Can Martial Arts be Beautiful?

[Jenna]

Do you think MA practice can be beautiful? Are there examples of practice or practitioners in your own MA that you would regard as demonstrating beautiful practice?

I might class beauty in MA practice as a kind of effortless physical fluency and efficiency. Does that sound congruent do you think? I think there is beauty regardless of the discipline. I wonder do you agree?

I could be off mark though. Can I ask, do you think beauty and functionality are mutually exclusive concepts in MA? Or, no MA, because of its potential to damage can ever be regarded as beautiful. Is this true do you think? Are there other reasons why the practice of MA cannot be regarded as beautiful?

I am grateful to have all your opinions. Thank you.

 

[KempoGuy06]

MA is beautiful. Watching practitioners of Bagua for example. They way they move is incredible. Or even in my style, watching my friend who is a 3rd degree perform some of his earlier forms, its simply amazing. the fluidity is outstanding.

one of the things i find "beautiful" about the MA's is that its amazing to watch, especially when it is someone that has a lot of skill, but also because of how deadly and destructive it could be. Its like a tiger. they are beautiful and majestic animals but they are also 800lbs of pure power.

B

 

[oftheherd1]

I don't know if he is still doing it, but at one time, Jhoon Goo Rhee promoted kata that were specifically designed for beautiful flowing movements, set to classical music.

But I think you are referring to a beauty from efficient movements performed in a flawless manner? Yes, I think there can be beauty in that. It may not be a whole kata, but a single technique, or even a particular move in a kata.

 

[lklawson]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[chrispillertkd]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Tell that to your wife and then compliment her on her looks.

It's not so much that beauty is subjective ("in the eye of the beholder") so much as it is a matter of being able to recognize it when it's present. Beauty, like other things, can be difficult to recognize, let alone explain, for many people. And there are times when, even when you do recognize beauty is present you don't necessarily appreciate it. For example, I recognize that the Mona Lisa is a beautiful painting, but I don't really appreciate it as much as I do other works of art that show less ability and less beauty.

Pax,

Chris

 

[Xue Sheng]

Can Martial Arts be Beautiful? Speaking as one who thinks Yuzo Mifune is awsome to watch and I saw Marvin Hagler ring side at a demo...Yes

Young Chen Xiaowang

Older Chen Xiaowang Applications

Tung Hu Ling Push Hands - Yang Style

 

[Gnarlie]

I went to a TKD tournament once where they had super slow mo HD instant replays on a big screen at the back of the room. It looked awesome, but turned out to be pretty dangerous, as after every good point the competitors would stop to admire their handiwork on the screen. This guy's form is not brilliant, but it kind of demonstrates what I mean, there is a grace in TKD that I can really appreciate:

 

[yak sao]

Xue, I must say I'm a little surprised and disappointed.
I thought you would use this as an opportunity to show a Michelle Yeoh pic

Since you dropped the ball....

 

[yak sao]

and of course this......

 

[yak sao]

not an action shot, but deserves honorable mention

 

[chinto]

yes it can, so can many weapons, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think martial arts are lovely, but also done properly deadly efficient defense.

 

[Jenna]

MA is beautiful. Watching practitioners of Bagua for example. They way they move is incredible. Or even in my style, watching my friend who is a 3rd degree perform some of his earlier forms, its simply amazing. the fluidity is outstanding.

one of the things i find "beautiful" about the MA's is that its amazing to watch, especially when it is someone that has a lot of skill, but also because of how deadly and destructive it could be. Its like a tiger. they are beautiful and majestic animals but they are also 800lbs of pure power.

B

Yes B, this is what I am thinking also. Beauty is in the observation of the adept. It would be imprudent to regard our own expertise as beautiful yet perhaps to others it might be - as it is with you observing your pal practicing forms.

I have at the back of my mind issue with classifying something as beautiful that has such a measure of destruction inbuilt. I like your tiger example. The tiger is undoubtedly awe inspiring when it hunts and its precision and powerful stealth are technically unsurpassed. I think a tiger on the hunt yes possesses an awesome beauty. Yet the act of the kill is functional (to feed). The actual act is not beautiful? Would you agree? Does this make sense? I am not sure how to equate what I am saying to the tiger analogy, though I like it very, very much, thank you

I don't know if he is still doing it, but at one time, Jhoon Goo Rhee promoted kata that were specifically designed for beautiful flowing movements, set to classical music.

But I think you are referring to a beauty from efficient movements performed in a flawless manner? Yes, I think there can be beauty in that. It may not be a whole kata, but a single technique, or even a particular move in a kata.

Thank you for the Jhoon Goo Rhee example. I wish it were possible to see this also. And I think yes kata are designed I think to teach many things such as fluidity, balance and stance and so these are almost always examples of what is good to look at, I agree entirely. I think though even in free randori there is potential for a beautiful match when one or both practitioners can utilise their kata and their technique to effortlessly control the other. Do you think that is right? Or is sparring by two adept practitioners purely functional and got nothing to do with beauty? Thank you for your thoughts

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Yes Kirk, I think that is true. I wonder along your martial journey has any practice struck you as being a beautiful thing? Can efficient function beget beauty in MA do you think?

Tell that to your wife and then compliment her on her looks.

It's not so much that beauty is subjective ("in the eye of the beholder") so much as it is a matter of being able to recognize it when it's present. Beauty, like other things, can be difficult to recognize, let alone explain, for many people. And there are times when, even when you do recognize beauty is present you don't necessarily appreciate it. For example, I recognize that the Mona Lisa is a beautiful painting, but I don't really appreciate it as much as I do other works of art that show less ability and less beauty.

