Martial Arts

I have been a practicioner of martial arts since I was five years old. It has provided me with great exercise, physical discipline and confidence.

I have been trained in Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun (kind of), and Shinobi-Do.

I have studied (on my own) Jeet Kune Do, Tai Chi Ch'uan, and Chin Na.

Anyone else out there a Christian martial artist?

 

My daughter earned her first degree black belt in Tai Karate just before graduating from high school and has been active in an evangelism ministry to young people using karate at her Christian college.

 

Go Ju Roo - Made green belt and quit because I got tired of waiting for the head cheese to take a vacation from Okinawa to the States once every two years or so so that I could test.

Tae Kwon Do - first degree black belt and then had a child and life has never been the same.

Joseph Botwinick

 

In South Korea I was registered in the Kukkiwon Palace as No. 5076428 on August 20, 1995 with a first degree black belt, in Tae Kwondo,

They presented me with a laminated card with appropriate details with a picture that looks somewhat like me.

I took one year of Akeado. The spelling I am sure is wrong. I did not care for this self-defense because it basicly required that the other person do something against you first before you engage them with a move.

I fought against a third degree black belt and beat him after a long battle. It is a lot of fun to watch other persons compete.

I personally saw an 'office type guy' do a side kick to another man and he dropped him like a 75 pound of grain. He did not move; I thought he killed the man. It was a kick to the temple area of the head.

The protective gear is a must!

 

I think I'd like to try it for the physical conditioning. My dh was into the martial arts when he was in the Coast Guard. He said it was nothing to work out 8 hours a day. He gave it up b/c it began to interfere w/his walk w/the Lord.

I have a friend who used to teach Tae Kwon Do at an inner-city church. When a new kid would come for the class he was given a Bible. If that kid came back the next week w/o his Bible he wasn't allowed to take the class--he could sit and watch. They always had a Bible study b-4 the class.

I have always been concerned about the Eastern religion aspect of the martial arts. Can you do it strictly for exercise and filter out the teachings?

Now, I do Taebo--does that count? lol

 

I'm a 6th black sash in Temple Chinese Boxing, a Christian kung fu style. I also hold 2nd black belts in Seigi Bushido Ryu (a Christian karate style) and Ishi Ryoku Jutsu (a Christian jujutsu style).

All of these styles are recognized by the Gospel Martial Arts Union (www.gmau.org), which encourages serving Christ through martial arts ministries. Anyone interested, please send me a private message for more information.

I hope this answers your question about filtering out the Eastern religion aspect, Songbird. We don't filter it out. We totally replace it with a Biblical, Christian philosophy! As for Taebo, it is really great for defending against--someone attacking you with aerobics! lol

Ray Berrian, who needs protective gear? I fought in tourneys back in the early '70's. We scoffed at protective gear when we fought! That was for sissies. Of course, that explains these nice scars, and those four times I was knocked out in "non-contact" tournaments. In fact...where was I...who are you...who am I?

 

Thanks John! I work out on a daily basis and try to be careful of what I choose. I don't do yoga for very reason of the eastern religion influence. I do a spinning class 2 evenings a week and my teacher is also a yoga instructor. Her music is interesting--kind of new age--so a lot of times especially on our standing climbs I am praying and quoting scripture in my head--it also helps me forget that my legs are killing me! lol

Take care.

Linda

 

The Eastern philosophical dynamic of martial arts is only adhered to by those who believe in it. It exists in a sort of duality with M.A. because of its historical parallel with eastern philosophies.

Martial arts, taken as a physical discipline, is not directly tied to any specific spiritual belief.

Christian martial artists can incorporate the principles of Christianity into their art, just as those believe in the Eastern philosophies do. The same would go for sports, music, etc.

 

Crusader,

I love the style Wing Chun Gung Fu, I had the opportunity to take it for a short time in the 70’s here in Phoenix under an instructor that came from China and ran in the same circles as Bruce Lee and trained with him there. He didn’t have much respect though for Tae Kwon Do and would put me up against a Black belt as a beginner and I would wipe them out so needless to say I didn’t have much regard for that style either.

I think it’s great to involve martial arts in the ministry; I talk to Dr. (decided to delete in public) once or twice a month who has his 10th dan in Tai Karate and practices a hybrid system, Shoryn Ryu Tai Jitsu now. He has been very successful in using martial arts in his ministry, he is far from a Baptist though, talk about slain in the spirit, LOL

 

Tae Bo is an awesome workout...I especially like the 8 minute workout. It is a combination of Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, and dance. You will learn some basic moved doing this, but not practical application as pertains to self-defense.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Benjamin, Wing Chun is very good, very scientific. The forms are a little boring, though, compared to my southern shaolin forms. I learned Wing Chun's 3 empty hand forms from my teacher on furlough, and he sent me the wooden dummy form on video. But who has extra cash and room in the house for that $400 dummy?? :(

As for TKD, a kung fu friend calls it "take your dough." (Yuk, yuk, TKD friends?) However, I have to say, it depends on what style of TKD it is, and how the practitioner trains. I sparred an "old school" TKD guy for his 4th black test this past furlough, got kicked in the ribs with a very tricky hook kick and had my breath absolutely destroyed out of my lungs! :eek:

[ October 04, 2005, 11:21 PM: Message edited by: John of Japan ]

 

I'm with Dr. Bob - Chinese Cuisine is a martial art ---- and I hold a 50" Black belt.

Seriously, I have been trained in Grace JuJitsu.
I'm not so good at it though and if I ever got myself into a combat situation that involved me on the ground - I would probably have to start pulling out the rest of my police toys!

 

I know a Christian brother in Portland, Or. he teaches martial arts and he does not use any of the pratice of any of the religion assosiated with the origin of martial arts.

 

Gracie Jujutsu is good, though some of the family members are...well, anyway. I would think any jujutsu would be great for a cop. My best friend is a cop in the Houston area and a master instructor in our Christian kung fu style. He has used his kung fu a number of times. The "chin na" (joint locks, like traditional jujutsu) techniques are great for restraining suspects. :cool:

 

Right on, bruren777. A punch is a punch and a kick is a kick. How do you do a "Zen Buddhist" punch? Exactly how you do a "Christian" punch!

 

I thought that was one of those phenomonal sciences-qui energey manipulation and all, not a religion, though I guess you could call it a faith because it's still to be proved as true as evolution is....
I started Capoeira, but one head injury and my parents think sports are too dangeruous for me...and it was so much fun, trying to cooridinate physical attacks with a diverting rythem thus making it more of a music/dance than a martial art...

 

I'd like to find a Christian Martial arts class in my area. A co-worker of mine has started going to a class by the instructor who teaches her son. She went on and on about how the mediation phase of the work-out was sooooooo relaxing. Uh, no--don't wanna even go there! lol

I'll keep looking for a class. I still find it hard to swallow that some churches are offering yoga classes. I refuse to do poses that are part of Eastern workship.

Guess I'll stick w/Taebo. Billy Banks claims to be a Christian. His older tapes have the ying/yang symbol. His newer ones don't.

Ok, I'm rambin'...

Take care y'all!

 

Hi, Uncharted Spirit.

Capoeira is a beautiful art. Too bad you got injured and had to stop. Maybe someday you can try a safer martial art. ;)

 

Songbird, if you will send me a PM, I may be able to help you find a Christian instructor in your area. I am a board member of the GMAU (Gospel Martial Arts Union), and we have quite a list of members.