We often throw around the terms Martial Arts and Martial Sports. To some, the terms are purely semantics and to others, there is a clear distinction. There are disciplines which are inherently martial arts but are also represented in the sports category i.e. Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling (to name a few). We are not here to argue a “legitimacy” of a discipline, but rather to highlight (in our humble opinion) the differences between Martial Arts training as oppose to a Martial Sport training.
Martial Sports
Excellent Body conditioning training emphasis
Without a doubt, those disciplines that are represented in sports have excellent body conditioning training emphasis that is sometimes neglected in some Martial Arts today. As the practitioners are known commonly as athletes, they focus on strength, speed, stamina, and endurance training coupled with proper dieting for a more wholesome fitness level.
Promotes action/reaction in high pressure combat situation
As most of the sports are against an opponent, Martial Sports practitioners have more “combat” experience whereby they are able to make quick reactions and judgements under high pressure situation i.e. a tournament fight that some Martial Arts today often do not focus on. This is vital to pressure test techniques or concepts and maintain relevance in modern times.
Point system and restriction in striking areas may develop bad habits
One of the few downsides of a sports based discipline is the point system. Practitioners (a.k.a. athletes) may develop certain bad habits when practicing the sport that utilizes point systems such as the practitioner only striking at a particular distance and lack the follow up to move into a takedown for full suppression of the enemy if in a real life situation. Also, the restriction of striking in areas such as the eyes or groin area also hampers the practitioner’s striking efficiency if in a real life situation.
Optimal Physical Training not suitable for “everyone”
As the training provided in developing athletes is in part the most “ideal”, however, the applicability and lifespan of the practitioner is limited as athletes lifespan generally do not last longer than their mid-30s. Hence the kind of optimal physical training is not suitable for everyone, although the saying when there is a will there is a way is applicable to some, but the entry bar is definitely not as low and only few may thrive.
Martial Arts
Allows for strikes that are most effective
If we are using a real life situation, then most martial arts have to some extend over the course of years refined and perfected strikes that are most effective in taking down or incapacitating opponents. These strikes may include eye gouging, throat jabs, groin strikes, etc. And when trained regularly and conditioned properly, the phrase “one strike to take down one man” is not just a brag.
May offer more myriad situation training
Going along with the “real life situation” notion, there are martial arts that also put forth scenario based training where the situation is based on a particular setting i.e. close space, more than 1 opponent at a time, limited movement, or even a handicap like in fighting in the dark or in a body of water. These training also benefits and helps the practitioner to be more familiar and able to adjust themselves accordingly.
Removal of lethal techniques
Similarly, like martial sports, some martial arts may have been modified by removing their lethal techniques, thus the removal of its original intent. They do so to either reduce the injury rate among practitioners when practicing the art, or to appeal to parents when taking in younger apprentices. This may hamper the art’s original intent and deviate its philosophies and teaching, and also develop a new practitioner of the art that may not be as proficient or efficient as the previous generations.
Over emphasis on a particular area of the art
Some martial arts overly emphasize on a specific area and may stray from the bigger picture. Especially when placed in a “real life situation” scenario, their specialty and emphasis only covers a small part of combat and ignore other elements that should be taken into account, especially in a chaotic environment.
Conclusion
We have only hit the tip of the iceberg on the pros and cons between martial arts and martial sports. Of course we would like to mention that these are purely our generalized opinion from our limited observations and does not apply across all martial arts and sports. With more experience as Martial Arts Hall continuously learns and expands, perhaps we can revisit this topic in the later future to further add on, expand, and explore on the points.
