If the Martial Arts are supposed to be a sport -?

Question

how come Martial Artists are not recognized anywhere as being great Athletes?

P.S. I am 50+ years young and began my formal martial arts training in 1968 (I had once or twice worked out with Billy Blanks at his Kempo dojo down in Quincy).

Answer 1

Martial arts are not supposed to be sports; don't confuse combat sports with MAs.

Answer 2

Hummmmmmm-you may be a little young to know that on the old television series, Wide World of Sports, they would have a competition every year for the greatest athlete. A man by the name of Herschel Walker had the second fastest time in the obstacle course event. A martial artist had the fastest and held that record for many years and that man was Billy Blanks. Several professional football players were martial artists in years past.

You have to remember that until recently martial arts as a sport received no wide viewing audience, or television time nor did it generate huge amounts of television and advertising revenue. So while it had some tremendous athletes most everyone outside of martial arts was asleep and did not realize it or care. Neither did the martial artists for that matter-it was just something that they accepted.

Answer 3

They are! Have you ever looked at Chuck Norris or Jackie Chan and said "wow that is so easy!" Only a martial artist would say that!

It actually probably has to do with how holleywood portrays martial artists. They are shown as primarily being sound of mind, which although is a great deal of it, thinking "I can do a jump spin outer crescent kick with a roundhouse and a front kick before I hit the ground" well, sorry but you arent gonna do it if you dont have phisical ability.

It is also widely observed as a sport in places of its origin like Japan. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Well i think they are being recognized as great athletes. anyone with a medal in Wrestling, Judo, TKD have been recognized by the Olympics for their athletic prowess. I think that MMA is as big in Japan as any sport in the US. Fighters are making millions these days when they hit the big show. Boxers are recognized as great athletes as well, boxing is a western martial art. I think Martial art practitioners are starting to get more rcognition these days.

Answer 5

Honestly No, Martial Arts are not suposed to be a sport. The sport versions came about in order to prevent death during training and competition. In ancient times the winner of a tournament was the one who did not have a broken bone or ended up dead at the end of the competition. In some places the tounaments were done to see who the best fighters were to them place them in the military. the beter the combat skills the higher the rank.

Hope this explains to your satisfaction

Answer 6

I guess it would be by whose definition as to what is a great athlete. There are champion martial artist. There are organized competitions. There are fans. There are magazines.
I certainly consider some of the martial artist I know as great athletes.
I guess I don't understand your question.
Recognized by who?

Answer 7

It has became a sport for the use of entertainment as other sports...But don't call it a sport...I have learned various fighting styles in my life and not one originated as ENTERTAINMENT... Most of the "ARTS" have originated from watching other animals/insects hunt and battle for survival...
We made it into a sport in the modern times to give us pleasure...

Answer 8

Martial Arts is about self development so who cares what kind of recognition you get?

Answer 9

If winning Olympic medals doesn't recognize ones athletic achievements, what does?

Answer 10

I don't know why but they should be, being that they CAN to a point defy gravity depending on how experienced they are.