is Martial arts a sin

[marksmarkou]

I was on yahoo answers and someone had posted the question is MMA a sin. With a slight variation,I ask, is everything to do with Martial Arts in general a sin (training, competition, fights, intent on knocking someone out for money etc)

[souldrum71]

Good philosophical question. I think the answer is a matter of personal intent. Why are you personally studying and practicing martial arts? If you are training because you want to hurt people and you're looking for fights, then maybe it is. However, if you are using martial arts to improve yourself physically, mentally, or spiritually and you have no offensive violent intents, then I don't see how it could me morally wrong. I mean, by most religious standards, eating can be a sin if you are being gluttonous and over-eating.

[Zaraki Kenpachi]

Yeah pretty much anything can be a sin, no matter the intention. Think about how much time you spend training. Then think about the amount of time you spend worshipping God.

Best thing to do is ask for forgiveness, there is really nothing you can do about it. We are who and what we are. God tells us to come as we are and He will change us as He sees fit. For most things that probably wont happen until you enter His Kingdom. So I say dont stress it.

Imagine if you were a soldier. You'd be trained to literally kill people and in all likelihood would have to use that knowledge.

Love God with all of your mind, body, and soul also love your neighbor as yourself. If anything goes against either of these then its a sin.

[Chapel]

I am moving this to the philosophy section as it fits better there.

[47MartialMan]

I have been researching martial arts and religion for sometime. There are two opposing camps among Christians and both make strong comments supporting their beliefs.

[complete]

Yes, I've also heard both sides of arguments. Personally, I do not believe it's a sin, otherwise I wouldn't have been involved in martial arts at all.

[47MartialMan]

Originally Posted by complete

Yes, I've also heard both sides of arguments. Personally, I do not believe it's a sin, otherwise I wouldn't have been involved in martial arts at all.

Like "turning the other cheek".....

[complete]

Originally Posted by 47MartialMan

Like "turning the other cheek".....

As with any quote, you really have to study the whole context to get the right meaning and not to take it out of context.

"turning the other cheek" was used by Jesus to tell his disciples to love one another and not to return evil for evil.

In the time of war, God was pretty specific about killing, even though it goes against the ten commandments.

[Little_dragon]

I'm gonna take a page from all the hippies out there and say "How can something that makes you feel so good be bad for you?"

Seriously though, a sin...i don't think so.
It teaches you to respect yourself and others, defend yourself and generally how to be a better person. If some people want to take it to a bad place then that's too bad but martial arts could never be a sin...EVER!!!

[TGILLETTE53]

I don't believe it's a sin. You can train to protect yourself and your family. David killed Goliath with a sling. As long as you're not out to kick everyone's butt you come across, then it should be fine. God did say that He forgives as long as we come to Him and ask for forgiveness.

[martialartspeon]

Originally Posted by marksmarkou

I was on yahoo answers and someone had posted the question is MMA a sin. With a slight variation,I ask, is everything to do with Martial Arts in general a sin (training, competition, fights, intent on knocking someone out for money etc)

I don't understand why anyone would think learning how to protect yourself is sinful. Competitions fights, knocking people out I do see as part of learning how to protect yourself.

[Shinobi_Kokujin]

i dont really believe in sin in the religious sense. Sin originally is the name of a Pre-christian Sumerian Diety.

then with sin an martial arts, theres kind of a contradiction. cause in the bible Angels fought wars. wars= martial arts/close quaters combat.

"God's chosen" people were inspired to wage war againsts other nations

Jacob wrestled (martial arts) with an angel. yeah he got a hip injury for his troubles, but no big deal. Angel was pretty good with pressure points

David defeated Goliath with sling shot-jutsu. theres many other examples. but i dont see Martial arts as being a "Sin"

even in the religious context. it comes down to your intention

in a religious sense. if you do martial arts for the love of the tradition, fitness, health, hobby, civil competition/sparring as well as training "alive" with a resisting opponent
so that you can be better prepared in a self defense situation

then thats kool

[47MartialMan]

Perhaps the "sin" is from the human occupation with physical conflict? Humans enjoy watching others fght.

[Militis]

I believe that many religions and philosophies have a lot to say on this subject. I know that the Shaolin, which if I'm correct were Buddhist, believed that by fighting, they were only refusing the harm that was intended on them.

In Christianity, which is constantly criticized when it comes to people of our profession (fighting), there is much that a lot of people never hear about.

Whenever a Christian MAist is confronted about martial arts conflicting with his religion, it is probably by using the passage from Jesus about turning the other cheek, and letting and offender have your coat. Funny thing is, this seems to be out of context, because there are totally different messages throughout the Bible. In Ecclesiastes (old testament) King Solomon talks about how there is a time for everything under the sun, including a time to hate, a time to fight, and a time to kill. These are messages that we don't think of as being Christian like, but throughout the Bible, God showed many acts of justice by destroying cities and killing men.

So from my standpoint (a Christian Martial Artist) there is no conflict with my religion, because it says in the Bible that there is a time to fight. God prepared Israel's nation for battles throughout the Bible, so Christianity cannot be considered a completely peaceful, non-violent religion.


Same goes for Islam. People die, and fight with all their might for their religions sake. Islam is by no means a violent religion, just like Christianity isn't, but violence comes into play, and cannot be ignored.

I am sure that their are probably religions that completely discredit violence, but there are not many. If you are Christian and you think that violence and fighting are completely wrong under any circumstance, than I suggest you read your Bible and learn your religion a little better.


I know that by being Christian, anything I say is going to sound biased, and I don't mean for it to. The point I am making is that all of these "peace centered" religions that people think consider violence a sin aren't completely peace centered, and all acknowledge the fact that there is indeed a time for violence (e.g. being attacked or your family is in danger).

From what I have seen and heard, I can live in peace knowing that my passion (martial arts) is most definitely not sinful, and can come in handy if it must.

[Militis]

Originally Posted by TGILLETTE53

I don't believe it's a sin. You can train to protect yourself and your family. David killed Goliath with a sling. As long as you're not out to kick everyone's butt you come across, then it should be fine. God did say that He forgives as long as we come to Him and ask for forgiveness.

Correction.

David slinged the stone at Goliaths head, and it knocked him out. Then he took up Goliaths own sword, and decapitated him.

This also goes to show that Christianity is most definitely not all daisies and dandylions.