What puts the "art" into Martial Arts?

[DWx]

My instructor's always saying that when we do forms we are expressing the artistic side of TKD.. but not all Martial Arts have forms. So what makes us "artists" and to what extent is fighting an art form?

[James Bullock]

What makes us "artists" is the level and depth at which we are trying to attain through the expression of our chosen endeavor. I have trained in arts that have forms as well as arts that have no forms. I currently only teach MMA and Combative Sciences and there are zero forms, however, it is an artistic thing of beauty to watch someone highly skilled shadowbox or fluidly throw combinations on the heavy bag. Causing a sparring partner to miss at will with only the smallest most efficient movement being used is also a thing of beauty to me. I personally approach my teaching and training of sport / self defense from a martial artists perspective rather than a pure physical perspective.

It is always the practitioner that decides to be an "artist" instead of a "fighter" or what have you.

My opinions only...

[humble monk]

I agree. I have seen forms that genuinely moved me, and since you will only see it one time performed in that way, it is a fleeting experience. Seen again, it will never be exactly the same.

Beyond that, MA is self expression at a high level. Nothing stops you from creating your own art tomorrow, and declaring it a legitimate style.

[bushido_man96]

I think it has to do with the fact that we try to continually hone what we do, to make ourselves better, more efficient, etc.

[tallgeese]

I agree with both bushido man here and James to a degree, I think both have vaild points.

I would add that there is a seperation between art and a science. Scientific process denotes that give a set of variables a given outcome will occur. If give the same set of variables again the same outcome will occur agian. It's not so with art.

Outcomes may vary as well as methodology when faced with the same problem. Even slight variations in posture can change outcomes even when give the same varibles (in this case, attacks)

That does leave us with an "art" more than a hard science.

[joesteph]

I agree. I have seen forms that genuinely moved me, and since you will only see it one time performed in that way, it is a fleeting experience. Seen again, it will never be exactly the same.

A once-in-a-lifetime experience, Humble Monk? A unique aesthetic expression? Perhaps remembering the first time you saw forms presented in a tournament, not within the confines of your dojo or dojang? The upside of videos is preserving the moment; YouTube shares it with millions. One of the upsides of today's technology.

Beyond that, MA is self expression at a high level. Nothing stops you from creating your own art tomorrow, and declaring it a legitimate style.

The creative self expressed? Barring discussion of self-defense, what of making one's own forms/katas/hyungs? My children actually "play" at karate when home with me by making up "Smurfy Karate" (based on Smurf toys they'd gotten a while ago), with basic forms that they make up themselves--and they're just going on age seven this month. I encourage them and ask them to teach me.

[Tiger1962]

.........So what makes us "artists" and to what extent is fighting an art form?

It's the give and take --- the ying and yang part of it. You hit me, I block; I hit you, you block.