How to Draw a Common Thread Through The Martial Arts?

Answer 1

The most common conception of Martial Arts is that it is confined to Asian cultures. This is largely the most well-known in modern times, but certainly not the only, nor the original, demonstration of what belongs among the fighting arts. In fact, you don’t have to look any further than the name to find that martial arts were named from the god known as Mars, in ancient Greco-Roman culture. This is not to say that the art of war began here. All cultures have contributed greatly to the art of war. But where do you draw the line between the artistic and the street variety?

First, when you look at the various groups of martial arts, you will notice most of them involve a code of honor, or certain rules that should not be violated during the course of a fight. If there is no code, you can pretty much dismiss it as a non-martial arts related style of fighting. There are very few that run more by a ‘code’ of principles than actual rules and forms, such as Krav Maga, the Israeli defense martial art.

Among the various arts there is also a division in their purpose, in their origin – they were all designed to physically defeat another person or to defend from physical threat. Many techniques may have only been developed for higher physical, mental or spiritual training, thereby disqualifying that particular artistic technique for the category of martial arts.

It might be tempting to further divide into arms vs. no arms, but this would be faulty. Many martial arts involve sticks, swords, knives and other implements.

Finding the martial art that suits your unique goal is one that only you can answer. A martial art that suits a goal of health and wellness will be a much more worthy pursuit for someone whose goal is to elevate their physical and mental ability. But the same class for someone pursuing self defense, someone who lives in the constant threat of confrontation, may want to rethink the purpose of the art. Then you can match it to the passion brewing in your heart.