Why are they called "martial arts"?

[Zauriel]

Martial arts, also known as fighting systems, are bodies of codified practices or traditions of unarmed and armed combat.

 

"Martial arts" was translated in 1920 in Takenobu's Japanese-English Dictionary from Japanese bu-gei or bu-jutsu which means "the craft or accomplishment of military affairs".

 

This definition is translated directly from the Chinese term, Wushu (py wu shù, Cantonese, mou seut), to literally, "martial art", referring to all manner of Chinese martial arts.

 

This term is slightly anomalous in its English usage. Its strict meaning should be "arts for military use" which would include such modern applications such as; flying fighter aircraft, sniper training, and so forth,

 

First is the word "Martial" meaning militarist trait and to some degree relates to war or the warrior way.

 

Second is "Arts", which is to give expression, or have skill acquired by experience, study, or observation.

 

http://www.bigbearacademy.com/martial-arts.html

 

martial

 

Pronunciation: 'mär-shl

 

Function: adjective

 

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

 

Date: 14th century

 

1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

 

2 : relating to an army or to military life

 

3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

 

A martial art is any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means "military." So, a martial art is a military art. Most people don't really consider that when they think of the martial arts. The first things that usually come to mind are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and sword fighting. That is a very narrow view of the martial arts, though. Did it occur to you that horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun, and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy are all martial arts? Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.

 

http://www.martialarm.com/martial-martial-arts.html

 

I think they should be called "Fighting arts" or "combative arts"

[HumanTyphoon]

Since, nowadays, most martial artists aren't millitary men, I think it could be called something else, but in a different term for martial, it could still be martial arts.

[DLopez]

I think they should be called "Fighting arts" or "combative arts"

 

Those are just different ways of saying the same thing. There is no difference in meaning between "fighting arts" and "martial arts".

[mattys]

I always prefer to say karateka vice martial artist... it is a word more suited towards what we do. Karateka does not translate to martial artist, but to "one who follows the way of the empty hand." Better, wouldn't you think?

[MenteReligieuse]

Would be silly to call yourself Karateka if you don't do karate.

[mattys]

Well what do you chineese folk call yourselves?