What are the martial systems designed for? In some people’s minds they are for self improvement, fitness, sports or a way to keep a tradition alive. However, when you look at what they really were primarily designed for back in the day, it is killing. Sure you can subdue people, knock them out, place someone on a path to enlightenment and self perfection but… if we really examine what they were used for back in time it was to protect ones family, tribe, group from outside aggression in the form of war. Martial literally means:

Definition of martial

 (Entry 1 of 2)1: of, relating to, or suited for war or a warriormartial musica martial tone of voice— Tim Appelomartial prowess2: relating to an army or to military lifemartial disciplinestories of martial tradition— Ewen Macaskill3: experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKEits martial people fought the British to a standstill— Mary Anne Weaver

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

So if martial is relating to war and warrior then there you have it. At the core of the Martial Sciences is killing.  Because that is what we do in War.

Hence why they are The Killing Arts. Now, not all systems are part of this. Modern sporting martial arts could be used to kill but it is certainly not there focus. The more modern traditional arts that came about in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and so on are more about self perfection and fighting than killing. The older systems such as some of the Filipino Martial Arts, Japanese Arts, Silat and some Modern Martial Sciences do fall under The Killing Arts but not every system does.

If you look at elite modern warriors they practice modern martial systems centered around firearms, blades and with some empty hand fighting.  There goal in general is to finalize or kill the enemy.  So what they are taught or should be taught is very different then what you might find at a sporting BJJ school or Muay Thai or other Martial Systems.  There focus is different.  Just as a Samurai’s focus was different back in the day.  So back in the day, a Samurai would eliminate an opponent in the quickest most effective and efficient way possible.  Sure there were Samurai that also acted as Law Enforcement but on the battlefield the finalization of any enemy was the point.  They literally trained in the Killing Arts and then applied them.  They were heavily weapons based in their training.  Kyujutsu, yari, shinken, etc.  Empty hands was there as well but less important.

This is not the same with the vast majority of modern martial systems.  Mostly, they are about unarmed dueling with agreed upon rule sets.  This doesn’t mean they can’t be deadly.  Just that is not the focus of their training.  You will even have some of them say that there training prepares them for when they might have a weapon.  This is false.  If your training does not take into account weapons and work with them every day in training then you are not prepared for real world violence.

Yet some martial systems still train in the Killing Arts.  There focus is different than someone in a modern sporting system.  Different focus, different purpose.  If someone came to me and said they wanted to fight in the MMA cage I would recommend a good Training Hall for them with that focus.  Specifically focused on MMA.  Likewise if they wanted to participate in JiuJitsu tournaments.  I would recommend the best Brazilian JiuJitsu Academy near them.  If someone came to me and was in law enforcement I might send them specifically to a Training Hall that would give them the skills they needed.  That focus would have some finalization skills but also a heavy emphasis on weapons and control and restraint.  If I was approached by someone in the military I would direct them to the appropriate people as well.  The focus they would need should be heavily centered on weapons training.  With an eye toward finalization!

Not all martial systems or training methodology is the same.  Very few systems or practitioner’s train the way our ancestors trained in The Killing Arts!  They simply don’t have the same needs.  It simply is for the specialized now a days or those whose profession demands it.  You can still train this way but very few are.  The mindset is different…  Yet, whenever a country is involved in warfare some where some place there is someone training in The Killing Arts.

See You On The Mats!!!