Ok, so I want to know everyone's viewpoints on martial arts... What do you think? Is it a sport? Is it an art? Is it a thug's game?? Let me know what you think please..

Ok so personally, I don't see how it could possibly be a thug's game, in all the time of training in both Karate and Judo I've never seen an essance of anything that we see in the papers being preformed by groups of youths (just to say I'm not targetting teens, I'm a teen myself.. but you know the dudes I mean), and to me it is an art, just like dance or anything else like that, I believe it requires exceptional concentration, control, self discipline and dedication. I dont think any of these 'thugs' would last a minute in this type of environment. However, I do see the contreversy (please excuse my spelling of that word) of these arts. Some people say that they are simply a blood sport, and why would you want to fight? Well let me say that I completely understand the viewpoint, but it is something you have to do to understand, the adraniline, the feeling inside -- it doesn't feel like your just fighting someone (which most certainlly isn't cool), it feels like something incredible, because your not just throwing punches, your doing something incredible, you going against every single possibility of your body, your doing something that you shouldn't be doing at your own will, your doing something that feels incredible, and like I said, I can't describe it, it's like trying to someone that has been blind since birth what the colour yellow looks like, I can't tell you what it feels like, you have to taste it for yourself, but after a round of Judo, I dont believe there are many people that would consider it to be a simple 'game' of punching your opponent.. I understand it as a sport, and I do compete (in judo anyway) as a sport's man, because I enjoy the thrill of it, but in my eye's it is more than that, to me it is a self defence first and foremost, but it is also more about personal development and courage. How ever, I do have a standpoint on Boxing.. (and any boxers please forgive me, because I know this is stereotypic, and this is obviously not true for all boxers), but I believe that to be a 'thugs' sport. I know it must require an element of skill.. but when you compare two guys swining 'punches' at one another, and then compare it to the strong, solid locked punches and round house kick's of Karate, well I dont see any comparrison, how ever.. having said that I will apoligise to any boxers now, because I know that it is not like that under the surface, and I know that it requires skill.. my biased view is probably based on the fact that in my town, the boxers are very slow witted thugs, that are always in fights, so I'll apoligise to the majority of the boxing community now... but I do believe that martial arts is a life long learning process of transforming yourself, and I would like you think of Martial arts (such as Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, Jujitsu) to be seperate from Boxing, Kick Boxing, Tia Boxing etc, because they have such different purposes and effects. In my opinion karate and judo require exceptional skill, persistance, dedication, determination, strength, endurance and passion, and so I dont think it can be classed atall as a thug's game...

** And on the subject of martial arts may I just clear up a little something... the iconic 'judo chop' isn't judo, because judo has very little hand work like that, it's Karate, and it's not a 'chop', it's a soto woki... **

Thanks everyone, I look forwards to your replies, wether you martial artists, boxers, sports men or observers...

cool soto woki.

I agree with you r point that boxing definitely seems to be a thugs' sport, whilst in comparison martial arts, with very well rehearsed and choreographical moves is the opposite. I must say I do neither but I think that unless there is a completely hidden side to boxing, it is as you said.

(and please boxers, this is just my opinion and you are allowed to see it you r way for the enjoyment or what you get back from the sport (which is what I believe a great sport to be, one which you get back much enjoyment or personal gain from it, whilst being able to compete, but also go along with and help out you competitors too as a true sportsman.))

According to me martial art has several advantages

they strengethen us, give us a boost in confidence, keeps us healthy and also helps us control ourself.

A properly trained Martial Art Warrior will never use the art for hurting the opponent in real life, they ony use it when they have no other way out. So it cannot be taken as a Thugs Game.

We can consider it as a professional game as it teaches us sincerity, concentration and professionalism.

Whoa......I bet that post netted you a few credits! lol O_o

But yeah, some of the 'finer' asian martial arts I'd consider a professional sport. Fighting styles like boxing and wrestling are more thuggish, but still a sport.

Ive done talkwondo for the best part of eighteen years - purely to keep fit.

If you are out clubbing, drunk & you get in a fight & try and use it you will just end up on your backside looking a right plonker.

