How many of the members in this forum enjoy or like Martial Arts?

Do you guys really believe that martial arts is an outdated art and doesnot
deserve any place in this modern age?

lets discuss

I don't do martial arts, but know several people who do. Most of them talk about the spiritual aspect of it. I know women who have a black belt. I don't think it is at all outdated and is very beneficiary to wellbeing.

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All in all, I have about a dozen years of martial arts experience spread over three decades. For the last year and a half I've been studying Shotokan karate, and just received my green belt. I'm hoping to test for my first dan black belt within the next five years. Have also studied judo, jiujutsu, several kung fu styles, taijiquan, baguazhang, and a bit of fencing.

From a fitness point of view, I think that martial arts will always have some relevance.

When talking about self-defence, however, it gets rather complicated. Some styles are sport-oriented, while others deal with real-life fighting. It's important to get a balance of several core areas: Kicks, punches, wrist and arm locks, throwing, falling and ground work (such as you might see in a wrestling match).

To succeed in any martial art, physical conditioning is vital... Strength, speed, and the element of surprise are more important than the actual style or philosophy.

As for the mental aspects, the general idea is to stay present in the moment and remain in a relaxed but alert state. This helps in focusing one's techniques, overcoming distractions and fears, and reacting appropriately to incoming attacks.

I studied aionage (Okinawan) karate and Chinese forms of Karate and enjoyed it verymuch as a discipline.. As each of my children ... three boys and a girl matured..I enrolled them in Karate schools and they all benefited.. It requires concentration, coordination and stresses discipline of emotions and builds confidence so it is an excellent way I think to exercise and develope ourselves.

I think that you do not need to have say full contact to benefit from Karate as some have experienced various injuries that are not that desirable in my view...

- Art

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"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

I, too, have studied some Shotokan karate.

I'm honestly frightened by what I am capable of.

Training can increase one's willpower which proved useful to me on many occasions, one of which involved an attempted submission by an unknown number of jailers during my brief stint there. That willpower can be used for anything, really, even things that have nothing to do with athletics.



My first sensei told us a story about two samurai swords.

They were to be tested by resting them in a gentle stream with leaves that flow on the surface. The first sword was so sharp, a slowly passing leaf was sliced in two when it met the sword.

But the second was even sharper. The leaf went around it.


That is for me one objective: to be so sharp that the leaves I come across just go around me. A kung fu sifu said once that your spirit convinces their spirit to not to want to harm you.

I have a long way to go.



part of the training involved the concept of zanshin which I think means awareness. The meditation and physical practice are supposed to enhance it and I think it's definitely applicable to much more than martial prowess.

here's what wikipedia says about zanshin:
Zanshin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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peace for all
love for all
bliss for all

...may your journey be graceful...

If anything is possible, then the statement, "anything is possible," is possibly false.

Our sensei described zanshin as relaxed awareness, very much like the Wikipedia description.

I've had glimpses of it here and there, but only when I stop chatting to myself internally while trying to work on a technique.

And sometimes, when I recite the dojo kun (training rules), specifically "Respect others" and "Refrain from violent behavour", I'm put in mind of my most recent net altercation and strive to be a bit more respectful and a bit less hopping mad.

I really like this.....is this not the form of communication one has in a crowded room ....but with no words....or anywhere for that matter...and what i am getting from reading these posts it is studied along with karate

indeed.

when i resumed training after years of not, one of the more advanced students taught me how to communicate not in the crowded room sense with an adversary. the physical component involved looking into their eyes and relaxing one's mind. it was amazing, when i first experienced it and now i want to go back to train because i could somehow know what he was going to do. i didn't see it before it happened, but something is telegraphed through the eyes as though they really are the window to the soul. no, i didn't see it before it was going to happen, i just responded as though i knew. it was intense and too bad i had to stop for now.

i dug up a pic from a tournement this is a pic with one of the instructors at the dojo i went to...the fierceness is just perfectly captured in this pic.

__________________
peace for all
love for all
bliss for all

...may your journey be graceful...

If anything is possible, then the statement, "anything is possible," is possibly false.

Thanks so much for your response...you did a great job explaining....The picture is great...This form of communication is amazing ....

According to my knowledge and understanding, martial arts has the following benefits:

1) It generates self control in a person.

2) It makes a person well mannered and disciplined.

3) A person gets a stock of tolerance in him .

4) It teaches self defence to a person.


Martial Arts is more than fighting ,its not just about kicking and punching.

Its the best way to keep a person fit mentally and physically.

I mostly prefer Jeet Kune Do( the way of intercepting fist) which was a fighting technique introduced by Bruce Lee the Master.

Even Jackie Chain was inspired by him.