September 28 2022

150 Powerful Quotes About the Way of Martial Arts

Mike Lianas Quotes health and wellness, personal growth, sports

Martial arts are systems of combat evolved around the world and practiced for self-defense, sport, fitness or for mental and spiritual development. Contrary to what most people believe, martial arts did not originate in China. Wrestling, pankration and boxing where Olympic games in ancient Greece, and many other nations around the world have developed their own fighting systems. In fact, the oldest known art, Kalaripayattu, meaning “art of the battlefield”, was created thousands of years ago in Southern India and is considered the mother of all martial arts. The following martial arts quotes will help us delve into their world.

Modern day martial arts, are believed to have originated around the 6^th century A.D, in India, and then found their way into China through an Indian monk, Ta Mo or Bodhidharma, who first taught the monks of the renowned Shaolin Monastery. There are various styles of fighting arts, both armed and unarmed, but broadly speaking, they can be classified as “hard martial arts” such as judo, karate, and muay thai or “soft martial arts” such as Aikido and Tai Chi. The main difference, that sets East Asian martial arts apart from all others, is their emphasis on the mental and spiritual development of the practitioner, as a result of Zen Buddhism’s influence.

Practicing martial arts can offer tremendous benefits. It improves the cardiovascular system and overall physical flexibility, reduces stress and anxiety, improves reflexes and enhances self-confidence, but above all it promotes mental development and self-discovery. Martial arts is not a destination but a path towards cultivating an indomitable spirit and becoming the best version of yourself!

Whether you are a professional martial artist, a teacher or an aficionado of martial arts, here you will find the most inspirational martial arts quotes to share with your students, friends and loved ones in order to fire them up, but also to ruminate upon and find meaning and purpose in life!

Best Martial Arts Quotes
Humble Martial Arts Quotes

Respect Martial Arts Quotes
Inspirational Martial Arts Quotes
Motivational Martial Arts Quotes
Positive Quotes About Martial Arts

Funny Quotes About Martial Arts

Best Martial Arts Quotes

A selection of the best martial arts quotes from Grandmasters and great teachers that encapsulate profound wisdom and a whole philosophy of life. Use them as your daily mantras on your path to excellence!

Fall down seven times, get up eight (in Japanese : “Nana Korobi, ya oki”). Japanese proverb
A man who conquers himself is greater than one who conquers a thousand men in battle. Buddha

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend. Bruce Lee
Never take your eyes off your opponent…even when you’re bowing! Bruce Lee
Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted by reality. Bruce Lee
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practices one kick 10,000 times. Bruce Lee

Kung fu lives in everything we do. It lives in how we put on a jacket and how we take off a jacket. It lives in how we treat people. Everything is kung fu. Jackie Chan
The best fights are the ones we avoid. Jackie Chan
You can only fight the way you practice. Miyamoto Musashi
In battle, if you make your opponent flinch, you have already won. Miyamoto Musashi

The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them. Miyamoto Musashi
The best fighter is never angry. Lao Tzu
It’s what you don’t see that can take you out. B. Davis Kroon
If you want to be a lion, you must train with lions. Carlos Gracie Sr.

There is no losing in Jiu Jitsu. You either win or you learn. Carlos Gracie Sr.
I don’t always do what’s NICE, but I always do what’s RIGHT. Bohdi Sanders
The warrior guided by the spirit serves humanity, the warrior without, serves the ego. Soke Behzad Ahmadi
The hand (Kara-Te) is the cutting edge of the Mind. Soke Behzad Ahmadi

A karate practitioner should possess two things: wicked hands and Buddha’s heart. Soke Behzad Ahmadi
True victory is victory over oneself. Morihei Ueshiba
Life is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead. Morihei Ueshiba
The best thing is not to fight at all. Ip Man
When your temper rises, lower your fists. When your fists rise, lower your temper. Chojun Miyagi

It is OK lose to opponent, must not lose to fear. Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid)
Rule number one: Karate for defense only. Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid)
Look eye! Always look eye! Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid)
Martial arts is a form of expression, an expression from your inner self to your hands and legs. Donnie Yen

Humble Martial Arts Quotes

The road to true mastery passes through humility. Being humble frees the soul and opens new paths for exploring life’s endless possibilities!

