is yoga considered a form of martial arts ?
- Thread starter YOGAMAN
- Start date
No, as it cannot be used for self-defense that I am aware of.
Not only is it not a martial art, it's not ancient, and it's physically dangerous to practice.
Not old:
http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/not-as-old-as-you-think
Not safe:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/08/magazine/how-yoga-can-wreck-your-body.html?pagewanted=all
Yes; also, it is a religion.
Sean
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
well it is not a martial art these days but there is some that feel it was part of a martial art many years ago. But I am not so sure it ever was an MA or any more a part of one than Qigong is to CMA.
Actually yoga is rather old, just not the version of it you see practiced in America today
Actually it is safe, if practiced properly with a well trained teacher in an established style....just like martial arts. And just like MA DVD learning is not good and can be dangerous
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
To answer this...I would have to say no. But then it depends on your definition of Martial Arts
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Maybe a martial art, depending on one’s definition....but I vote no
As to a religion...maybe but again I vote no. There are Hindus today who will argue that it is all Hindu and a religion but yoga is associated with 2 religions Hinduism and Buddhism so I guess it is debatable as to whether or not it can be considered one as much as it can be thought of as being practiced by those who are in a religion... but as for me...I still vote no
Steve
Mostly Harmless
But at some point, we're talking about a martial art. Right?
Threads like this remind me of my high school lit teacher. We were reading Moby Dick and everyone was getting caught up in looking for symbolism. So much so, that the teacher said something that has been useful to me throughout the years. He said, "Guys. Don't forget. Whatever else he might be, Moby Dick is whale." Of course, I'm paraphrasing, but the point then as it is now is that we can't redefine against all reason. While the term "martial art" can be many things, it MUST be, at some point, a martial art. Just like Moby Dick symbolizes many things, but he MUST be a whale.
Otherwise, words are meaningless.
"Hey. What are you up to?"
"Studying martial arts. You know.... Training."
"Really? Looks like you're baking brownies."
"Yeah. Food Network-Fu. The secret is in how you breathe, and really standing like a mountain when stirring."
I think this is one of India's martial arts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUUNgyH_47Y&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUUNgyH_47Y&feature=relmfu
Flying Crane
Sr. Grandmaster
I'd say it also depends on your definition of yoga.
Steve
Mostly Harmless
My inner eye is crying right now.
The Sun Salutation, is a sun worshiping clue.
Sean
Xue Sheng
All weight is underside
Actually no, it isn't particularly if you look at historical origins of Yoga
dancingalone
Grandmaster
I used yoga to help rehabilitate from a lower back disc problem...upon the recommendation of my physical therapist. He said many of the stretches he would have had me working on actually are found in yoga too, and he thought I would enjoy taking yoga lessons over a more clinical PT experience. He was right.
I practice yoga regularly today to maintain suppleness in my body. It works for me and I am a believer. However, there are a goodly amount of advanced postures I know about that I have no ambition to attempt - perhaps these are the ones that can be damaging to one's body done incorrectly or performed injudiciously.
ATACX GYM
2nd Black Belt
everything that THIS guy said. Lol.
So, it would still be fair to say that Yoga is 'dangerous'. I understand that you like some aspects of it, but I'll stand by my earlier statement.
Since modern Yoga only dates back less than 100 years EVEN in India, we can safely say it was never a martial art.
Yeah, no. There was something called "yoga" in ancient times in India. No relation to what is taught now, and nothing to do with America. The 'new' yoga started in India as the 'old' one did. But they are in no way related to each other. Yoga as practiced today anywhere is not ancient.
If you read the link, it's qualified instructors who are being injured. It's dangerous stuff. And it doesn't take much to wreck yourself pretty badly doing it. It was a fad in India when it was 're-invented', it was a fad in the freaky fuzzy 1960s when it came to America, and it's a fad now. A dangerous fad that I hope fades away again fairly quickly.
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