Martial Art & Self Defense Part 2

When people refer to the “Western” martial arts they usually mean fencing, boxing, or wrestling. These fighting systems became sports but not everyone would agree that they ever were martial arts. Likewise, Israeli Krav Maga and Russian Sambo are called fighting systems and rarely called martial arts.

With a few famous exceptions, like Judo and Aikido, the “Eastern” martial arts mostly began as fighting systems. They evolved into martial arts as their practitioners had more time on their hands and little reason to put their hard won fighting skills to use.

A fighting system is a teachable set of techniques, tactics, and strategies that possess an internal consistency. They are designed to enable a person trained in the system to defeat another similarly armed person in combat.

So what is a martial art?

Some claim that the “art” in martial art comes from forms, kata, or patterns. Others say it is the elements of philosophy or religion that distinguish a martial art from a fighting system.

I say it is repetition. When you practice the same movements enough times their continued repetition becomes a form of meditation. It changes the way you think; the way you control your body and the way you interact with others. It calms you. It centers you. And, when it has done these things - it is your martial art.