Marshal Arts by Ben Trute God created every good gift and that must also include marshal

arts because He had David write in Psalms "A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: (Psalms 144:1)." However like many of God's gifts Satan has made direct attempts to pervert them. The Bible also warns us "(Exodus 23:24) Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images." And in (Jeremiah 10:2) "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." There fore we must in all things: "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (Romans 12:9b)" So that we might head the Scripture's admonishment when it says: (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Clearly God calls us to be discerning in what we do and this includes marshal arts. There are many types of Marshall Arts in this world today. Local systems of self defense can be found in almost every corner of the globe. Many are practical list of how to block a blow or use technique instead of brawn to bring down a stronger opponent. How ever when one starts coming across "marshal arts" like death touch ("Dim Mak" in Chinese); a system that relies on Hindu, or Buddhist religious teachings to touch special areas on the human body to kill with merely touching but with not causing physical injury to the opponent; a person must really wonder whose power are they using and should a Christian be involved in such occult practices? But where do we draw the line? Well let's look at the fruit! God said we shouldn't follow the heathen's advice. While many Marshal Arts systems rely on purely scientific systems; such as the thumb is the weakest part of the grasp so if want to break free from someone's grasp pull towards the thumb, most of the systems involving occult practices have a common origin in the Hindu Veda's (religious writing that Hindus believe are authorities.) This common origin gives them many similar features that as Christians we do not want to follow, since following the advice in the Pagan Hindu writings would be following the advice of the devil the author of all false religions. Seven Commonalities. There are seven basic things that these Hindu based religious systems have in common. These can further more be broken down into four areas. These systems differ from normal martial arts in their purpose, methods, origin, and means (power source) by which to accomplish all this. The Purpose The Purpose for doing these martial arts is Spiritual, as in spiritual improvement (not for personal protection). The primary reasons traditionally these martial arts were done was to seek "spiritual" advancement in their religion. Fist off practicing that style of Marshal arts was done to channel spirits called "chi" into your body to increase your power. (more on this below.) But also in some of your Hindu and Buddhist sects; total control over ones body is seen as very spiritual elevated in their religion. This come from the idea that the Bhuda said that a perfect man can control his tongue hands and feet. This is often considered to be demonstrated by manual dexterity. Often this is practiced (and demonstrated) by repeating the moves for these pagan religious practices such as tai chi over and over again just cutting the air. (Not opposing an opponent as normal martial arts do) Even though this will not leave a person well prepared to face an opponent, the emphasis is only on performing the

movement the as accurately as possible. With real martial arts focusing on did you block the opponents blow or not! This forms our second axiom: there is a huge focus on trying to prefect the moves and solo practice rather than on practical deflecting a blow or grabbing someone arm. Tai Chi is a good example of this. This originates from the previously discussed theological ideology. Also one must ask is the purpose of the "marshal art" to improve one's concentration or meditation. Again the purpose of Marshal arts is to provide safety, security and protection to a loved one in the event of danger. In Contrary to this even taichispirit.net calls tai chi "meditation in motion." When marshal arts claim to be focused on improving concentration or meditation the focused is shift off to an eastern religion focus as mentioned above with the issue of manual dexterity. The Methods The methods involve occult practices. These practices involve teaching like death touch (which is the same as acupuncture just used to kill instead of to "heal") and ideas of meridians, life force (chi) and "energies" which can be balanced or knock out of balance, along with other possible occult, new age, Hindu and Buddhist practices or terminology. As with any occult practice exercising this power involves contact with unclean spirits (either knowingly or unknowingly) This is not only a sin in itself but the Bible clearly states in (1 Corinthians 10:20b) "I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." (Ephesians 5:11) "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." The method of these religious practices often involve the use of dance as the primary means of transmission from one generation to another. In fact one could go so far as to say they many / most are primarily dances that just happen to be used for self-defense. This is obvious in some Oriental marshal arts where their traditions are passed on down to each generation through dance. This should not be surprising since around the world dance is primarily a religious activity connected with the worship of some deity, and only secondary a social activity. Were as in other marshal arts one would start by learning how to deflect a blow regardless whether someone is punching at you or if you both have swords. The Origins. The Hindu Vedas In Hinduism these religious "marshal" arts were often associated with the Hindu Avatara, (Sanskrit ) Avatara are the Hindu term for an incarnation of one of their many gods; which the Bible makes clear are in reality only devils. (1 Corinthians 10:20) But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. One of the braches that form the Hindu religious writing are called the "Vedas" (Sanskrit for wisdom) From these several chapters of the Dhanur Veda, along with portions of the Rig Veda, and Atharva Veda, are devoted to teaching these religious and cultic forms used as Marshal arts. The portions of Rig and Atharva Vedas focus on the use of touching special spots on the body to kill (or heal, the origin of Acupuncture.) The oldest of these references are from the Rig Veda and record Indra to have defeated Vritra by touching him in one of these acupuncture spots. Sushruta (c. 6th century BC) further