Pax,

Chris

I like this analogy Chris, thank you. I wonder though, if beauty cannot be recognised instantly then is it beauty at all do you think? Does true beauty require a measure of consensus? And is Mona Lisa a beautiful painting of a woman or a painting of a beautiful woman? And most importantly, is beautiful a word ever to be indexed against martial art? Thank you for your thoughts

Can Martial Arts be Beautiful? Speaking as one who thinks Yuzo Mifune is awsome to watch and I saw Marvin Hagler ring side at a demo...Yes

X_S thank you for your thoughts and for posting these excellent visuals. I cannot deny as a layperson that these represent something truly beautiful as I see it. Can I ask please, are you just lucky to be student of a beautiful discipline or is it not by chance that there is beauty in these forms? I wonder does all ultimate technical efficiency lead to a work of beauty? What do you think? Thank you again, I am grateful

I went to a TKD tournament once where they had super slow mo HD instant replays on a big screen at the back of the room. It looked awesome, but turned out to be pretty dangerous, as after every good point the competitors would stop to admire their handiwork on the screen. This guy's form is not brilliant, but it kind of demonstrates what I mean, there is a grace in TKD that I can really appreciate:

Dear Gnarlie, grace is an excellent choice of word, thank you. The slo-mo totally adds to that sense of physical poetry. I like that very much. Can I ask please, do you think that being graceful in this way precludes being functional? I mean functional as in damage-causing? If your practice is beautiful is it inclined not to be regarded as functional? Thank you again

Xue, I must say I'm a little surprised and disappointed.
I thought you would use this as an opportunity to show a Michelle Yeoh pic

Since you dropped the ball....

Bah.. pretty pictures I will let you away with it so long as you show me some proper beautiful MA and not just beautiful people

yes it can, so can many weapons, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think martial arts are lovely, but also done properly deadly efficient defense.

Thank you for this! I agree that weapons practice is some of the most fluid and obviously beautiful practice. You have said that the arts are attractive and BUT ALSO can be deadly efficient. I wonder is there any truth in an idea that beautiful practice will always LEAD to deadly efficiency? What do you think? Thank you again, I am grateful.

 

[KempoGuy06]

Yes B, this is what I am thinking also. Beauty is in the observation of the adept. It would be imprudent to regard our own expertise as beautiful yet perhaps to others it might be - as it is with you observing your pal practicing forms.

I have at the back of my mind issue with classifying something as beautiful that has such a measure of destruction inbuilt. I like your tiger example. The tiger is undoubtedly awe inspiring when it hunts and its precision and powerful stealth are technically unsurpassed. I think a tiger on the hunt yes possesses an awesome beauty. Yet the act of the kill is functional (to feed). The actual act is not beautiful? Would you agree? Does this make sense? I am not sure how to equate what I am saying to the tiger analogy, though I like it very, very much, thank you

i understand. the movements of the tiger are beauty but the act of it killing its prey are not.

the same is with MA's. What we do, what we have learned has a certain beauty to it, but to see it used on a live opponent who is trying to harm us is not.

I believe this is why we call it Martial Arts.

B

 

[yak sao]

Wing Tsun is not known for being asthetically pleasing, but here are some superb examples of the flow of chi sau. To a wing tsun nerd like me, I think it's fantastic and beautiful to watch

whoops...wrong link...here it is

http://youtu.be/qaP1X-lEtgc

http://youtu.be/6tn4IiZbgGc

 

[Xue Sheng]

Xue, I must say I'm a little surprised and disappointed.
I thought you would use this as an opportunity to show a Michelle Yeoh pic

Since you dropped the ball....

Oh mercy no...I did not drop the ball...someone has to mention her and then I start posting Michelle Yeoh pictures...and you have just let the genie out of the bottle BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Did someone mentiong Michelle Yeoh :EG:

[

 

[lklawson]

Tell that to your wife and then compliment her on her looks.

Done that. She seems OK with it coming from me.

It's not so much that beauty is subjective ("in the eye of the beholder") so much as it is a matter of being able to recognize it when it's present.

Sorry, but you and I are going to have to disagree here. "Beauty" is very subjective and heavily influenced by culture. Chinese bound feet is beautiful? She can't even walk! Myan rope & hook pierced genitals? Ouch.

Sorry, but beauty IS subjective. Really.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

 

[RobinTKD]

I think martial arts can be beautiful when used against an opponent, Judo can look beautiful when a throw is administered perfectly, plus i find some of the techniques used here beautiful.

 

[Xue Sheng]

X_S thank you for your thoughts and for posting these excellent visuals. I cannot deny as a layperson that these represent something truly beautiful as I see it. Can I ask please, are you just lucky to be student of a beautiful discipline or is it not by chance that there is beauty in these forms? I wonder does all ultimate technical efficiency lead to a work of beauty? What do you think? Thank you again, I am grateful

I have studied Yang style Taijiquan (Tung lineage) for 17 years and I have also learned Chen Laojia Yilu and silk reeling.

 

[CoreyMinchin]

Yeah, you know when you see these staged Kung-Fu fights and all their moves are smooth, flowing and perfecty-timed (aright, if it's staged, maybe it doesn't count)?

 

[Xue Sheng]

Yeah, you know when you see these staged Kung-Fu fights and all their moves are smooth, flowing and perfecty-timed (aright, if it's staged, maybe it doesn't count)?

My first sifu had a video of two older gentleman (75 and 83) doing tuishou. One was Chen style the other Wu style, it was not staged and it was a thing of beauty.

There are also old videos out there of Morihei Ueshiba that are not staged and they are amazing