Is Competitve Fighting Wrong?

[Jon Rosko]

I've always had an interest in boxing and now I'm into mixed martial arts and Muay Thai kickboxong. I know that Jesus preached peace over violence, but I was wondering if God would look down upon two people fighting in a controlled enviroment with rules. One might ask, 'if God wants us to love everyone.. how could you hit someone you love?'. I goof around with my Dad all of the time, teaching him submission moves and doing some arm punches back and forth. Could I knock him out... well probably not because it wouldn't be a fair fight.
If he were younger, however, and could hold his own against me then Yeah I'd love to test my mettle against him in a controlled enviroment. We wouldn't fight out of anger, hate, or attack each other maliciously, but like in a game of chess it would be a test of will one trying to dominate the other. Of course there is the inherent risk of injury, but no more so than most sports out there like rugby, football, hockey or bull-riding. And to some, even those sports may be unChristian. I love God, I want to obey him in everything I do, thats why I ask this question and gave my defense so that I may know the truth. Feel free to reply.

 

[soul19]

i have competed in competive fighting and it is a great way to get in shape and challenge yourself. I have no concerns with it and being a christian i try to hold me conduct to the rules that are applied. It is your behavior when competing that is essential. Being positive to others and respectful to your oppent is key.

James

 

[e=mv^2]

The way I see it is this:

Being nonviolent because you do not know how to fight is one thing.
Knowing how to fight and then being nonviolent is another thing entirely.
Some of the most nonviolent people on earth are martial artists. I think that it acutally enhances a decision not to fight if you are very capable of doing so.

 

[z3ro]

Is football evil? More people are hurt in football a year than mixed-martial arts. The second half of that, is chess evil? The chess example is a great one, and I agree(actually, I had this discussion with my wife yesterday) I don't fight out of anger, it's strategy.

So, if the violence is what is evil, then football is a much more evil activity to engage in. If it's the strategy, putting yourself to the test, then chess is evil as well.

Now, I do want to qualify this by saying that if your purpose of fighting is to hurt people, then it becomes bad. However, I've never known anyone who stuck with it for more than a day or two with those purposes in mind.