I was reading a martial arts blog by El Conquistador and caught a great discussion on the differences between fighters and martial artists and felt truly enlightened to find wisdom among peers. I rediscovered that training martial arts doesn’t necessarilty make you a martial artist. And, being a martial artist doesn’t necessarily make you a fighter

El Conquistador breaks it down by mentioning that martial artists are driven by a code of honor and fighters are driven by a code of victory. Brilliant!

It’s true that not everybody trains with the best of intentions. But you would hope that, as hard as our athletes are training, the sacrifices would produce a sense of humility, the support of our fans would instill a sense of obligation, and the pride of the islands would promote a sense of ambassadorship and worth.

Though this might not exist for most, the fact that it might exist for some breeds a confidence in the future for the islands which are ultimately brightened by the sport, venture, and passion caused by the crossover of athletics and martial arts

It’s very true that not all good fighters are good martial artists and that not all good martial artists are good fighters.

But, it can go both ways.

As advanced as training has become in the last few years — athletically; and though a martial artist training twenty years might fall to a fighter-athlete with less training, the fighter-athlete might dodge a lawsuit or even injury if he only practiced the wisdom and calm relied upon in martial arts to resolve the conflict peacefully in the first place. In the end, I believe that both have lots to offer.

A great martial artist and a great fighter once said, “The greatest martial art is the one that defeats many without the sacrifice of a single man.”

For their initiative to compete, and their commitment to prepare, I have a great respect for the fighters; and for their inclination to not compete yet their commitment to prepare I also have respect for the martial artists.

Personally, I’d take a code of honor over a code of victory, but maybe that’s why I’m not a champion. At the end of it though, let’s hope that for fan, fighter, and even martial artist, the atmosphere of martial arts will prevail and extract the code and understanding of “the victory of honor” in all of us.

Though it’s important that a fighter and martial artist know how and when to fight, it’s equally important that they learn how and when not to fight. But like many things — easier said than done. But, for martial artist or fighter, isn’t that what training is for?

Thanks for dropping by