What do you identify as the common thread in all forms of martial arts?

ppl.ppl teach it and ppl learn it.lol.

EDIT>you obviously know the tenets of ma and your right we should agree with them no matter what your style is,and most true martial artists know this and do so.the philosophies, principles and tenets are basicly the same its the martial artist that makes it so though not the style.

The common thread that ties all true martial artists together, is a path toward an authentic and self developing life. All martial arts have this as their goal; the development of the self, service to others, and an authentic connection with all that exists.

As one wise person said, even though we are all taking different paths to the peak, we are all utlimately climbing the same mountain.

It depends on how you define Martial Art. As I define it, philosophy & discipline are vital. Obviously, the martial aspect is also a sine qua non.

If all the You can beat em up crap would quit I would start as many others sharing this

But many are afraid of bullies that are tougher not wiser

Shame alot of knowledge goes to waste cause a person cannot apply what they know as well anymore of if ever, but hell imagine learning more and more and

from COOL people willing to share

ahh well you would not understand

I Enjoy Cool Tough People and always have

I Hate Tough Bullies and always have

I once heard of a man shot once and died

the people who shot him shot many more times, was he dead any more?

If an art will harm you, if another harms you more does it better the one that worked as far as the law will allow and less effective on the streets??

You all act like unless you kill your opponent it is not effective

Dammmmmm what a Menatlity?

repetiotion (sp) doing the same thing over & over till u get it right then doing it yet again

I think you are mistaking negativity for realism.

practicality: self preservation.

without this basic feature, nothing else will help you.