is martial arts for christians

[blessedsinner]

Ive been considering Tae kwon do as family fitness I want to know if a christian should learn these types of sport althoufgh alot of them are based on some eastern religions.I looked it up and tae kwon do was said to be okay for christians

 

[MattM]

I wouldnt say a martial art is based on a religion but most were invented and practiced by buudhist monks. Western versions have as far as i know eliminated most of the meditation practices if its that part you are uneasy about. Some may have students bow to a picture of a martial arts founder as a sign of respect not worship but if opposed to that im sure you could tell the sensei youre wary of doing that and that wouldnt be a problem.

 

[Lifelike]

I was looking at doing some form of martial arts at one stage of my life as i am in security, the big thing for me was finding a teacher that was spiritually compatible with me. For example, I went to see a group one night and they were very harsh and hateful, and i sensed alot of evil in them.. I couldnt submit to that and if i ever did do martial arts would need to find genuine people that want to train in technique and not push their philosophies or beliefs.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Krav Maga is probably a good solution. No spiritual stuff in that. And it beats the other martial arts.

 

[penguingal]

I've learned taekwondo back in school days. Been in the sports for over 5 years, got baptized in between those years. My instructor was a Buddhist but the students were made up from multi racial and different religious background. No problem for me back then.

 

[calvina]

It depends on your motives.so long as you will use in a Godly way,for me its not against GOD.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Martial arts were developed for self-defense during the dynasties of old in Japan, China, etc.. because the people were not allowed to have any kinds of weapons so they could not rebel against their rulers. So they figured out how to fight with their bare hands and with common farming tools (the nunchaku was realy a tool for mashing grain, the sai was a tool for plantingm, etc..).

I took lessons for a couple years in Tang Soo Do (similar to Tae Kwan Do) and American Goju Karate. The bowing is simply an old-fashioned, eastern (asian) way showing of respect to your teacher(s). We did practice meditation but it was only to learn how to concentrate and focus our minds so our thoughts are not about what stressed us out that day, etc.. it was not anything religious.

 

[blessedsinner]

Is Krav Maga widley known I ve never heard of it.

 

[MahogonySnail]

It's gained in popularity I believe in the last couple of years as now it is promoted as a defense and fitness regime for the regular public with many schools popping up in my country anyway.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Is Krav Maga widley known I ve never heard of it.

Yes its very popular here in california. It is an isreali art and its a lot like basic self-defense techniques that would be effective and practical on the street as opposed to kung-fu type, or traditional karate techniques. Not saying that kung-fu or karate arent effective, but they take more time to learn in order to be effective in a street situation.

 

[Chris-Wiara]

I really look at martial arts as an art form that requires the human body...I understand it is for self-defense and all, but I like it more for the art of it. I wouldn't have any problem with it.