Self Perfection Vs Self Protection

An Australian friend of mine teaches Martial Arts here in Japan. Most of you Martial Artists will know the name and have an opinion either way about him. I won't mention his name, but it won't be hard to work out who it is (Japan, internationally known Australian MA teacher, varied opinions on him.....). Talking with him a few years back this question came up: Self Perfection vs Self Protection/Preservation. Personally, I did not agree with his concept on this but he had very valid points. Most Martial Arts focus on one over the other, regardless what their advertisement says. It's a fact for the majority of schools. But definitely not all.
I see the Martial Art I do (He-Style Taijiquan) as a perfect blend of both. Neither has the foreground, both need to exist simultaneously. Yin and Yang personified. Our conversation was referring to 90% of Taijiquan schools being focused more so on health. There's nothing wrong with that, the health benefits are obvious, but they are actually only scratching the surface of the full health benefits available. Practicing Taijiquan as the Martial Art it is, the health benefits are allowed to evolve naturally. The lack of thought towards gaining better health lets it happen far quicker. Stance and posture find their required accuracy when you need to maintain your position. Martial applications see to that. Likewise, Push Hands is an essential component of Taichi even as a health system for this reason. The yielding movements transfer over to everyday life and you learn how to cope with the stress or aggressiveness of others by yielding to it (VERY different to submitting to it). This starts the Path to self perfection (no, not in the sense of becoming "perfect" that the name implies, as perfect is unattainable. It refers to the Path towards it, not the goal. But that's a different episode of Oprah).
Long story short, if you are focused on the Martial, look for the deeper side. If you are focusing on the health or spirituality in Martial Arts, take a look at its balancing partner. Your practice will only improve!