Martial Arts as a Spectator Sport: A Ticket to Hypocrisy?
Is martial arts a sport or way of life? Across all disciplines of martial arts, a debate rages between those who believe in the Confucian ideal ...
Across all disciplines of martial arts, a debate rages between those who believe in the Confucian ideal of combat training and those who believe in the fighting systems as sport. There are compelling arguments for both schools of thought.
Purists remain adamant that sparring is only one dimension of a particular martial art. Most martial arts trace their roots to monasteries in Japan and China, and therefore emphasize spiritual and philosophical elements in addition to combat techniques. Also, nearly all disciplines evolved from the tenet of self-defense. The very nature of martial arts is honing the skills to neutralize attackers and developing the character and maturity to determine when those skills should be used.
Proponents of martial arts as sport argue that competition challenges participants to test and refine their technique, as well as cultivate a sense of sportsmanship. Opponents argue that it emphasizes winning trophies and practicing only techniques permitted in the competition. This difference in opinion is predictable considering the variety of disciplines within martial arts. While practitioners of arts like Judo and Taekwando embrace competitions, students of arts like Aikido and Krav Maga eschew them.
Martial arts competitions gained steadily in popularity during the 20th century. Judo has been an Olympic sport since 1964, excepting the year 1968. Taekwando has been an event since 2000, while boxing and wrestling have been part of the Games for some time. These competitions appealed mainly to students of their respective disciplines. In the last quarter of the century, however, contests outside the Olympics increased in popularity.
The recent proliferation of martial arts competitions is due to the demand for such events. Films in the 1970s and 1980s captured the attention of Western audiences who were fascinated by the speed and precision of the on-screen fighting styles. In 1988, Jean Claude Van Damme's movie "Bloodsport" brought the idea of a no-holds-barred, mixed martial arts competition to the United States, complete with an American hero.
As in "Bloodsport", mixed martial arts (or MMA) competitions are the most popular with American audiences. Typical martial arts competitions focus on technique and speed in order to score points. In MMA events, however, combatants do not share a set of techniques, placing a higher premium on power, adaptability and the strengths and weaknesses of various disciplines relative to each other.
The spectacle is a fascinating one for martial arts fans who argue for the superiority of one fighting system over another. It takes the debate out of the theoretical realm and places it in an arena known as "The Octagon". Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is by far the best-known MMA competition in the world. Thanks to television exposure, it has gained a cult following among martial arts enthusiasts and a large segment of the young male population as well.
Ultimate Fighting's appeal lies in the hubris of its fighters; each one sincerely believes his discipline to be superior to that of his opponent. Entertainment industry sensibility is also prominent in UFC, with participants becoming caricatures of warriors to support the storylines that run parallel to the competition.
Ken Shamrock, nicknamed "World's Most Dangerous Man", is one such fighter. Having spent time as a WWE wrestler, Shamrock has relied on brawn and macho posturing to beat his opponents into submission. Though frequently beaten by more refined martial arts systems, Shamrock has consistently sold tickets and boosted television ratings with his colorful career and quotes like "I'm gonna beat you into the living death."
Between the Olympics, UFC and other competitions, fans of "martial sports" have demanded and received what they want: organized tournaments showcasing the best fighters in the world. And with those events only increasing in popularity, martial arts competitions look set to be a hot ticket for years to come.
About the Author:
J.B. Hooper is a consultant for TicketLiquidator.com. He has been an authority on boxing and sports for more than twenty years.
Purists remain adamant that sparring is only one dimension of a particular martial art. Most martial arts trace their roots to monasteries in Japan and China, and therefore emphasize spiritual and philosophical elements in addition to combat techniques. Also, nearly all disciplines evolved from the tenet of self-defense. The very nature of martial arts is honing the skills to neutralize attackers and developing the character and maturity to determine when those skills should be used.
Proponents of martial arts as sport argue that competition challenges participants to test and refine their technique, as well as cultivate a sense of sportsmanship. Opponents argue that it emphasizes winning trophies and practicing only techniques permitted in the competition. This difference in opinion is predictable considering the variety of disciplines within martial arts. While practitioners of arts like Judo and Taekwando embrace competitions, students of arts like Aikido and Krav Maga eschew them.
Martial arts competitions gained steadily in popularity during the 20th century. Judo has been an Olympic sport since 1964, excepting the year 1968. Taekwando has been an event since 2000, while boxing and wrestling have been part of the Games for some time. These competitions appealed mainly to students of their respective disciplines. In the last quarter of the century, however, contests outside the Olympics increased in popularity.
The recent proliferation of martial arts competitions is due to the demand for such events. Films in the 1970s and 1980s captured the attention of Western audiences who were fascinated by the speed and precision of the on-screen fighting styles. In 1988, Jean Claude Van Damme's movie "Bloodsport" brought the idea of a no-holds-barred, mixed martial arts competition to the United States, complete with an American hero.
As in "Bloodsport", mixed martial arts (or MMA) competitions are the most popular with American audiences. Typical martial arts competitions focus on technique and speed in order to score points. In MMA events, however, combatants do not share a set of techniques, placing a higher premium on power, adaptability and the strengths and weaknesses of various disciplines relative to each other.
The spectacle is a fascinating one for martial arts fans who argue for the superiority of one fighting system over another. It takes the debate out of the theoretical realm and places it in an arena known as "The Octagon". Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is by far the best-known MMA competition in the world. Thanks to television exposure, it has gained a cult following among martial arts enthusiasts and a large segment of the young male population as well.
Ultimate Fighting's appeal lies in the hubris of its fighters; each one sincerely believes his discipline to be superior to that of his opponent. Entertainment industry sensibility is also prominent in UFC, with participants becoming caricatures of warriors to support the storylines that run parallel to the competition.
Ken Shamrock, nicknamed "World's Most Dangerous Man", is one such fighter. Having spent time as a WWE wrestler, Shamrock has relied on brawn and macho posturing to beat his opponents into submission. Though frequently beaten by more refined martial arts systems, Shamrock has consistently sold tickets and boosted television ratings with his colorful career and quotes like "I'm gonna beat you into the living death."
Between the Olympics, UFC and other competitions, fans of "martial sports" have demanded and received what they want: organized tournaments showcasing the best fighters in the world. And with those events only increasing in popularity, martial arts competitions look set to be a hot ticket for years to come.
About the Author:
J.B. Hooper is a consultant for TicketLiquidator.com. He has been an authority on boxing and sports for more than twenty years.
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