What is Christian Martial Arts?

Today many have come to define a Christian Martial Art as one that is practiced or taught by a professed Christian. However, upon examination, you will find nothing more that a professed Christian practicing or teaching a traditional Martial Art, with much of it’s anti-Christian theories, traditions, and practices intact.

Additionally, “Christian” associations have popped up over the years many of which implement some sort of Bible Study, etc. into their teaching curriculum, but again they fall short of actually practicing a Christian Martial Art for they too practice traditional arts including their theories, traditions, and occult practices.

Therefore, for a martial art to be termed a “Christian Martial Art” it must not reproduce any of the methods of worship hidden within the original system and it should not reproduce anti-Christian worldviews, traditions, or ceremony. For example, Taekwondo practitioners teach a form of kata (poomsae) called Tae Guek. Tae Geuk patterns according to the Kukkiwon Training Manual and their website mimick the 8 divination signs as represented on the Korean Flag (The black bars around the blue and red yin/yang symbol). Upon examining the Tae Geuk one will find that it is actually a type of religion that was hidden within Taekwondo.

Therefore, a Christian that bows to the Korean flag “in respect” bows to an idol used for worship. When a Christian practices and trains in Tae Geuk Poomsae, they worship the god for which the pattern was produced, again worshipping an idol and an unknown god. This type of situation is pervasive in all Asian martial arts and many of those of Europe.

Thus, a Christian Martial Art is one in which ALL theory, practice, tradition, and application points to Messiah Jesus alone. So please be leary of Christian martial arts groups that endorse traditional asian arts as they have always been taught, touting ranks and lineage from the “source” of the art, for you are not getting a Christian art at all.

Essential Statement of Faith

• In the one and only living God — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the Creator of heaven and earth. (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 42:5)

• Jesus (Hebrew “Yeshua”) is Israel’s promised Messiah and the Redeemer of the entire human race. By His life, death and resurrection, He fulfilled the messianic prophecies of the Old Covenant Scriptures related to Messiah’s first coming. The divine Messiah, Jesus is the fullest revelation of God to man. (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7, 49:6, 53:1-12; Psa. 16:9-11)

• We believe in the triune nature of God — God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. God made man in His own image and endowed him with a longing for intimate fellowship with the Creator. (Gen. 1:26, 2:7; Psa. 41:1-2)

• Man’s disobedience to God’s revealed will caused a separation between man and God. (Gen. 2:16-17; Isa. 59:1-2)

• The only provision God made for reconciling man to Himself was through the atoning work of the Messiah, who died as the sacrifice for our disobedience and rose again, manifesting His victory over sin and death. (Lev. 17:11; Isa. 53:1-12; 2 Cor. 5:19)

• The Bible — both the Old and New Covenant Scriptures — is God’s Word to man and the only reliable, safe guide to faith and conduct. (Num. 12:6-8; Isa. 8:20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17)

• All who repent from sin and accept God’s message of salvation in the Messiah are born again of the Spirit of God. Faith in the Messiah as the mediator of the New Covenant makes us true children of God. (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:24-27; John 1:11-13)

• The Holy Spirit indwells the heart of every born again believer. The baptism of the Spirit for anointed service is the positional right of every believer, but is appropriated as a faith experience distinct from the born again experience. (Acts 8:15-17, 10:44-46, 19:1-6)

• All of the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit are intended for the body of believers during this age. (1 Cor. 12:4-11)

• The atonement in Jesus includes both spiritual and physical healing. The blessings of obedience promised to Israel in the Mosaic Covenant are available to any believer under the New Covenant today. (1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:5; Psa. 103:3)

• Those who are born of the Holy Spirit become members of the universal people of God, the Body of the Messiah. This one spiritual fellowship through the Messiah includes both Jews and Gentiles as equal members of this Body — One in Jesus. (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 27; Eph. 2:14-16, 5:30-32)