Please note: This is a work in progress and therefore is not complete. I welcome constructive comments/criticism.
Also, the links are badly in need of updating. If you'd like to find a referenced article please try the site search.
Latest additions:
This is a controversial topic and I realise I will never reach total agreement with every person.
Instead of "reinventing the wheel" I have included quotes from other articles that cover what I wish to say. I will be brief and do not intend this to be an exhaustive reference.
Making a Decision Regarding Participation in Martial Arts
1 Cor 10:18-33 (NIV)
18Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
"The apostle applies this to feasting with idolaters. Eating food as part of a heathen sacrifice, was worshipping the idol to whom it was made, and having fellowship or communion with it; just as he who eats the Lord’s supper, is accounted to partake in the Christian sacrifice, or as they who ate the Jewish sacrifices partook of what was offered on their altar." [Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible]
23"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it."
27If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience’ sake—29the other man’s conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another’s conscience? 30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.
"According to this advice of the apostle, Christians should take care not to use their liberty to the hurt of others, or to their own reproach. In eating and drinking, and in all we do, we should aim at the glory of God, at pleasing and honouring him. This is the great end of all religion, and directs us where express rules are wanting." [Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible]
Gal 5:22-23
"22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control."
Romans 14
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
9For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. 10You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11It is written:
"‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’"
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. 14As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
My take on this verse when applied to Martial Arts is the following:
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If there is an religious practice that you are aware of that is not Christian then a believer should not participate.
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If participating in a practice causes another to stumble then you should not participate.
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You should judge your involvement by the above verse, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble".
Martial Arts is not synonymous with all forms of combat. Martial Arts is a sub-set of combat systems developed in the East which incorporate a philosophy of life. I believe that if you remove the religion and/or philosophy it is no longer really a Martial Art, but simply a form of combat.
"Martial Arts, various methods of unarmed combat, originally used in warfare in East Asia and shaped by East Asian philosophical concepts, notably Zen Buddhism... Contemporary interest in the martial arts often focuses on their spiritual aspects, as means of increasing self-confidence, assertiveness, concentration, and personal defense. The martial arts have also become popular as forms of self-expression, similar to dance." [1]
"These are referred to as "Arts" because they are not merely combat-techniques but are also an expression of an Eastern "spiritual" philosophy. Eastern Martial Artists are in general agreed that boxing and wrestling are not true martial "Arts" unless they are allied to such a philosophy." [2]
It is claimed by some Christian Martial Artists that there are in fact examples of Martial Arts in the Bible. This assertion is made by people who would claim that all forms of combat can be labelled as a Martial Art. Because of my definition of Martial Arts I believe this is not the case.
I certainly have no problem with Christians defending themselves, their family or the weak. Self-defence can however be learned seperate from the Martial Arts.
"The Bible is clear here: I am to love my neighbor as myself, in the manner needed, in a practical way, in the midst of the fallen world, at my particular point of history. This is why I am not a pacifist. Pacifism in this poor world in which we live - this lost world - means that we desert the people who need our greatest help. What if you come upon a big, burly man beating a tiny tot to death and plead with him to stop. Suppose he refuses? What does love mean now? Love means that I stop him in any way I can, including hitting him. To me this is not only necessary for humanitarian reasons: it is loyalty to Christ's commands concerning Christian love in a fallen world. What about the little girl? If I desert her to the bully, I have deserted the true meaning of Christian love - responsibility to my neighbor." [10]
Some Martial Arts give practitioners a distorted view of thier readiness for a situation where they would need to defend themselves. Good self defence means learning much more than learning techniques but also learning things like conflict resolution and how to avoid circumstances that would lead to a confrontation.
A Christian should however not live expecting or seeking violence in their lives.
"We are not to live in fear, expending inordinate amounts of time and money preparing to defend ourselves against personal attack." [5]
I think is possible to seperate most of the eastern religion and philosophy. To be able to make such a seperation successfully a person would need to be able to discern which practices potentially conflict with their Christian beliefs. This would best be achieved in a Christian class or at least with a Christian instructor. Read What should a person look for if they choose to be involved in Martial arts? which details other considerations.
