Karate for Christ

TDA’s latest post on Chuck Norris got me to thinking about the whole Christian Karate phenomenon. Yes, you may be surprised, but there is actually an organization and a phenomenon. If you follow the links from TDA’s blog to Chuck’s blog you’ll see that Mr. Norris now has his own ministry.

Back to Chuck in a minute…

Some of you may be surprised to hear that there is such as thing as Christian karate. I know I was until I had to start looking for a martial arts studio in Indiana. I ran across several area schools that specifically cited a Christian perspective when promoting their schools. One instructor I found taught Japanese Kenpo Karate at the local YMCA. She was about to end her contract and open up a dojo in her church.

After talking to her she essentially said that if I wasn’t Christian I’d be better off looking elsewhere for a school. Turns out she was a member of the Gospel Martial Arts Union.

Membership: Individual….Any theologically conservative Christian martial artist in any recognized style, system or art may request individual membership. All candidates must sign a profession of faith in Christ as personal savior, and be the member of a theologically conservative church, and give a short statement of their personal Christian activity. The GMAU reserves the right to withdraw membership from any member upon proven evidence of physical, mental or spiritual conduct unbecoming of a genuine born-again Christian.

Pretty strict requirements for sure!

Contrasting that, you can also conduct a Google search for “martial arts Christian” and find some articles that warn of the demonic dangers of the martial arts.

Over and above this, there are Martial Arts techniques which cannot possibly be performed by anyone without the use of demonic power. Such a technique is the directing of ki at an opponent, or to lead the opponent to do what you want him to do, as is done in Aikido [15].

Personally speaking, my money is on physics for an explanation behind the magic of martial arts. (that and a lot of hard work and pain) Ki has no scientific evidence whatsoever. As for Aikido, I do know that it is built around non-competition and cooperation. Part of this involves “taking ukemi”. That is, your partner has to learn how to take your throw and do so willingly so the other person can practice their technique correctly. Nothing magic there. However it underscores the above author’s ignorance of a particular martial art–namely Aikido.

So what would Jesus do? Apparently some think this:

Now I don’t know about that; however, I do know that the dojang is one of the FEW places where I can forget all my problems and focus on one thing: Martial arts. In fact, we even have a tradition of leaving our shoes outside of our studio’s door. Part to signify that we are leaving all our troubles “out there” while we focus on one thing in the studio. If you want to bring Jesus, Zeus, Allah, or any other deity in you can but you need to keep it on the inside.

While a private studio or church certainly has the right to Christianize the martial arts and even exclude non-Christians that’s not what bothers me. When certain schools take it to the extreme they stifle learning, tolerance, and growth. To quote Bruce Lee:

Styles tend to not only separate men – because they have their own doctrines and then the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change. But if you do not have a style, if you just say: Well, here I am as a human being, how can I express myself totally and completely? Now, that way you won’t create a style, because style is a crystallization. That way, it’s a process of continuing growth.

As for Mr. Norris, it’s his business if he wants to start his own ministry and witness. Regardless, he makes my list as one of the top 10 best martial artists ever. So, no matter what you happen to think about his beliefs (or acting), you have to give him respect for what he accomplished in the ring.

Norris compiled a fight record of 65-5…Norris retired as undefeated Professional Full-Contact Middleweight Champion in 1974.

~BCP

[tags]Martial arts, karate, Christianity, conservative Christianity, aikido, ki, chi, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee[/tags]