christianity & the martial arts

[rshively]

I realize that this topic hasn't been discussed in a few months, however, based upon what I've read in some of your posts I see that it is something that many of you have strong feelings about.

I knew of Mike Crain's founding of Judo & Karate for Christ in the 60's and 70's. While Mike was an excellent evangelist, there was little follow thru for any new converts once he moved on to the next town. Hence, christian martial arts or "church karate," had little opportunity for growth.

the problem with any new ministry is the conflicting beliefs it may incur from some well meaning, albeit dogmatic fundamentalists, or as we call them, "funny-mentalists."

Too many evangelicals see the martial arts as an asian-pagan based religious philosophy. However, few westerners realize that much of the Olympics are based on the combative arts of ancient Greece and Rome. Common everyday track & field events (as well as modern day boxing and wrestling) still avidly taught, practiced and tested in our public school systems, are still modeled after the warrior arts of Sparta and Rome.

Keep in mind that Europe went into a period known as the dark ages where for almost 1,000 years, nothing of the old Roman rule  continued to exist. So, during the renaissance, there was a strong desire to return to the old romanish ways, where the newly revised roman empire was seen as the center of the universe. Hence, anything outside of european influence was seen as pagan. Also, anything that threatened the established order was seen as a threat to individual sovernity.

For example, a martial artist, might not be so quick to take verbal or physical abuse from someone of supposed religious authority.  So, am I a threat to society? No, I'm a threat to those who would choose to do harm to me or my family. Or I'm a threat to those who use religious doctrine as a means of lording over others, like the spanish inqusition.

In summation, I do not see or believe that the torah, the tanakh (the old testament), or the brit hadashash (the new testament) as forbidding or disallowing the use of martial arts. Too many evangelicals who see the martial arts as anti-christian are replacement theologians, or new testament only believers. Keep in mind that the new testament isn't new, it's just true...

Shalom, Peace Be Unto You

Ron

[rshively]

To further xpand upon what I said, I'll tell you about an incident I had a few years ago.

My wife and I had a small martial arts ministry in Columbus, GA. We had arranged for a table at a local arts festival with the words "Karate For Christ" on a banner.

Several individuals came up, saying they liked the concept. However, there was one individual who felt it was her right to become verbally abusive. During the conversation, I found out that she was a teacher at a private church school, and that she had strong opinions about occultic activity and the martial arts being one in the same.

It got so bad that I waved to the security staff and asked them to take her away (she was driving people away from our table, along with being a nuisance). I never saw her again, but I've had several run-ins with many so-called well meaning people over the years, both before and after that incident.

I think the biggest problem with people of this calibre are the psychological issues they have. It isn't the martial arts that they have a problem with, it's the fact that we don't recognize their greater faith and intelligence. In short, they're control freaks who think the world would be a better place if we only followed their example. However, I judge the message by the messenger.

Everybody has problems, trials and tribulations in life. What is easy for some is difficult for others. As martial artists, we're among the few who recognize the problem(s), and are willing to do something about it by taking charge of our lives.

[Art Kidwell]

One of the things that struck me early on in my relationship with Sigung Steve, was that he openly engaged in conversation with any one of any faith that wanted to talk about God.  He often said that the fact that they believed was the important part; 'what' they believed was another issue.  But when your personal faith is strong, it really doesn't matter what other people's opinions are.  God's opinion is really the only one that matters; especially in view of the fact that He is the Final Judge.

Sigung often said, "God bless them, if they knew better, they'd do better."  And I have come to believe that after hearing it a hundred times in different circumstances.  The beauty of AKTS is that it gives you the option of being kind and considerate until they've thrown the third or fourth punch; and then the rule of rightful return, or karma, takes its rightful place.

I know a lot of people associate martial arts with various unconnected religious ties.  AKTS is admittedly Christian based, although Sigung does not refer to himself as a "Christian" ~ he certainly walks the walk.  And a large majority of the people who gravitate to this art are also Christian; although the door is wide open to those of other faiths.  I think the bottom line is that we are ALL children of the same Creator and like it or not, we're in this together.  So why not just get along? 

Chink $.02
Peace,
Art

[Tim Nichols]

Ron,

I've had a number of similar experiences, and it's the reason I've spent a lot of time running practice groups for rank beginners.  The fundamentalists are my people; I understand their concerns, and God has granted me a measure of success in showing them how what I do fits into a thoroughly Christian life. 

And then they say, "Will you teach me?"  It often turns out that they want to be able to protect themselves just like anybody else, but they haven't felt that martial arts training was spiritually safe, and being unable to do it with a clear conscience, they didn't.  Show them a way forward that doesn't have that problem, and many of them will take it, and find great joy in it.  Of course, this is unconscionable to the demagogues who've been preying on their fears, which warms my heart to no end.   

A lot of them still won't go down to the local dojo, at least for a while; they're afraid they'll unwittingly take part in some pagan ritual or whatnot, which fear is exaggerated, but in my experience not entirely unfounded.  It's a matter for discernment, and Christian fundamentalists tend toward quarantine rather than discernment -- it takes a while to get them up to speed; they haven't had any practice.  And at some level, they know it.