Can martial arts and Christianity go together?

Sample text from Chapter 19

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Seek Knowledge

 

One of the reasons people start martial arts is to learn something new. They want to learn about the traditions, discipline, and the art itself. They come seeking knowledge about a new activity they can add to their life and, for some, to their family. No matter the reason, gaining knowledge is what helps us grow mentally, spiritually, and even professionally. 

The Bible says a lot about learning: 

• Deuteronomy 31:12 tells us to “learn to fear the Lord your God”

• Proverbs 1:5 instructs the “wise to listen and add to their learning”

• Isaiah 1:16-17 says, “Stop doing wrong and learn to do right!”

• Christ instructs us in Matthew 11:29 to “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…” 

These verses only highlight a few places where we are admonished to learn, but it’s clear that learning is important. When you first accept the Lord as your Savior, you are not expected to know everything. The Bible even compares new believers to a newborn who requires milk as their diet to grow. But as we grow in our understanding and knowledge of God, we move from drinking milk to eating solid food, just as an infant does as he or she grows. 
 

This same principle can be applied to our martial arts training. Often when we start a new activity, we are so excited that we want to jump right into the deep end without first learning how to navigate the shallow waters. However, we need to take baby steps first. This progression of knowledge is demonstrated by the advancement in belts. The white belt signifies innocence and purity regarding the system you are enrolled in. The white belt says that you have an open mind and are ready to learn anything new. As you progress in your learning, the color of your belt changes to represent that new knowledge. Each belt has its own meaning -- my personal favorite is green because it means growth! Any onlooker can see that a student has trained and worked to master their art by simply looking at the color of their belt. 
 

When you finally obtain your black belt, it does not mean that your learning has stopped. In fact, just the opposite is true, as the rank of black belt is viewed as a new beginning where you apply all the knowledge you have obtained and use the tools you have been given. The black belt represents the commitment of the student to overcome difficult tasks using both physical achievement and mental determination.  

Moving up in belt rank is a great analogy to our walk as Christians. We start as a new Christian eager to learn about the things of God. We grow daily by reading His word, spending time in prayer, and gathering with others who also love Him. As we continue to build our relationship with God and learn about His teaching, we are moving from white belt to black belt in our Christian lives. This movement comes from seeking knowledge -- which is what Proverbs 19:2 and 8 are telling us to do. Getting your black belt does not happen in a week. It’s not a fast climb because there is so much to learn, to evaluate, and to understand. You must approach this journey with the understanding that you will embrace knowledge and develop as a martial artist over time, just as you move through your life as a Christian -- growing daily in the knowledge of God.