Martial Arts vs Christian ethos

I was wondering whether anyone could point me in the direction of anything that might be able to help me with regards to christianity and martial arts (and other practises of non- christian activites.) Specifically I need to come up with a paper for our PCC re use of church property and while there is an argument for embracing secular activities, I would appreciate an input from the christian principals and practises side. A simple search of my (Silver) library doesn't seem to throw up much.

Thanks

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Friedrich

lostlogik: sorry, can't do a thorough search, analysis, etc. I did do a search for "Martial Arts" in my portfolio and came up with about 63 hits. most of it was dictionary hits. Here is the list. A couple looked interesting toward the bottom third or so:

Basic Search for "martial arts"

budo Concise Oxford English Dictionary (2×)
ˈbuːdəʊ/ ■ noun martial arts. ▶      the code on which martial arts are all based. –      ORIGIN Japanese budō, from bu ‘military’ + dō ‘way’.

kumite Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˈkuːmɪteɪ/ ■ noun (in martial arts) freestyle fighting. –      ORIGIN Japanese, literally ‘sparring’.

wushu Concise Oxford English Dictionary
wuːˈʃuː/ ■ noun the Chinese martial arts. –      ORIGIN Chinese wǔshù, from wǔ ‘military’ + shù ‘art’.

black belt Concise Oxford English Dictionary
belt ■ noun a black belt worn by an expert in judo, karate, and other martial arts.

sensei Concise Oxford English Dictionary
sɛnˈseɪ/ ■ noun (plural same) (in martial arts) a teacher. –      ORIGIN Japanese, from sen ‘previous’ + sei ‘birth’.

kata Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˈkɑːtɑː/ ■ noun a system of individual training exercises in karate and other martial arts. –      ORIGIN from Japanese.

hapkido Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˌhapkiːˈdəʊ/ ■ noun a Korean martial art characterized by kicking and circular movements. –      ORIGIN Korean, literally ‘way of coordinated energy’.

kyu Concise Oxford English Dictionary
kjuː/ ■ noun a grade of the less advanced level of proficiency in martial arts. –      ORIGIN from Japanese kyū ‘class’.

breakfall Concise Oxford English Dictionary
noun (in martial arts) a controlled fall in which most of the impact is absorbed by the arms or legs.

kung fu Concise Oxford English Dictionary
fu /kʊŋ ˈfuː, kʌŋ/ ■ noun a Chinese martial art resembling karate. –      ORIGIN from Chinese gongfu, from gong ‘merit’ + fu ‘master’.

ryu Concise Oxford English Dictionary
rɪˈuː/ ■ noun (plural same or ryus) a school or style in Japanese arts, especially in the martial arts. –      ORIGIN from Japanese.

tae kwon do Concise Oxford English Dictionary
kwon do /ˌtʌɪ kwɒn ˈdəʊ/ ■ noun a modern Korean martial art similar to karate. –      ORIGIN Korean, literally ‘art of hand and foot fighting’.

dojo Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˈdəʊdʒəʊ/ ■ noun (plural dojos) a place in which judo and other martial arts are practised. –      ORIGIN Japanese, from dō ‘way, pursuit’ + jō ‘a place’.

kick-boxing Concise Oxford English Dictionary
boxing ■ noun a form of martial art which combines boxing with elements of karate, in particular kicking with bare feet. –      DERIVATIVES kick-boxer noun

martial art Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition
martial art noun (1933) : any of several arts of combat and self-defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport — martial artist noun

martial art MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
martial art noun 1928 : any of several arts of combat and self defense (as karate and judo) that are widely practiced as sport — martial artist noun

brown belt Concise Oxford English Dictionary
colour marking a level of proficiency below that of a black belt in judo, karate, or other martial arts.

nunchaku Concise Oxford English Dictionary
nʌnˈtʃakuː/ ■ noun (plural same or nunchakus) a Japanese martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks joined together by a chain, rope, or thong. –      ORIGIN from Japanese.

chopsocky Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˈtʃɒpsɒki/ ■ noun North American informal kung fu or a similar martial art, especially as depicted in violent action films. –      ORIGIN 1970s: humorous, perhaps suggested by CHOP SUEY.

