What's the point in martial arts?

[LastKing]

I've been asking myself that question a lot, recently.

When younger, I would have assumed they were a system of self defence, but

of late, I have to say, I'm not sure.

We all have our chosen styles, and some are more "practical" than others. I practice karate, and I have to say, I suspect ours in low down on the scale of practicality when faced with a beered up idiot who's used to swinging and stomping like a mad man. I know of some karateka who are only really interested in kata, , some who love sparring. Others seem to thrive on the discipline and tradition.

So do you do it, any of the above, all of the above and more, something completely different.

Personally, I don't fully know why I do it, but I keep on doing it, and love it (well, most of it), but considering it is classed as a martial art, for me now, that seems almost its least practical application.

Do you still see your art as practical, or is it something else?

Not looking for a flame war, just an overview of what you get out of it.

Edit: just neatened it up to make it seem less negative, which on a second reading, it did. It wasn't intended to be.

Edited September 4, 2018 by LastKing

[Fat Cobra]

LastKing,

I get many things out of martial arts training. Here are some of them:

- Being Part of a Larger Organization

- Discipline

- Fellowship

- Physical Fitness

- More Control Over Body and Mind

- Constantly Striving for a New and Higher Goal

And...

- Self Defence Capability.

[Lupin1]

I think it's different for everyone. Different people what different things out of it and I think different schools cater to different people. I don't think those training to be cage fighters are any more or less "right" than the middle age soccer mom who just wants to get out of the house, interact with other adults, and get a bit of exercise a few times a week. The world of martial arts is big and diverse and there's room for everyone.

[sensei8]

I get an education/knowledge!!

[JR 137]

I think it's different for everyone. Different people what different things out of it and I think different schools cater to different people. I don't think those training to be cage fighters are any more or less "right" than the middle age soccer mom who just wants to get out of the house, interact with other adults, and get a bit of exercise a few times a week. The world of martial arts is big and diverse and there's room for everyone.

I love this post. You put it so much better than I could’ve.

I’ll add...

You get out of it what you put into it. It’s all in the way it’s taught and trained. There’s not much “martial” in doing kata without any application. There’s not much martial in doing tag game point fighting. There’s not much martial in memorizing stuff like one-steps or even multi-steps if the attacker is throwing a straight punch and holding it out while the defender does some complex move(s) without resistance.

Add a partner who’s not willing to let you do whatever you want and however slow and/or sloppy you want, and you’re getting martial. Stuff can and definitely should start out slow enough and light enough so the students can get the techniques and principles down, but once that’s achieved the resistance needs to increase. The issue is a lot of places aren’t adding resistance and taking these “deadly techniques” for granted. That’s all fine and good if you’re not interested in defending yourself. Not so good if that’s your reason for being there.

[RW]

I've been asking myself that question a lot, recently.

When younger, I would have assumed they were a system of self defence, but

of late, I have to say, I'm not sure.

We all have our chosen styles, and some are more "practical" than others. I practice karate, and I have to say, I suspect ours in low down on the scale of practicality when faced with a beered up idiot who's used to swinging and stomping like a mad man. I know of some karateka who are only really interested in kata, , some who love sparring. Others seem to thrive on the discipline and tradition.

So do you do it, any of the above, all of the above and more, something completely different.

Personally, I don't fully know why I do it, but I keep on doing it, and love it (well, most of it), but considering it is classed as a martial art, for me now, that seems almost its least practical application.

Do you still see your art as practical, or is it something else?

Not looking for a flame war, just an overview of what you get out of it.

Edit: just neatened it up to make it seem less negative, which on a second reading, it did. It wasn't intended to be.

I know it's just training, I know there's a method, etc etc, but, I don't feel ANY traditional martial art is a particularly effective way to learn how to fight.

Sure, you're walking in forward foot stances, making sure your foot touches your other foot before you take the next step, with a perfect stance, you've practiced 500 punches from horse stance a day, and you have an impressive backwards-step transition followed by an amazing nukite finger strike.

The only problem is you don't do zenkutsu dachi (forward foot stance), chambered punches from horse stance and kokutsu dachi (backwards stance) nukites in a real fight. I have yet to see ANYONE use a nukite in an MMA match or in a bar fight, and there is a reason for that: you'd break your fingers at least half the time.