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues. Confucius
When you lose, say little, when you win, say less. Matt Hughes
There’s a part of martial arts where we need humility and respect. Eddie Alvarez
In victory, be humble, in defeat, be strong, in all things, be fair. Bruce Lee
Life itself is your teacher and you are in a state of constant learning. Bruce Lee

Any martial art without proper training of the mind turns into beastly behavior. Shoshin Nagamine
The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried. Steven McCranie
Wearing a black belt does not make you a super hero, and wearing a white belt does not mean you have little to offer as a person. It is what we do in the belts we wear, and not the belts themselves that matter. Chris Matakas
Those who are possessed by nothing, possess everything. Morihei Ueshiba
Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up. Jesse Jackson

A great man is always willing to be little. Ralph Waldo Emerson
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. Ernest Hemingway
Humility will open more doors than arrogance ever will. Zig Ziglar
Mastery begins with humility. Robin Sharma
Talent means nothing, while experience acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything. Patrick Suskind

We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility. Rabindranath Tagore
Have the humility to learn from those around you. John C. Mawell
Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world. Miyamoto Musashi
Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie. Miyamoto Musashi
It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. Augustine of Hippo

Humility is the first rule of martial arts. Either you learn humility quickly, or you leave because your ego can’t handle losing repeatedly. Georges St Pierre
The humble man makes room for progress; the proud man believes he is already there. Ed Parker
Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But never enter like a lion and leave like a kitten.Always be humble. Carlson Gracie
Pain is the best instructor but no one wants to go to his class. Choi Hong Hi
Learning a technique is not the end in itself, it merely indicates where you need to start. Masaaki Hatsumi

I shall be happy if you understand that the essence of martial arts is not the strength, not the art, but that is hidden deep within yourself. Gogen Yamaguchi
As a six-time world karate champion and then a movie star, I put too much trust in who I was, what I could do, and what I acquired. I forgot how much I needed others, and especially God. Chuck Norris
Self-praise and over-confidence is a sickness that corrupts training. Matsumura Seito
Karate is not for a rank, glory or for revenge. It is way of life. Minoru Higa
Be careful not to be like those who do not train sufficiently, yet become masters because their talk resembles that of the experts. Gichin Funakoshi

Respect Martial Arts Quotes

Martial arts is about camaraderie and respect for each other. Through respect we can fight violence and achieve peace in the world.

Knowledge will give you power, but character respect. Bruce Lee
The heart of our karate is real fighting. There can be no proof without real fighting. Without proof there is no trust. Without trust there is no respect. This is a definition in the world of martial arts. Mas Oyama
The path of martial arts begins and ends with courtesy. So be genuinely polite on every occasion. Mas Oyama
Imagine if every child learned the respect, courtesy, and discipline that martial arts teaches. The world would be a different place. Chris Wahmond

When you are learning about a martial art, it is about respect. Jackie Chan
I think every young child can learn through any martial art. They would then learn to respect their life, respect their parents, respect their country, and respect the whole world. Jackie Chan
When I started training martial arts, I learned about respect. Anderson Silva
Everyone has their own way of learning and doing things. But we respect each other. In the end we all head to the same direction. Tsukamoto Sensei
Martial Arts is about honor and respect. Rose Namajunas

You train to become a warrior, not a fighter. The warrior knows the hell he can let loose, so he chooses the path of peace and respect. Sifu Kanishka Sharma
The goal of martial arts is not for the destruction of an opponent, but rather for self-growth and self-perfection. Dan Inosanto

Inspirational Martial Arts Quotes

A collection of uplifting quotes that pack the knowledge of a lifetime, selected to ignite your warrior spirit and inspire you to evolve into something beautiful!

