Nope...er I mean no, not as in rocket science. They are scientific,
but not in a Western sense of the word. While the martial artist does
not take each aspect of combat apart and study them indivdually (you
can't because what one might think is two movements is actually one
movement) their approach to studying martial arts is methodical. I
recommend _Legacies of the Sword_, by Karl Friday. This book goes
into great detail how traditional martial arts were and are taught.
Actually, I think much of your problem in understanding what I am
trying to tell you is due to three things. One you have only a rather
superficial understanding of the philosophy behind martial arts (hence
your reference to ballistics and physics). Two the philosophical
concepts are not meant to be transmitted verbally alone, but also
learned by the student by actually practicing the art. Three we are
talking in english as opposed to Japanese which probably contributes
to the confusion.
Steve
---John Michael wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> I can't make sense out of the simplest statements of yours. In one
sentence
> you stated that there is no competition involved in martial arts since
> competition would render it artless and therefore a sport; now you
> contradict yourself and state that martials arts are not arts but a
"method
> of combat" and a science. Ballistics is based on the science of
physics and
> the technology of projectiles in four dimensional space- you know
rocket
> science. You mean martial arts are not arts but similar to "rocket
science"
> - or ballistics? I think your built in "Nope" generator is getting
in the way.
> jmf
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