Reasons Why- In Defense of Defense

[Lorraine Munoa]

How do we go about explaining our reasons for the hobby/obsession/activity of Martial Arts? Particularly to someone who, quote, "can't see the need [we] feel to learn how to hurt people." What is our answer to that? I know it's a good thing, you know it's a good thing, but how do we explain ourselves to those who are opposed to "normal" people learning "violent things"?
Did martialists have this problem historically, or was life so much more dangerous that everyone back then saw it as practical?

[s_taillebois]

They did live in a very violent society. And many who practiced the art of the sword, were aristocrats or gentry and so felt no need to explain themselves to others. The knowledge or ability to use these implements was often a marker of class-they would have been more pilloried if they didn't know the martial aspects.
As for the context about 'hurting people', probably the best response is to stress the historical aspects and the physical discipline aspects. Since it does involve a weapon, people who might be hoplophobic aren't going to accept much of anything said anyway.

[SzabolcsWaldmann]

I think it's about our selves. The inner learning we do while facing danger, while acepting challenges, while standig up after being hurt and smiling, about having the right control of your emotions and so on. Some of the factors we do not even realize, we just feel the need for something.
In my understanding, man was not made for the life it lives in peaceful environments. I am far from being a fan of wars, quite the opposite. But since the whole world, the whole life is about challenges, price playings and fights of different kinds - to train your abilities in these factors cannot be bad. All people, who get involved in martial arts say about their change of life - them being tougher, high-spirited, stronger, that they have more control over their lifes. Mist of our students tell us about their schoolnotes being better and better, their love relationship becoming stronger and smoother, and I coul tell many other things I've heard.
I also believe, that the above said is true, and we feel it when we train and train for this as weel, but th main reason should be that we love to fight, to train, to be axhausted, to learn, where "fight" is the stressed part. I believe, fights are good. I dont mean the ones about oil, and taking one anothers lives, but the simple fight, a natural thing, two beings in contest, where both can learn and check themsleves and have a good time. I think, Knightly Tournaments were in part this lived instinct.

byez
Szab

[Travis Beamon]

i am in complete agreeance with Szabolcs here I know joining ARMA has turned my life around completely, and the same goes for people others I know as well. The reason I study Western Martial Arts can be summed up in 2 tiers :

"....for as divinity preserves the soul from hell and the devil, so does this noble science defend the body from wounds & slaughter. And moreover, the exercising of weapons puts away aches, griefs, and diseases, it increases strength, and sharpens the wits. It gives a perfect judgement, it expels melancholy, choleric and evil conceits, it keeps a man in breath, perfect health, and long life. It is unto him that has the perfection thereof, a most friendly and comfortable companion when he is alone, having but only his weapon about him. It puts him out of fear, & in the wars and places of most danger, it makes him bold, hardy, and valiant."

George Silver, Paradoxes of Defence, 1598

I think that sums up every for me expect the 2nd main tier of why I study martial arts. History, and personal heritage.

[Jaron Bernstein]

1. The mental challenge of raising a dead art from its essential saltes. Hopefully without "ye liveliest awefullness"! (for the HPL fans out there)

2. The challenge of developing a usable physical skill.

3. This art is more culturally accessible to me than others.

[Derek Gulas]

I'm a fan of smiling and saying something like: "We learn so you don't have to." That said, there are a lot of violent people who would do others harm. I don't see why I shouldn't learn to defend myself and others from them. It doesn't ever do to be a mewing sheep. Its always better to be strong, rather than weak.

I think that Jeffery Hull's signature sums my opinion on this subject up nicely: "Wehrlos ist ehrenlos" - "defenseless is honorless"

[Pierre Planas]

Well, my most basic answer to that question are:

- For fitness. Sword practice with proper footwork and stances is a good way to maintain some muscle and a good heart.

- Body awareness. Like any martial or physical activity focused on techniques (...dancing, gymnastics, etc...), sword practice helps become aware of what you can do with your body.

- Culture: I have an interest in history. Studying weapon pratice is part a broader study of warfare, which is itself part of a broader understanding of feudal and antiquity history. When you understand what kind of methods, techniques and weapons medieval warriors actually used, it helps switching from a glamourized and distorted vision of the middle-age(chivalric code, 10kg dull swords, etc... ) to a more correct one, for example.

- It's a hobby. Like any hobby, it might seem pointless, but you do it because it's fun.

[philippewillaume]

I do not think there is in any answer to that. It is like trying to convince me that tofu taste better than meat. Clearly your interlocutor cannot see the point of learning how to twat people without getting hurt yourself. (point of view that I can understand and respect but that I do not share)

Martial arts, whichever one you chose, are a rationalized way to traumatize other people. In may opinion you cannot dissociate the form from the function but you can disassociate the usage and the function.
The more you practice a martial art, the more you understand that pain hurts. During your martial career you will, as the Divine Marquis has put it, “give as much as you received”.
In general martial artists are less likely to use violence, but to likely to cause more damage when they use violence.
I would say form me and probably for most martial artist the more I practices the less often I actually end up in a fight.

I believe that you chose to practice a martial art for most personal reason, So the reason you will find to practices are probably be only valid for you.

For the last bit of your question, I am not sure that we live in a less violent world than before (as in the middle adge), Violence probably just take and other form.