How Martial Arts Can Change Your Life

Here begins a series of snapshots about martial arts, distinguishing between myth and reality, how to fight and win and turn an art of beating someone down into a way of life.

One doesn't have to climb the ranks and become world champions at their martial style to understand how combat works.

Over years we have amassed a lot of theoretical knowledge, history, and real life facts about martial arts and their capabilities. Many community sites have evolved into the world of martial arts. Bullshido , one of the most reputable martial arts sites on the internet, is the perfect place to visit for newcomers and experienced martial artists alike.

Why learn martial arts?

One doesn't have to be a good martial artist to be a good fighter. When people hear you say you're a martial artist, they expect you to be the incarnate of Bruce Lee. This is far from the truth, everyone is different.

The same goes for styles of martial arts. Kung Fu, Karate, Savate, Capoeira, etc. The style does not make the man. The fight is what makes the man. Though each style can be more practical than the other, it doesn't arbitrarily constitute to someone being a better fighter.

People learn martial arts for a number of reasons. To stay in shape, to empower themselves, to build confidence, for discipline, and lastly and most significant, or to genuinely want to know how to defend themselves.

The majority of people do like to know how to beat up people who want to mess with them. Think of it like being a cop. Half the police force became part of the police force so they can own a gun; who doesn't want to feel that power? To protect the innocent and serve justice is just rationalization in using the gun. Why do you think countries go to war 'for the sake of peace'? War and Peace are not as opposite in extremes as you might think.

What's the point of martial arts if you already know how to fight?

A martial art is by definition, a systematic form of combat created in a particular society. Nearly every group of people in the world has the system.

So you're thinking, if you're a good fighter now, why learn martial arts?

Nobody in the world is saturated in their knowledge of combat. There is always another technique (practical and impractical) to learn, and further training to be done.

Think of the short distance events of Track and Field. In the 100 meters event, the difference between 10 and 12 seconds seems very miniscule to the average person, but the strength and focus it takes to close those two seconds is insanely significant. Not everyone can be an Olympic sprinter because genetics plays a huge role. But years of conditioning, experience, and training can improve your time by a second or more. That second is huge.

If you played the game Counter-Strike before, you know the purpose of the Kevlar Vest. It costs a lot, but it can be the ultimate difference in your survival, for a few health points can allow you to live long enough to fire more well placed shots. The better player will win the firefight but let's use the logic of probability:

A Skilled player v.s. Skilled player wearing Kevlar Vest

A Skilled fighter v.s. Skilled fighter with years of experience in martial arts

That's the philosophy behind martial arts. It is the polishing of the stone, the conditioning of raw skill into the perfect cut diamond. In a life and death struggle, every millisecond is crucial to survival. Take a good fighter against a good fighter who has made combat a life style, and who do you think has the upper hand?

How realistic is the belt ranking system?

As real as the Irish blood flowing through my veins.

-Uncle Ruckus - The Boondocks

Okay, there is a correlation between skill and experience and belt rank. But the correlation is not concise enough for the credit we give to belt rank. There are too many black belts out there who don't deserve it. And there are millions of equally skilled fighters low in the rankings. A master can spot an experienced fighter easily but because of moving between dojos or dojangs (the school) means a student has to start all over as a white belt. Years and years of experience can go unseen over this rule. Tradition doesn't always reign supreme.

This is another situation in which the fight makes the man, and not his belt. When a white belt person spars a black belt, he should take into consideration that he or she will be statistically more experienced and hardened than the white belt, but he should never think that trumps the match and forces his hand.

The belt ranking system is impractical but it is a tradition in some martial arts (mainly the Oriental arts), and is still a distinctive aspect of martial arts that must be preserved.

What style is best?

There is no single 'best' style. The best fighter is not restricted to forms and rigid stances. He has to be able to adapt to every situation and every type of opponent. He must 'be like water' to fit and 'flow into any scenario.' This was the concept of Bruce Lee's philosophy of Jeet Kune Do - which emphasizes an eclectic blend of martial arts styles to fulfill the balance between striking, grappling, and ground fighting.

Each style has strengths and weaknesses.

"Be formless... shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle; it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot; it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, and it can crash. Be water, my friend."

-Bruce Lee