It seems like I've taken on his interest and I'd like to learn. Even carry on the legacy. " Well, that ain't going to happen unless you learn your grandfather's style. How can you carry on the legacy without knowing what he taught and using that or passing it on?
Meditation is not martial arts and while some schools incorporate it they are very few so you would have nothing to worry about. There are schools too that combine the Christian faith with martial arts. They are few too.
I am Christian too and have gone through many traditional schools but never encountered a conflict. Christians too meditate in a way or 'ponder' or at least you are supposed to ponder things like the scriptures as opposed to just read them and forget. Praying is a form of meditation too if you want a relationship with God unless you are only in the habit of asking for things you want and then that is not a relationship with God. Quite frankly the values a traditional martial arts school teaches go hand in hand with Christian values too so I really don't see a problem. You are going to be fine in a traditional school and if martial arts is taught there the way it is supposed then there should be no conflict.
Funny thing, I was looking and pictures of old samurai swords with my friend yesterday and there were engravings some of them Buddhist some of them Shinto. If these guys managed to train together why can't the Christians?
Hey,
Meditation does not go against Christianity. I'm a Christian and have been in martial arts for over 30 years. i even Pastor a church.
Most martial arts schools do not do much meditating. When they do basically you learn to breathe slower and calm your own presence dduring a time a silence. You become more aware of everything around you including sounds that you didn;t know was present. The bible actually mentions meaditate. It was a command to meditate on His Word. Therefore, we can conclude that there is no sin i meditation. As long as you are not praying to a false idol or something like that you should be okay.
There is the one Aikido school that I know of ad train with that has some type of special practice. I'm not sure how often. They do some type of meditations with chanting. They look at it as something spiritual. I will not participate in that. That is my choice.
Personally I do not believe that anyone should look to martial arts for anything spiritual. You look to martial arts to learn how to defend yourself and loved one if it ever become necessary. You learn martial arts so that you don't have to fight. I know that sounds like a contradiction, But it isn't.
I hope this helps
Actually, there some traditional martial arts practices that are incompatible with some religious practices.
For example, Jehovah's Witness do not bow or demonstrate respect like placing one's hand over the heart, such as to a flag; nor do they bow - despite that it is an Asian greeting, not a demonstration of subservience - because that would be a violation on idolatry (they don't even recite the pledge of allegience).
And Born Again Christians do not like the practice of meditation in many places. If done some ways, the practice is acceptable, yet done other ways, it is unacceptable. Because BAC believe that meditation is for prayer - there should be no empty thoughts as such thoughts should be in contemplation/prayer to God. However, when meditation is performed through simple quiet periods - allowing one to pray or just think about the shopping they have to do after class - then that is fine. But when meditation includes dialog - as if instruction on breathing, or imagining concepts to help the practitioner change their mindset (clearing one's mind, for instance), then this is strictly not allowed.
Along these lines, the act of striking someone can be anathama to some religions, however, these people are not usually found seeking martial instruction to begin with.
Some forms of "meditation" - like breaking or conditioning - are fine, even for BAC. That's because the "meditation" here is the focus on a particular activity, and not about "empty mind".
I'm no expert. But, these are my experiences with JW and BAC who otherwise find no problems taking up a martial art.
So I said all that to say this: each school is different - even within a style. Therefore, you need to approach your prospective instructor and discuss your concerns with him or her. Between you both, be explicit about any meditative practices that happen during class, and that you have specific beliefs that you do not want to forego or interrupt.
You are misguided here. Martial arts schools do not force you to meditate. That's a misconception that you have - get it out of your head. There is no meditation or other religious aspects to martial arts.
I am Christian, and I have never confronted anything in martial arts that goes against Christianity in the time I have been studying. You can perfectly well learn martial arts and still be faithful to God and Christianity.
Also, meditation does not go against Christianity. Meditation does not even have to be religious, it can be simply clearing you mind, relaxing, etc., which is all perfectly fine.
You said, ".... but I've found out that they use meditation which goes against Christian view? ...".
NO, you have not found out anything. In over 46 years of martial arts training in several styles, I have only seen 2 schools that taught anything like the meditation you are talking about. You have not done your research if you have come to that conclusion.
I too am a Christian and I would not be a part of any such meditation.
On the other hand, meditation does not mean something spooky, un-Christian, or weird. Meditation can be as simple as taking a minute to relax, and rid yourself of stress and worry do that you can train without them effecting your training. Nothing wrong with that.
...
What traditional martial forces you to meditate? Even some so called Shaolin monks only practice and don't meditate.
Besides, what is the definition of meditation? It could be as simple as just quieting your mind, listening to peaceful music or counting to keep your mind blank and free from thought. It could be you praying to whatever god you choose. Does the spiritual component of a traditional martial art from Asia affect the spirituality you have or that of your faith? Whatever. Even Jesus wants you to keep an open mind about the world, people, cultures and faiths doesn't he? So go learn and kick *** for Jesus.
mediation does not go against christian views it might go against yours or your particular church.
Nowhere in the bible does it state you can not meditate.
what might be more of a concern is the bowing ceremony, which if you talk to the instructor they most likely will let you forgo. also consider bowing in martial arts means nothing more then a hand shake does in western society, your not bowing out of worship.
few places actually do a full blown meditation usually its just a moment of focus
as for what you do during meditation that is more up to you if you do a silent pray vers meditation no one will know but you. you can also discus this with the instructor as well.
i work with several christian martial art schools and they never had an issue with any of the meditation or ceremony but if you do then talk to the instructor about it
edit:>
im not offended, i dont think anyone here is
Well actually prayer is in some ways a form of meditation and there are different types of meditation actually some of which have nothing to do with religion in the least. Take visualization for instance which is a form of mediation where you picture yourself doing something correctly over and over for the purpose of making that easier to do in real life. Athletes use this all the time and does that threaten your religious beliefs?
