Be or not to be....Martial artist or sport martial artist?

[Pakua]

Today many martial arts teach to get in to a competition, to get results, medals...but where is the real meaning of practicing martial art?. I mean, the real idea of practice martial art, if you will use in a real situation, is just for one reason: survive.

But today is not what we see....The simple practice for the "art" or to find the meaning of practice being a better human being, growth in a physical and spiritual way...where is all this today?.

Training to be the best in a competition is great, nothing against that, but you are not doing Martial Art, you are just practicing Sports....like anyone that practice football, cricket or archery.

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PaKua School UK - Pa Kua Martial Arts School

[WildWest.]

Depends on who you are and what you want out of your martial art. I train to survive and do my job better and that's the primary reason....I also love MA's as a means of discipline and for bettering oneself.

[Pakua]

Yes, of course, always depends....but I mean about the person that practice to get in tournaments, that just practice to be the best, to win in any competitions....we can said that this person is doing Martial Arts? or he is just doing sports?

[WildWest.]

From what I'm getting from your example, I'd say sport.

[wolunt]

While I have fun rolling from time to time, I've never really trained the "sport" side of MMA. My background is mostly Silat with Wing Chun, also have some Filipino stuff. But I'm just a fan of MMA while I practice MA.

[doubleouch]

Tired of this debate and issue. Unless you are out there fighting then you are just doing pretend martial arts anyway. At leas the sport guys are testing their arts in the arena they are meant to be used in. The "pure" guys can't seem to admit that the best they can do is "pretend." I have nothing against traditional arts as long as they acknowledge this. Unless you are a Marine kicking in doors looking for terrorists you are not a "Martial Artist" but are a hobbyist like the rest of us...

[WildWest.]

I'm a cop.....I suppose I'm just pretending too when I have to take people down and defend myself.

[doubleouch]

No WildWest you are one of those guys who are "out there fighting." The rest of us are just pretending. Usually the ones who ask those sort of questions are the ones who are pretending the most...

[wolunt]

Tired of this debate and issue. Unless you are out there fighting then you are just doing pretend martial arts anyway. At leas the sport guys are testing their arts in the arena they are meant to be used in. The "pure" guys can't seem to admit that the best they can do is "pretend." I have nothing against traditional arts as long as they acknowledge this. Unless you are a Marine kicking in doors looking for terrorists you are not a "Martial Artist" but are a hobbyist like the rest of us...

Nice rant and I guess I kinda agree. I know I've always studied my arts with the hope that nothing happens but expecting to. I guess all I'm trying to say is that MMA is a sport first, and art second. I've met a lot of people that tell me they are learning MMA, I will ask them, which aspects or disciplines and they tell me "all of them" Oh, great, another one of those I always tell myself. But if it works for them, them great.

[WildWest.]

I doubt MMA is an art at all.......or at least not yet. It's rather a conglomeration of other sport MA's over anything else.

But then you need to ask what is a Martial Art or what constitutes a fighting "art"? And when will MMA become an art if ever?

And I do agree with your initial rant too Doubleouch.

[doubleouch]

Karate is no more an art than football. Just because it's eastern and there is bowing and such does not make it an art. Neither does it's age. You don't need a 10 thousand year old art in pajamas to have "art". Art is personal. At it's core art is personal expression. I see plenty of that in MMA. I see little of that sometimes in TMA. I think you could make the reverse case actually. Maybe there is more personal expression (therefore art) in MMA than there is in TMA right now. It's a tired debate though. Most who debate it don't have a solid definition of this "art" idea that they are trying to aspire to. As for me, I go to the gym because it makes me happy. I have a damn good time and get to hang out with good friends doing something I love. Art? Don't really give a rat's ass...

[WildWest.]

Most art these days is some jerk off hanging up dirty laundry on a wall and talking about it "representing the nature of society".

[doubleouch]

No it's not...