3-0! Thanks to God?

[ninerbuff]

I don't look at it as violence, I look at it as competition. I've been involved in martial arts most of my life, mostly competition fighting. I also played football in school. I look at martial arts, just like I do football, only its not a team sport.

Its not just going out there an pummeling a guy, there is an art and science to it. I actually require a 4 hour clinic on the physics of striking.
In striking, my area of coaching, I'm teaching proper form to maximize the force behind the punch through kinetic linking. After that, I have to teach them how to recognize patterns, how to create angles and openings all while defending themselves.
I have to teach them how to set and counter-set, stalking, combos, the list goes on and on.

So, I don't really see this as a moral question of would God approve of such, besides, read the OT sometime.

Sorry, but in most contact sports you have to have a level of aggressiveness that is above that of the average person. Not to say that being aggressive directly leads to violence, but in competitive sports it does usually lead to an attitude of "whatever it takes to win legally". I don't see any "passive" fighters on top.

 

[ChristineES]

I shouldn't have said God wouldn't approve of this sport. I disapprove of it, but that wouldn't necessarily mean that God would disapprove. I just think He wouldn't, but how on earth would I know?

 

[Otherright]

If fighting is to be accepted in our society, I would much prefer it be for sport than for other justifications.

The pro fighters I've met do approach it as craft and not something where emotion outweighs gamesmanship. You do the best you can to take your opponent down, but not out. It struck me that there is much respect for fellow fighters and hurting each other in a lasting way is 'not cool.'

That's very true. I've never seen anyone get seriously hurt. A couple minor breaks, some cuts, but nothing major. The ref will always step in before anyone gets maimed.

And win or lose, every single time, I have hugged the other fighter and thanked him for the match, and shook hands with his coaches.

 

[Otherright]

Sorry, but in most contact sports you have to have a level of aggressiveness that is above that of the average person. Not to say that being aggressive directly leads to violence, but in competitive sports it does usually lead to an attitude of "whatever it takes to win legally". I don't see any "passive" fighters on top.

Don't get me wrong, of course, you've got to be aggressive. You have to be assertive, but you also have to maintain a clear mind and not let your emotions overrule your thought. You have to put fear and panic in the back of your mind so you can concentrate on strategy.

Also, if one can't focus and execute their game plan, and end up in seething rage, windmilling their arms, a calm fighter will drop them like a bad habit.

 

[Otherright]

I shouldn't have said God wouldn't approve of this sport. I disapprove of it, but that wouldn't necessarily mean that God would disapprove. I just think He wouldn't, but how on earth would I know?

Why do you disapprove of it? It requires the ultimate in self-discipline and builds incredible self-confidence. It is truly a test of self. For example:

A) People like to run their mouths a lot. If someone is in your face threatening you, pointing and yelling, after being involved in this a while, it just becomes noise. You don't feel threatened by words. They illicit absolutely no response. Why? If he were that serious about getting physical, you guys could just take it to the mat and see who has the skills.

B) Getting hit so hard, it takes your consciousness a couple seconds to catch up is a life changing experience. Snapping back and defending yourself is also. You can learn a lot in life by that.

C) When you have skill sets to protect yourself and your family, you are definitely more peaceful. You don't worry about things that may or may not happen.


Besides, I think God would approve, look at the Old Testament.

 

[ninerbuff]

Don't get me wrong, of course, you've got to be aggressive. You have to be assertive, but you also have to maintain a clear mind and not let your emotions overrule your thought. You have to put fear and panic in the back of your mind so you can concentrate on strategy.

Also, if one can't focus and execute their game plan, and end up in seething rage, windmilling their arms, a calm fighter will drop them like a bad habit.

Agree. The constant repetition of sparring and technique helps to separate those who use strategy and skill against those who think overpowering and quick knockouts will be the winning factor. Also I would say that regardless of skill, speed and strength, that the number one thing I would work on with any fighter is conditioning. Gassing out is the worst way to lose, especially if you're gifted with skill, speed and strength.

 

[Otherright]

Agree. The constant repetition of sparring and technique helps to separate those who use strategy and skill against those who think overpowering and quick knockouts will be the winning factor. Also I would say that regardless of skill, speed and strength, that the number one thing I would work on with any fighter is conditioning. Gassing out is the worst way to lose, especially if you're gifted with skill, speed and strength.

I agree 100%. If you lose by gassing, you lost to yourself. There is not excuse for that.

