Is there a purpose to modern martial arts anymore?

Not sure if there is "a" purpose, but i'm fairly certain every single student of a martial art has "their" purpose.

Whether it be to face a bully, to operate confidently in a big city, to get into shape or as a simple hobby, or to smash those who try to restrict your freedom, martial arts do serve those who practice it, and it serves them well.

And lets assume the premise of your question is correct, and that martial arts has no purpose, this does not equate to not having BENEFITS and the benefits of martial arts is pupose enough.

The purpose is to keep a tradition that innumerable warriors dedicated their lives to alive and honored. Outside of honoring past artists, it's personal for each who study.

My reason is to further and continue to honor my Sabumnim, who dedicated many tireless hours and gave all he had to training me in the old ways, and to continue to be able to protect those important to me.

It also depends on how you define martial arts. Most of the time anymore, people think and train with it as a sport, which is, in my mind, wholly inaccurate and devoid of the entire point of martial arts. They're arts of battle, not of points and blood for sport in front of a crowd of whelping spectators.

The short answer is this -

In a world where nobody in the general populus really knows what actual martial arts are anymore, we train to ensure that it is never completely forgotten.

What are modern martial arts?

I began my martial arts training in 1968 for one purpose only, which hasn't changed in 2008 - self defense.

My self-defense training has included: meditation, physical fitness, philosophy, hygeine, and ethics.

As far as I am aware Budo is practiced (and I teach) the same today in the 21st century as it was in the past three hundred years (or it should be).

You answered your own question - keep in shape & sharpen the mind...that should be enough. People swim, jog, play tennis, football, etc. for the same reasons.

If that isn't enough, there are benefits that are less outwardly noticeable, like confidence, coordination, and stress reduction.

Plus, if you are one of the tens of thousands of people who are assaulted every year (still a tiny minority percentage-wise) you have some degree of preparation to deal with an attacker. So it's a little bit of an insurance policy.

Every practicioner has their reasons (some fight for prizes, some enjoy the challenge of grappling, some like the aesthetics and philisophy, etc.) but I think what I list above are pretty common and compelling reasons to participate in martial arts.

martial arts are not meant for keeping you in shape-that is a shallow goal, it lacks the strenght to motivate millenia of continous development . As for discipline, this term derives from control- the original masters did not create them just so that conservatorism may be sustained- again a very shallow goal , another error that modern day sensei make when justifying their work. The reason is power trough knowledge, knowledge of the body, your body or your opponent's. power is a necesity of the human being, because from it derive safety and prosperity for yourself. Martial arts breed power in you, it is undenyable. Religion, militarism or social standards, those facades were forged by the ones who forgot the reason and belived by the weak in mind.

I think there is a purpose and it's just inside of everyone who practice martial art. I practice Kendo and Iaido and sure i cannot use it to defende me in everyday life but I love it and it makes me happy and feel good everytime i go to the dojo.

I'll answer by slightly modifying a statement made by Gichin Funakoshi that every martial artist should be familiar with:

"The ultimate aim of [the martial arts] lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.

Are not the purposes you gave real? Are not these things of value to enrich your life.

If a car jacker approaches you in the parking lot do you think you will be better off resisting or going with them? FBI statistics show those who successfully resist more often live to tell about it than those who go with the assailant. Ask any one who has been in close quarter combat if the skills they have learned were Worth it. Examine your premise.

"Sure it teaches discipline, keeps you in shape, and sharpens the mind, but is there a true purpose in it anymore?"

I really fail to see what more you could want then what you listed.

Sounds like you answered your own question, but i would also add it helps with self confidence, overcoming fear, keeping a level head in a crisis, as well as giving you a chance if your attacked, which is more then not training one will give you.

martial arts ARE used in war, shooting someone with an automatic rifle and dropping a bomb on them are as much martial arts as unarmed styles people learn, if not MORE so.

the term martial arts is derived from the latin translation of the term "the ARTS OF MARS" Mars bieng the god of war.

thus marital arts are arts used in combat and war- see the connection. you can look up the exact latin phrase yourself if you like.