Fighter or Martial Artist?

[tmd]

I see myself as a martial artist but not that much of a fighter.

I do not see that there is a level you pass as a fighter to automatically become a martial artist but that the two are distinctly separate, it is not that you can't be both, more that you can be one but as a karateka you should have an element of both.

I am not really asking which is better equipped for a street fight but more what do you see as the difference. and which do you more aspire to be.

[Brad]

Osu.

I would like to be more of a fighter. But this is a great topic Tmd. Be interesting to see how this thread spanns out.

[James]

My humble opinion...is that a great martial artist, is quite naturally going to be a competent fighter, but a great fighter may(but not necessarily) lack the discipline, etc. that a martial artist would try and aspire to.

so I chose the "aspire to be a great martial artist option"....even though I do seek to become a great fighter one day.

OSU!

[Chuck]

i am a fighter but i aspire to be a great martial artist, i see it as more control thats all

[tmd]

I disagree that it's that simple Chuck to me that's a bit like saying if someones a fighter long enough they automatically become a martial artist but this is no more true than saying if I work hard enough I will become a champion, it's simply not the case.

Being a fighter I think is a necessary part of being a martial artist but being a fighter, even a knockdown or kick-boxing practitioner does not require you to be a martial artist.

In my eyes being a martial artist runs deeper into your soul and becomes who you are, fighting requires enormous dedication, skill and mental strength, it is a passion and a highly addictive one but it is something you do not something you are...Just how I see it, an opinion, nothing more.

[shinobijesus]

i chose "i am a martial artist". in part because when people grill me about what im doing with my life, since i havent accomplished much at my age, i tell them im on track because im a martial artist. if i mention it offhand though i say im a student. i need to stop doing that because its promptly followed by "what college?"....

i really wanted to select "i aspire to be a great martial artist" but i couldnt. i cant look introspectively into myself and feel confident in successfully accomplishing my lofty personal goals as a martial artist to be great someday. it seems arrogant and disingenuous of me to say that even if its cloaked in a modest mentality of "im not there yet". i do however, and will continue to, aspire to be a great teacher someday.

interesting topic, what made you consider this? let me guess. you were sharing some beers with your mma friends?

[Brazilian Berseker]

Well, for me I still pretty much as a fighter....but my goal is to become a true martial artist. I think to be a martial artist takes much more than to be a fighter....On the other hand I don't think that a martial artist can be called that if he/she is not a great fighter....

[tmd]

Originally Posted by Brazilian Berseker

Well, for me I still pretty much as a fighter....but my goal is to become a true martial artist. I think to be a martial artist takes much more than to be a fighter....On the other hand I don't think that a martial artist can be called that if he/she is not a great fighter....

Drop the GREAT in front of fighter and you've got a deal

Originally Posted by shinobijesus

interesting topic, what made you consider this? let me guess. you were sharing some beers with your mma friends?

I was being introspective I'm nearly 40, have trained for 12 out of the last 20 years so it's probably easier. I am as I say not a great fighter, I'll have a go and I train and try hard but I'm not in the same league as some that I have around me so I asked myself - why do I do what I do? what does my training do for me and the basic underlying truth is, it put me on a better path than the one I was on before I found it and it continues to make me a better person.

Incidentally when people ask about hobbies I always say 'I study karate' not I do or I train in - I study and it, I think it was realizing that I always use this answer that made me conclude I have gained a lot more out of this than the ability to fight that I originally joined for.


[MODERATOR NOTE: Please take advantage of the multi-quote function. ~ Nix]

[shinobijesus]

wow.... im like a younger you or something. ive been all introspective about my martial arts recently as well and im not nearly 40.

a lot of what youre saying is pretty parallel to what i experience myself. im more curious now to see what other people on the board say. if this is just a "martial artist thing" or if its just some of us.

[jcc]

Osu!

When one speaks of fighting, that generally assumes a set of rules under which one competes and thus restricting one´s horizons. And when your fighting days are over, what is left? The term 'martial artist' is much deeper and encompasses so much more, a trully unending journey...

Osu!

[niceguy]

Am the worlds' greatest fighter! I study the art of fighting without fighting. I have been bless with a pair of quick legs, so watch out street fighters if you attack me I will....er RUN like the wind. Yep, am a fighter alright great topic by the way!

