The Chinese have a saying "He who fights dragons too long becomes a dragon himself".
A dragon is a formidable fighter. They are very powerful and extremely tough individuals who have learnt how to fight the hard way. The proof of their ability is in their survival. What they lack in finesse and artistry they more than make up with brutally effective methods. Most modern day martial artists wouldn't last two minutes against them due to their lack of real fighting experience.
On the other hand dragons do not come out unscathed from their battles and they are instantly recognisable as people who it is best not to tangle with.
I on the other hand prefer to keep my moderate good looks and intellectual faculties intact. My interest is in the science of fighting, but as with all sciences practical experimentation is a necessary requirement. It is good to understand the theory but without the practical experience it is merely an intellectual exercise.
Studying a martial art should be about the studying the art and science of fighting. This includes understanding when to fight and when to avoid fighting as well as understanding the nature of force in attack and defence.
Thus a martial artist may not be able to beat a dragon but he should be able to avoid being beaten by one.