People who are interested in the martial arts often have questions about the philosophies involved in them. This page is to help those students.

Philosophy is present in all martial arts in one way or another. The very decision to be involved in martial arts and to stay with them for years is based on philosophical values about life goals and so on.

There is no one single overriding philosophy behind martial arts or their exponents' reasons for doing them. There are however, several highly influential ones that are worth describing:

1. Life is precious and needs defending: particularly defending righteous lives against miscreants.

This is the basic "self defence" philosophy that leads many to start their martial arts journey.

2.  Quality and length of life are improved significantly through exercise.

This one also needs very little comment. The amazing health benefits of exercise are proven. We neglect exercise at our peril.

3. Triumph over others in competition brings glory and fame to my mortal existence.

Again, a readily understandable philosophical stance. It is deeper than what we might at first think, since it takes into account the limited nature of human life and decides to accomplish something remarkable with it, in this case athletic victories over others.

4. Martial arts training forces me to focus on the here and now and expels worries about the future and cluttered thinking from my mind. I become mindful and aware of my surroundings and get in touch with my animal instincts of fighting and survival.

This is a very important part of Buddhism. In this case the practice of martial arts replaces the seated meditation taught by the Buddha.The action of practicing martial arts clears and focuses the mind the way that focusing on a single point in Buddhist meditation does.

5. Martial arts training makes me feel at one with the universe as I experience the forces of nature in motion: linear and direct, ebbing and flowing, relative strength and weakness, yin and yang.

This is essentially a Taoist principle although Buddhism could be said to contain this frame of thought too. In our often static lives we can feel artificially "stuck" and separated from the movements of life that are more innate to our human nature. The martial arts (or any other sport with movement) help us to reconnect with our more natural selves, and the movements of the universe around us.

6. Martial arts training enabled me to achieve enlightenment: a profound understanding of and acceptance of reality and my place in it, which cannot be easily expressed in words. I continue to train in the martial arts to maintain my appreciation of these discovered facts.

This is a Buddhist approach, where the practice of martial arts replaces or supplements seated meditation or sutra (Buddhist philosophical writing) study.

7. Training with others and enjoying their company are great pleasures for me.

Part of this is natural social human instinct. Part of this can also be the recognizance that all of us are on the same mortal path and we can take comfort in our commiseration or in our happiness and excitement at being human together. According to Buddhism, the Buddha nature is in everyone. In Abrahamic religions and Greek philosophy, the divine spark of God is seen in all: "Man was made in the image of God." All religions and most philosophies express this fact in one way or another: that the primary component and first principle of the universe is constantly and fully present in all of us. Thus, we can take comfort and even joy in what we are and we can allay our fears about our inevitable future demise.

8. Martial arts teach positive values of hard work, cooperation, following instructions, playing by fair rules, staying healthy and logical thinking. These aspects train me to be a better person in this world. I hope that more and more people take up the study of martial arts so as to achieve a happier and more harmonious society.

This mode of thought is an important aspect of Confucianism and of Utilitarianism, as well as a basic aspect of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other religions and philosophies. Confucianism emphasizes the importance of people knowing their place in society and trying to do their best in their station in life for the benefit of all. Utilitarianism holds that the best policy is to try to achieve the best results for the maximum number of people. Since others also hold the same divine spark or basic nature we have, it is logical that we want to be helpful towards them as life is a team effort. No one is an island.

9. If I get good at martial arts perhaps I can make a living from them.

This kind of desire results from the wish to enjoy one's life doing what one enjoys most. There are some people who are able to realize this dream. It can become a very treacherous and sometimes impossible road, however.

10. I enjoy teaching and learning, simply put, and I happen to like the fact that the martial arts teach useful life skills such as self defence, fitness and a good attitude.

This is a scholar's attitude. Finding happiness in scholarship like this is a big part of most religions and nearly all philosophies. There is an innate human desire for mastery over some kind of skill that feeds this approach. It feels good to be valued by one's students, when one teaches.