[Kudoist]

Right now my training is focussed on competition, so I think of my self as a fighter.
Its only recent that I've become comfortable with thinking of myself as a fighter though. Even though I've been competing for some years now, I never really was the type who enjoyed fighting.
I loved training and sparring, but getting in the ring and really trying to hurt
someone, didn't come naturally.
Facing someone who was really trying to knock me out wasn't too pleasant either!
But I had reached the point where I felt that real fighting was what I needed to take me to the next level in my abilities.
I needed to learn to perform under pressure. Otherwise it felt like everything I was doing was just theory and make beleive.
At some stage you just have to take the bull by the horns and ride it.
For me this was the right path.
It forced me to face and overcome many of my weaknesses.
Now I've reached the point where I am much more comfortable in a fight, and quite enjoy it.
Competition has been a very valuable teacher of many lessons that I couldn't have learned just training in the dojo.

But I wont be competing forever. When I stop, I will still continue to persue deeper understanding of myself as a martial artist.
Becomming a fighter is something I chose to better myself as a martial artist, and just one step on the path toward a greater goal.

[Nix]

Difficult question. I'm very dedicated, but alas not a very talented technician or fighter. I think kumite and sabaki are my favourite things in class, but despite that, I only compete a few times a year. And since I usually get the beatings, it would be a shame to call myself a fighter. I don't think I would enjoy practicing somewhere that were exclusivelly fight-oriented, and since I enjoy teaching and dedicating myself, maybe I'm the martial artist? I think the answer here is either "both" or "neither (just that guy)".

[sandman]

Osu! Great thread....

I chose "aspire to be a great martial artist". For me, that choice was kind of like the idea of trying to reach perfection in your technique. You'll never reach it, but its a worthy goal all the same. While I love knock-down fighting, and I'm training hard to be good at it (still got a lot of work to do there), for me the fighting is just one part of what it means to be a martial artist. In my life, martial arts is more of a spiritual endeavor (I don't mean that in a religious way) - its about improving myself physically and mentally, about sacrificing short term comfort to achieve long term goals, perfecting technique, forging my spirit, etc... The fighting part of it, at least to me, is sort of the ultimate test of all the other training. When I get on the mat will I stay confident, apply good technique and strategy, strike with power and precision, keep my head calm, push through pain and fatigue, and never give up? If I lose of course I'm disappointed, but if I can answer yes to all of those questions I can walk away with my head held high, knowing that my martial arts journey is a work in progress. Even better if I can learn some lessons from the fight that will help me improve for the next time - not just lessons about which techniques worked and which didn't, but also lessons about my character. The traditional kihon, kata, and kumite are all key components in karate training to hone the mind, body, and spirit. If any of those components are missing, you are not getting the full experience of being a student of karate. I say this from a karate student's perspective - not all martial arts include kata. My point is that if you are a student of a martial art, you dedicate yourself to all of the components of that martial art - that gives you a richer experience vs just fighting and sparring drills.

With all that said, I guess it's a bit closed-minded to presume that training to be a "fighter" can't have a spiritual improvement component as well, but the way I interpret it, the term "martial artist" has a deeper, more introspective meaning than the term "fighter". A fighter's job is to win against the other guy - a martial artist's job is to win against himself.

Osu!

[shodan88]

Osu,
I think to become martial artist,you need to learn deeper of the organozation that you currently in such as the philosophy.Any martial arts organization has different due to the system.For example,kung fu is using inner power to move around while karate is using direct force from the body,not totally from the inner power.So,it's hard and takes long time to obsurb and become martial artist.
Fighter is morelikely to become a champion.All is about winning the competion.
And quite frankly,anybody can be a fighter,but NOT ALL can be martial artist.

[BigAl]

You can be a great martial artist as well as being a great fighter.

However you can also be a great fighter and not much of a martial artist.

I prefer to strive to become the former myself.

[Chuck]

osu! what a great topic

[SHIDOKANATLANTA]

for me, aspiring to be a good fighter makes one a better martial artist. The dedication, discipline and focus for me as a fighter has made me a better martial artist. Being a fighter is about self exploration and being able to test what you train to do as a martial artist.

[Tameshigiri]

What about to be both ?

Martial artist and fighter at the same time...

OSU.