"Although it is possible to practice certain Martial Arts techniques in isolation from any underlying occult philosophy, it would be practically impossible to do this in the context of a Martial Arts class." [2]
An number of factors should be considered:
1. Intent/Motive
What do you seek from Martial Arts?
Wrong: Revenge, pride, to be a "tough guy", spiritual insight/enlightenment
Right: Self-defence, fitness and health
2. Type of Martial Art
3. The Instructor
Does the instructor follow eastern religious/philosphical beliefs? Will they respect your beliefs and not require you to be involved in practices you feel conflict with those beliefs? They should also exhibit "good sportsmanship, respect for others, humility, and avoids altercations whenever possible" [9] A Christian instructor is recommended.
4. Christian maturity and discernment
5. Commitment
Martial Arts require a lot of commitment and hard work. Does your commitment overshadow your religious commitments?
6. Conscience
7. Classes
"The Christian should keep an eye out for Eastern religious books, symbols, and the like, that might be in the training hall. This may help one discern what practices and beliefs are being espoused during training.
Many schools start new students on a trial basis. Such a trial could help the Christian solidify his or her decision.
It may also be prudent to observe an advanced class. This will help the prospective student determine whether Eastern philosophy is taught only as the practitioner progresses." [9]
8. Consider Your Testimony Before Others
"Because this is a controversial area, the Christian must be careful not to cause a weaker Christian to stumble by practicing a martial art (Rom. 14:21). A younger Christian might become disillusioned seeing a respected brother or sister practicing the martial arts, thinking that such involvement is a compromise of the faith. Or perhaps a weaker Christian might conclude (for example) that it's okay to practice Zen meditation since his more mature brother practices the martial arts, thereby (apparently) giving approval for all that is involved in the martial arts." [9]
9. Prayer
Some words of wisdom when becoming involved in Martial Arts:
"What can we conclude? Our studied opinion is that if precautions are taken - if one studies under an instructor (preferably a Christian) who completely divorces the physical art from faith-destroying Eastern influences - if one maintains a proper Christian perspective regarding violence and the use of force - if the purpose of the instruction is primarily to learn self-defense and/or engage in physical conditioning - if one is careful not to cause a weaker brother to stumble - then it is possible for the discerning Christian to participate in the martial arts. Such Christians would be wise to make the apostle Paul's words to the Thessalonians a permanent part of their life philosophy: "Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil" (1 Thess. 5:21-22)." [9]
"We recommend that the Christian keep the following factors in mind. First they must realize that this is a controversial area. He or she must be careful not to cause a weaker Christian to stumble by the practice of martial arts (Romans 14). Second, the Christian must guard against the temptation of starting fights. Third, the Christian should not allow a martial art to overshadow or detract from his Christian commitments (Hebrews 10:25). Finally, the Christian should pray, and examine their conscience and motives. These steps will insure that one's involvement in a martial art will be based not on unworthy motives but on reflective thought." [14]
There is nothing wrong with a movement unless some form of meaning is attached to it and accepted by the person participating. If a movement does have meaning that is understood by the practitioner it is possible that by constant repitition the meaning gains some level of acceptance into the person's way of thinking. This is a possible trap for un-discerning Christians.
Definately not. Each culture has something to offer us.
