Martial arts is a sport, but I think in its essence, it never was a sport previously, and I think you know modern day martial arts, things like the UFC, we all see it. Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Does that speak volumes for martial arts as a practice? Yes, it does. Is it the sole reason we practice martial arts? No, it’s not. And that’s the other thing.
So people always talk to me about, you know, I want to learn how to protect myself. You know, some self-defence techniques that we teach aren’t really appropriate, nor are they fair to use in a ring environment. Similarly, if you’re looking to become a professional fighter, then the level of dedication that you need to have to do that is far beyond what you probably expect. You speak to most professional fighters.
They’re training six days a week, twice a day, often for 2 to 4 hours every single day, and they train with a single-minded focus and intention. Does that make them the best in the world at what they do from a purely fighting perspective? Absolutely. And no one can. No one can argue that martial arts is not just a sport. It’s about empowering oneself and becoming the best version of yourself you can imagine possible.