Mixed Martial Arts and Christian Morality

Post by **_SoaringEagle** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:02 pm

I was wanting to hear other believers thoughts on Mixed Martial Arts. For example, is there anything that the bible teaches that would show that learning martial arts is not the way of Christ? Also, fighting in cage fights. If a Christian wanted to do that and feel they are called to be a witness to that avenue of people and crowd particularly, what would the bible teach to apply to that?

Thanks in advance.

Post by **_TK** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:13 am

SE-

i believe a while back that JC brought up this very issue (or someone did) and i remember JC responding because he knows martial arts. I dont have time to find the thread right now, but if you look you can probably find it. there was some good discussion if I recall.

TK

Post by **_Seth** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:16 pm

Yes, all forms of physical exercise are evil, because they distract us from the mental and spiritual disciplines that all Christians should practice to the exclusion of all else.

You might guess that I'm joking around.

Cage fighting aside, I don't think there's anything wrong with learning martial arts. To me, it would be parallel to someone training to be excellent at dance, or penmanship, or any other physical discipline. If the focus was on learning to hurt people, that would be a problem. If the focus is just to be physically fit, I don't see an issue with it, any more than someone focusing on becoming a great runner or swimmer.

I enjoy shooting skeet/trap, but it's not something I do in order to learn how to kill either birds or people. I enjoy the precision of it, and the competition with my friends. ...Oh...and I'm not really very good at it...and I don't even actually own a shotgun (got a friend who has an armload of them).

Enuf rambling.

Post by **_JC** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:13 pm

Yeah, I think either Derek or Brody started a thread on this a while back. It's really no better or worse, spiritually speaking, than football or wrestling. My problem is the way they market the sport, like with Bodog. They really push the violence and lust angle, instead of the artform. For that reason, I have a hard time watching it anymore.

Having said this, I do enjoy training mixed martial arts. It can be an excellent testimony to see someone mop the floor with their classmates and still be the most humble person in the room. That always impressed me about this sport. Usually the best fighters in the gym have the least amount of ego. It's not always the case but I've seen this many times over the years. I've also seen the darker side so it's just a personal thing, in my opinion. I'm usually one of the more experienced cats in the gym so there's more responsability. If I blow my top or something, it ruins my testimony. On the other hand, if I can remain humble and always help and encourage the new guys, it's a positive testimony.

Anyhoo, that's my take.

Post by **_SoaringEagle** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 3:50 pm

Thanks for the thoughts guys. What about cage-fighting. Is this something that can be done while 'walking in the light'?

Post by **_PAULESPINO** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:48 am

Guys,

You can find the thread in "General/Personal Questions".

The title of the thread is "UFC".

Post by **_brody_in_ga** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:09 pm

Hey Brother,

I have some thoughts on this matter. I have thought about it long and hard, because I love MMA and boxing. You could say I am biased, and I freely admit that(so much for my credability, eh?). I have concluded that Cage fighting or Mixed martial arts is no different than Football, Hockey, and other common American sports.

The statistics show that the NFL has more serious injury's every year than the whole world of professional MMA. This is a fact. And Hockey is well known for their brawls and fights.

MMA is not for everybody. I will be the first to tell you that. But the sport has many things going for it. Its very entertaining, and its fast paced. Baseball and football games make me want to peal out my eyes and use them as potato chips, its just way too boring.

There are many Christian men who are in the sport also.
I can't count the times that I have seen UFC fighters give glory to Jesus Christ after a fight. You can hardly do this in other sports such as baseball because of the sponcers and such.

Post by **_brody_in_ga** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:12 pm

Yeah, I think either Derek or Brody started a thread on this a while back. It's really no better or worse, spiritually speaking, than football or wrestling. My problem is the way they market the sport, like with Bodog. They really push the violence and lust angle, instead of the artform. For that reason, I have a hard time watching it anymore.

Hey Brother.

Bodog is a joke amongst many of the MMA fan's I have conversed with. And a bad joke at that...

I don't think it will be around much longer. In fact, I hear Calvin(the founder and owner)is having financial troubles in trying to keep it going.

Post by **_JC** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 2:42 pm

Hey Brother.

Bodog is a joke amongst many of the MMA fan's I have conversed with. And a bad joke at that...

Glad to hear they are losing favor. I mean, the show opens with the owner stepping out of luxery cars and half-naked women dacing around. What does that have to do with martial arts?? Even if I weren't a Christian I'd have a hard time making the connection. Do I care that the owner of this particular organization is making bank? I just want to see a good competition.