is boxing considered as a martial art?

You should research the History of Boxing.

Anything of or relating to systematic physical combat is by definition a Martial Art.

 

You can't draw a line between "sports" and "martial arts." A martial art is just a system (i.e. art) of combat that you train. That sport-competition is part of the training system doesn't make it any less martial. Obviously the training for combat can't consist entirely of combat -- though the closer the better.

TKD is thus a martial art for example, despite having almost no connection with combat in the training, because despite its sport aspects, it is ultimately supposed to be a means of combat.

So yes, boxing is a martial art, not just a sport. Boxing is training to be a fighter, not a regular sportsman. Any genuine boxing training is all about fighting, and that is why the participants are called fighters.

 

You should also research the definition of the word "Sport".

Western Boxing as we see it today is not cancelled out as a Martial Art because of the competition aspect of it. If this were the case than every single Martial Art basically would no longer constitute being a Martial Art for the simple fact that to develope skills in a non-life-or-death setting most Arts and their practitioners formed systems of competing against one-another on a basis of win or lose as opposed to live or die. This is Sport. It's simply a means to test one's aptitude, knowledge, perception, of the Art in-question, not to re-define said Art.

Boxing is not re-defined because the competition aspect, the Sport aspect has become Globally popular. It does not detract anything from Boxing's effectiveness in real combat situations. Nor does it take away from the aesthetics of the practice. When done properly Boxing can be as cathartic as any other practice, as spiritually and mentally disciplining.

The argument that it does not qualify as a Martial Art simply does not exist, not by any perception of what Boxing or Martial Arts actually are.

 

JK, I believe boxing develops the mind and body, but Cus D'Amato isn't going to sit you out under a waterfall.

That's what appeals to me.

I think most westerners don't perceive boxing as a martial art, since we wrongly attribute the "oriental mystique" to that category, but like everyone here is saying, by any definition of the words, boxing has to be included.

 

Yes Tae Kwon Do and Boxing are Martial Arts. What I'm getting at is the reasons you're stating do not apply. And if you don't think that training even for the Sport aspect of the both of them don't condition a person to be able to handle real combat greater than many other practices then you should compete for a while and see what happens the next time someone fucks with you in the streets.

You're taking an idea and attempting to associate it in a way where it unnecessarily changes the perception of viable Martial Arts. Competition, is another form of training. Nothing more. So therefore competition is included in training and not seperated as the Ultimate Goal of each Art. They can be if a person is pretty pacifistic. But most people begin taking both TKD and Boxing to be able to defend themselves, not to fight in a ring or on a platform. Boxing ring-savvy makes a person awareof their environment, which translates well into the real world. Fencing's double-strikes actually happen more than you think in the real World risky or no. Meet guys who knife-fight or practice Kali. The first thin they'll tell you is EXPECT to be cut or stabbed, because rarely does anyone walk away unscathed. And just because TKD guys don't go for the groin in competition doesn't mean they don't train it, and also they actually do end up striking the groin, I have video tape to prove that.

The Sport aspect of a practice simply doesn't detract from whether or not something qualifies as a Martial Art, I'm sorry.