Not necessarily so. The Handbook of Christian Apologetics provides a good response to this question:
"Discernment is needed, on a case-by-case basis. Indiscriminate inclusion or indiscriminate exclusion are equally unthinking.." [3]
"Beyond this, we must recognize that the martial arts are as rich and diverse as the Asian culture from which they emerged. Their roots and traditions derive from a variety of sources, from fierce warriors and aristocrats of the past - to exceptionally skilled commoners in the arts of fighting - to Taoist and Buddhist monks in search of harmony and enlightenment." [8]
Fear/Self Defence
Sport/Physical activity
Self-esteem
Media
Some examples of practices in Martial Arts and how they relate to Eastern religion/philosophy:
"After examining the three Eastern religions, one can easily identify how martial arts correspond to Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Martial arts' attention to meditation and concentration have roots in the Buddhist philosophy of finding the true Self through the sharpening and awakening of the mind. The mind is sharpened as one learns to strategize against an opponent, while meditative practices provide self-reflection and focus. Martial arts training is an important part of the Confucian's self-cultivating process toward perfection since it promises self-improvement. Training also enforces the discipline necessary for the cultivation process. The hierarchical structure within a training studio is taken directly from the Confucian regard of relationships. The instructors having the highest positions indicates that they have the most wisdom and experience to responsibly train their pupils. In return, the pupils are to give them respect and obedience. The Taoist quest for preserving and improving health has led to the development of various martial arts. The physical training strengthens the body while attention to breathing and meditation provides relaxation and peace of mind. The audible yell comes from the Taoist idea of releasing and directing the energy of the ch'i, the air and space that pervades through all, even the body." [13]
Bodhidharma and Zen Buddhism
"Attaining strength and power was also of interest to Bodhidharma (c. A.D. 5th-6th century), an Indian monk who is said to be the originator of the Shaolin boxing tradition and the father of the martial arts.Believed to have been a member of the warriors/rulers caste of India, Bodhidharma brought with him a brand of Buddhism known as Zen, which advocated mental control and meditation as means to enlightenment." [8] (For more information read the footnoted article)
"Zen is a Buddhist discipline that stresses meditation and direct teaching from master to student. It was introduced to China by a Buddhist monk who had studied Buddhism in India. While Buddhism teaches that it takes a lifetime to "arrive"at an "awakening," Zen teaches that the goal may be reached immediately. The aim of Zen is complete control of the mind to attain a state of enlightenment and a sense of detachment from the physical world. This is the one essential of Zen: the direct experience of enlightenment. Encouraging, deepening, and expressing that experience in all of life is its sole purpose. In Zen there is no past nor future because the most important thing is the experience of the "now" or present moment. Zen has no concept of sin, has no god, and so needs no deliverance. It is generally acknowledged that Zen was the foundation of the Martial Arts in Japan and that it reputedly provides the Martial Artist with the disciplines for developing strong character and personality. Zen Buddhists say, 'When sitting correctly in Za-Zen one is not practicing towards becoming the Buddha: while sitting correctly, one IS the Buddha.'" [6]
For more information:
Hinduism - Brahmanism
"Hinduism is a polytheistic religion created in India some 4,000 years ago. Believers worship various gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva - who also has human incarnations named Krishna and Rama. Hindus believe the soul, or atman, of every living creature gets reborn in human or animal form after it dies. This ceases only when the being attains spiritual perfection." [13]
For more information:
Taoism
"The word "Taoism" refers to a Chinese philosophy based on the teachings of Lao Tzu (c. 6th-4th century B.C.) and Chuang Tzu (c. 399-295 B.C.). The central theme of Taoism has to do with harmony with the "natural flow" of the universe. Letting nature take its course is believed to be the key to happiness and fulfillment. Taoists therefore say that life should be approached with the goal of "taking no action that is contrary to Nature."" [8] (For more information read the footnoted article)
For more information:
Religious Taoism
"Various Chinese shamans and magicians incorporated into their own existing belief systems the ideas of Taoism, producing what came to be known as religious Taoism. The primary objective of religious Taoists was the attainment of physical immortality. Meditation, along with various magical practices, physical exercises, breathing exercises, and sexual practices, was considered the means of retaining vigor and achieving everlasting life." [8] (For more information read the footnoted article)
Shintoism
"Shinto, meaning "Way of the gods", is Japan's indigenous religion. It is similar to religious Taoism in that it includes animist elements and spirit worship. It also teaches adherents to venerate the Emperor of Japan as a descendent of the sun goddess.
