Is a True Martial Artist one that strives to enhance himself mentally, spiritually and physically.?

Question

Enhancement of ones life to grow as your Martial Art's grow

Answer 1

Hmm......there are many, many things involved in such a seemingly simple and innocent question :)

To be truly honest in asnwering, a definition of "true", "Martial Artist", "Martial", and "Artist" would likely have to be explored and agreed upon by all - an unlikely endeavor in this forum lol.

As others have discussed, each discipline is different and each has established its own concepts and philosophy of learning, execution, and mastery. Some are endowed with spiritual or moral elements that are viewed with equal or greater importance than the physical execution, while others are merely physical systems.

Who can truly determine what is true and not? We must each determine for ourselves what we define as the requirements for meeting the standard of truth or for failing that standard. I think we cannot reasonably require that all disciplines be codified against a single set of requirements, thus we should be careful not to apply such a true or false condition to disciplines.

This said however, I do personally believe that anyone establishing themselves as an instructor of a discipline, whether it be a traditional martial art, a martial system of defense, or a combat system, should be held to a high standard of expectation and responsibility. I think whether you teach a system of pure physical self-defense, or you teach a highly artistic and developed traditional art, you must seek to enhance yourself as an instructor, and to ensure you pass on your knowledge in the most appropriate and effective manner possible, to those who are suitable candidates to receive it.

I would expect that any instructor, and therfore any student, would recognize the value in understanding their chosen path as completely as possible. This cannot simply be a rote repitition of physical actions, although such repitition can certainly be a very effective training tool. An understanding of concept, nuance, variation, adaptation, and alternatives must be an integral part of the learning process for the training to be of any real value. This I would equate to mental development and enhancement.

I would expect that any instructor, and therfore any student, would recognize the value in the mental spirit and outlook they bring to their daily training or practice sessions. After all, what value would there be in having an instructor who appeared bored or disengaged, or a student who lacked enthusiasm or energy. Spiritual development to my mind may encompass many elements, but it most certainly encompasses the 'spirit' of the indiviudal involved, their application, outlook, energy, and committment to the process.

Finally, I would expect that any instructor, and therfore any student, would recognize the value and necessity in the physical journey that we all take through training, whether we are involved in a high impact activity, or a low impact one. In learning new skills, new movements, new concepts, we undertake a physical journey that will change us inevitably. It may be imperceptible and slow to occur, but the act of physically and repetitively moving creates this change, and thus a physical development and growth occurs.

I know a lot of individuals will relate the spiritual, mental, and physical journey to a pure and direct relational connection to budo, or zen, or a number of other belief systems that are intrinsic to many Chinese, Japanese, or Korean traditional martial art disciplines. I personally believe however, that those concepts are there and discussed not merely as a result of the religious connection or spriitual growth sought from their cultural immersion, but because they ARE an integral and significant part of the whole journey and they need to be recognized and developed, just as all other parts of the journey do.

I completely agree that religion, religious spirituality, religious enlightenment, and all other such connotations do not have to be a part of the journey - and I believe many people see the tri-fecture of the mental, spiritual, and physical journey as reflected in this light. I see those three parts as intrinsically a part of any journey whether it be baseball, ballroom dancing, martial arts, or a self-defense class.

Ok....long answer ...sorry. So I guess my answer would be that I believe anyone who is training in anything is already on this path. What makes a true martial artist is in the eye and belief system of the beholder, and of the artist themself. I do believe anyone on the journey to learn martial arts is a martial artists. Anyone who is fully recognizing and embracing the mental, spiritual, and physical elements is on the way to balancing the three elements which I believe to be important in developing a well rounded and balanced individual, which certianly can't be a negative, right!

I'm not sure any of this will make sense to anyone else lol. I hope it does to some degree though.

Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 2

A True Martial Artist is one that strives to enhance himself mentally, spiritually and physically.

Answer 3

No, but that's a nice goal.

A martial artist is a person who learns martial arts, martial arts are a system of combat.

The goal of learning a system of combat or martial arts differs from person to person, and the type of martial art also influences a great deal, depending if it includes spirituality on the curriculum.

You could enhance yourself mentally, spiritually and physically without martial arts, you could do it with the help of a sport for instance.

Answer 4

Enhancement and personal improvement are goals to set for yourself.

That isn't a True Martial Artist, simply a true human attempting to better himself/herself in every way possible.

Despite what many people here may believe, there are Martial Arts that have nothing to do with Bushido, Zen, or any other Asianitic philosophy.

Budo, Bushido, these are Japanese thoughts and philosophy, and aren't all encompassing for ALL Martial Arts.

