Firstly the term Martial Arts is based on the ancient Roman god, called Mars - the god of war.

Involvement with Martial arts will inevitably involve the trainee in a subtle and far-reaching exposure to a whole philosophy, which will radically and perhaps even permanently subvert ones view of reality. This philosophy leads ultimately to the destruction of ones individuality.

The word ‘Martial’ , means suitable for warfare or appropriate for warfare. The Martial arts are derived from techniques developed in India, China, Korea, Okinawa, and Japanese combat and warfare.

Indian boxing is still practiced, the Chinese forms are embraced by the terms Ch’uan, or Kung-fu, the Korean forms are known as Taikwondo, and the Japanese include Aikido, Karate, Judo and many others.

The Martial arts practitioners accept that the physical universe somehow overlaps with the ‘spiritual world’. Furthermore they believed that this ‘spiritual world’ could be contacted through the performance of particular repetitive physical and mental attitudes.

Such instructors expect folk to come into harmony withthe supposed ‘laws’ of this ‘spiritual realm’. So by merely practicing these disciplines a person would find that their view of life as a whole would shift in a radical way [self-enlightenment].

This philosophy is based on Yoga, [originated in India 5,000 years ago - a Hindu system of philosophy - self-awareness], Toaism and Zen [a Japanese school of 12 C Chinese origin]. Through this philosophy one contacts the ‘divine element’ within oneself -it is supposed that all problems can be solved merely by tapping into part of ones dormant nature.

In the Bible God tells us that we have been created to have a personal relationship with him, that it is he who sustains us, so that authority and power can only be derived through a close dependence upon God, never from any element or substance within oneself.

“Surely it is just self-defence”, is one of the most common rebuffs to criticism. In Martial arts the student is instructed to follow his master or guru, in an unquestioning absolute obedience, with a warning never to turn back.

Since the route to occult philosophy is through occult practice, there is no safety in ignorance of the philosophical background.

The student can easily come under the influence of the philosophy without it being explicitly stated.

Some people claim special powers - but these powers come from an alien force. The martial arts student becomes controlled by this force which is the author of the strange powers.

The only power we as Christians are encouraged to use is the power of God the Holy Spirit - power released only through communion and obedience to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Power used for good, as set out in the listings of gifts of the Spirit - only released for the glory of God.