What is more difficult to learn?
 

What is more difficult to learn, or rather, master?

a. a new language?

b. a martial art?

I don't mean, just get by... I mean master one or the other. Discuss.

Who's standard of master? Our own, or a professional organization of some sort?

Doesn't matter. Your own I guess. Mastering is mastering.

of course it matters... "master" is vague...

"master" martial arts as in be able to compete on international level? or just "master" enough to impress your buddies when they see you in action at a bar fight?

same for language, "master" so you can understand all nuances of literature in that language? or just "master" enough so if you go on vacation you can ask where the bathroom is without sounding like some idiot?

maybe a new language ?

Je ne l'ai jamais maîtrisé une langue seconde de sorte ....

I feel like a new language is harder, especially if you're going from a non-tonal (most European languages) to something tonal.

These are the languages where the inflection of your voice will affect the meaning. As a Thai speaker, I notice a lot of people have difficulty differentiating the different tones.

Stick with what you know best.............. masturbating

Language would be the hardest to master.

Depends on your perspective I guess. My mother was French so I grew up speaking it. It came natural.
I have a 2nd degree black belt in mixed martial arts and its the hardest thing I've ever done. Learning a new language at this point would be hard but not as hard as some people think. As for martial arts, its not a hobby. You have to live it. It takes a great deal of dedication. That's why so few people are trained in it. But many people learn another language.

The correct answer is :

How long is a piece of string?

Generally speaking, when it comes to skilled, WORLD CLASS performance (i.e. a martial art or being fluent in another language to the point that a native speaker can't recognize an accent)... its 10,000 hours of "deliberate practice". This means, focused, attentive repetition where there is both accurate feedback and a determination on the part of the learner to improve to perfection.

Most martial arts take around 600-800 hours to reach "black belt" level (using japanese/okiniawan karate as an example). Some take much longer such as jujitsu because you are severely limited in the number of repetitions to can repeat. For example, brazillian jujitsu might take 10 years to get a black belt... generally, as an example, where you can throw 2000 jabs in an hour, you can't train 2000 arm bars in an hour.

The worlds foremost authority on the acquisition of skill and expertise is K Anderes Ericsson and several of his books, i have right in front of me. His and motor learning books are critical tools to me in coaching fighters.

Generally, there is no such thing as a prodigy. All learning requires time and repetition with the exceptions of those who are autistic or otherwise impaired where some areas of the brain compensate for others which are deficient resulting in other interesting talents. For every 10 year old violin "prodigy", there are usually 2 obsessed parents who are music teachers forcing their kid to practice 6 hrs a day as they hover over them demanding perfection. We are always amazed at the end result, but never see the 1000s of hours of focused work.

:2 cents::2 cents:
one is intellectual, other is (mainly) physical. incomparable since everyone has different intellect/physique

Don't get hung up on the word "mastering"...

You know the language inside and out, nothing left to learn and you speak it with zero foreign accent.

or

You know the martial art inside and out as if you were born with the ability.


I'm going to say the martial art would be tougher. Both can be taught of course, but I don't think the element of instinct required for martial arts can be taught when put to the test.

This makes me crave a lime flavoured Perrier now

a. Depends on the language, tonals are the most difficult ones in my opinion.
b. The same could be said on Martial Arts.