Athlete Ministries Christian Cyberspace Companion
Ministries Christian Martial Arts Academy of Tulsa http://home.aol.com//CMAAofTUL Dennis Tinerino Ministries http://www.gospelnet.com/tinerinogos.html Fellowship of Christian Athletes http…

martial arts Concise Oxford English Dictionary
martial arts ■ plural noun various sports or skills, mainly of Japanese origin, which originated as forms of self-defence or attack, such as judo, karate, and kendo. –      DERIVATIVES martial artist noun

shuriken Concise Oxford English Dictionary
a weapon in the form of a star with projecting blades or points, used as a missile in some martial arts. –      ORIGIN Japanese, literally ‘dagger in the hand’.

kyudo Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ˈkjuːdəʊ/ ■ noun the Japanese martial art of longbow archery, incorporating set rhythmic movements and practised in a meditative state. –      ORIGIN Japanese, literally ‘way of the bow’, from…

jeet kune do Concise Oxford English Dictionary
kune do /ˈdʒiːt kuːn duː/ ■ noun a modern martial art incorporating elements of kung fu, fencing, and boxing, devised by the American actor Bruce Lee (1941–73). –      ORIGIN Cantonese, literally…

aikido Concise Oxford English Dictionary
ʌɪˈkiːdəʊ/ ■ noun a Japanese form of self-defence and martial art that uses locks, holds, throws, and the opponent’s own movements. –      ORIGIN Japanese aikidō, literally ‘way of adapting the…

green belt Concise Oxford English Dictionary
belt marking a level of proficiency below that of a brown belt in judo, karate, or other martial arts.

Chapter 13 Spirit Filled Life Study Bible Je 13:1
belt in oriental cultures indicates status, as “black belt” is used for achievement in the martial arts. Do not put it in water: Symbolic of Judah’s sinful pride, the belt was not to be washed…

drop kick Concise Oxford English Dictionary
in rugby) a kick made by dropping the ball and kicking it as it bounces. 2       (chiefly in martial arts) a flying kick made while dropping to the ground. ■ verb (drop-kick) kick using a drop kick.

t’ai chi ch’uan Concise Oxford English Dictionary
chi ch’uan /ˌtʌɪ tʃiː ˈtʃwɑːn/ (also t’ai chi) ■ noun 1       a Chinese martial art and system of callisthenics, consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements. 2       (in Chinese philosophy…

ba gua Concise Oxford English Dictionary
of the I Ching, arranged around a symbol denoting the balance of yin and yang. 2       a Chinese martial art in which movements are focused on a circle and the defence of eight points around it      …

wushu MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
noun [Chinese (Beijing) wŭshù, from wŭ martial, military + shù article] 1971 : Chinese martial arts

chop–socky MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
socky \ˈchäp-ˈsä-kē\ noun often attributive 1978 : a genre of motion pictures featuring martial arts violence 〈a chop–socky star〉

sensei MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
or senseis [Japanese, teacher, master] 1968 : a teacher or instructor usually of Japanese martial arts (as karate or judo)

tae kwon do Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition
T&K&D [Korean t’aekwŏndo, from t’ae- to trample + kwŏn fist + to way] (1967) : a Korean martial art resembling karate

hapkido MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
Korean, from hap- together, joined + ki breath, energy + to way, article] 1973 : a Korean martial art based on kicking motions and incorporating elements of aikido

kung fu MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
ˈfü, ˌku̇ŋ-\ noun [Chinese (Beijing) gōngfu skill, article] 1966 : any of various Chinese martial arts and related disciplines that are practiced especially for self-defense, exercise, and…

ninja Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition
Japanese, from nin- persevere + -ja person] (1975) : a person trained in ancient Japanese martial arts and employed especially for espionage and assassinations

ninja MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
conceal, move stealthily + -ja person] 1964 : a person trained in ancient Japanese martial arts and employed especially for espionage and assassinations

Conversion, example of; Palau, Luis Illustrations for Biblical Preaching
Rosario was her name. She was a terrorist, a brute of a woman who was an expert in several martial arts. In her terrorist activities she had killed twelve policemen. When Luis conducted a crusade…

capoeira MW Collegiate Dict. (11th Ed.)
ka ˀá forest + paũ round] 1945 : a Brazilian dance of African origin that incorporates martial arts movements such as kicks and chops

