Where's the War?

[Martialart]

What do you really train for? I mean, sure, there's the possibility that one day you may have to physically defend yourself, but for a balanced individual who has a healthy sense of paranoia and an awareness of their surroundings and who isn't looking for a fight, that's going to be a very unlikely occurrence. I work in a psychiatric hospital and it's still a very unlikely occurrence.

Even so, even in my job, I would only use the techniques I've already learned in my school as a white belt--and then I'd stop short of actually striking or injuring a patient if at all possible. A cop would always rely on a batton, pepper spray, taser, gun, etc. Any martial arts they would use would be very rare, and then only be the basics of a martial art (takedowns, control holds, etc.).

There's no need for black belt level training. There's definitely no need for weapons training (especially something like Iaido). In fact, for a skilled black belt to get in a fight in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras and kill someone, would almost certainly mean prison. Think about it, what self-defense includes killing someone? Or maiming them?

Of course there is sparring, but in sparring only the most basic techniques are ever effective, and then that is a sport governed by rules. That's more for fun and to build up confidence and toughness.

So, when you are doing complicated kata or hyung, and when you are doing it to the best of your ability, where is the war? We train for combat that never really comes. In some of the katas the situations played out wouldn't even be possible outside of a dream. So, what is the "martial" in your martial arts? What is the war you fight?

[GeoGiant]

Wow, you really don't know...?

Do you think runners train to flee from a situation?

Do you think weight lifters train to move heavy objects off of themselves?

No war here my friend. I train for personal satisfaction.

[CTTKDKing]

Wow, you really don't know...?

Do you think runners train to flee from a situation?

Do you think weight lifters train to move heavy objects off of themselves?

No war here my friend. I train for personal satisfaction.

I concur with this. I have had to defend myself and use martial techniques once since I started training. I was happy after when I walked away in one piece, but I don't ever plan to have to use my skills in real life. I train because it's an enjoyable form of exercise that balances my life out. it's also nice after a hard day to be able to go in and beat the crap out of some targets.

[Jeffrey]

Wow, you really don't know...?

Do you think runners train to flee from a situation?

Do you think weight lifters train to move heavy objects off of themselves?

No war here my friend. I train for personal satisfaction.

I think you have hit the nail on the head here. Personal satisfaction or personal best. There are no limites to training and there are always details to work on. I also run and enjoy the runners high that you get. I get a similar feeling from a good martials work out but only better.

[tallgeese]

as a cop, it's actually much more common for me to put hands on people than it is to do any of the other things you listed. I've put unarmed skills to work plenty during my time, more than any other physical set I train for.

So, for me, that's a good reason to train.

[sensei8]

I train for the preperation of the possibilities!

I train because I love the martial arts. The martial arts will forever be in my life…always! I can no more remove the martial arts from my life, than I can remove the air that I breathe; they both sustain me! To deny me of either, denies me of life.

[KarateGeorge]

I train for several reasons.

First, because I find it enjoyable and interesting to learn martial arts.

Second, I've built some good friendships with those that I train with, and they've become a "family' of sorts to me, so it gives me an opportunity to spend time with good friends with like interests.

Thirdly, having a college degree, a white-collar job, and living in a low-crime, suburban area, statistically speaking, the likelihood of needing to defend myself or friends or family against a serious attack is on the low end of the scale, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't be prepared for the possibility. Even if I were to be a victim of this type of assault, would I need a black belt level of skill to defend myself? Maybe, maybe not, but one thing I do know is that the way to keep my skills sharp is to continue to train, and by continuing to train, it also means I hopefully continue to improve.

[Martialart]

Ok, in other words, no one really wants to answer the question. And I can understand that, it's a deep psychological question. The six replies above have taken an abstract question and provided very concrete answers. I'm not trying to be argumentative; I'm just trying to go a little deeper.

The cop says he trains for his job--but that doesn't explain training in techniques that are designed to kill and maim, especially at the black belt level. It explains perfecting white belt techniques, but nothing else.

A couple say they just want to train for the challenge it presents--but that doesn't explain anything. It certainly doesn't explain why the martial arts. Or if that really is it, then to them the martial arts are abitrary, and so they are not really the people I am talking to.

Another says martial arts is his life--the air he breaths--but he doesn't give any reason why that is the case. Why is it your breath of life when it is a lifelong training for extreme hand-to-hand combat situations that probably wouldn't even occur in the most outlandish war scenario, much less on the street.

I think the general avoidance in answering the question points to the fact that the motivations are very deep within us. And, yes, to the one who asks is a long distance runner running away from something. I believe so. And I believe a martial artists is a person at war. And all I asked is what is your war?

[Toptomcat]

Call me a hopeless romantic, but a big part of why I study the martial arts is so I will know that wherever I go, the strongest man in the room will also be a good one. Self-defense is too narrow a phrase for what I want to be able to deal with effectively: I want to be able to defend others should it become necessary, and ideally to be able to defend myself without risk of lethal injury to the aggressor.

Additionally, I think your designation of ‘white belt techniques’ as those that are non-lethal and simple and ‘black belt techniques’ as those that are lethal and complicated is a gross oversimplification. Someone who’s trained to an excellent standard will be better able to calibrate the level of force they use than someone who’s trained to a lesser one, not handicapped by the sheer volume of ‘lethal’ training they’ve absorbed.

[Chitsu]

A couple say they just want to train for the challenge it presents--but that doesn't explain anything. It certainly doesn't explain why the martial arts.

Actually it does - especially in many Asian (particularly Japanese) influenced martial arts.

Such arts are heavily influenced by the Zen Buddhist concept of "do" or way, path or maxim etc.

Central to such "paths" is the practice of a skill - in the case of "Karate-do" it is of course the martial skill of the warrior.

The important thing to remember though is that it is not the acquisition of the skill being practiced that is the goal, it's the expansion of one’s capabilities and potential through its ongoing practice that is key.

You don't need a war for this - but that doesn't make it any less important or necessary to train in ma if that is your chosen way.

Chitsu