I was reading the thread on having pride in yoga, etc and that got me wondering… Yoga is really just a physical activity, though some people try to inject a “spiritual” aspect into it. Most forms of martial arts are similar, though there are some that are more strongly tied with a spiritual practice.
What’s Islam’s take on all this?? First, are there any objections to martial arts at all? Getting past that, where might a conflict arise? most of the forms that contain spiritual practice aren’t god-oriented, but more self-focusing, if that makes sense.
"God's approved ways of fighting"? What did they base their sources on?
i used to take martial arts classes, at a masjid, classes that were taught by a male Muslim instructor. It's a life-skill, and like Spoon suggested, it teaches you about self-introspection as well. It's a life skill like any other, swimming for example.
Yoga is not just a physical practice.
The Yoga teacher may ask you to sit quietly in lotus position and concentrate in God, hence Yoga developed at a Hindu land, by ethnic Hindus, means concentrate a Hindu God.
So, devotee Muslims must never practice Yoga.
Anyhow, I am joking. I am trying to talk the same way as rigid Muslim friends do, as they connect everything to religion.
Dear Spoon, Do you lack normal topics. To use razor or not, sitting in aeroplane, Kungfu or judo, to eat with a spoon or fork does not make debate.
What do you have against his topics? When compared to the sect bashing that 95% of Guppies who frequent this Forum, seem to love to indulge in, his topics are more than “normal” - they’re perfectly alright. Infact they’re a refreshing difference from the usually stale drivel of ‘what is jihad’ and ‘another fatwa has been passed on another Muslim sect so let’s argue about it’.
Aw crud.. now Im gonna haveta look it up again..
See, I was talking with one of my Korean friends the other day and he's hardcore into martial arts (I took Tae Kwon Do once upon a time).. we got to talking about some style of martial arts where the forms (movements) are in direct fusion with some little-known-of spiritual belief/practice--at least that's how the practitioners see it. I don't remember the details, it was born out of some local mysticism or such and never really left the area. By the time I wrote that original question I'd already forgotten the question so I guess it didn't come out right. What I meant is actually kind of like the one that Yahudi sarcastically asked:
To what extent is it possible to separate the physical and "spiritual"?
The kung fu cite was really only a cover example, ie, can one perform the movements without applying the beliefs? But really I meant to go beyond that..
im a TaeKwonDo student too Spoon!
i think Yoga and all sorts of martial art are totally allowed in islam. what if they originated somewhere in a budhist or hindu land? they do base their techniques and philosophies on religion etc but make you follow ethics and spirituality along with philosophy. if yoga was originally based on concntreating on a budhist belief, we muslims could use the same techniques while concentrating on our relgious tecahings. and no martial art or yoga is that hard core religious anyway. the general philosphioes, ethics, spiritualities are more or less the same in all religions.
besides, Islam has allowed and encouraged creative and healthy sport that may prepare one to handle tough situations easily.
[quote] they do base their techniques and philosophies on religion etc but make you follow ethics and spirituality along with philosophy. if yoga was originally based on concntreating on a budhist belief, we muslims could use the same techniques while concentrating on our relgious tecahings. and no martial art or yoga is that hard core religious anyway. the general philosphioes, ethics, spiritualities are more or less the same in all religions.
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Think Haris's answer is pretty straightforward and reasonable.... i took Taekwondo too, ages ago, it does have a spiritual element to it. It depends how you perceive it... like Haris stated, Muslims could utilize the same physical techniques while concentrating on our own religious teachings. If anything, martial arts like these impress discipline, unity, solidarity - in your individual physical movements as well as in your behaviour towards others. Self-discipline, unity, solidarity - those are principles i think very much in tune with Islam, n'est pas? Especially during the month of Ramadan (incidentally, around the corner) - isn't self-discipline one of the qualities stressed for us to develop? So, i guess in my opinion it depends how we perceive what we're doing .. you can make it a religious act, either using Buddhist OR Islamic principles. Depends how one applies it.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Nadia_H: *
"God's approved ways of fighting"? What did they base their sources on?
i used to take martial arts classes, at a masjid, classes that were taught by a male Muslim instructor. It's a life-skill, and like Spoon suggested, it teaches you about self-introspection as well. It's a life skill like any other, swimming for example.
Nothing wrong with it in my humble opinion.
[/QUOTE]
guru? that ios a pretty high level, very accomplished.
I had some very basic training in silat from a cikgu, who was not a guru yet but he was amazing, so I can only assume how good your husband's friend must be. That is a very high level, the only level above that really is accomplished by few.
as far as the funny thing, there are many many different styles and vary by country, region and then preferences.
guru? that ios a pretty high level, very accomplished.
I had some very basic training in silat from a cikgu, who was not a guru yet but he was amazing, so I can only assume how good your husband's friend must be. That is a very high level, the only level above that really is accomplished by few.
as far as the funny thing, there are many many different styles and vary by country, region and then preferences.
He raises money for children's charity and organizes events. I'm pm'ing you his channel on youtube, you can watch his videos.
I think we need to be educated about islam and martial arts
Muslim Chinese martial arts have a long history in China, and many Muslims have participated at the highest level of Chinese martial arts. However, the Qing Dynasty persecutions greatly stimulated the practise of martial arts among Chinese Muslims. The Hui started and adapted many of the styles of wushu such as Bajiquan, Piguaquan, Liu He Quan, and other styles. There were specific areas known to be centers of Muslim martial arts, such as Cang County in Hebei Province. These traditional Chinese martial arts were very distinct from the Turkic styles practised in Xinjiang.[1]
What do you have against his topics? When compared to the sect bashing that 95% of Guppies who frequent this Forum, seem to love to indulge in, his topics are more than “normal” - they’re perfectly alright. Infact they’re a refreshing difference from the usually stale drivel of ‘what is jihad’ and ‘another fatwa has been passed on another Muslim sect so let’s argue about it’.