Uncovering the Need Helping Those Who Don’t Want Help p 98 (2×)
year-old boy came to see his pastor because he was wondering whether he should take martial arts classes. He wanted to learn karate, but as he told the pastor, “I’ve seen some black…

Illustration 698: Looking the Wrong Way 1001 Illustrations that Connect p 387
prepare. There was music and fireworks and garlands and fruit and silumbum (South Indian martial art done on ceremonial occasions)—everything you can imagine. Unfortunately, I entered the…

lock Concise Oxford English Dictionary
the maximum extent that the front wheels of a vehicle can be turned. 4       (in wrestling and martial arts) a hold that prevents an opponent from moving a limb. 5       (also lock forward) Rugby a player…

Illustration 377: Laws of the Movies 1001 Illustrations that Connect p 214
upright and pant. •      It doesn’t matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts; your enemies will wait to attack you one by one by dancing around in a threatening manner…

The Body, Toward an Eastern Mind-Body Theory CRBR Volume 2 (1989) p 414
the complex of Buddhist discipline from India, ritualized practice in the arts, Japanese martial arts and Japanese Buddhist meditative practices share a way of thinking about the mind/body…

1. The Man. DNTB
science and culture by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, among others, and trained in the martial arts in his father’s army, Alexander was able to glean for himself the best that the Greek world…

8. Pantheism: All is God Christianity on the Offense p 104
TV, cartoons, games, exercise programs, business and education seminars, health guides, martial arts programs, and the environmental movement. New Age philosophy is also tightly bound to…

The Body, Toward an Eastern Mind-Body Theory CRBR Volume 2 (1989) p 415
of swordplay, but also in Buddhist monastic and ritual training, in poetry and Nō, and in martial arts training of all kinds. The translation of Yuasa’s work is very readable and is assisted by…

(1) The Dangers of War for an Untested Army (13:17–18) Exodus (NAC) Ex 13:18
battle, however, they were not. There had been no permission or opportunity for learning martial arts under the Egyptians, and the fact that Israelite men could count themselves into (unarmed…

The Social Structure of Pre-monarchic Israel Semeia 61: Women, War, and Metaphor p 111
their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. They perhaps would have been trained in the martial arts themselves. The Abimelech episode does indicate that women did take part in the fighting…

The History of the New Age Movement The Truth about Worldviews p 88
programs, NAM practices and ideas are prominent. Kung fu, judo, karate, and aikido are martial arts programs rooted in Eastern techniques that may involve altered states of consciousness…

The Span of Your Brow Semeia 82: In Search of the Present: The Bible Through Cultural Studies p 270
only for his adversary to reach enlightenment, and the same monks who developed the various martial arts as self-defence—and, failing to reconcile the two, to criticise an apparent contradiction…

Digital Diversions in Cyberspace The Soul in Cyberspace
Trap, trade on electrocutions, decapitations, hearts ripped out of living opponents by martial art combatants, immolation, and sorority girls strung up on meat hooks.32 In Mortal Kombat, the…

Fit ISBE V 2, p 311
for service”). These expressions denote warriors or soldiers who have been trained in the martial arts and are thus ready for battle (see also J. Greenfield, Bibl, 45 [1964], 527–534). Greek…

Bridging the Horizons Grace in Galatia: A Commentary on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians Ga 2:14
exist in the military (cf., e.g., A Few Good Men), or on the honor codes involved in the martial arts and in general on the growing influence of oriental culture on Western society. Honor in…

Mordecai Persuades Esther to Help (4:1–17) ZIBBC OT 3 Es 4:8
taught to read. Greek sources tell us that the royal women were trained in horsemanship, martial arts, and other skills, but they make no mention of literary training.138 Some women possessed…

Works Consulted Semeia 61: Women, War, and Metaphor p 127
Crocker. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Culpepper, Emily E. 1982      “Martial Art Meditations.” Pp. 258–64 in The Politics of Women’s Spirituality. Ed. Charlene Spretnak…

