Maybe a dumb question-- What does Martial Mean to you?

[Buddroux]

I was thinking the other day , what does martial means...if we are taught martial arts to bring peace without fighting then why do we larn martial arts not take a class about peace... I think that there should be peace... I did'nt start this thread to try to say that we should fight or anything.. I was just wondering what your opinion of meaning 'Martial' is. This may be a dumb question ,but hey, I was just curious.

[Shaolin Dragon]

This has been argued all over the forum, and is basically a question of semantics as to the defenition of "martial" - some people don't count boxing, others accept anything that can be used in a fight.

As for why to do MA; it gives you the confidence to handle situations without resorting to violence; the "I know I can beat him so I don't need to prove it."
But taking MA purely for SD is arguably pointless - chances are you will be jumped from behind, or outnumbered; even if you see your attacker, what do you have in your pockets that is worth the risk? Certainly nothing that would cost you the same as you have probably spent on MA lessons!

That said, MA can certainly give us an edge that my just make the difference.

[inanimate]

Well I guess that literally Martial Art is to teach you how to fight (martial meaning 'war-like', art being 'way'), the philosophy for the most part being that you will be able to defend both yourself and your loved ones if you had to, and also through the disciplines of fighting you can teach yourself so many things such as self control, perserverence, indomnible spirit etc.

IMO I think that since MA came about during times of crisis it was created solely for self-defence whether it be small or large scale, anything from street fights to training armies, and the philosophy developed from there.

It's a good question though :)

What are your thoughts/opinions?

[Geisha Girl]

Martial arts to me is the art of true self defense. You can't carry a gun in your purse (it's not legal anyway) and reaching for you keychain and aiming your pepper spray won't flow that easy when your caught up like that. The only true and sure self defense is yourself and martial arts teaches you not only to be physicaly ready but mentaly too. I am a student of Shou Shu and as a white belt I notice not only am I learning to protect myself but I am not mentaly what I was when I started.. I'm more sure of myself and that if put in a spot that I would be at risk that even now at this belt I won't be a victim.To me Martial is what I am learning to be and the art is looking like just another girl in the world and knowing that anyone who tries to hurt me will be mistaken

[chungmoomonkey]

when i started ma to me it ment i was gunna be a powerranger lol but as i got older i came to realize it is better then any other sports (as i have said in many other posts and written several paragraphs on it ) it teaches u so much and inhances ur body and mind and ballance and not only is it a sport but an art. i agree with the post above it has halped my reflexes (mabey to much) like if sum 1 like fake punckes me ar just tries to meak me blink i will (not on perpose) block there arm and be in a fighting guard. I remember 1 time i obened the freexer and all this stuff started fallling out i cot all of it including a thing of icecream using my hip pinning the icecream agianst the fridge with it . but anyway back the subject to me it is what i do it defines me most people no me as the karate boy and i like that but thats just to me as corney as it sounds

[Buddroux]

I like what i am hearing...

There are three reasons that I do martial arts
1.For health and fitness
2.For Fun
3.For Self-defence
Martial Arts should be a part of us. Not just something that we do when we are in a fight. I mean if we are learning how to use our body. we can use what we learn to help us out. And we will be fit. The body is meant to be able to move. So when we do martial arts we are moving the body in ways that help our health ....

Disclaimer : if what i say makes u think i am stupid then please be nice about it...

thanks!

[Shaolin Dragon]

For me MA is striving to perfect ourselves; physically and spiritually, with the mind and body working in unison.

[Sukerkin]

Martial Arts, first and foremost, are about the perfection of yourself, not your ability to inflict harm on others (any lager-fueled moron can do that).

It's one of the hardest things to explain to non-martial-artists I've found, that you don't learn an MA to be able to break people apart but rather to be able to restrain yourself, in those circumstances that aren't actively life-threatening, so that a fight never occurs in the first place.

As has been mentioned above ... we're trained to maim, disable and kill under a variety of circumstances - the main outcome of all of that effort and dedication is that we can back away from confrontation with no sense of shame.

If we can't get away that's different but, believe me, from experience, when you have to use what you know against people who don't (even when outnumbered) you feel ashamed.

Martial Arts = Mastery of Yourself NOT Mastery of Those Less Skilled than Yourself.

[toothpaste100]

A practical skill that involves violence.

Personal development come secondary, along with belts, contracts and fancy costumes.

[Rhineville]

it started out as a way of defending yourself.

then people started to join just for fun.

these people caused problems with their abilities, instead of settling them.

THAT'S when teachers decided to implement the idea of winning without fighting, since they had no idea who was there to try to save their own lives, and who was there to cause trouble.

the introduction of Budhhist principles into the curriculum was brought about mainly because most oriental teachers were Buddhist, which kinda conflicted with the idea of violent resistance.

[bcullen]

You can't carry a gun in your purse (it's not legal anyway)

Hmm, right off, I can guess that you don't live in Arizona. :)

[Poop-Loops]

Martial? Regarding war, or fighting.

Why I learn MA? To kick ass. That doesn't mean I do it, or even that I can do it. One day maybe...

PL

[jroe52]

I am a pascifist, but i practice wing chun. i do not want to harm or hurt others unless they try to harm me or someone i care about.

i think MA helps me realize the correct path from the wrong, brings me awareness to chi, and helps me to better respect others.

it is something unsaid in ma schools that self governs the class, its amazing. it makes me wonder why they don't teach MA instead of the pointless gym classes.