If you truly love life, don’t waste time, because time is what life is made of. Bruce Lee
For me, the martial arts is a search for something inside. It’s not just a physical discipline. Brandon Lee
You need balance. That’s why I like martial arts: it always tells you how to control your body, your mind, your heart. Jet Li

Never depart from the way of martial arts. Miyamoto Musashi
One of the greatest gifts of the martial arts is that they ultimately guide us to new levels of spirituality. Joseph Cardillo
The practice of a martial art should be a practice of love – for the preservation of life, for the preservation of body, and for the preservation of family and friends. Dan Inosanto
O-Sensei was frequently heard to say “Aiki is not a technique to fight with or defeat an enemy. It is the way to harmonize the world and make humanity one family. Linda Holiday

We learn martial arts as helping weakness. You never fight for people to get hurt. You’re always helping people. Jackie Chan
Martial arts does not teach you how to fight, it teaches you why not to. Lakshya Bharadwaj
The very essence of martial arts is the thirst for knowledge and the truth about ourselves. Frank Shamrock
The teaching of one virtuous person can influence many; that which has been learned well by one generation can be passed on to a hundred. Kano Jigoro
We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated. Maya Angelou

If we overcome those enemies that attack us from within, we can attain a true victory over any attack from without. Morihei Ueshiba
Protecting yourself is self-defense. Protecting others is warriorship. Bohdi Sanders
I am not teaching you how to fight. I am teaching you how to control evil. That’s what we are really doing here. Masaaki Hatsumi
We must do whatever we can to aid the cause of peace for humankind and freedom and happiness. Masaaki Hatsumi
People who aspire to the martial arts must have a true heart. Masaaki Hatsumi

When a person is motivated by a sense of justice and genuine sincerity, then he conforms to the Celestial Way. Takamatsu Toshitsugu
The essence of the path of the martial arts lies in the peace and happiness of all human beings. Grandmaster Hironori Otsuka
Remember Dragon Warrior, anything is possible when you have inner peace. Master Sifu (Kung Fu Panda)

Motivational Martial Arts Quotes

A mélange of powerful quotes that will inspire confidence and strength, helping you to give it your all!

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. Confucius

A black belt is a white belt that never gave up. Unknown
If you want to learn to swim, jump into the water. On dry land, no frame of mind is ever going to help you. Bruce Lee
The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus. Bruce Lee
The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat. Richard Marcinko
What is defeat? Nothing but education; nothing but the first step to something better. Wendell Phillips

Each of us has his cowardice. Each of us is afraid to lose, afraid to die. But hanging back is the way to remain a coward for life. The way to find courage is to seek it on the field of conflict. And the sure way to victory is willingness to risk one’s own life. Mas Oyama
One becomes a beginner after one thousand days of training and an expert after then thousand days of practice. Mas Oyama
When it comes to technique, work it over and over again until you have mastered it. Saenchai Saepong
Ever Tried? Ever failed? No matter! Try again. Fail again. Fail better! Understand? Good. Play. Masaaki Hatsumi
Move like a beam of light: fly like lightning, strike like thunder, whirl in circles around a stable center. Morihei Ueshiba

You must have a dragon hidden inside of you. When you need, you let that dragon out. Anderson Silva
I am a shark, the ground is my ocean, and most people can’t swim. Rickson Gracie
Only after several years of training did I come to realize that the deepest purpose of the martial art is to serve as a vehicle for personal spiritual development. Joe Hyams
The fighter who give their all will be around next year. Don’t save anything. Give it all you got. George Foreman
Anyone can be tough for a season. It takes a special kind of human to rise to life’s challenges for a lifetime. Chris Matakas

I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion. Muhammad Ali
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The hands can’t hit what the eyes can’t see. Muhammad Ali
A punch should stay like a treasure in the sleeve. It should not be used indiscriminately. Chotoku Kyan
Even a low class warrior can surpass an elite, with enough hard work. Goku
Never forget that, at most, the teacher can give you fifteen percent of the art. The rest you have to get for yourself through practice and hard work. I can show you the path but I can not walk it for you. Master Tan Soh Tin

