Why learn a martial art?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

Her master didn't teach her the military martial arts because he really doesn't believe they're useful other than teaching soldiers to understand that pain can be ignored and that it's good excercise: after all why wrap a battle suit or a starship around you and then fight hand to hand?

The ability to ignore _pain_ might not be what is being taught.

Look at MCMAP. The Marine Corp doesn't teach a Style that includes familiarity with TA: Stamp Kick/ Face because the situation comes up all the time. It's a part of teaching people to ignore Reluctant Killer or even simple squeamishness.

Even in a starship you can't count on being able to defeat an enemy militarily without doing unpleasant things to him in the process.

Tournament fighters may not need this but actual defense training has to include the willingness to _hurt_ people when necessary.