May 2015, I received an email from a young man, who was taking heat for being a Christian that practices Martial Arts. I responded that I had similar experiences here in the Bible-Belt of NC during the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Developing a productive response wasn’t easy, because Religion is such a personal, passionate and sensitive topic. After 3 years of research, I believe this review of Christianity meeting Martial Arts provides a historical perspective and a current perspective.

How Much Can You Look Like A Martial Artist,
And Still Call Yourself A Christian?

Reference Mentors

Guardians of Research

Imperial Bandits: Outlaws and Rebels in the China-Vietnam Borderlands
Professor Bradley Davis :

From Christ to Confucius: German Missionaries, Chinese Christians, and the Globalization of Christianity, 1860-1950
Professor Albert Wu

Catholics and Anti-Catholicism in Chosŏn Korea
Professor Don Baker
Biography: Don Baker PH.D : Korean civilization in the Department of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia

The Visitor: Andre Palmeiro and the Jesuits in Asia
Professor Liam Brockey

Prof Peter Van Deer: Head of Anthropology

Sascha Matuzak : Future Agent of Action

Peter Consterdine : World Combat Association

Christians and Self Defense Study Paper
Church of God, Ministerial Board of Directors :
Download when you login

Wonderful essay that Self Protection, uses scripture, real observations, stories of the bible, and a critical thinking process to teach you how to protect yourself,

1. As a Christian, you are obligated to be aware of your circumstances
2. You are to remove yourself from trouble as much as you can.
3. You are not to encourage violence, de-esculate when you can..
   As a Christian you should avoid violent encounters thru awareness, diverting and de-esculate.

Central Question: Can Christians use force to ward off an attacker or protect themselves or a loved one?

The answer is ‚yes, they can‚ then it goes on to explain in detail, under what circumstances might this occur and how or why would a Christian engage in such a struggle?

Summary, “If confronted with such a situation as we have been considering in this paper, a Christian should flee if at all possible. If fleeing is not an option, the use of defensive, nonlethal force (i.e., restraint of the perpetrator) is within the scope of a proper Christian response. Nothing in the scriptures that we have considered would preclude that option. However, the teaching from God, the Word confirms that Christians should not possess weapons for the intended purpose of using them to cause harm to another human being.”

Buy a Sword : Toward a Theology of Civilian Self-Defense :
Timothy Nichols

National Teaching Pastor’s Conference, takes a Critical Thinking approach to the argument, and starts with an interesting position. If you believe that God made the world and everything in it, and the Bible is the word of God, then these two things must be parallel, and not contradict one another. If they do contradict, then one of your assumptions is off. Assuming they are correct, Nichols presents why practicing Martial Arts and Self Defense, but he also goes into supportive strategies and techniques that I found well considered. Download when you login

Myth: To be a real American, you should be Christian.

Mr. Mark McGee : Grace Martial Arts
Author of several books associated with Martial Arts and Christianity. Exchanged Emails with me and very approachable 🙂

Buy A Sword : Theology of Civilian Self Defense (0 downloads) Christians and Self Defense Study (0 downloads)