A good instructor teaches students how to fight, a great instructor teaches students how to survive. Ricardo Almeida
“Just as a stool requites three legs to stand upright so the taekwondoist must cultivate basic skills, meaningful forms, and effective sparring in order to have both feet firmly planted in the art. Doug Cook
Training Krav Maga is an important part of my life…it gives me great skills, strength and power. Jason Statham
Pain is weakness leaving the body. Unknown
Everybody is beatable. Mixed martial arts, there’s many ways to win, and that also means that there are many ways to lose, as well. Bas Rutten

Invest your fear and stress to work and get to the top. Mike Zambidis

Positive Quotes About Martial Arts

Eye-opening quotes to expand your awareness and help you understand truths you would have otherwise missed.

Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind for they are the weeds that strangle confidence. Bruce Lee
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer. Bruce Lee
All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns. Bruce Lee

Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind. Bruce Lee
Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Sun Tzu
To know your enemy, you must become your enemy. Sun Tzu
Do not fight with the strength, absorb it and it flows, use it. Ip Man
The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things. Miyamoto Musashi

From one thing, know ten thousand things. Miyamoto Musashi
Learning Kung Fu has only one purpose: To train one’s reaction into a natural response. Such reaction is essential. Yuan Xiu Gang
Since karate is a martial art you must practice with utmost seriousness from the very beginning. Gichin Funakoshi
The plan is to never pick a fight, but the promise is to never back down from one. Lakshya Bharadwaj
I don’t train so I could fight, I train so I could restrain someone from fighting. Abhijit Naskar

The cost of martial arts is the size of the bullet. Tamerlan Kuzgov
I am not a warrior because I know what to do in a fight. I am a warrior because I know how to behave in every situation. Bohdi Sanders
Aikido is not ultimately Japanese: It is an art of universal truth and international significance. Linda Holiday
Jiu Jitsu is the vehicle. Not the road. Chris Matakas
Krav Maga, so that one may walk in peace. Imi Lichtenfeld

True victory does not come from defeating an enemy, true victory comes from giving love and changing an enemy’s heart. Morihei Ueshiba
The purpose of the study of Judo is to perfect yourself and to contribute to society. Kano Jigoro
Do not strike others and do not let others strike you. The goal is peace without incident. Chojun Miyagi
I do small things. I try to do good things every day. Jackie Chan
I don’t initiate violence; I retaliate. Chuck Norris

With Hapkido you always harmonize with your opponent to use his force against him. Grandmaster Han Bong-Soo
Whole life have a balance, everything be better. Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid)

Funny Quotes About Martial Arts

A collection of funny and mood enhancing quotes to surround yourself with positive energy and help you loosen up! The funny side of martial arts!

Boards don’t hit back. Bruce Lee
Your opponent should gain the impression that you are one of those Mediterranean types who talks with his hands and gesticulates a great deal. Keith R. Kernspecht

If size mattered, the elephant would be the king of the jungle. Rickson Gracie
Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth. Mike Tyson
I don’t hit bad people, I just give them a shape, like Blacksmith shapes an iron. Mikki Koomar
They called me short. I called them an ambulance. Unknown
Judo: the art of hitting someone with a planet. Unknown

… but to remain historically accurate, I would have had to leave out an important question that I felt needed to be addressed, which is, ‘What if Jesus had known kung fu?’ Christopher Moore
Remember best block, no be there. Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid 2)
Hey can you break a log like that? Don’t know. Never been attacked by tree. Mr. Miyagi (Karate Kid 2)
Of course I know the rules. Simple. You hit him, don’t let him hit you. Jackie Chan (The Karate Kid)

Martial Arts is symbolic of life. It is about an indomitable warrior spirit, never giving up, enduring the pain and the challenges in your path, and pushing yourself forward. Past the physical, cognitive and behavioral benefits, it is an inner transformation experience. What may seem as a daily discipline to the untrained eye is, in essence, something much deeper: an esoteric journey that promotes self-discovery and allows you to transcend your limitations. Much more than belts and shiny trophies, martial arts is a mental affair about conquering yourself.

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