I do martial arts because I enjoy them, and they are a good way to stay active, exercise, socialize in a different setting and a well peformed kata has a very therapeutic aspect to it, some people call it moving meditation for a reason. I might get self defense benefits from my art as well, it's certainly made me a better fighter than if I never practiced any martial art, but I won't fool myself into thinking it's as good for that as boxing or muay thai are.

At the same time though, I don't want to learn silly stuff or mcdojo stuff, and I do take my training seriously.

[singularity6]

I've been asking myself that question a lot, recently.

When younger, I would have assumed they were a system of self defence, but

of late, I have to say, I'm not sure.

We all have our chosen styles, and some are more "practical" than others. I practice karate, and I have to say, I suspect ours in low down on the scale of practicality when faced with a beered up idiot who's used to swinging and stomping like a mad man. I know of some karateka who are only really interested in kata, , some who love sparring. Others seem to thrive on the discipline and tradition.

So do you do it, any of the above, all of the above and more, something completely different.

Personally, I don't fully know why I do it, but I keep on doing it, and love it (well, most of it), but considering it is classed as a martial art, for me now, that seems almost its least practical application.

Do you still see your art as practical, or is it something else?

Not looking for a flame war, just an overview of what you get out of it.

Edit: just neatened it up to make it seem less negative, which on a second reading, it did. It wasn't intended to be.

I know it's just training, I know there's a method, etc etc, but, I don't feel ANY traditional martial art is a particularly effective way to learn how to fight.

Sure, you're walking in forward foot stances, making sure your foot touches your other foot before you take the next step, with a perfect stance, you've practiced 500 punches from horse stance a day, and you have an impressive backwards-step transition followed by an amazing nukite finger strike.

The only problem is you don't do zenkutsu dachi (forward foot stance), chambered punches from horse stance and kokutsu dachi (backwards stance) nukites in a real fight. I have yet to see ANYONE use a nukite in an MMA match or in a bar fight, and there is a reason for that: you'd break your fingers at least half the time.

I do martial arts because I enjoy them, and they are a good way to stay active, exercise, socialize in a different setting and a well peformed kata has a very therapeutic aspect to it, some people call it moving meditation for a reason. I might get self defense benefits from my art as well, it's certainly made me a better fighter than if I never practiced any martial art, but I won't fool myself into thinking it's as good for that as boxing or muay thai are.

At the same time though, I don't want to learn silly stuff or mcdojo stuff, and I do take my training seriously.

I've never thought of "proper stances" as something we should use in a fight. Using the various stances simply train your muscles. Each stance is becomes uncomfortable after several seconds because you're using those muscles! Also, moving properly from one stance to another teaches you about body awareness and how to move. Working stances will improve your core strength and your balance, as well.

The same can be said about chambering your techniques.

I do agree with you regarding finger strikes... I'd never resort to that in a real-life situation.

[tallgeese]

There's a multitude of reasons. They change over time. At one point, I really believed that it was all about self defense or nothing. Then I got into competing and then that was okay. Now that I'm older it's okay to just be around because you love it. The key is for each person to take a look at why they are training, a realistic look, and make sure they are in a position to match that. Otherwise, you'll never enjoy it.

[Chunmonchek]

Taught and trained correctly, All will get something from the experience...

...Not all will get the same thing, but most will get what they need...

[MatsuShinshii]

Well when I was younger it was all about self defense, or let me be honest and say learning how to fight and protect myself.

I loved the fact that I could stay in shape and I needed the discipline.

Having said that my focus has changed with 41 years under my belt and a whole lot of miles on my body. My focus now it the technical and the applications of the art. Rather than toughening my body and making it a weapon (I figure if it isn't by now it will never be) I have turned to study of the art and acquiring a deeper understanding of the art.

I am also an avid researcher and history buff so learning all I can about the art, where it came from and all I can learn about the founders has become one of my major focuses. That and passing down what I was blessed to learn.

I'm not sure if that is natural as you age or as you reach higher grades but that's where I am.