Does spirituality have also connection with martial arts?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

Spirituality can have connection in anything you assign it to.

Spirituality can be assigned to chess, badmitton, whatever endevour you seek you can assign spirituality to it.

That doesn't mean that there is a direct connection as some want to believe. You can play chess and not be spiritual, you can do Martial Arts without the slightest spiritual aspect.

And for the first answerer, not all Martial Arts were developed by monks, in fact precious few were.

Most Martial Arts were developed by soldiers, for means of winning in combat. Martial Arts are there from every country of the world, some attached to religion, some with no basis what so ever in religion or spirituality.

One person can find deep spirituality and meaning in whatever they choose, be it Golf, Orgami or Martial Arts.

The two are not intrinsicly tied to one another.

Can you be spiritual without Martial Arts? yes.

Can you do Martial Arts without spirituality? Absolutely.

Can you connect the two of them? Yes and many Martial Arts have, as well as many other activities.

In the foundation of SOME Martial Arts (Actually mostly just forms Kung Fu) there lies a foundation as it was a spiritual exercise. But not all Martial Arts derived from China, Kung Fu, or Monks.

All are defined by the fact that they are meant to have a use in combat. Hence the fact that they are Martial Arts.

There is a religious influence in many arts, mainly because the countries and times these arts were developed the countries were quite religious. Even though most of these arts are done quite secularly, many places culturally tied the spiritual aspects into it, because most people embrace one religion or another. Spiritual tie ins were ways of helping arts spread or remain after they were no longer needed for combat.

So there are connections in some ways, but no more so then spiritual connections to Golf, Spelunking, or Feng Shui. You can tie spirituality to them, because you can tie it to all things.

You can also do it and enjoy it, and get peace, discipline, and every single other reward without tying spirituality to it.

To some, everything is spiritual. To others nothing is.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

Answer 2

Hi there

Spirituality is only a part of ones personal development. It really doesn't have a place in modern fighting and it never had a place on the battlefields either.

But for developing ones confidence and perfecting technique then yes maybe.

Just like choosing an art its personal to the individual and so is the choice of practising the spiritual side to the arts.

Meditation may give you the mental focus and confidence to fight but only your skills and ability will save you.

The one good thing that the spirituality side promotes is the right way to behave. It promotes well being and good attitude minus ones Ego. A factor that has been lost amongst many commercial martial artists.

Best wishes

idai

Answer 3

Mostly no, but I would say it depends on the art and the martial artist. If the art is being taught by monks, or if there is reference to higher powers and spirituality - then yes. Where as something like mma is just doing the techniques with no real philosophy behind it - no.

Doing an art can help one evolve spiritually, even if the practitioner is not looking for it. By being patient, using concentration and taking time to work with your body and master techniques, you evolve spiritually.

Answer 4

IT CAN but most places it does not.

Many schools esp in the USA are commercialized and businesses and not into spirituality. However if you find a more private school you MAY find one that is more spiritualistic but not religious either. You have to look though for most are not.

WHY they don't because today most are just wanting to learn to fight, defend themselves or lose weight. those that do are usually doing Martial arts as a way of life and not just as a sport or like I said before.

Does that make sense?

Answer 5

All Martial Arts to one level or another are spiritual but not in the religious sence of the word. Sprituality ion the Martail Arts has mor to do with the sence of oneness the practitioner gains from his training. Case in point Many of my friends in the Martail Arts circle are quite at peace with themselves and others from the time they started to practice (Myself included). Also some forms of Martial Arts do have Roots in religion but not for combat. For example the Shaolin Monks when they started to train centuries ago trained for endurance becuse their meditation regim was much to grueling for normal man and they did this to strenghthen their bodies whil meditation and prayer for their minds.

Hope this anwers you question to your satisfaction.

Answer 6

no, however many schools and teachers input a "spiritual" component to it so it can be a part, but it is not necessary.

even traditionally you can find "spiritual" examples included in martial arts and not even have to search very far.

religious beliefs (catholocism) was heavily emphasised in the training of knights in mideval times and many fectbooks (recordings of techniques by a master) indicate or allude to some form of "alliegance to god" in them and have strong religious ovetones on codes of conduct.

you will have a hard time arguing that outright religious beliefs cannot be considered spiritual.

but the techniques learned can be learned with or without it.

Answer 7

All martial arts formed by spiritual monks, because most monk or saint need physical fitness for control there mind.

Answer 8

Yes without question.
I don't have the time to go very deep into the subject here.
It is the whole mind body spirit connection. As you train and push yourself and overcome limits you have subconsciously imposed you become more connected to the other side of your mind. I guess you can assign to it as left side right side of the brain.
Confronting fear is also a tremendous way to free your spirit.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Jing - Qi - Shen