Look at Phillipino and Indonesian Arts, Look at Russian, European and African Arts. Look at Greek, Roman, Turkish style arts.

Not all of these encompass Budo, or even at the very point have anything to do with spirituality. Spirituality is in an individual, not in an Art.

For example take arts like Nuba, or Dambe, African arts that are meant for combat, or for a recreational game. There are true masters of it, as there are masters of Karate and Aikido, people who have devoted a large portion of their life to the art.

The spirituality is not there, the focus of morality through the Art is not there, it is simply for the techniques and focus of the art.

Capoeira is another great example, it is for the game. Is a true Capoeira Mestre any less of a Martial Artist because his focus isn't on spiruality, betterment of the community or inner perfection?

Pankration was fought by the greeks as a means of establishing social heirarchy. There were devoted practioners of the art, true warriors. They shared nothing of the attempts at balance like the Samurai. They cared nothing for self betterment, or spiritual oneness. To them their true goal was glory in battle, so that your name would live on past your death. They didn't seek to be philosophers, or spiritualists, or acheive mental and spiritual perfection, they trained for combat out and out.

Are they less "True" Martial Artist?

TRUE MARTIAL ARTIST ARE NOT ONLY THOSE VERSED IN ASIAN MARTIAL ARTS PHILOSOPHIES AND BELIEFS!

A Martial Artist is someone who practices a Martial Art, the rest like another said is just some attempt at elitist snobbery.

You don't have to be a damn samurai or a monk to be a true Martial Artist. You just have to train in a Martial Art.

From there you get what you put into it.

A white belt two weeks into an art is a Martial Artist to me.

A poor Phillipino farmer who practices Kali in his free time is a Martial Artist to me.

There are people who are better fighters, but everyone who studies Martial Arts are Martial Artists. Some Martial Artist are more combat effective than others. That doesn't make them any more or less.

I can respect a guy who has the self control and will to stand in Sanchin for an hour, just as much as I can respect a guy who trains 4 hours in various arts, and does 2 hours of conditioning towards becoming a better athlete.

However, the guy who holds a stance for an hour won't be nearly as good of a fighter as a guy who spars for that same hour, and works cardio for another two. But both are Martial Artist, and neither one has more creedance as a Martial Artist to me.

Who am I to judge what is a "Real" Martial Artist, Fighter, or Person? Who are you?

To even assign such a title of snobbery goes against the very spirit of Budo you claim to represent.

Self Betterment is a mission of yourself, Spirituality is a personal thing, and mental and physical perfection and improvement can be done without the use of zen, Bushido, Budo, or Martial Arts.

Similarly you can study the path of Zen, live in the spirit of Budo without ever stepping foot into a dojo or practicing one kata.

Let the bloviated fixated elitist think they can go around and define "True" Martial Artist. While they hold their noses high, proclaim humility and down anyone who believes anything differently then them as not "True" Martial Artist.

I for one don't pretend to think I am in the position to judge anyone.

Answer 5

Absolutely.
We at our school try to encourage our students to excel in other areas of their life. A human is not one dimensional. Some of the best Martial Artist I know excel at other thing equally as well. Weather it is science or art. Your Martial Art training should bring an added dimension to your life.
Grand Master William Chung holds a PhD.
My master instructor is an expert in robotics
The old masters were often the educated elder in the community as well as the spiritual head as well. This is a commendable tradition. I found my training in TKD has helped me all around in my character development. The mental physical and spiritual aspects of life need equal attention.

Answer 6

I know that the 80's happened, because I have a few memories of them, scattered throughout my database. So I must have been there. But there is no data joining these episodes together, so there is no continuity. Maybe I just remember a few episodes of "Miami Vice", and subconsciously added it to my time spent playing GTA 'Vice City', and the 80's never happened at all. Which must mean I'm a decade younger than I think I am. (Or thought I was) See what I mean? My tenses get all scrambled up when I try and think about it! I'm off for my nap now.

Answer 7

No - the original goal of martial arts was to defeat your enemy. It's a form of combat.
The other stuff, the spiritual and mental came after.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be a better person.
There's a difference between being good at what you do and just being a jacka@@.

Answer 8

Yes, everything in you life must influence your martial art and everything in martial arts must influence your life. Its not just with martial arts its with every profecion, for example, a poet will live like a poet, an officeworker will live like an office worker, anything you do will influence the rest of your life, think about it

Answer 9

All the old masters had day jobs they didn't live off martial arts and would rather have 3 dedicated students rather than a 1000 wannabes.
If martial arts teaches you to endure setbacks advance and develope in your chosen career it has done it's job just fighting you can learn anywhere.

Answer 10

Yes. Otherwise he's just a fighter. Notice the "art" in martial art.