Some types of meditation are goal oriented with a person focusing on achieving something and working towards that and strengthening their mental approach to accomplishing that. Does that threaten your religious beliefs?
The above are the types of meditation that I would teach students and fighters about using and encourage them to use. I understand the reason for the question though because for some even those approaches threaten their religious beliefs and have encountered that idea a few times before. I personally find that view very extreme but some people are indeed that way when it comes to their religion. I even had one lady explain to me that since every part of your being came from God there was nothing a person could do to change themselves or modify their behavior and performance. To me thoughts or ideas like that are absurd, extreme, and an over simplification as well as a lack of understanding of things like prayer and different types of meditation. She was utterly speechless though when I told her that her pastor and his family had taken up TKD and studied that martial art at one of the schools in the local area. That really threw her for a loop but yet she still was not able to relegate in her mind how that could be alright.
Cancer patients keeping a positive attitude and using meditation to do that has been shown to help some of those afflicted with that disease survive it better or more comfortably while it takes its toll on them and their body. Is that wrong or would that threaten your religious beliefs and would you refuse to do that if afflicted with cancer? That is another example of the benefits of meditation and there are different types of meditation, and approaches to it and reasons for it outside of just the ones associated with religion. The only question here is are you a person that can understand this and who does not feel it threatens who you are as a christian and your religious beliefs.
Martial arts has nothing to do with religion at all. All this "meditation is bad because it's against my religion" is only in your head. Meditation in martial art is like a switch. When you meditating at the beginning of class you are forgetting about what you did in the outside world and only focus on your training.
Let me get this straight. You worry about your immortal soul because you might pray during meditation, but you like catchy songs that contain obscenities as you claimed in your other posting? You don't find that hypocritical?
Furthermore, if meditation is against Christian view, then how do you explain the monastic orders that meditate and pray? I'm a Christian. I meditation and pray. I also live and contemplate the meaning of Christ's teaching instead of blindly following rituals and mindless doctrines imposed by self-appointed religious nuts.
Hi, I'm 18, Christian, and I want to learn traditional martial arts, but I've found out that they use meditation which goes against Christian view? What if I do traditional martial arts and instead of meditating, pray instead. I can pray in my own way.
I'm not just wanting to do martial arts for sport, I'm wanting to do it for fun, spirituality and discipline.
My grandfather was a martial artist. He created his own style.
It seems like I've taken on his interest and I'd like to learn. Even carry on the legacy.
I'm open to all kinds as long as they work for me. I want to learn Kung Fu, Judo is an option, and Ninjutsu looks interesting.
I want to learn martial arts while still being faithful to Jesus.
And I do admire the martial arts.
Like said, I can pray in my own way instead.
I also see these websites like this
http://www.turtlepress.com/DVDs_Chinese_…
Is it okay to take the traditional classes? Or just take the video classes?
I want to do the martial art but I don't want to lose the authentic part of it.
Can you please give me some advice and insight about this?
Thanks and God Bless.
I mean you no offense but I really hate when people are like that. Why do you have to be so religious that you are worried about martial arts interfering with your beliefs? What you believe in and what religion you follow has absolutely nothing to do with martial arts.
Practice your religion on your own time. You have the wrong idea on what martial arts is and what it will give you. Martial arts and meditation do not walk hand in hand. They do in crappy chinese grasshopper movies. Want to learn how to meditate? Then take up meditation. Want to learn how to fight? Take up a martial arts.
Martial arts is about going to class, listening to your instructor, learning new techniques and working hard. It's not about Jesus.
Personally in Karate I always though the point was to clear your mind before class, to put everything out of your mind and then to start the class and only think about training. At the end of class is was to think about what you did through out the class. Neither of which have any religious meaning what so ever.
That's like saying because a marital art had to ties to Buddhism it means you are going against your Christian beliefs which is not true. There are groups that actually categorize themselves Christian martial arts, so they have no issue with it.
I'll keep this short and simple for you brother.
1. Meditation these days is just a way to relax the mind and body to prepare yourself.
2. If you are still bothered by the concept use the time given in meditation to relax and pray, or even better just talk to God. He likes it when you just talk to him in normal conversation.
God Bless u 2 and remember "Jesus Didn't Tap"
You want a spiritual martal art that doesn't meditate? Cool. I've been in martial arts for 8 years and i've never meditated in a class or session.
You have some great answers here already.
So I will just state that I have trained with all manner of Christians (except JW- who demonize martial art), and those of other, and no faith.
It is removed from your faith, so it should not interfere. Meditation is simply introspection, looking within for understanding. It is not contrary to Christian doctrine as far as I know.
You really need to check out "The Depth Factor" meditation program, it's the best, it's been voted as the number 1 meditation program made so far. Here is their official web-site: http://www.thedepthfactor.net
It combines binaural beats and ancient meditation techniques to deliver the best meditation experience. This is perfect course for a beginner or an intermediate. Good luck!
meditation has nothing to do with religion. it is only a way of clearing the mind and focusing. if this is something that bothers you, you need to rethink reality.
