Martial arts quotes

by Chad Sanderson
(Georgia, USA)

I’ve been a martial artist for close to ten years and have grown up around many people who look at martial arts in different ways. Martial Arts is more than a sport; it’s a way of life, a mindset, a philosophy, or a career choice. Here are some of my favorite martial arts quotes to turn to when examining my own views on martial arts, taken from some of the most famous and influential martial artists of their day. What I love most about these quotes is not the fact that they all pertain to martial arts, but that through martial arts we can come to terms with a different side of ourselves, and emerge as more full human beings.

Marcial Arts Quotes

Bruce Lee
In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup. My friend, drop all your preconceived and fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it is empty.

Bruce Lee
All types of knowledge, ultimately mean self knowledge. Bruce Lee- You know what I want to think of myself? As a human being. Because, I mean I don’t want to be like “As Confucius say,” but under the sky, under the heavens there is but one family. It just so happens that people are different.

Bruce Lee
There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them Muhammad Ali: It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe

Muhammad Ali
Ain’t no reason for me to kill nobody in the ring.

Muhammad Ali
It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.

Muhammad Ali
Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them: A desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have last-minute stamina, they have to be a little faster, they have to have the skill and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.

Muhammad Ali
It’s not bragging if you can back it up.

Mas Oyama
Although it is important to study and train for skill in techniques, for the man who wishes to truly accomplish the way of budo, it is important to make his whole life in training and therefore not aiming for skill and strength alone, but also for spiritual attainment.

Mas Oyam
A human life gains luster and strength only when it is polished and tempered.

Mas Oyama
The most significant life is the one lived on the basis of a personal sense of justice and the desire to see justice realized everywhere.

Mas Oyama
If you do not overcome your tendency to give up easily, your life leads to nothing. —

If you have any other martial arts quotes I’d love to here them.