Why do we study martial arts?

Question

Why do we study martials arts?

What is its purpose in our life?

Martial arts has survived for thousands of year, why has it so?

What is the true meaning of being a martial artist?

Answer 1

Exercise, Self Defense, Fun, Community.

Answer 2

I have to think about things like the "Bushido Code" and "Samurai Creed" when it comes to these types of questions because the martial arts in the sense I've always thought of them and how they are really meant to be more than purely physcial defense.  I know I can't speak for all art forms out there, but I do believe our only one common goal is to teach our students, not only sports or self defence physical techniques, but also to instill in them "values" that are unsurpassed in modern day times.  The purposes in life associated with the study of any martial art are many including the most important of all "respect" not just for self, but everyone one around you.  "Respect" is the foundation of all martial arts on the planet.  The virtues and the things that matter most like "what you are on the inside" mean more than any type of punch you can throw, car you can own, home you can buy or bank account you can have.  People never believe a teacher when he simply allows the world to know that there are such things as "inner peace" associated with the martial arts, but the reason, for example, that Japanese arts have lasted so long is because of their virtues and not because of war.  Samurai clans sought things like "freedom"  and in so lived as free souls under the sun.  Each clan living life under their own laws, protecting what was theirs and perfecting all that they could with what they were given.  These clans "respected" all things living and even in modern day times their works such as water ways that are home to tens of thousands Koi, their almost perfect castles, the way they treated their own environments can be viewed by tourists in Japan year around in just about every town in Japan where there are many parks and monuments that still speak loudly for the foundation to all martial arts.  Being thankful daily for what you have and wise enough to notice it as the Samurai did so long ago.  Each man, woman and child will always have different views on what the martial arts are truely about, but in their truest form the martial arts are physical, mental and spiritual virtues.  Each nation packages their own version of what they think the martial arts are about, but the foundation comes from the Samurai of feudal Japan whether any one likes that or not.  The heart that does the right thing is the heart that is of the true form of all martial arts.  Prefectionism and pride in one's work, keeping your family safe, raising your children to be humble decent people as they grow older, being moral and walking with your head held high living by the live and let live philosophy, honoring your parents, respecting all things which God has given and most imporatantly having a loving and kind heart are all things that are the truest meaning of being a martial artist.

Answer 3

For Self Disipline, Self Defense, for getting in Shape, For Sport, and for Fun.

Answer 4

Fun, self discovery, fitness, the  great energy rush and the fact that Krav Maga is a job skill/

I was trained in Krav Maga as part of my(IDF Sayaret) Army training, I now teach Krav Maga and I study Tai Chi Chuan and Combat SAMBO.  Why ?

Because I enjoy them, the feeling I get from doing the Wu solo form is incredible, the sensitivity I learn in push hands is wonderful.  Combat SAMBO is just plain a lot of fun.

The rush I get from doing Qi Gong and the form are incredible, so maybe I study for selfish reasons.  When I got my black belt in Shaolin Kempo, I never got the feeling I get from this simple form (108) posture form.

The form is incredibly beautiful, the applications from the form are unlimited. Combat SAMBO is just a lot of fun.

Answer 5

We study the martial arts because we live busy lives and don't have time or don't know how to get in tune with are true natural inner fighting capabilities. We then have to settle on learning to fight from someone else.  We just don't know ourselves or what we are capable of; so we study their style.

It's purpose in life is to keep us in shape and help us to find the true fighter that exists in all of us, for fighting physically , verbally or  mentally are  valuable life skills in this world if used wisely and legally.

Martial arts has survived so long  because the commercial side of society has indoctrinated us to believe that we need to study the martial arts to learn how to fight. Like some people actually go to school to learn how to cook or be waiter. They pay for something that they already know but don't know that they know it.

The meaning of martial arts today is the same as it meant in ancient times: Know thyself, conquer thyself and practice makes perfect.more perfect. If we life up to it's meaning with honer and respect we will have fulfilled it's meaning in our life.

I believe we need the martial arts today because of our level of spiritual growth and that we are not here for the martial arts but that the martial arts is here for us.

Answer 6

to be able to protect yourself and it has survived for thousand of years because who doesnt wanna know how to protect themselves. i dont know the last question