Martial arts and fighting?

Question

Now I've only been doing this forum thing for a couple of months and i constantly see people making the mistake that marital arts is for beating the shi t out of people. Any outside input as to why this is? Or are there just far too many mis/uninformed people answering and asking questions on this forum?

Answer 1

Martial arts IS the art of fighting.

Translation it literally means the Arts of Mars Mars bieng the god of WAR.

Meaning any art or tactic used on the battlefield is a martial art.

Spiritual stuff did not actually come into martial arts until recently (70's or so). That doesn't mean that historical warrior castes and people didn't also have spiritual or other interests. Bieng religious doesn't make religion a part of boxing because evander holyfield is religious. Most will point to the samurai, however the vikings similarly were well sought after for thier storytelling and poetic ability. Is shipbuilding a requirement in martial arts?

The truth of the matter is that martial arts is struggling to find a place in a free society that outlaws its true purpose. Historically not everyone was even allowed to learn martial arts. Today, we have a free society that doesn't prohibit its teaching, but prohibits its illegal use.

Ultimately the purpose of martial arts is fighting, if it were self-defence, it would almost always take the most advantageous way to defend oneself, thus the focus would be on weapons that can be carried legally (or with a permit) in modern society.

It is not the "fighting" aspect that is glorified by combat sports like boxing and MMA.

It is the marketing and selling of the martial arts that was helped by the spirituality of it.

There are many many myths surrounding the martial arts, not the least of which is that it provides discipline. Have you ever known a person to be disciplined by giving them a loaded gun? Did boxing (a martial art) give mike tyson discipline?

people will gravitate towards martial arts for different reasons. It is and always have been about fighting. A rational, normal person will take that knowledge and feel more secure with themselves and also know how much they can really hurt someone with it, and that is where people who just don't give a crap if they do hurt someone with it come into play.

Truthfully I would say the people falling for the myth of "spirituality" are misinformed or are looking for something deeper, but that is not religious. If the purpose of martial arts was spirituality it would be preists and clergy and other holy men that fought wars while the soldiers and others got jobs in the kitchen and on farms.

People like to couch the terms of what they are doing in cushy little phrases like "self-defence" or "spirituality" but that is just a way to tell yourself (and girls you meet as they don't want to think you are violent) that what you are learning has non-violent uses.

Just face the facts, dynamite has non violent uses too (clearing rock, etc.) so do guns such as hunting to survive (as opposed to sport hunting) and protecting oneself (although violent society has deemed that as "acceptable violence").

Martial arts IS for fighting, but it is what you use it for that determines why you train. Do you like to beat the s hit out of people? Do you enjoy competition? Do you want to do it for physical excercise? Do you enjoy it because you like the knowledge? Do you take it for self defence?

These are all applications and reasons to train, however each person has different reasons, but the same teacher teaching the same art to two different people with two different reasons for training, will likely yeild two very different types of people.

Answer 2

That is a tough one based on a bunch of different cultures defining MA. First off, some folks won't recognize any western arts such as European or even russian ... or Native American.
There is also the confusion of the name... ART. Art has multiple definitions (having more intristic value, the field or science of, principles, branch, skill, etc). Some folks turn the word around to say the Art of fighting or the Art of Being Martial. You have people in the same culture who emphasize different parts. People do martial arts for different reasons such as to protect themselves, for exercise, just to have fun, to look good for an action movie, for praise or reward. The folks that look to self defense come down hard on those (and rightly so) that teach more forms and less sparring (or no sparring). A few of us have seen the results of poor instruction leading to someone thinking they can defend themselves when they really were taught things that wouldn't help. This has been going on for quite some time. Then there is the issue someone brought up of spiritual and control. Yes control is taught in most. However the spiritual, meditative, or code of conduct does not necessarily exist in all. This will be unpopular, there is a thought that even the bushido code for Samurai was written well into the the use of the Samurai. Another point, even in Shaolin Temples (one of the various times it was built and destroyed) had both monks and fighters. Then there was a mix but I'm sure there were the non-violent yoga type monks and such. If you look into the history you see that dissidents settled there and shared their fighting techs and such... along with the monks that were seeking enlightenment. There is also the issue of Do for jutsu or way vs. combat/use. Some teach a way and not necessarily a strict fighting style. Kendo vs. Kenjutsu. This is an evolution through time in some cases as society suppresses fighting styles or techniques it sees as useless in this civilized day and age (or so I've heard and read). Some arts teach a sport. Those sports sometimes use visualization and goals, mottos, etc. that add to the sport. The art of fighting continues to evolve as we develop more dangerous and/or effective weapons, armor, vehicles, etc.
Everybody has an opinion and in a form like this, everyone is willing to share it. For some, it is a way to be better equipped to handle a worse case scenario. For others it is an art to preserve, study, for exercise, etc. etc.
Guaranteed if you are going on route, there is a forum for it.
Kungfuonline, bushido, sherrdog, etc. etc.

