The reason and the importance

I've noticed that there are a lot of people here at the dragon's list, and i think it would be safe to say that almost everyone here (if not everyone), likes martial arts or is taking them. The thing is, I'd like to know why do you guys like the martial arts or take them. The other thing I'd like to know is what do you deem most important about a martial art. Most people I hear would say the fighting (which would make sense, as it is an art of war), a few people say that the instructor has to be a good discipliner, and one person i know thinks that it's devotion to your teacher. There are many other things that can be to some important but i don't have all month long to name them all. Anyway, it's interesting to know at which window you people are looking at the martial arts from.

PS Don't worry, i'll give my opinion (with the reasons) later on

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"Every moment gives us a chance to become better than who we already are" -Ryu (street fighter 3, 3rd strike)

I once asked myself what is there in common between people in my Tai Chi group (the elderies, housewifes, students, etc) , what leads us to wake up early morning and train year after year the same slow movements and refine its performance Why learn a MA

We are all part of human-being, and so all having a huge necessity into felling secure and protected; ... and The Tai Chi brings it to us.

What a great gift could be done to a human-being facing secure into life, balanced, healthy and with life quality

I think this is the great APPEAL of TAICHI and that's why so many people has been atracted to its practice

An ordinary Martial Art can train the physical body, but can't protect the practioner against more skilled opponents; TaiChi Chuan leads its practioner to win his own fears and expectations, in a sense that he can allways be the winner even without having to fight most of the times.

That's a good question Ever sense I was young I loved to fight. Not in the aggressive cruel way. But in the other way you know spar practise and such. Any way That was boxing, But once I got into MA I found a whole new world to fighting. One that makes me a better fighter and a better person. MA teaches me to be kind , humble , and diligent with every thing. Not just fighting. Its is truly a great thing to practise MA in my eyes.

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The only thing neccesary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke,

I beleive that the martial arts is not just a way of fighting...but a way of life, as with its ethics and codes of conduct etc. It is applied to your daily life if taught properly and appreciated by the students.

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<+Rh¥§+>

the most improtant thing/aspect about the martial arts is not the fighting, oh no, it is the mind. everything has to with the mind and your learning. or rather your thoughts. every experience life has to offer can be felt in one experience, if your in the right of mind...

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....that little pigs gonna fly....

Heaven was created by an accumulation of Yang;the earth was created by an accumulation of Yin. Water and fire are the symbols of Yin and Yang; Yin and Yang are the source of power and the beginning of everything in creation. Yang ascends to heaven; Yin descends to earth.Hence the universe represents motion and rest, controiied by the wisdom of nature. Nature grants the power to beget and grow, to harvest and to store, to finish and to begin anew. (Nei Ching) Martial arts goes beyond the physical body as we fuse with the vast emptiness in life and in death.

The appeal that comes with martial arts for me was the unknown, I knew of knowone who was versed in them so I went out on my own to learn about them. Another reason for the martial arts is of course the commraderie and friendly competition. The most important aspect though I feel is that I have been entrusted with techniques that are capable of killing a human being, the sense of power and responsibility is incredible.

I wanted to learn how to fight.
got more than I bargained for.

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If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.
-Zen proverb

From the pine tree
Learn of the pine tree.
And from the bamboo
of the bamboo
-Basho

The reason I study Wing Chun is because I want the ability to defend myself and my loved ones if I need to.

The most important thing about a martial art is its effectiveness in actual combat.

Good for you, x893 because your experience is what happened to many famous martial artists, two for example are Morihei Ueshiba and Sun Lu Tang, both of these gentlemen had a profound spiritual side at the ends of there life, but when they started there martial journey they wanted to know how to kick butt!
You see, you learn the character development and spiritual stuff THROUGH the martial training and not in addition to it. To me that's kind of an important point cause if you learned those things in some other way, well then you wouldn't need to learn them from martial arts! The warrior path can be a profoundly spiritual path, but I think you have to take the warrior part seriously to get to the spiritual part. I have students who want to learn Tai Chi for "health and spiritual reasons" and they make it clear to me that they don't care about learning to fight. Well.....okay, but you see there is Yoga, Chi Gung, Zen Meditation, etc if you don't want to learn a martial art. My point is if you disregard the practicality of fighting and the effect dealing with it has on your psychology and mind then you will never develop those precious qualities.
ME, WHAT DO I WANT FROM MARTIAL ARTS I WANT IT ALL! MWAAAHAHAHAHA! Seriously, I want the health, the spiritual, and the practical and I don't see them as seperate issues, the trainig for one is the training for all of them.

When I was younger I needed to be able to back up my mouth and my attitude. I'm almost 30 now and all of that has changed. To me the most important thing about the MA is being tru to yourself. Its not about what style you study but ensuring that you are doing what you need to do to accomplish the goals you set for yourself. Be they , competition, tradition, self defense, ect.
Why I study now, there are several reasons.
1. As I teach I am pretty much ensuring my immortality through the knoledge and memories I pass on.
2. It is something that I can pass on to my children that truly has meaning.
3. I love to learn about other cultures and it is a great way to learn about them.
4. I love to teach, and this gives me an opportunity to teach something I realy enjoy myself

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Daniel W. "Gigagei Waya" McCullar, 4th Dan

Oooh, look the Korean stylist used Chinese
http://www.dragonslist.com/discussio...read-ever.html

I was always afraid of beening hurt and not being able to DO anything about it. I wanted to know how to fight, kick ass, if you will. I found exactly what I was looking for but a great deal more...I found a type of religion that was right for me.
My way of combat is surely not traditional and the discipline lives within the man. I personally like to fight, I enjoy the combat but given this I am also a man of absolute peace and this WAY helps me, as a guide.

“	I wanted to learn how to fight.got more that i bargained for	”

I agree whole heartedly. I wanted to learn self defense, and be a champion fighter, for the self challenge. To answer your question off the bat...the most important part of MA two things respect and discipline. Respect for yourself and others. I train with people from all walks of life, our common interest makes us partners, our love of the sport/art makes us family. and the honor to be associated with these people is so great it brings me to tears at times. The self discipline involved is a bonus, i have never been so proud of myself and so confident...bring on the world baby. I do things that most people could never dream of.

At our last belt testing Sensei asked (a common question) why are you here what do you get out of this One of my fellow fighters replied " it is almost like a religon, to me at least. This is my home, and when i am injured and cannot come to train, it is almost like not being able to breathe." I understand completely where he is coming from. Like I said; i started cause i wanted to be a fighter, and got a whole lot more in the end.

Good posts everyone; for the most part, what i expected. The reason i like the martial arts is because of the fighting. I don't like hurting people, but the fighting is just so beautiful; it's just amazingly fun. Of course, a martial art is beautiful in every single way. I can clearly understand why the word art is in it. Everything that comes with a martial art is usually useful and important in and out of the art. Even though i like the fighting in the arts more than any other aspect by alot, i think that the most important part of a martial art is probably discpline. Discipline is what allows you to get things done, especially long-term things. Discipline is what lets you do what you know you should be doing. Without discipline, you're probably not going to get to the place you want to be at. So my reason for liking martial arts, definitely the fighting. The most important thing you get from a martial art is to be disciplined.

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"Every moment gives us a chance to become better than who we already are" -Ryu (street fighter 3, 3rd strike)

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Lance Hyatt

"Avoid rather than check,
Check rather than hurt,
Hurt rather than maim,
Maim rather than kill...
For all life is precious,
Nor can it be replaced."