Why Learn Martial Arts?

[neopsychic]

I've always wanted to know this. Why learn martial arts? Most people say it's something fun to do in their free time. A lot of psions here work with martial arts. I think that they only reason people learn it is because A. It's their culture. B. It makes them feel protected or it gives them power. C. They do it because it they want a new type of work out. D. They do it because they want to hurt people.

Chances are that most do it for B and C. Especially when you talking about the you.S. Why learn something so simple if you want something complicated to come out of it?

[Darin Rosewood]

Several reasons: it builds discipline and focus, for one. It strengthens the muscles and provides a great deal of energy and stamina. It teaches one how to protect onesself. It makes you look cool while you practice it. It builds confidence in one's abilities. Pretty much all of the above (except looking cool, of course) can be applied to energy work in some way. Also, and perhaps most important of all: fighting is fun. The exhilaration you get from a fair fight (even if it's only for fun--and in some cases sparring matches are actually better) is the most beautiful feeling in the world. It's almost holy to me, and it's the main reason I practice martial arts. I want to strengthen that feeling, use it to my advantage.

[neopsychic]

darin said:

Several reasons: it builds discipline and focus, for one. It strengthens the muscles and provides a great deal of energy and stamina. It teaches one how to protect onesself. It makes you look cool while you practice it. It builds confidence in one's abilities. Pretty much all of the above (except looking cool, of course) can be applied to energy work in some way. Also, and perhaps most important of all: fighting is fun. The exhilaration you get from a fair fight (even if it's only for fun--and in some cases sparring matches are actually better) is the most beautiful feeling in the world. It's almost holy to me, and it's the main reason I practice martial arts. I want to strengthen that feeling, use it to my advantage.

If it's about fighting then why give your self strength to fight guys that are weaker then you. Why not just go to random places and fight guys who just love to fight. Long distance running, cycling, swimming can give you stanima and just about every other thing you mentioned. Why not do that instead? Is it all about being a bully to those who don't know martial arts?

[Darin Rosewood]

neopsychic said:

darin said:

Several reasons: it builds discipline and focus, for one. It strengthens the muscles and provides a great deal of energy and stamina. It teaches one how to protect onesself. It makes you look cool while you practice it. It builds confidence in one's abilities. Pretty much all of the above (except looking cool, of course) can be applied to energy work in some way. Also, and perhaps most important of all: fighting is fun. The exhilaration you get from a fair fight (even if it's only for fun--and in some cases sparring matches are actually better) is the most beautiful feeling in the world. It's almost holy to me, and it's the main reason I practice martial arts. I want to strengthen that feeling, use it to my advantage.

If it's about fighting then why give your self strength to fight guys that are weaker then you. Why not just go to random places and fight guys who just love to fight. Long distance running, cycling, swimming can give you stanima and just about every other thing you mentioned. Why not do that instead? Is it all about being a bully to those who don't know martial arts?

Who said anything about fighting weaker people? I find that rather offensive, actually. If you'll notice, I said fair fight, as in one between equals. And who said anything about being a "bully," either? I said sparring is just as good as any other kind of fight, and maybe better, since you're not hurting the other guy too badly. And if swimming gives anyone the discipline and focus of a martial artist, I'll have to consider taking it up. XD

[zbuksi]

You can't know exactly. Everybody has theyr own reason. The point is they have manny positive effects and no negative. Yes it can be negative if the person who teachs (sensei) teach you wrong things, or you use it for wrong reasons. I train beacose my Art helps me to recover from really bad accident i had, to improve my focus, get in better touch with my subconciousness, learn new things, to get stronger, to channel energy in the way it has to be to make perfect move (it is impossible but i am tending to be best), and i know it will not happen but i will continue to do that, to improve my ballance, posture, endurance,memory etc...

By the way, martial arts are developed by the ''weaker people'' so they can protect themself from ''stronger people''. They used it for protection and strong people don't need martial arts so they didn't used it. It is the way to make odds even, to be equal (i hope i spelled it right).

[Mr.Experiment]

Why I do it?

