Is Boxing Considered a Martial Art? Why Yes and Why No

I’ve always been interested in the debate over whether boxing is a martial art. Strong opinions on both sides of the argument have muddied the waters and made it difficult to come to a conclusion either way.

So, is boxing considered a martial art? Actually, boxing can be considered a martial art. It meets the four criteria required for a fighting style to be labeled a martial art, and can, therefore, be grouped with karate, kung fu, taekwondo, and other more “traditional” martial arts.

But there are some people who strongly believe boxing isn’t a martial art. To understand where their opinion is coming from, we need the answer to the question “What actually is a martial art?”

What is a martial art?

Martial arts have four distinct characteristics that separate them from other forms of fighting.

One of these characteristics is the word “martial.” The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “martial” as “of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior.” For a fighting style to be considered a martial art, it needs to be able to be used in a warlike setting.

While some stricter interpretations of the term “warlike setting” require that the fighting style be used for actual war, I believe it applies to any life-or-death combat situation. So the “martial” requirement in a martial art is met by self-defense and law enforcement applications as well.

A martial art also needs to have a codified system of combat practices. The techniques involved in the fighting style needs to be able to be written down and explained in a systematic way. If the mode of fighting is random or can’t be explained in a step-by-step fashion, it is not a martial art.

The third necessary characteristic of a martial art is that it enables the practitioner’s mental and spiritual development. If a particular fighting style does help you develop mental fortitude and a sense of spiritual fulfillment while you learn the fighting style, it is not a martial art.

The fourth feature of a martial art is that it preserves some kind of culture or heritage. There needs to be a historical tradition behind a fighting style for it to be considered a martial art.

Why boxing is a martial art – the four criteria of a martial art

Boxing can be considered a martial art because it meets all of the aforementioned criteria.

It can be used in a warlike setting

First of all, boxing can be used in a warlike setting. If your life is being threatened, and you have no weapon, putting your hands up and using boxing techniques is a viable way to defend yourself and save your life. There is also precedence for boxing being used in an actual war setting. The Romans, when stripped of their swords and shields, would resort to numerous fighting techniques to defend themselves. Boxing was one of these techniques.

It can be codified into a written system

Next, boxing techniques can be codified into a written system. The different kinds of jabs, hooks, crosses, and uppercuts ‒ and the combinations of each that make up an attack ‒ can be logically explained in a step-by-step fashion. You could technically learn how to box from a textbook ‒ though you probably wouldn’t be very good if you did.

It aids in mental and spiritual development

Third, someone who learns how to box will inevitably build up a well of mental fortitude. The rigor and repetitiveness of an effective training program require an ironclad will, and even the strongest of wills have their basis in mental resilience.

The physical pain that comes with boxing is also an indicator of the mental development boxers go through. Any boxer will tell you that their ability to tolerate and work through pain has increased as they spend more time boxing. This higher tolerance for pain is another sign that boxing aids in mental development, at least with regard to the mind’s ability to withstand serious discomfort.

It’s also likely they develop a core of what could be described as spiritual fulfillment. Most spiritual practices emphasize the importance of being in the present moment, and a boxer needs to be fully in the present moment to have any hope of defeating their opponent. Boxing is a game of milliseconds and lightning-fast reactions. If the entirety of your consciousness is not fully in the moment and focusing entirely on the fight, there will be severe physical consequences.

It preserves history and culture

Finally, boxing also preserves a definite history and culture.

Records of boxing date as far back as the 3rd millennium BC. We know this because archaeologists uncovered a Sumerian painting that depicts two people fighting with their fists.
It’s been an integral part of the Olympic games since 688 BC when the ancient Greeks incorporated it into their competition.
It was also an important part of Roman culture, as it was often used in amphitheaters as a way to entertain the crowds.
The current form of boxing preserves the tradition started by in 1867 by the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.

Why some people consider boxing not a martial art

While the previous section makes a compelling argument that boxing is a martial art, there are other opinions that say it isn’t a martial art.

It’s not truly “martial”

One reason boxing isn’t a martial art is that it’s too controlled to truly be considered “martial”. There are a number of rules that control how boxers must fight (no kicking, no takedowns no headbutts, biting, only punch above the waist, must wear gloves), and these rules would not hold up in a life-or-death setting.

If you were truly fighting for your life, you wouldn’t concern yourself with holding to trivial rules that dictate how you can use your body to save yourself. You would do whatever you can, even if those actions were outside the realm of what would be considered boxing.

Another reason some take issue with its classification as a martial art is the purpose for which it’s used. Boxing is first and foremost geared toward friendly competition. If you’re interested in self-defense or warzone combat, you’re not going to learn how to box. Almost everyone who learns how to box wants to compete in controlled boxing matches. This competition-focused purpose does not mesh well with the “martial” part of martial arts.

It’s not spiritual enough

While I discussed how boxing and spirituality go together in the previous section, many would say that the connection isn’t strong enough for boxing to truly be considered a spiritual practice. Merriam-Webster defines “spiritual” as “of or relating to sacred matters.” There is no such focus on “sacred matters” in boxing.

The goal of boxing is to knock out your opponent out while avoiding getting knocked out yourself. The presence of mindfulness or other states that could be perceived as spiritual are merely byproducts of attempting to knock out your opponent. There is no spiritual intention in them, and so boxing is not a martial art if you look at spirituality from this perspective.