Fighter or Martial Artist?
Recently, someone contacted me with suggestions on improving the “marketing side” of my books and ebooks.
He felt that I was making a big mistake trying to appeal to martial artists. He thought that “fighters” would benefit a lot more from what I write.
I think that folks confuse those terms a lot. Are you a fighter or a martial artist? Do you study the science or the art of fighting? How does self-defense fit into the equation?
Bruce Lee’s Widow, Linda Lee (Cadwell)
At the third annual Bruce Lee Memorial Seminar, I remember Linda Lee commenting on how she was among some of the most skilled empty-hand fighters in the world, yet none of us were fighters — we were true martial artists.
I think that Linda meant that we were in control of our emotions. For her, she equated fighting with bullies, street-fighters, hotheaded attackers. We didn’t seem to be the hotheaded type.
She was trying to say that all of use were nice guys and gals … AND … we were skilled at efficient hand-to-hand combat.
More Than Fighting With Martial Arts
The man offering to help me modernize the format of my information and help me with sales feels that I really teach people efficient methods of fighting. So, in his mind, it’s not martial arts.
For some reason, he doesn’t equate actual self-defense on the street (or in a bar) with martial arts.
I understand why he feels this way, although I don’t agree with the exclusion of fighting from martial arts.
This fighter sees the scope of martial arts … katas and forms, one-step sparring, limited sparring, and the running around in bare feet as something other than efficient street fighting.
I know what he’s saying … and to some extent, I agree. There is a lot got going on in martial arts that is not about efficient self-defense.
If It’s Fighting, It’s Martial
To me, any time a punch or kick is thrown, you are in the world of fighting … and martial arts.
To be an “art,” it has to be a practiced set of moves or way of relating the what is going on “martially” in the fight.
If you actually go beyond just practicing the moves that create the art and analyze what you are doing, then you have stepped it up to a science.
The minute you make choices, compare and contrast, and practice with the goal of efficient improvement in mind, you are engaging in a method of martial arts, a way of fighting … a scientific method of self-defense.
Now, go ahead and mix and match those terms as much as you want … I have a feeling that the confusion is here to stay. Let the terms mean to you what you want them to … but be aware of alternate definitions, so you can communicate with others about … fighting … and martial arts.
Tags: bruce lee's widow, fighting vs martial arts, linda lee, linda lee cadwell, practice fighting
