Karate Christians?

With the new Karate Kid movie holding its own against the competition at the box office this summer, kids across the country have been inspired to find their local martial arts dojo and learn some moves of their own. (Yeah, apparently there’s more to kung fu than “take off jacket, put on jacket” . . . who knew? ) Seems like an appropriate time to ask the “hard-hitting” question . . . should Christians avoid martial arts?

It’s a complicated question with complicated answers. I’m not going to tell you what’s right or wrong for you—that’s between you and your parents and God. However, I’m a big fan of information, because I think information helps people make good decisions, so I did a little research for you.

Here’s what I found out:

Martial arts have been influenced by Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Taoism, which teach ideas that are not in harmony with what we believe as Christians. Some martial artists incorporate these ideas into their teaching—things such as having students meditate to achieve a “transcended” state of mind . . . or harnessing the eternal energy of “chi” in order to be able to perform superhuman acts of strength. However, depending on the form of martial arts a person participates in and who the instructor is (for example, if your instructor is a Christian), it is possible to learn martial arts without the Eastern religion spirituality attached. With this form of teaching the focus is on exercise and discipline rather than on any kind of spiritual practice.

Another aspect of martial arts is that the basic purpose of the discipline is learning how to defend yourself, and in the process you learn how to injure or even kill someone else. That can be confusing, since many Christians don’t agree on the subject of self-defense. Some Christians believe we are to trust God to protect us, and therefore we should not use any kind of violence to protect ourselves. Other Christians believe that while God hates violence, He expects us to defend ourselves when necessary. I encourage you to read what the Bible says and decide what you believe on the subject.

If you are considering learning a form of martial arts, here are some things to ask yourself:

1.     Do I believe that self-defense is appropriate for a Christian?

2.     Can I learn self-defense from an instructor who does not use Eastern religion in his/her teaching methods? Would I recognize teachings that conflict with my Christian beliefs?

3.     Will I be able to use my training in a way that honors God, or will it draw me away from my relationship with God?

4.     Why do I want to learn martial arts? 

Whether you choose to explore martial arts or not, the MOST important thing is your relationship with God. Keep that connection open, and He’ll give you the wisdom you need to make good decisions.