I've been thinking a lot on how Martial Arts and Christianity can build on each other. I want to teach martial arts at my church, and a few people at my work are interested in lessons as well. I love my karate deeply. I love my God deeply. So how can karate help make you a stronger Christian?
Discipline is an almost obvious one. It takes great endurance and hard work to become excellent at martial arts. You have to discipline yourself so that you remain in good physical shape and flexibility. You can get nowhere if you don't try your hardest and force your body to do things it obviously does not want to do. Christianity calls us to go further than we want to go. It requires much effort if you want to become like Christ.
The mindset is another example of how karate and Christianity are linked. It almost takes a special kind of person to be really good at karate instead of just ok. I cannot stand it when a high ranking martial artist does not try his hardest, and I can tell. Martial Arts is the type of "activity" that requires full dedication. Christianity is the same way. It is not meant for the faint of heart. It does not want lukewarm "members". That's not what martial arts is about and it's not what Christianity is about.
Physical training is of some value. Martial Arts can train you to know your own body. Christianity transforms you to become Christ-like.
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