True Definition of Martial Arts

[akja]

I would like to hear what the worlds opinions are on the definition or "Martial Arts!"

Today, alot of people say the tradional martial arts don't work. So are the modern systems actually martial arts?
Are they legeitimate martial arts? What makes a martial art legitimate? Should the "new systems" be associated with the term "martial art?"

Pretty much anybody thats "adds their contributions to JKD" is creating a new system. But they say JKD isn't a system. Are there new martial arts out there? Are they effective? Are they better/no better? Why are they better/no better?

[Szczepankiewicz]

How can you expect us to know when the Dictionary doesn't?

Any of several Asian arts of combat or self-defense, such as aikido, karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as sport. Often used in the plural.

martial art n : any of several Oriental arts of weaponless self-defense; usually practiced as a sport; "he had a black belt in the martial arts"

Defining the term 'martial art' is like defining other ambiguous phrases like: Truth, God, Knowledge and Sheep.

Fortuneately, we have a few experts on Sheep, so that one isn't as difficult.

I tend to avoid such discussion, unless someone is stipulating that they 'KNOW' the definition and that the rest of us are simple fools. I be the Devil's Advocate.

----------------------------------------------------

I prefer to class my interests as polemology

(po-luh-MOH-uh-jee) noun

The science and study of human conflict and war.

[From Greek, polemos, war + -logy.]

________________________________

This, to me is the core of what, how, and why I train.

Spanky

[akja]

I don't care about the dictionary.

I want to hear what the everyday martial artists opinion is.

[Szczepankiewicz]

But to find the opinion of the 'everyday martial artist' one must know what constitutes a 'martial artist' and how to find them.

IF you can explain to me how to find the martial artist, it should be a simple logical deduction to define what is a martial art, no?


Let's see:

I am a martial artist.

Why?

Because I study martial arts.

Ok, but what is a martial art?

That's what I'm asking you.

So what you're telling me is that you're a martial artist because you study martial arts, yet you can't tell me what a martial art is exactly. If you don't know what a martial art is, how can you say that you're a martial artist?

Don't bother me with your stupid little tricks. You know what I'm asking for.

Yes, you're asking me to find a Widgeteer so I can ask them what a Widget is. Where do you suppose I find a Widgeteer?

Easy. You go to where the Widgets are.

Great. Now, what's a Widget?

Don't be stupid, you know what a Widget is! You're really trying my patience.

I'm sorry. I'm not really trying to be a pain here. It's just that I don't know exactly what the hell your talking about.....

Please explain.....

Spanky

[Szczepankiewicz]

The diatribe above is the perfect example of a Straw Man Fallacy. I think.

Spanky

[akja]

Man I don't know what the F..k your talking about!

If you can't go down this list answer the questions realisitically, then why waste your time answering with the jibberish?

[Szczepankiewicz]

Jibberish? JIBBERISH?

How dare you accuse me of Jibberish.

I'm...

I'm......

I'm insulted!

[akja]

Well you do keep me awake at work!

[Szczepankiewicz]

I'm glad to help.


Coincidentally, I have the same concerns for the phrase 'self-defense' that you have for martial art. It would seem that one answer isn't going to be sufficient....


Spanky

[eXcessiveForce]

Martial art:

An artifical system of training to develop the skills of combat.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Skills of combat?

Ok, so what is combat?

Seriously, how would YOU define combat?

[platinum_angel]

i was looking at this earlier this month

your right the dictionary doesn't know what the meaning is.

the best definition of martial arts i have discovered is "fighting with disipline"

[Siegfried]

Martial Art:



A militaristic art. Per se an art designed for opposing others in combat, and in doing so, defeat them in the most effective way possible.

[robertlee]

martial art WAR ART to train as a warrior in the art of selfdefence. from un armed training to weapons training. traditional arts are the ones founded and set guide lines of training by past hate this word, masters Then handed down thru the years for continued development. To create an new style would be mearly altering a past style or way. Most styles have just been an extinsion of a past style or way as there are only so many ways to do the same thing. Bruce said unless a man has three arms and three legs how can there be a new style. Your aprouch alone is your style of what you do. then or now the person is there style. To call it different is to mearly add an altered format to the structure that works well set the found ation of learning and you have extended on to a new path. To do so one must have the proper training in at least one or more styles. Not just a beginer blackbelt or equivlent. But years of training and testing the structure. Hodgepodge wont hold the test of time. Structured foundation must be the core. Some times it may serve the purpose to mearly extend the name of the foundation art Mearly same art but extended. One root different branches. Or mearly find the proper name.

[platinum_angel]

no



no

just

"fighting with disipline"