Answer 3

Too many misinformed people. Martial arts is supposed to be about fighting the demons within, not the one on the outside. In learning a martial art, you gain confidence, self-control, respect, determination and many other valuable life skills that help you to become a better person. However, the media and misinformed people have twisted the meaning. What could start out as a friendly competition between two artists to see who is more skilled or physically superior can turn into an all-out-brawl when some idiot watching shouts "Give him the chair!". Yes, you do basically how to kill a person within a few weeks of learning, but every martial artist is told right off the bat that they aren't allowed or supposed to use their skills as an advantage or to hurt other people. Some guy throws a punch at a black belt in a certain form, they have every right to fight back until their attacker is subdued, whether it be through something like an arm twist or getting kicked in the head and blacking out. A martial artist is never supposed to start a fight, however. It's all about gaining personal strength, not physical.

Answer 4

Well, first of all, some martial arts really are about beating people up and they make no apologies for that. I happen to not respect those arts much, but they don't respect mine either so it doesn't make much difference, really.

But, to answer your essential question:

As some people here have pointed out we have a lot of messages coming at us from the time we are very young telling us to be violent. The message comes through in a lot of media that the way to solve conflict is through violence, that those who disagree with us will understand nothing else.

Which leads to something I think of as "superhero syndrome". Many martial artists get into a dream that they will be faced with Evil Doers who Must Be Subdued and shown the Error of Their Ways. So our Hero, the Martial Artist comes to Save the Day.

It's silly when you actually think about it, but it's natural for us to want to achieve justice through personal intervention.

Of course, there are other people for whom it's about power. To be powerful, to control other people, to be In Charge is the sole motivation. In fact, this isn't very different from the Superhero Syndrome on some level. It's certainly equally misguided.

When we think like this, we forget that the best way to resolve a conflict is to not have a conflict. All other resolutions are inferior. Because we cannot always avoid conflict without giving up things we value (rightly or wrongly) conflict happens and then we must resolve it in the best way possible. Rarely, this involves violence. Violence becomes common only when the source of the conflict is a desire to exert physical control over another human being.

I don't think it's really about being misinformed or uninformed. It's fundamental in a people's motivation. If they want to beat people up, they're going to see martial arts as being about beating people up. Nothing you can do about it. It's really a question of why they want to beat people up.

Answer 5

because in the end, what do all martial arts have in common?

Cook is when you put few indergrite together to make one dish. It doesn't matter if you roast, bake, or fry it, it's basically cooking!

Excrise is when you make your heart raise above normal level, it doesn't matter how you do it, if you run, push up, sit up, lift weight, play football, etc... In end they all are basically excrise, but in different way.

Alchol is a beverage with alchol in it, it doesn't matter if it's beer, wine, hard liquid, or mixed cocktail, in end it's a alchol.

It's same for martial arts, there's so many different martial arts out there. Each have different way of doing things. Some perfer to grapple, some perfer to strikes. Some are hard style some are soft. Some are very philosphical, some are very simple. In end all of them basically are a hands to hands combat!

Anyone want to challenge me on this answer, name one martial arts that doesn't have ANY sort of hands to hands combat and I'll leave this forum forever! No yoga, gymnastic, Hollywood fu, and parkour doesn't count!

Answer 6

Most people think that self defense means you fight a lot. People who have never taken a martial art or who have had poor instructors don't realize that the first rule of martial arts is to use it only to defend your life or the lives of those you love.

Really, I study martial arts to be a better person. I fully believe in the improvement of body, mind and spirit through the martial arts. I doubt I will ever need them to defend myself.

Answer 7

Martial arts is based on self-defense, self confidence, self control, respect and humbleness. However, I notice the fighting too, but the reason of the fight always pertain to Money (never let friends borrow money) or Unfaithful Girlfriends/Boyfriends or Personal Addiction Problems or Personal Property Damages.

These are not legitimate reason to fight, but I've seen many fights in my days of 35 years martial arts under the reason above. Its very sad, but it happens, I recall breaking up my two friends,also sensei's fighting in our Dojo(class) blood all over the place. I stopped them, but was to late the damage was already done, too fast. When two black-belts are fighting for real its bloody, and someone must stop the confrontation ASAP. There is always a legitimate reasoning for fight in clubs majority was disrespect to others, money, property damages, unfaithful spouses...etc.

Therefore, we can not judge the value of the fights, based on these unusual circumstance, everyone is human, but we should show more self control towards fighting, because we are the experts of martial arts in the world, and should show good examples of lifes well-being, self control, respect and humbleness.

Answer 8

Most people don't realize that "fighting" is illegal in most parts of the country.

Martial Arts are for self-defense. Unfortunately, many shows that glamorize the use of Martial Arts as fighting forms exist, including movies ( Steven Segal, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan ), TV Shows ( Chuck Norris ), and a slew of others. What these entertainments fail to point out is that once you move from self-defense to fighting, you move from within the law to outside of it.

Answer 9

Martal arts is for self defense but in today's world all people see is the fighting part of it thanks to UFC and PRIDE fights. Movies and TV haven't helped either. As for ninedemonsgod's question i think tai chi doesn't relay on hand to hand combat and yes it is a martal art.

Answer 10

In reference to your first question, The fact is that you are posting to a discussion group wherein people are asked to voice question, and/or anwser question to a subject that maybe they do not fully understand. As to your rhetorical stament belittling the users of this discussion forum. No comment.

lr


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