If you are lucky, & hit someone, once it gets to court you will get hammered by the judge for using it & more than likely struck off from whichever association you are accredited to & not be able to learn it anymore...

Like it Webber, great post. Obviously you know that I'm involved with Judo, but this is a good opertunity for me to write a few words myself.


Judo is a sport that will change your life, that in my oinion is what makes it an art, it has that litle bit more about it than other sports. I took up the sport when I was 7, over half my life ago, and if I hadn't then I would never have had the fitness and strength to be playing for my city rugby team, I would nver have had the co-ordination to take up the drums, and finaly be playing in a band, and I would never have had the courage to take up sports at all.

Nowadays, admittedly, the band and the rugby is more important to me than Judo, but I never forget where it all started, being a 7 year old watching the inspirational Niel Adams on the telly, and as a result going to the local Judo club, I later found out that my instructor had fought Niel on numeruos occasions which is very sppeical to me.

As you know Webber, you or I may only get 2 or 3 contests in a year, but the adrenaline is increadible, its something that really helps me perform. To be sitting on the edge of that mat, sharing banter with fellow competitors, and eying up the opposition during their earlier fights, and after making the jourey, after having waited for hours for the one moment your name is called, you are about to go into the most nackering 5 mins of your life, you cannot make one mistake or you will lose. That would be enough exitement as it is, but also the fact that you are on a stage, that there are stands filled with suporters, it is an increadible feeling. I'm getting butterflies in my stomach just writing about it, but I wouldn't give it up for the world.

Thanks everyone for your imput. I'm just going to improve on my previous argument as I have recently had a Karate lesson, and a debate with a boxer. Now firstly, just to show that i am not biased to this usual boxers Vs Martial Arts, I've done Kickboxing myself, so I'm speaking purely out of my own experience here:

I was chatting to a friend of mine about fighting (self defence), and some of the defences that he has been taught in boxing would only work if your opponent is very tired (drunk), and wearing soft mitts. I was really quite suprised that this person that I was talking to had been learning at a 'pro' boxing club for a year. His punches weren't great, and his blocks - well he had been taught to swing his head out of the way. That's fine if your opponent does the classic 'yob' punch - and by that I mean build mementum in a visible way, and take a slow swing at you, but with the direct punches emphized in Karate - well - no chance... I ended up sparring with him afterwards, and it was immense - infact.. to my absoloutely suprise, I could beat the Boxing Sensei, and with ease! I'm only a brown belt in Karate, a Brown Belt in Shyrn Ryn Judo, and an Orange in Kodokan Judo, and this 12 year experienced Boxing Teacher - he punched like nothing I'd seen before. It just in my opinions shows the true nature of karate, and to that effect - martial arts. I found that because of the sparring in martial arts, my reaction speed had improved to the point that i knew what punch was coming before he raised his arm, and getting back in for a counter attack was so easy.... As I'd always believed the confidence, self belief, perfect concentration, dedication, speed, agility, strenght, skill and form brought the sloppy postured boxing 'master' to the floor very quickly.. I also tonight infact thought a Karate black belt that had been doing it for 12 years, and let me tell you that I was asstounded.. I really was, the absoloute perfection of his fighting, I had no chance! He was letting me block them to a certain exstent, and I was still struggling, and when he countered, his tap was enough to send me flying, and I'm no small guy, I'm 6'0 and a keen body builder... I just thought I'd add that in.. just to show that I'm not simply going on an assumption.. How ever, having said that, please dont think that i'm hammering the boxing community.. I know some very tough boxers, I just believe that martial arts excel them.

And Come on boxers!! We've had no one battle your side of it!! Come on guys! lol.. Sean.

I do like boxing as a sport but even still i would agree. Certain martial arts do give you great fitness levels and like you say, they will make your reaction speed better and all ov the above things that i wont repeat. Overall boxing is good as a sport( in my view ) But for something that can really change your life for the better and also make you cope with life experiences better, martial arts is deffinatly the one.

Martial arts are also historical. Teachings have been passed down from generation to generation at if you like any form of martial arts of not, that is something you have to respect...Boxing has none of this.