Would you consider animal handling skills to be a martial art?

[skribs]

I know Steve Irwin was reported to have done MMA. Lots of biologists or specialized animal services jobs require handling dangerous animals, either in captivity or in the wild. It takes a large degree of skill to handle a venomous snake or a large crocodilian without getting seriously injured. Would you consider these to be martial arts?

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I know Steve Irwin was reported to have done MMA. Lots of biologists or specialized animal services jobs require handling dangerous animals, either in captivity or in the wild. It takes a large degree of skill to handle a venomous snake or a large crocodilian without getting seriously injured. Would you consider these to be martial arts?

No.

 

[Dirty Dog]

No.

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Certain equestrian skills either form part of or are rooted in martial disciplines, for example mounted archery, jousting, and tent pegging. In D&D terms, those might involve "animal handling" checks on your skill sheet.

Other than that, probably not.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Certain equestrian skills either form part of or are rooted in martial disciplines, for example mounted archery, jousting, and tent pegging. In D&D terms, those might involve "animal handling" checks on your skill sheet.

Other than that, probably not.

Tent pegging is an equestrian skill? I think you might be doing it wrong, Tony...

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Are you handling the animal, or actively fighting it? If I'm training to square off against a bear then yeah I'm probably training martial arts (the martial art probably wouldn't be "Bear-fighting", it'd be wrestling I'm using in that context). If I'm keeping a snake from biting me, not necessarily.

 

[geezer]

Is animal handling a martial art? Dunno. I saw a movie once where somebody threw a cat at another person. Claws first. I guess that would count. Kinda mean to the cat though.

Here's another question. Is cat throwing science?

 

[Tony Dismukes]

Tent pegging is an equestrian skill? I think you might be doing it wrong, Tony...

 

[JowGaWolf]

I know Steve Irwin was reported to have done MMA. Lots of biologists or specialized animal services jobs require handling dangerous animals, either in captivity or in the wild. It takes a large degree of skill to handle a venomous snake or a large crocodilian without getting seriously injured. Would you consider these to be martial arts?

I'm going to say no this. These skills are more like hunting skills and literally Animal Handling skills.

Martial arts skills would require that the person is doing some kind of Martial art while utilizing the animal.

riding skills + weapon skills. = Martial Arts skills

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Certain equestrian skills either form part of or are rooted in martial disciplines, for example mounted archery, jousting, and tent pegging. In D&D terms, those might involve "animal handling" checks on your skill sheet.

Other than that, probably not.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Interesting, Tony. Never heard of that. In my mind, tent pegging is a step in setting up your tent.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Interesting, Tony. Never heard of that. In my mind, tent pegging is a step in setting up your tent.

It makes me think of something else, but I'm a terrible person.

 

[skribs]

It makes me think of something else, but I'm a terrible person.

In that case, I also am a terrible person.

 

[skribs]

Are you handling the animal, or actively fighting it? If I'm training to square off against a bear then yeah I'm probably training martial arts (the martial art probably wouldn't be "Bear-fighting", it'd be wrestling I'm using in that context). If I'm keeping a snake from biting me, not necessarily.

A lot of the videos I see (both on youtube and on Animal Planet) involve an animal actively trying to kill the person. For example, a snake trying to bite someone that is:

• Moving it to clean the enclosure
• Milk it for venom to make antivenom
• Remove it from someone's house so it can be relocated away from people where both are less likely to harm each other

In this case, the human is handling the animal, but a misstep and that human is being injected with deadly venom. That animal is fighting for its life, because it thinks the human is likely trying to eat it or otherwise harm it.

 

[Steve]

I know Steve Irwin was reported to have done MMA. Lots of biologists or specialized animal services jobs require handling dangerous animals, either in captivity or in the wild. It takes a large degree of skill to handle a venomous snake or a large crocodilian without getting seriously injured. Would you consider these to be martial arts?

I'll say it like this. If you think that what a cop does is martial arts, then what Steve Irwin did is probably also a a martial art. Conversely, if you're intuitively saying that what Steve Irwin did was not a martial art, then what cops do isn't, either, for the same reasons.

 

[frank raud]

Short answer, no. Long answer, also no.

 

[drop bear]

I'll say it like this. If you think that what a cop does is martial arts, then what Steve Irwin did is probably also a a martial art. Conversely, if you're intuitively saying that what Steve Irwin did was not a martial art, then what cops do isn't, either, for the same reasons.

Apparently there is a trick to it.

 

[drop bear]

 

[Holmejr]

Not sure if this counts, but I used my knife skills to subdue a juicy steak last night. I feel that I was totally justified…

 

[skribs]

I was watching some "People of Walmart" videos and saw some pretty good jiu-jitsu used to subdue deer that had accidentally gotten inside.