Given the varying definitions of martial art, could firearms be a martial art weapon needing the same diciplines as un-armed/traditional martial arts?
Given the varying definitions of martial art, could firearms be a martial art weapon needing the same diciplines as un-armed/traditional martial arts?
Richard Scardina
This is going to be another one of those long threads. But, maybe it does not have to be. Your answer is in your question. Given the varying definitions of "martial art", yes, [proper] firearms [use] "could" be a martial art needing the same disciplines as unarmed/traditional martial arts. Or, a firearm could be considered a martial arts weapon. I guess the length of the discussion to follow might focus on "should" it be considered that way. In the case of most of my fellow work mates, firearms are a tool. We don't treat it as our "soul" or something like that (as a nihon-to might be treated, I guess).
Though a thread may seem as
one of those long threads", it, like any other, is a rhetorical exchange of what a forum is for.
Martial arts, as with its string of ancroynms, terminology, etc., seem to create curiousity and discussion of many sorts.
Richard Scardina
I think if you look into history the Japanese did in fact make it a martial art. I know Jeff Hall has devised a martial art around the pistol.
Duane
Duane Wolfe
I don't like the term "art" especially when referring to modern military disciplines. IMO it should be referred as martial (or military) "techniques."
George Kohler
Genbukan Kusakage dojo
Dojo-cho
A hoplologist that I know described what the bushi practiced in the 1400's and 1500's as "martial training" or "martial disciplines" and described what those same arts became in the peaceful 1600-1800's as "martial arts." Based on that, I would label modern military and police training as a martial practice/training/discipline, but would consider referring to other gun-based activities as martial arts. I've seen some competitive shooting events, for example, that seem to have a large following but not to be directly linked to any military/police application. Folks who train with guns with the specific goal of excelling at those competitions rather than with the specific goal of using the gun for combat might have some interesting parallels with the practitioners of certain martial arts that have a meditative or sporting rather than combative focus.
David Sims
"Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - Terry Pratchet
My opinion is, in all likelihood, worth exactly what you are paying for it.
Well, to some, firearms is a modern implement wheras it did have martial art relation via one particualr Samurai period.
I would have to say that anything given the discipline study of defense could almost be a martial art.
Richard Scardina
This is not so different from the "Is snooker/billiards a sport or a game?" debate.
Snooker needs a certain amount of physical skill, but a lot of that skill is quite refined rather than energetic, like football say.
Games generally need little gross physical ability whereas sports do.
Some shooting "arts" such as the cross country skiing and shooting sport, involve more physical activity than others. Is that more like a martial art than shooting in a range? You might have to argue that it isn't since the sport is more about hunting game.
Still, you raised a good question.
Jonathan Adrian Treloar
Perception is strong, Sight is weak - Musashi
Right forearm is strong, Sight is weak - Treloar
HI
Morishige Ryu is still in existence today and they are a Japanese gun school
see them here
http://zaitetstu16.seesaa.net/article/94030475.html
Paul Richardson - Shidoshi
Bujinkan Lincoln Dojo