elaborated on these spots in Sushruta Samhita by identifying 107 vital points of the human body. This has become the basis for many acupuncture practices referred to as Ayurveda in Indian and became the basis for Asian Indian "marshal arts" such as Varma Kalai and Marma Adi Later Patanjali (c. 3rd century BC) wrote the Yoga Sutras, which taught how to mediate singlemindedly on points located inside one's body, which was then used in these pagan martial art While various mudra finger movements were also taught in Yogacara Buddhism These elements of Yoga as well as the finger movements in the nata dances, were used in the martial arts derived from the Earlier Vedas. The close connection between yoga and these pagan marshal arts should not be surprising because both are religious. Laurette Willis (a former non-Christian yoga instructor) has written that: "A staff member of an east coast Classical Yoga Academy wrote to me, Yes, all of yoga is Hinduism. Everyone should be aware of this fact. Laurette Willis has written further on this subject that "the philosophy and practice of yoga have been primary tools of Hindu missionaries to America since Indian priest and mystic Swami Vivekananda introduced yoga to the West at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago. What is even alarming to Christians is "that yoga postures are offerings to the 330 million Hindu gods? Can you see a twisting of Romans 12:1 here (present your bodies a living sacrifice)?" Even K.P. Yohannan And Indian National and the author of several book as wells as a close descendant of a Hindu Priest has written that a purpose of yoga is to open yourself up to involvement of spirits of the Hindu gods. It was through this religion and the monks dedicated to its worship that these Vedic based marshal arts were brought to China and Japan from India by a Buddhist monk names Bodhidharma. What he taught originally called Kalari later developed into the modern systems of Karate and Kung. Not surprising with the adoption of these martial arts by Buddhist they are also recorded and taught in early Buddhist text. The Lotus Sutra (a c. 1st Century AD Buddhist text) records various martial arts techniques including to a martial art with dance-like movements called Nara. Martial arts also is included in other Buddhist text such as the Hongyo-kyo. The Means Does it use a chi? Most systems open admit their use of Chi or state that it will increase chi. According to the Jade Dragon online the purpose of the movement of Tai chi is to beckon spirit to empower people. Spirit that Christian would know are devils, unclean spirits. The Jade Dragon online states: "According to his book, Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy, Eliade recounts that a Shaman must from time to time perform a ritual known as the Spirit Dance. Well known among native Americans, accounts of this practice also date back 4,000 years in Chinese records. During the Spirit Dance, the Shaman moves in imitation of his animal spirit to call on its powers. It is said that the animal spirit actually takes possession of the Shaman's body and imbues the Shaman with superhuman strength. This principle is also mirrored in the martial arts. Performing the movements of Tai Chi is said to generate a spiritual energy Chi. Like the Shaman's infusion from his animal spirit, Chi also bestows superhuman strength."

Further insight into "Tai Chi" and its spiritual connection is illustrated by the Jade Dragon Online when it states: "Tai Chi has often been described and written about as form of meditationa moving meditation. The purpose of meditation is to alter one's consciousness in order to achieve a variety of goals from relaxation and healing to extending one's lifespan and many even believe that it helps develop supernatural abilities. The picture that most often comes to mind when we consider meditation is that of the Yogi, the Buddhist, and the Taoist, sitting cross-legged in a temple." Does this author feel that all marshal arts are evil then? No, definitely not! But Christians must be discerning as to what kind they practice; because the Bible says (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Clearly adopting Hindu religious practices in not glorifying to God because He said "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3) As Christian therefore, we must ask does the Marshal art which I want to study include: 1. Does it use a ki, chi, or qui? 2. Is it dance based or passed on as a dance? 3. Does it claim to improve someone's spiritually? 4. Is the focus on doing the moves individually to better oneself? 5. Is the origin in the Hindu Vedas? 6. Is it practiced to improve meditation or concentration? 7. Does is include cultic practices or teachings? If it involves these points then Christians beware, otherwise those that enjoy learning how to protect loved ones, be the guardian of those God has entrusted to you, for Christ glory alone! (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.