 

[ChristineES]

Why do you disapprove of it? It requires the ultimate in self-discipline and builds incredible self-confidence. It is truly a test of self. For example:

A) People like to run their mouths a lot. If someone is in your face threatening you, pointing and yelling, after being involved in this a while, it just becomes noise. You don't feel threatened by words. They illicit absolutely no response. Why? If he were that serious about getting physical, you guys could just take it to the mat and see who has the skills.

B) Getting hit so hard, it takes your consciousness a couple seconds to catch up is a life changing experience. Snapping back and defending yourself is also. You can learn a lot in life by that.

C) When you have skill sets to protect yourself and your family, you are definitely more peaceful. You don't worry about things that may or may not happen.


Besides, I think God would approve, look at the Old Testament.

There are other sports that people don't beat each other up. Fighting for your life or for your safety is fine, but fighting for sport, to me, is just plain unnecessary. I am a pacifist, at least mostly, I would pound someone if they tried to harm my children. I may even if I saw someone abusing someone and I could stop it.

 

[waitasec]

As a hobby, I teach striking at a freestyle MMA gym. My partner teaches ground fighting. He's a wizard on the ground and our talents complement one another greatly, but he is overly religious. We sometimes bump heads on this subject.

At the beginning of sessions, we pray. When the gym closes, he reads scripture, and prays. His devotion is nice, but recently, we cleaned house at an event. We went 3-0, all first round stoppages.

He had a mini-sermon and prayed. One of the fighters, during the session was kind of bouncy and not paying much attention at all. I put my hand on the back of his neck. He looked over and I nodded. I needed to be talking with this kid. He was set for competition in a half an hour and obviously needed some coaching and reassuring.
I was respectful though and bowed my head during.
At the end of the night, he was thankful to God for the victories for the gym. It being late, I didn't want to go there. My reply was, "I think they had a good mindset going in. I think we prepared them well. I think our training and their heart got them the wins tonight."

He vehemently disagreed. God was to be thanked for all the hard work.

Does anyone agree with me, religious or not, that this behavior, while it can have psychological influence on the right people, really doesn't belong there?

absolutely not!!!

seems to me you have a problem.


edit:
with your partner that is...

 

[Otherright]

There are other sports that people don't beat each other up. Fighting for your life or for your safety is fine, but fighting for sport, to me, is just plain unnecessary. I am a pacifist, at least mostly, I would pound someone if they tried to harm my children. I may even if I saw someone abusing someone and I could stop it.

Hey, I'm a pacifist also. I will go to unbelievable lengths to stay out of a physical confrontation. I don't fight for anything when I can negotiate. I have not been in a street fight in many, many years.

Any sport is unnecessary. With this sport, however, unlike say baseball or basketball, you learn a skill set you can use outside of the port if you need.

 

[ninerbuff]

There are other sports that people don't beat each other up. Fighting for your life or for your safety is fine, but fighting for sport, to me, is just plain unnecessary. I am a pacifist, at least mostly, I would pound someone if they tried to harm my children. I may even if I saw someone abusing someone and I could stop it.

How about if it were Congress people duking it out? Every once in awhile I'd like to see one of their ***** kicked in.

 

[Father Heathen]

I shouldn't have said God wouldn't approve of this sport. I disapprove of it, but that wouldn't necessarily mean that God would disapprove. I just think He wouldn't, but how on earth would I know?

You're merely projecting your own emotional, knee-jerk reaction onto god. And if you believe that the bible reflects upon god in any manner, god condoned people beating and raping their own slaves.

 

[ChristineES]

You're merely projecting your own emotional, knee-jerk reaction onto god. And if you believe that the bible reflects upon god in any manner, god condoned people beating and raping their own slaves.

OK, whatever you say. But once, I would like to give my opinion without responses that have nothing to do with the subject at hand.

 

[ChristineES]

How about if it were Congress people duking it out? Every once in awhile I'd like to see one of their ***** kicked in.

I am tempted to agree, as I don't really like the government. I vote and pay taxes and that is about it. I don't trust politicians as far I could throw them. Maybe we can do the same to Casey Anthony, too. (Just kidding).

 

[Father Heathen]

OK, whatever you say. But once, I would like to give my opinion without responses that have nothing to do with the subject at hand.

You're the one who brought up god and his supposed opinion on the subject at hand. I'm merely pointing out that what you think god feels is not consistent with the bible. And for people to condemn something with the justification of "because god agrees with me" really rubs me the wrong way.

 

[ChristineES]

You're the one who brought up god and his supposed opinion on the subject at hand. I'm merely pointing out that what you think god feels is not consistent with the bible. And for people to condemn something with the justification of "because god agrees with me" really rubs me the wrong way.

But the one you quoted was the one where I was berating myself for doing that in the first place. But I didn't really mean it that way, you know I love you, FH.