Why Wouldn't A Good Athlete Be Good In The Martial Arts

[HighKick]

I've heard of some people who are good athletes but who are not good in the martial arts. Why would that be the case? There are some people who excel in just about any sport they do, examples would be people such as Joe Montana who was the quarterback for the 49ers or Jim Eisenreich who played first base and was also an outfielder and a designated hitter for multiple teams in MLB or Bo Jackson whose famous for playing many sports. You would think such people would be good in the martial arts if they chose to do it.

Define athlete.

 

[drop bear]

Yeah. Obviously people like Volkanoski have exelled in sports. And have moved on to exel in martial arts.

Shaq is another good example. But he is also massive.

 

[isshinryuronin]

Bruce Lee thought dancers would do well in martial arts

I agree. I've had a couple good ones; one modern dancer and one "exotic" dancer (who taught a young and innocent me as much as I taught her, each of us having our own particular skills ). Being in tune with their bodies, I think, is a major factor.

awesome when people put themselves "outside the comfort zone" but let's face it, most people can't sustain that without serious levels of dedication and discipline.

So true. The SEALs have a saying, "You don't have to like it, you just have to do it. It's great when you like doing it. MA was out of my comfort zone. Didn't much like doing it, but I liked that I did it. In fact, after 57 years I'm still doing it.

 

[PhotonGuy]

If you could play, say, rugby, professionally, would you bother with martial arts? I see no reason why somebody couldn't though.

Depends on the person, some professional rugby players might decide to take up the martial arts for whatever reason, people from all walks of life take up the martial arts for many different reasons.

 

[PhotonGuy]

Being a good athlete doesn't make you a fighter.

That depends, it depends on what kind of athlete you are, what sport you play. A football player for instance would probably be a good fighter.

 

[PhotonGuy]

I think it goes without saying, most people are not physically or mentally capable of dominating and/or hurting others, which is the whole point of martial arts.

This is something the "I only do martial arts for defense" crowd (and who never fight) often miss. If you ever have to defend yourself with your own body, you're going to have to cross the line into harming (or at least forcibly controlling) another person.

There are other sports that involve, if not harming people, at least forcibly controlling them. Football for instance, and to a lesser extent soccer and basketball.

 

[Hyoho]

That depends, it depends on what kind of athlete you are, what sport you play. A football player for instance would probably be a good fighter.

Speaking as a professional. In Japan we watch the kids come into the arts and can see the "naturals" in among those that all do it because they like it. Then years on we chose those kids to join our ranks to fight in nationals. A dojo is made up of many who all pay in a contributing factor. But even among them there are still only select few that meet the criteria. I went to Rugby School. But maybe the reason I have excelled in MA is I really hate ball games.

 

[Same Trick]

Olympic pentathlon - running, riding, swimming … and shooting(could be martial)..and fencing

 

[Prince_Alarming]

Thing is though, not to complicate things, but what is a martial artist other than a kind of athlete?

 

[Taiji Rebel]

Athletes have their preferences and not all skills are directly transferable. It also depends on the martial arts in question as there are many variations. Some arts are more physical than others and no MA suits all body types. What others people (including athletes) can do is not so important - martial arts are individual practices and it is far better to focus on your own progress and what you are best suited to doing.

 

[windwalker099]

You would think such people would be good in the martial arts if they chose to do it.

Athletic ability alone does not guarantee martial skill. Competitive sports follow rules and emphasize performance, while martial arts—at their core—focus on survival, adaptability, and intent. Many athletes may recognize this difference and choose not to pursue it.

Thing is though, not to complicate things, but what is a martial artist other than a kind of athlete?

Training to survive by killing another person while not being killed is not the same as training to win.

Athletes compete within rules, seeking victory.
A martial artist, in its truest sense, trains for combat—where survival matters more than winning.

Although some may view martial arts as a game or sport, real combat training—and actual combat—are fundamentally different.

The act of killing has become increasingly detached from direct human experience. As warfare moves further from traditional hand-to-hand combat to the use of drones and advanced weaponry, it becomes more impersonal, shifting away from what martial training originally prepared warriors for.

Those who have trained for it and experienced it understand that it is something to be avoided at all costs—they do not seek it.
Not so with those who train for athletic competition, who actively seek it.