Some modern aikido teachers include chants directed to Shinto spirits (kami in Japanese) as part of their classes. Students usually go along with the chanting to be part of the group but may not understand what is going on. Some may be willing to practice Shinto, but those with other religious beliefs should not be unwittingly subjected to these practices." [13]
For more information:
Shintoism http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txo/shintois.htm
Confucianism
"Confucianism is another religion that permeated through the Far East. It is based on teachings accredited to a scholar named Confucius who lived in ancient China (circa 522-479 BC). He did not intend for his teachings to become a religion, but there are religious overtones that cannot be ignored. Generally, Confucianism strives for wisdom and moral perfection in each individual. It also aims for an ordered society that follows rules of behavior, social codes, and rituals to establish utopia on earth and create harmony with heaven." [13]
For more information:
Animism
"Animism is the belief that a spirit or divinity resides within every object, controlling its existence and influencing human life and events in the natural world. Animistic religious beliefs are widespread among primitive societies, particularly among those in which many different spiritual beings are believed to control different aspects of the natural and social environment." [15]
For more information:
"KI is developed by meditation, concentration, and the fundamental exercise of abdominal breathing. This doctrine was the main source of metaphysical and intellectual speculation for Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, and Japanese philosophers and religious leaders. It was ultimately adopted by almost all the important schools of Martial Arts. It is not considered mysterious or magical but rather a common property of every human being. The difficult part is learning how to master it and release it profitably. It can produce effects not only within the body but also at a distance from the practitioner. It is claimed that this KI energy can be used to turn the hand into a powerful weapon, to heal wounds and diseases, or break bricks and boards without even touching them. It can be used as a shield to keep the individual from being injured. A Martial Artist can so direct the KI power that no matter how many blows he might receive, whether from fists, staves, or even swords, he will not even show a bruise or scratch on his body.
One who has mastered the art is able to strike a pile of bricks, for instance, with just a slap, and break only one pre-selected brick in the pile. This energy, it is claimed, can be used to concentrate all available KI into a loud shout which, if so desired, can actually kill an opponent. On the defensive side, a man knowledgeable in the techniques of KI, can, through concentration and meditation, be completely indifferent to physical discomfort, pain, and even death.
Without doubt, if these things real]y do take place, and there is no reason to doubt the claims made for KI, the power is not of God but of the occult and Satan, who is behind all occult phenomenon. " [6]
"Now, we recognize that there have been attempts by some Christian martial artists to redefine chi to make it compatible with the Christian world view. (Some, for example, have claimed that chi is the Holy Spirit.) At best, however, such attempts only serve to cloud the issue. Utilizing an Eastern religious term while changing its historically understood meaning is not unlike the practice of non-Christian religions when they employ Christian terminology and pour different meanings into the words. (New Agers, for instance, redefine the Christian term "born again" to mean reincarnation.) Such semantical manipulation only serves to mask the real and present danger of involvement with chi." [9]
Ki was used to explain both physical and supernatural phenomina. Many people now claim that Ki is simply an explanation of physics and body mechanics as understood by those in the East at that time. This is only partially true.
Ki theory goes hand in hand with Eastern philosophies such an Yin Yang which clearly conflict with the teachings of the Bible.
Others claim that Ki is in fact the Holy Spirit. A Christian understands that the Holy Spirit is a gift from God. It is not something we can control of learn to manipulate.
Some Christian practitioners even allude to evidence of the use of Ki in the Bible.
eg. "'ki/chi' of Samson (Judges 16)" [11]
We can see this force was clearly from God, not some internal force that Samson summoned.
