What is the purpose of the martial arts?

[ramcalgary]

I have noticed a number of threads where so and so says that his/her art is better and could kick every others arts butt.

 

I began to think was the intended purpose of training.

 

Surely it must be more than just to learn to beat the heck out of someone else. If that is the only purpose then I guess the next evelution will be a big club followed by a bigger club followed by a better weapon etc.

 

I think many of you are missing the point here one the greatest things martial arts can give you is self discipine and respect.

 

What do you think?

 

 

[Jack]

Its because when a lot of people say that, its because that is what their Instructors have told them with supplying a load of reasons, which are really just the art's strength. They do nothing to mention the weaknesses of their arts.

 

Think of the physical training as a transport for mental and spiritual improvement. Learning how to win fights, but only as a result of training which aims to build you mentally through rigorous training.

[Pacificshore]

I agree RamCalgary, there is more to Martial Arts than just learning how to fight to beat someone up. I believe it is about self discipline, self control, and confidence to name a few.

 

However, I remember the first time I started training, all I thought about was learning how to fight. I didn't care for kata training, or even learning self defense sets. That eventually changed as I continued in my training and grew older and more mature.

 

So I think that a certain level of maturity has something to do with understanding the true purpose of Martial Arts.

 

As I have said before in another post, if you wanna learn how to fight then take up an art that is based on fighting. But if your looking for a life long journey then study all aspects of your respective style.

[CTpizzaboy]

No martial art is better than any other, because for any martial art there is always a weak point. What makes a martial art great or not, is the teacher. Think if it, if you take two style of karate that is the same with two different teacher, and one is a great teacher and one is a good teacher. You'll will have the same martial art, but with different quality of student.

[TKD_McGee]

Hehe all the martial arts places i been to have a bunch of rejects with money.. Basically people need to feel important and have someone with a black belt boss them around..!

 

 

[Bon]

The purpose of martial arts is to learn how to fight.

 

Look up martial, likened to war and then art, beauty. Learning to fight includes a lot of things which includes discipline, self-control, etc.

 

 

[Drunken Monkey]

nothing to do with this but i just remembered when my grand dad first showed me some kung fu.

 

well, what i really remember is him saying, if he hits you, hit him back harder!

 

what i guess i'm trying to say is, it doesn't matter what style you think is better, as long as it works for you and gives you what you want.

 

another point, you have to take context.

 

if you're six foot nine, ninteen stone and practise wing chun and you wonder why the little guy in your class can get to your centre, you're missing a big part/point of the style...

 

similarly, if you're five foot three, tkd and can't quite figure how the tall guy keeps you out of range...

 

 

[ZeRo]

i do it because i like it. simple as that.

[Drunken Monkey]

yeah but then no one really does something if they don't enjoy it

[Shoto Tiger]

I took up martial arts initially for the fitness, as mentioned before, as time has moved on I have felt that there is more to it than just simple moves to imitate. I look for the hidden movements (if conceivably there!). I don't know about other MA but I was told that Shotokan had to be 'watered' down to allow for school children to take part. This means that all the lethal techniques have been removed (so I have been told anyway!). My interest now lies in furthering my MA career (?), learning as competantly as I can, what I can of my chosen MA and hoping one day to find the missing movements! But I am an optimist and I'm well aware of it!

 

I guess I have got more interested in the Kata, history and language and one day would like to get the hang of Kumite, once again I live in hope.

 

Plus every reason mentioned previously!