Warrior vs Athlete

In simple terms the difference between a warrior and an athlete is that the athlete knows he/she is going home alive at the end of the day. The warrior may die any minute. There is a big difference between a soldier in Iraq and an MMA fighter for example. The public generally categorize martial arts as a sport, athletic event, competition or spectacle. And for the most part martial arts have been reduced to a reflection or shadow of it’s true self. I used to get really upset when I would get into conversations with people about martial arts and hear the dumb things they would say until I realized the frame of reference from which they derive their statements. They are bombarded with a long history of misinformation coming movies, television, tournaments, demonstrations and the internet. Sources that are all labeling or branding things under “martial arts”. It is no wonder most people think the best martial artists in the world are from the UFC or MMA variety. Let me be clear, these guys are talented and tough athletes that train hard to achieve a world class level of athleticism and success but they are not warriors and they are not what I would call martial. They are athletes in a sport, period.

You want to consider them warriors or martial artists? The only way you can do this is by changing and removing the rules. Give them weapons, swords, and the ability to kill and be killed and just as importanly, a cause other than themselves. Many people will argue with this and claim the top MMA guys could fight anyone in the world and kick their butt. What happens when they person they are fighting pulls out a knife and stabs them in the eye and there is no ref in place to stop it or bell to end the round?

Look at the word martial, meaning war like or military in nature. True martial ways evolved in various countries through individual or military conflict as a need to defend lives. Centuries of constant training and real battlefield experience molded various styles into true, efficient killing systems. The countless individuals that died in war and conflict developing the best fighting techniques faced the ultimate consequences. Today the athletes that compete in a ring with rules and rounds have taken a small sampling of the endless techniques developed and paid for by others to defend life and cherry picked the things that work best within the context of the rules they play within. Sure they can go into the ring and get bloodied, hurt, or injured but they leave each contest to train for the next with a different motive than the real warriors who developed the techniques they are not profiting from. Athletes want accolades, sponsorships and profit. Warriors want to see their families another day. Big difference!

I am not trying to slam the UFC or the MMA fighters or any sport competition that uses the word martial arts in it. But I do think that pointing out that what is popularized today are not true martial ways or sciences. The best martial sciences teachers and practitioners in the world are anonymous, have not egos, and pass on traditions and depth that is far removed from the media. I for one want to keep them that way. Let the public have their spectacle and believe all the nonsense they see. I will sit back and enjoy knowing better.

Comments

[Danny B Maratas]

I strongly agree with you, I believe krava maga and commando are the true martial arts because it deals in survival techniques being pointed by guns stab hack by sword etc

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