Skilled vs. Enthusiastic

I was watching a youtube clip of an author who apparently used Marc MacYoung's writings on violence as a source. He then expressed for the audience that he was not a skilled martial artist but rather a enthusiastic martial artist. Naturally that got the brain pumping chemicals to the deep thinking region and thus resulted in this post.

What would constitute skilled? This is yet another question that would bring about as many answers as there are martial systems and most probably more. It is like the question, "What is a traditional martial art?"

Skilled: It is a person who has or shows knowledge, ability, or training to perform an activity well. I would actually say that in martial arts it is expected a skilled martial arts practitioner who has the knowledge and who shows that knowledge in the actions taken. A skilled martial artist "has and shows knowledge, ability and training of martial arts well."

A person who has skill in martial systems bases that skill on training and experience which will show expertise in that system. It also means a skilled practitioner has gained special abilities through training and practice.

Finally, a skilled martial artist has learned their system to such a capacity they can carry it out for results that come from a minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. This is my interpretation of a skilled martial artist.

An enthusiastic martial artist is a person who may or may not have skill, i.e. a skilled practitioner. An enthusiastic martial artists is a person who has an intense and eager interest and enjoyment in their efforts. It arouses feelings that may not actually affect the skilled aspect of practice and training.  Sometimes this equals a overflow of eagerness and sometimes requires sought after approval from perceived sources of authority on said system(s).

I like to think I am an enthusiastic skilled karate-jutsu-do practitioner. I see where both attributes of skilled and enthusiastic can be achieved. Where I run into a difference is when one or the other dominates the training and practice. This is not a diminishing of the system. It is merely a way of viewing a variety of practices with truth and accuracy as an aspect.

The discussion can not be limited by this post. It does need to take in the classifications of practice and training. As an example training to fight, training to compete, and training for self-realization. This is a suggestion knowing full well that we can classify all martial systems even further where skilled and/or enthusiastic efforts can gravitate to one extreme or the other with the hopes that it finds a solid balance like my view of my practice and training.