[jroe52]

i think another thing is it fills a whole in my soal. i don't know how to say it.. but when you see how some religions are hypocritcal in our world and how they hurt people... i see ma to help me find a way guided by some buddhist beliefs and better balance my chi.

now only if i practiced all that i learned...

[Poop-Loops]

I'm sorry to break this to you... but MA is about hurting people...

PL

[Hyaku]

I was thinking the other day , what does martial means...if we are taught martial arts to bring peace without fighting then why do we larn martial arts not take a class about peace... I think that there should be peace... I did'nt start this thread to try to say that we should fight or anything.. I was just wondering what your opinion of meaning 'Martial' is. This may be a dumb question ,but hey, I was just curious.

Well martial means warfare. Learning about the use of weapons of your time to deal with an oppressor to home, country or family. We don't use the swords or weapons any more but the theory is still there. Learning the true horror they inflict perhaps encourages us "not" to use them and the futility of it all. Nevertheless there may be a time in our life when we may have to embrace our fatality and fight.

Yes it would be nice if we all studied peace but look around you! Thats not the way it is it? We can hope to learn what our ancestors learned but as yet I see little hope evertime I read a paper or watch the news.

[toothpaste100]

I'm sorry to break this to you... but MA is about hurting people...

PL

Poop-Loops, I think its about time you tried a REAL martial art. You see, martial arts are about burning fat and making friends. Thats why I practice Tae Bo

[Mushroom]

Usually when someone asks this question, many people look into the dictionary.

Anyway, to me its heritage. Not cos i'm Chinese, thats just a sterotype. Its because my Dad did it and i been surrounded by it all my life.

Martial Arts is what you make it i suppose, much like life.

[Poop-Loops]

Poop-Loops, I think its about time you tried a REAL martial art. You see, martial arts are about burning fat and making friends. Thats why I practice Tae Bo

You can hurt people in Tae Bo. That's the best part.

PL

[milchy]

For me it started as being a 7 year old and seeing a few too many martial arts movies.

So i started attending taekwondo, continued it for 10 years. During my 8th year of training our master (who was about 70 years old already) retired from teaching and a new young guy took over. The spiritual aspect of our dojo (which set us apart from all the other ones in the area) was lost, and soon the classes turned into nothing but an aerobics workout session for middle ages business men and house wives.

I soon quit martial arts.... Yet discovered capoeira 2 years later. Finally i could get fit again... i was still yearning for something spiritual though.... I felt empty... I now also practice Liu He Ba Fa Quan (Qi gong) and have found something i truly love.

Martial Arts to me are a way of life. Discipline and Self developement are the key factor here. Without we are nothing.

[xxionx]

To me, learning Martial Arts was never about kicking someone's ass or anything of that sort. Martial Arts to me was for fun, as previously mentioned in this thread it was like wanting to be a power ranger but for fun. Of course that's not what I got. Martial Arts has made me confindent. I am only 5'8 and weigh 145 but i look like I weigh 120. Usually people look at me and I know they think I am a wimp, but I do it on purpose. I know I don't have to be intimidated by anything though I also don't bully around. Confidence is what Martial Arts has given me and I appreciate all of it.

[xxionx]

LOL my sis does Tae Bo every Morning...Shes gotten skinny. I love it, Its so sexy!!!



( by they way, when I ment sister she is not really my sister, its what i call her cause she is like a sister)

[Johnno]

LOL my sis does Tae Bo every Morning...Shes gotten skinny. I love it, Its so sexy!!!



( by they way, when I ment sister she is not really my sister, its what i call her cause she is like a sister)You resurrect an ancient thread... then tell us how hot your sister is... then tell us she's not really your sister...


...you're on a roll. Don't stop! :D

[xxionx]

Well she looks like she could be my sis but she is in a whole different state with a whole diff family. She awesome though

[Johnno]

Well she looks like she could be my sis but she is in a whole different state with a whole diff family. She awesome thoughYou'd better post a picture. Let the MAP Hotness Jury decide whether she really is 'awesome' or not.

[Tommy-2guns...]

i concur with the man who says martial arts are what you make them - to know how to fight is my reason and because i like the conflict and the lifestyle thing and im also a big 70's kung fu film lover.

some people like the journey of self discovery,overcoming barriers of what they couldnt do before.

some like the spiritual refinement that comes from hard training.

some like to get fit and have a sexy ass.

some like the belts and the achievement they might not be able to get in other sports.

some like the fact there are no real winners and loosers (unless you fight of course)

all of these reasons are valid for something being a martial art and these and many more are what people see the martial arts doing for them. so martial arts although originally intended for fighting has become so much for so many different people its hard to put a label on it, and personally i prefer it that way, i mean if i went to a class full of hard ass skinheads wanting to beat the crap out of people id dislike it, and if it was full of belt loving pyjama wearing sinophiles in it to become the next white ninja id also be displeased. i love the choice in the matter.

[Stevebjj]

While there are a lot of incidental benefits of studying martial arts, such as conditioning, spiritual strength and perhaps self discovery, if you're not learning how to fight, it might as well be rhythmic gymnastics.