"Judges 16:28 Samson called unto the Lord—The chastened and newly strengthened Samson now displays a penitent, prayerful spirit. His premeditated act seems motivated not nearly so much by thoughts of a vindictive suicide as of putting forth one last burst of his God-endowed strength in his capacity as a public magistrate. He must be regarded, in fact, as dying for his country’s cause. In his final feat, we are informed, more Philistines died than during all his earlier exploits." [12]
"Within the context of the martial arts, meditation has generally referred to those practices that involve "the focusing of attention non-analytically in either a concentrated or expansive fashion, the outcome of which can lead to an alteration in consciousness, an increase in awareness and insight, or a combination of such psychological factors." It is said that diligent practice of meditation "leads to a non-dualistic state of mind in which, the distinction between subject and object having disappeared and the practitioner having become one with 'god' or 'the absolute,' conventions like time and space are transcended[until] finally that stage is reached which religions refer to as salvation, liberation, or complete enlightenment."
The Christian, of course, must not participate in such forms of meditation - for at least three reasons. First, its goal is to provide the practitioner a way (if not the way) to ultimate truth and freedom through sheer human effort, thus advocating a form of self-salvation over and against what the Bible explicitly teaches (Eph. 2:8-9). In so doing, it ignores man's fallen nature (Rom. 3:10-12) and denies Christ's exclusive claim as the way to salvation (John 14:6).
Second, Eastern meditation's stated goal of transforming one's state of mind into a monistic ("all is one"), if not an outright pantheistic ("all is God"), outlook lies in direct contradiction to biblical theism. The latter recognizes an eternal distinction between a personal Creator-God and His creation (Isa. 44:6-8; Heb. 2:6-8).
Third, such altered states of consciousness can open one up to spiritual affliction and deception by the powers of darkness. This alone should serve to dissuade any Christian from participating in Eastern forms of meditation." [9]
Firstly, in Eastern culture there are many forms of bowing with different meaning. Generally a standing bow between two people is a greeting (much like a hand shake) or a sign of respect. Even the depth of the bow has significance. Bowing from a kneeling stance can be a form of worship. Bowing down in such a manner to an instructor, a photo of the founder, a shrine - are all forms of worship that the Christian should not participate in.
The most important consideration however is the purpose rather than the posture of the bow.
"Bowing, as an act of religious homage is addressed extensively in the Bible, and there is no doubt that bowing before any idol, spiritual leader or guide, or representative of a false god is prohibited. Joshua, in his last words to the elders of Israel said the following:
Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them (Joshua 23:7)
This theme is repeated throughout scripture, so it is clear that bowing as an act of religious or spiritual homage is prohibited." [7]
"The "external" or "hard" martial arts stress powerful foot and hand strikes, along with a regimen of intense hand and body conditioning. While the external system advocates some use of breath control, the emphasis lies more on generating quick movements, utilizing force in straight, linear motions, and responding to force with force.
By contrast, the "internal" or "soft" martial arts focus on inner spiritual development, balance, form, and mental awareness. Besides emphasizing the importance of Taoist and Buddhist philosophical principles, stress is also placed on utilizing the chi force. Through breath control techniques, internal school practitioners seek to "collect, cultivate, and store" the chi force in the region located below the navel." [8]
[1] Concise Encarta Encyclopedia
[2] Martial Arts - Are They Harmless? by Mike R. Taylor
[3] Are Other Religions Useful? Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois
[5] Martial Arts And The Christian by Albert James Dager
[6] Martial Arts by Rev. Ewald Eisele
[7] Martial Arts and Christian Beliefs are They Incompatible? by Bob Orlando
[8] Enter The Dragon? Wrestling With The Martial Arts Phenomenon (Part 1) by Erwin de Castro, B. J. Oropeza and Ron Rhodes
[9] Enter The Dragon? Wrestling With The Martial Arts Phenomenon (Part 2) by Erwin de Castro, B. J. Oropeza and Ron Rhodes
[10] Francis Schaeffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster, reprinted in The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer: A Christian Worldview, Vol. 4 (Westchester: Crossway Books, 1982), 391
[11] The Christian and Martial Arts
[12] New Commentary on the Whole Bible, Based on the classic commentary of
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
[13] Religion and Martial Arts by Harvey Kurland
[14] What about Martial Arts? by True Light Educational Ministry
[15] Animism from Believe Religious Database
