Below is copied part my answer to an email
sent by someone with years of Karate training who
has suggested that martial arts is a superior
thing to practice than is meditation. For the
past 45+ years that I have practiced meditation,
I have had similar debates with others such as
Hatha Yoga practitioners, and other "path"
followers who do not value meditation very much.
I do respect their feelings and opinions. But,
biased or not, I think they are wrong...
<start of excerpt>
Dear P....G....,
big snip
...Hatha Yoga is not intended to help you become
more agile, or live longer, or for any other
similar specific benefit that it may in fact
produce. The real ancient purpose of Hatha Yoga
is to be able to sit in meditation without the
body distracting you with its itching, twitching,
tensing, etc. Similarly, the main component of
value in martial arts is not to be able to best
someone in a fight, or even to save your life when
you are being attacked. It is to increase you
ability to focus and maintain a state of concentration
that will lead to a meditative state. The "side
effects" of these activities are usually all beneficial,
but the best thing their practice can bring is
meditation steadiness and clarity. Hatha Yoga and
Martial Arts practices will end if you lose your arms
or your legs, but meditation can and will proceed
no matter what bodily loses occur. And with age,
or by events, you can be sure that they will. So, I
suggest that you maintain a meditative perspective
when you are doing Hatha Yoga or Martial Arts, or
anything similar. And that the practice of meditation
is the very best thing you can do for your mental,
emotional, and physical health and most importantly
for your evolution in consciousness....
<end of excerpt>

Prior to this excerpt, and after, I further
"sold" my opinion. But I think that for this person
and many others, the physical results they get from
their practice will count the most and the meditative
aspect will not be seen, appreciated or practiced. And
just as those who neglect their physical needs, they
will suffer quite a loss by ignoring the value of
an ongoing meditative practice. But all we can do
is be like farmers and plant the seeds as well as we
can, and see what grows.

Peace and blessings,
Bob