The 25 Best Humble Martial Arts Quotes

Humility and traditional arts go hand in hand with one another. Being humble is defined as having a modest view of your own importance when contrasted with life and the world overall. Many of the quotes below are from men and women who have achieved the highest accolades in martial arts, yet were able to stay grounded and humble.

Humbleness is a trait that is highly desired and praised within all martial arts. You may see fighters on TV showing off their wealth and disrespecting opponents, but true martial artists know that this is the exact opposite of how you should behave. After all, men are not just judged on what they’ve achieved and how much money they have, but also how they treat other people.

The Top Humble Quotes From Martial Arts

1. “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine” – Bruce Lee

2. “The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them” – Miyamoto Musashi

3. “When I tap, it means I’ve accepted the technique, learned the lesson and look to apply the experience next time I step on the mat. I never give up“ – Ryron Gracie

4. “A man who conquers himself is greater than one who conquers a thousand men in battle” – Buddha

5. “I never lose. I either win or I learn” – Unknown

6. “A soldier is told what to do, and he does what he is told. A warrior already knows what to do and does only what is right” – Unknown

7. “Life itself is your teacher and you are in a state of constant learning” – Bruce Lee

8. “To follow the path of martial arts is like climbing on a cliff that never ends. It demands absolute devotion for the task to be executed” – Masutatsu Oyama

9. “A Black belt only covers two inches of your ass, you have to cover the rest” – Royce Gracie

10. “Victory is reserved for those willing to pay its price” – Sun Tzu

11. “My opponent is my teacher, my ego is my enemy” – Unknown

12. “Some people learn to lose, others lose and learn” – Georges St Pierre

13. “To help others to develop and succeed in life is a reward in itself and only has value when nothing is offered in return” – Choi Hong Hi

14. “Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie” – Miyamoto Musashi

15. “Martial arts gave me a purpose, gave me dedication, gave me a drive that I wouldn’t have had otherwise” – Conor McGregor

16. “Learning a technique is not the end in itself, it merely indicates where you need to start” – Masaaki Hatsumi

17. “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday” – Unknown

18. “With discipline, belief and the right knowledge, we become the best we can be” – Unknown

19. “The danger is not to set your goal too high and fail to reach it. It’s to set your goal too low and to reach it” – Georges St Pierre

20. “Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something” – Morihei Ueshiba

21. “In victory, be humble, in defeat, be strong, in all things, be fair” – Bruce Lee

22. “There is no finish line when you reach a goal, find a new one” – Chuck Norris

23. “I shall be happy if you understand that the essence of martial arts is not the strength, not the art, but that is hidden deep within yourself” – Gogen Yamaguchi

24. “When a person is motivated by a sense of justice and genuine sincerity, then he conforms to the celestial way” – Takamatsu Toshitsugu

25. “The path of martial arts begins and ends with courtesy. So be genuinely polite on every occasian” – Mas Oyama