Can You Find Christ In Karate
Some may say that you cannot practice karate to its true form unless you are one with nature or find your Zen. It is true that many styles of karate are based on mysticism. Not so with all styles. God created us uniquely and this uniqueness is the way we can move and use our bodies. Defending our selves or someone else. Karate is more than fighting just to fight.
Mysticism v God
Karate is founded on scientific principles of body movements that develop the devotee into a healthy, well-coordinated person, both physically and mentally. (Dagger, 1992, para.). Being a believer in Christ I know that we get all of our knowledge from God. God loves science, He did create the world after all. So these scientific principles I do not refute. In this article Mr. Dagger states that “Although many, especially here in the United States, tend to disregard much of the Zen Buddhist philosophy in their training, some impact of that philosophy is made upon every student of karate. This is because Zen meditation and yoga-like breathing exercises-whether for thirty seconds or for two hours before and after every practice session-are an integral part of any Oriental martial arts program. If one truly aspires to master the art of karate he cannot ignore the spiritual implications.” Here is where I have to tell him he is not accurate. The martial arts here at our studio and others around the nation prepare ourselves spiritually before we start. By this I mean we pray. Pray for guidance and safety. If you are not a practicing Zen Buddhist than your breathing will have nothing to do with your religion. We all breathe and we all have our own type of meditation. Stretching exercises help to loosen up the muscles and breathing deep in and out goes along with this. Now does that mean the karate we are preparing for is wrong? Silly question I know but this is the one that needs to be asked.
“Soul winning” is a term that not everyone will be familiar with. This is only because not everyone goes to church. Soul winning is evangelism. We, as Christians, go out into the world and tell of the great news of Jesus. Mr. Dagger asks the question “Is there a philosophy antithetical to Christianity that is at the root of karate exhibitions?” Should we as Christian use karate in our soul winning? I say “Yes” yes we can use it. Jesus died for us all and if teaching karate shows a young or old, male or female, black or white person how to love, protect, honor, and respect another human being than I say lets do it. He goes on to state how karate started and who started it and why. He also does give a good point to where some Christian advocates for the martial arts have gone back to Genesis to prove that karate is from GOD. This is very much off the wall for me. Men, for self-defense and fighting formed karate thousands of years ago. Today we teach a style called “Tang Soo Do”. Grandmaster Hwang Kee created this style for self-defense. The Moo Duk Kwan system was taught in schools, to the police and the military, both at the Naval & Air Force Academy of Korea and the Republic Of Korea Air Force Academy where the Grandmaster taught personally. In 1957, Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan was first introduced to U.S. servicemen. Classes were held at the U.S. 8th Army's Trent Gym in Yong San, Seoul. By 1960 it had spread to five other U.S. military bases which led to introduction of Tang Soo Do in the U.S. by returning servicemen. In 1966 GrandMaster changed the name to Tang Soo Do. (“reference” 1995, para. ). Today this style is taught at our school to help with concentration, behavior, respect, self-esteem and self-confidence.
Conclusion
Karate as a whole is good. Some styles place it hand and hand with their religion. I do not believe that you can say that practicing karate makes you a bad Christian. After all we are not to judge but are to be judged by God. Working to make your body a healthy temple of the Lord is good. We are made in His image. Do we teach 10 year olds to go and beat up another child just to have fun? No, no we do not. Our breathing is to clear our minds so we can perform our katas. Do you clear your mind before you take a test, or write a paper? Yes, yes you do. It is all perspective and we all have varying points of view, but to have your mind closed to something that helps people and brings them to know the Savior who died for them is wrong.
References
Dagger, A. (1992, April). Eastern Mysticism in Bible believing churches. Blessed Quietness Journal, (), . Retrieved from http://www.blessedquietness.com/journal/housechu/karate.htm.
reference. (1995). , (), . Retrieved from http://www.TangSooDoWorld.com
