I am currently studying Wing Tsun. For you that dont know what it is:

http://www.wtcentral.co.uk/aboutus.htm

I think its great. Unlike quite a few people here I feel that Boxing is a martial art to some extent. It is much harder than many people make it out to be. I am not trying to start a flame war I am only expressing my feelings towards it.
Also what do you guys think of UFC (The Ultimate Fighting Championship)? Do you feel this is a martial art of not?

Man..If bowling is a sport, if golf is a sport then martial arts is a totally a sport. Thugs game..no i think not. Bullys dont bother learning karate...they just bully. Martial arts is a professional sport just like boxing, football...its where you have to work hard and give it your all

I wouldn't call it a thugs game...it's definitely not that. It's definitely a lot more refined, more refined than boxing I think. I've been training in boxing for about a year and a half now. I've seen 7 boxing matches (amateur) in my lifetime and watch a lot of boxing on TV. Some guys are a little "laggish" on their hits or counters. Maybe it's because they're so bulky. Also, I've noticed that a lot of Martial Artists are more toned than they are "bulky" or "buff". A lot of boxers are more brawlers than they are "clean fighters". So I'd say boxing is more of a "thugs game".

I think I should just refine what I meant by 'thugs game'. This is not my personal opinion. I simply meant it as a public standpoint. As I have said before, I am not baised towards the arts, although I do practice 5 arts, and am better at them, I am also a boxing, with training in Traditional Boxing, and Thai Boxing. I dont think by any means it is easy. I think it is physically demanding, probably more so that many martial arts. I think that it doesn't require as much skill, or more it does not allow space for alot of technical skill, but getting into the ring and winning is a lot harder than it looks, and being good in there is even harder still. It requires a lot of 'balls' and determination to suceed. I personally acknowledge the arts to be a more refined, technical, perhaps difficult type of fighting to master, but also understand that boxing (especially thai, being a more martial arts version of boxing) requires a lot of skill, and is not by any means simple.
Sean.

alright guys. let's talk about this.


First off how in the world is wrestling supposed to be a "thuggish" sport...whatever that means anyway? Wrestling is the basis for most martial arts today. Ever heard of the olympic games? Plus wrestling is so closely related to Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that it can hardly even be recognized as its own art anymore... especially with the recent addition of a little thing called submission wrestling.

Now... as far as just anyone being able to box... tell muhammed ali that and he will still knock your block off. There is so much training involved in Boxing that it is unreal. That is the problem with traditional martialartists... they are so narrowminded. There is something in the USA that is designed for the people who just get in the ring and throw punches. Usually refered to as tough man competitions. Although usually commissioned by the state boxing commissions they are not boxing matches. You do not come out with a boxing record if you win one of these. Plus if boxing is just people slugging then what is Kickboxing? No finesse there either I suppose?

Judo Karate and taekwon do are of course going to be looked at as the only martial arts that are able to be "professional" because they are the most common and the most flashy. Judo has good throws karate has flashy kicks and that movie series and taekwon do has flashy kicks which grabs everyone's eyes.

Wanna know how I know this? Wes King black Belt and instructor in Kenpo, study Mauy Thai, Blue Belt In Jiu Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, 7-2 kickboxing record, 4-0 boxing record, 2-0 mma Record.

This post has been edited by wesXking: Feb 6 2007, 06:56 AM

im in 100% agreement this is a sport and like you said an art.
Bruce Lee is one of my all time hero's not just for his moves, but his way of life and interpretation of ancient proverbs and his own have helped me through my life too.

I can see why some people may think its a thugs game, but really these people sum up martial arts harshly and put it in the same category as back street brawling!!!!




This post has been edited by safe.as.haz: Jan 20 2008, 11:28 PM