Chapter 12: Mouth-to-mouth Manipulation And the Angels were Silent p 87
and he’ll take you on, jaw to jaw. What appears to be a tryst is actually underwater martial arts. Mouth pushing. Liplocking. Literal jawboning. Power moves with the tongue. Sounds funny…

‘Be Christian or Die’ How the Vikings Took up the Faith
and he was prepared for holy war. By his athletic stature, by his superior skill in the martial art, by his campaigns across the Baltic and through England, and by his zealot’s faith, he was…

Faith and Future Hebrews (Preacher's Commentary) Heb 11:13–40
slave, he could not restrain himself. In actions learned all too well in the gymnasium of martial arts, he suddenly and quickly killed the Egyptian. The break with Pharaoh was complete! There…

Abstract Semeia 90/91: The Bible in Asian America p 207
glib since I really know nothing about Okinawa culture. I know that at least some of the martial arts started there, and I know that they are said to be some of the longest-living people on the…

Exported from Logos Bible Software 4, 4:06 PM September 22, 2010.

Beyond that, I'd say do searches for terms like: syncretism, eastern mysticism, pantheism, apologetics, worldview, etc.

One of the core issues is: will this compromise or dilute my faith at all? And why? I have seen both sides in people I know. (meaning, some remained strong in their Christian faith, others became agnostic or converted to eastern religions. Those factors may be many.

Yoga might be another term, giving you principles, at least. Some consider it dangerous, a slippery, subtle gateway into eastern mysticism, while others "christianize" it and find it very contemplative and beautiful to their faith in Christ.

Mark Smith

There seem to be a number of perspectives here: http://www.pastornet.net.au/response/

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174688#Comment_174688

One of the core issues is: will this compromise or dilute my faith at all? And why? I have seen both sides in people I know. (meaning, some remained strong in their Christian faith, others became agnostic or converted to eastern religions. Those factors may be many.

Yoga might be another term, giving you principles, at least. Some consider it dangerous, a slippery, subtle gateway into eastern mysticism, while others "christianize" it and find it very contemplative and beautiful to their faith in Christ.

Most martial arts as taught in the West have nothing distinctly religious in them - unless you consider "mind over matter" as distinctly religious. Yes, there are traditional teachings that may be combined with them. Yes, there are teachers who specifically Westernize them - usually Christianize or Judaize. I would mistrust any resource that did not make very careful distinctions. I would suggest that you start with an exploration of the use of the body in Western prayer.

Paul Davey

Here is one resource I found:

36. Is chi or prana the same as the Holy Spirit by another name?

Stewart, G. (1998). Basic questions on alternative medicine : What is good and what is not?. BioBasics series (page 80). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.

logosres:bqaltmed;ref=Page.p_80

I think you should have this resource in your library

Kaye Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174880#Comment_174880

Chris,

I am a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and I trained in Maryland. I used a gym that emphasized care of the body and respect for others, with no religious/spiritual tones. Their push was more toward proper form and technique and there was no conflict for me. I was able to lose 84 pounds in the first 14 months of my training and improve my "temple". :-) I started training at a free church seminar, held on a few weeknights. It started as a young women's self defense class and opened up to a broader group of students later. The church didn't have any conflict issues with the way the training was presented but later there was conflict related to the church's insurance policy!

Peace...

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174754#Comment_174754

start with an exploration of the use of the body

my wife has a book on that--don't remember the author/title, however. Very interesting.

Friedrich

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174925#Comment_174925

I was able to lose 84 pounds in the first 14 months

Superfantastic!!

later there was conflict related to the church's insurance policy!

that is hilarious! too true!

Milkman

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/174925#Comment_174925

Way to go Kaye!! I'm going through a training program - P90X, along with running. In P90X there is a yoga segment that emphasizes strength, mobility improvement in overall athleticism and of course postures. The goal is to build and strengthen your 'temple' as you said. As a christian I don't have any reservations about this particular program, as it has helped my golf game hugely. Martial arts and the like, are great for the body and the mind, whether done in a church building/temple at home or a gym. I suppose one needs to take in to consideration Paul's advice to the 'strong' and the 'weak.' Sensitivity to the weaker brother must be a consideration. Overall anything that doesn't replace the Lord - GO FOR IT! aka- libertine