as a punching bag. They claim since I bounced checks to them and their bags got repossessed I owe them.