Depending on what Martial Arts you do, the ones with discipline, the ones without it are just show-offs who look good and can't fight.
First - Helps ALOT with psionics.
Second - Very good for your body, if you havent seen how agile these old men are who have done martial arts all there lives like my self.
Third - It relates to Energy Manipulation
Fourth - Its like having an extending family. I knew these guys all my life. I see them everyday. If I had problems in my life I had somewhere to go. Lets say somthing happened to my house, I will be allowed to sleep in the Dojan etc.. I have also met others Psions through martial arts.
Fifth - I am legally allowed to bear and buy weapons I would not be able to and enter tournaments.

The only downfall is if I got into a fight and hurt someone in court my Hands would be the same as a Gun. So if the judge said murdered by hands, it would be the same as a Gun in my case.
It takes alot of work if your dedicated and not someone who does it like 2 hours a week.


~Jano

[zbuksi]

Jano, there is few catches when you CAN do something to attacker.
1. He must be the one who throws the first punch/kick/bottle!?
2.You CAN react, BUT you must be carefull. If you don't finish what you have on mind you can't touch him untill he attacks you again.
3. You must not verbally induce further attacks; you should try to settle him down- that means you can talk to him ''hey bro i didn't mean anything bad'' while punching him into the face lol
You count as aweapon. Whole body, not just hands. You have licensed body/weapon and you can use it when in danger. Only catch is to end it as quick as possible, and don't hurt attacker too much.

[Mr.Experiment]

Yes, I know.

I had to learn all these rules.
If someone is trying to kill you, you don't just say. Well if I hurt him I might go to jail.
If someone attacks you to beat you up, and not kill you and you kill him you will still get in trouble even if it is an accident in some cases.

~Jano

[ensomniac45]

In responds to the original question I think that martial arts can extend to yoga, and just as it was said previously if it has focus in the mix then its a good thing, otherwise your doing it for looks.

From personal experience I can say that yoga made me a physically and mentally stronger person when I actually did for a long while. I was able to do a one handed hand stand without really trying, and I felt more grounded than I ever have.

In responds to the responds:
I think that if one wish to learn the "true" practice of martial arts one must understand the philosophies and how they are applied to every movement.

Because at its root martial arts is based all around the use of "chi", meditation, and self-awareness as I'm sure most people know.

"I'm just a newb"!!!!! :-p

[must]

Why? Just because....Thats why.
;D

[Lady Takara]

Why ? Darin made a great point, discipline and focus. It is a great way to exercise and train your body. They say exercise realeas morephines or dophines, I can't quite recall the chemical/amino acid, but it generally makes you happier. People who are depressed do not move and when you get them moving it can help ease their depression.

I can't recall if Tai Chi works with charkas or not, I'll have to do some research on that. Some systems do work with energy.

[Darin Rosewood]

kara said:

Why ? Darin made a great point, discipline and focus. It is a great way to exercise and train your body. They say exercise realeas morephines or dophines, I can't quite recall the chemical/amino acid, but it generally makes you happier. People who are depressed do not move and when you get them moving it can help ease their depression.

I can't recall if Tai Chi works with charkas or not, I'll have to do some research on that. Some systems do work with energy.

No, Tai Chi works with chi. Well, I guess since the pressure points correspond to minor chakras, you could say that it did, but whatever. Only martial art that I can say definitively works with the chakras is Kundalini Yoga.

[Lady Takara]

darin said:

kara said:

Why ? Darin made a great point, discipline and focus. It is a great way to exercise and train your body. They say exercise realeas morephines or dophines, I can't quite recall the chemical/amino acid, but it generally makes you happier. People who are depressed do not move and when you get them moving it can help ease their depression.

I can't recall if Tai Chi works with charkas or not, I'll have to do some research on that. Some systems do work with energy.

No, Tai Chi works with chi. Well, I guess since the pressure points correspond to minor chakras, you could say that it did, but whatever. Only martial art that I can say definitively works with the chakras is Kundalini Yoga.

Yeah. Still because of all the discipline and focus needed it prepares you in a way for other situations and lessons, whether you are studying psi or charkas, or involved in a touch situation or class. There is no doubt that it works. Even with ADD/ADHD kids that are never attentative pay attention, partialy due to their interest of course, but it's a beginning.

[pyrokinetic]

I practice martial arts because it works out my leg, and it's pretty fun. I have learned Northern Shaolin, Tai Chi, and White Crane.

[raziel1981]

martial arts yes they are cool and easy but it not just to be bully and i don't get why do some people want to become a bully and second martial arts can give you cool moves to lounch a psi ball or somethink elce