MARTIAL ARTS QUOTES
quotations about martial arts
If art expresses our highest ideals, what do these definitions imply? What do they say the martial arts are about? That is where things start to get prickly. If you view the martial arts as a type of fine art, you could be expressing virtually anything. A martial art that is purely symbolic can, in theory, express as much as dance does. But the truth is that the martial arts are an end in themselves with no practical purpose but to express Asian ideals. The notion of building better citizens or experiencing a transcendent reality permeates the non-combative arts. The martial arts are non-combative because these martial artists think actual fighting doesn't express goodness or mystic insight.
KEITH VARGO
"Way of the Warrior", Black Belt Magazine, December 1999
In the martial arts, the relationship of Master and disciple is a peculiar one. At the beginning, we may find the training not alluring and exciting, but boring. We would be wise to remember that the beginning is but the foundation of what can become a great edifice.
TRI THONG DANG
Beyond the Known
Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely -- lay your life before him.
BRUCE LEE
attributed, Bruce Lee: Artist of Life
The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.
MIYAMOTO MUSASHI
The Book of Five Rings
In ancient times, there were no martial arts schools as we now know them. Instruction took place wherever and whenever a teacher decided to practice or to share his wisdom -- whether in an open field or deep within a fog-shrouded mountain. Some martial arts masters claimed that the only school was on the battlefield.
KENSHO FURUYA
KODO: Ancient Ways
Karate is not something that one does, it is something that one becomes. And though the external mask of training might be readily seen in the lighted arena, the essence of Karate-do is ever the veiled presence of being.
THOMAS M. WHITE
Three Golden Pearls on a String
Karate-do is not a philosophy, it is a practice. It is not rank and grading, it is living and sharing. It is not a way of war, but ultimately a way of peace and reconciliation.
THOMAS M. WHITE
Three Golden Pearls on a String
Never take your eyes off your opponent ... even when you're bowing!
BRUCE LEE
Enter the Dragon
All martial arts are really just different paths to the same place, which is total human development.
BETH AUSTIN
Black Belt Magazine, December 1976
In their pure form, the martial arts demand the intense awareness of the meditative mind, and have nothing to do with anger or wanton aggression. A practitioner is taught from the outset that the skills must never be used for personal gain, but only in self-defence or in the protection of others -- and even then only enough force as is absolutely necessary should be used.
DAVID FONTANA
Learn to Meditate
While this may not be popular among martial artists, it is my belief that one day courts will extend "concealed deadly weapon" laws to equate "concealment" with "nondisclosure" of the fighting prowess of a true martial arts expert.
CARL BROWN
The Law and Martial Arts
One of the greatest gifts of the martial arts is that they ultimately guide us to new levels of spirituality.
JOSEPH CARDILLO
Be Like Water
Martial arts is all about different animal styles, really, if you look at it. Have you ever seen Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior? He's calling out these techniques in this kata. He's shadowboxing Muay Thai and he's got a name for everything. He comes up with a knee and comes down with this 12-to-6 elbow and he calls it, like, "smashing elephant's tusk" or some sh*t like that. Or Jackie Chan's drunken master, he's like, "Crane picks up box," and he gets up on one leg, or, "Monkey something." Animals and martial arts are kinda linked together, or humans took animals' strength and turned them into martial arts moves hundreds of years ago, thousands of years ago, however you want to say. Whenever martial arts came about, people took it off of animals' abilities, and you know, there's roosters. The Chinese Zodiac for example, everything is linked to martial arts, because it's like the one real thing in life that just has been--there's dancing since time began, man; there's people's movements with their bodies, things to do with it.
MIKE PERRY
"Mike Perry Gives his Take on the Link Between Animals & MMA", MMA News, November 20, 2017
The purpose of refinement of consciousness through martial arts is to develop the latent abilities of the human body and brain, to cultivate supranormal capacities in the human body and supranormal powers of consciousness.
SHI MING
Mind Over Matter: Higher Martial Arts
Each one of us starts Karate with some particular reason: to be a good fighter, to keep in good physical shape, to protect yourself. I wanted to become very strong myself when I first began. But Karate training soon teaches that real strength is facing oneself strictly with severe eyes. This is the first condition of martial arts training. Therefore, everyone must be strong inwardly but quite gentle to others.
TSUTOMU OHSHIMA
Shihan
The Way (do) requires patience and constant practice, because there is no end and no goal, there is just the practice. We need to constantly remind ourselves of this fact.
TADASHI NAKAMURA
Karate: Technique & Spirit
Exchanging blows generously, which is not uncommon in some other martial arts, is unthinkable in Shaolin philosophy, because a Shaolin disciple always assumes that an opponent is competent and able to inflict damage with just one blow.
WONG KIEW KIT
Art of Shaolin Kung Fu
Avoid rather than check; check rather than hurt; hurt rather than maim; maim rather than kill; for all life is precious, nor can any be replaced.
DAVID CHOW & RICHARD SPANGLER
Kung Fu
My style? You can call it the art of fighting without fighting.
BRUCE LEE
Enter the Dragon
A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expands, I contract; and when he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, "I" do not hit, "it" hits all by itself.
BRUCE LEE
Enter the Dragon