May 2007May 2007
OVERVIEW
Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. Martial arts are studied for various reasons including combat skills, fitness, self-defense, sport, self-cultivation (meditation), mental discipline, character development and building self-confidence. A practitioner of martial arts is referred to as a martial artist.
Worldwide, there is a great diversity and abundance of martial arts. Broadly speaking, martial arts share a common goal: to defeat a person physically or to defend oneself from physical threat. There is also a deep sense of spirituality within some martial arts. Each style has different facets that make them unique from other martial arts.
A common characteristic of martial arts is the systemization of fighting techniques. One common method of training, particularly in the Asian martial arts, is the form or kata (also called aka, poomse, quan dao, kuen, tao lu, hyung, jurus, hsing or tuls). This is a set routine of techniques performed alone or with a partner.
Martial arts may focus on one or more of these areas:
Striking
Punching - (e.g. Muay_thai Boxing, Shao-Lin Long Fist, Wing Chun)
Kicking - (e.g. Capoeira, Savate, Sikaran, Taekwondo)
Other strikes - E.g. Elbows, knees, open hand strikes (Karate, Muay_thai)
Grappling
Throwing - (e.g. Glima, Judo, Jujutsu, Sambo)
Pinning Techniques - (e.g. Wrestling, Judo)
Joint lock - (e.g. Aikido, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Jujutsu, Malla-yuddha)
Weaponry
Traditional Weaponry - (e.g. Fencing, Gatka, Silambam, Kendo)
Modern Weaponry - (e.g. Eskrima, Jukendo, Jogo do Pau)
Many martial arts, especially those from Asia, also teach side disciplines which pertain to medicinal practices. This is particularly prevalent in traditional Chinese martial arts which may teach bone-setting, qigong, acupuncture, acupressure (tui na), and other aspects of traditional Chinese medicine. Martial arts from places like India, Korea and Southeast Asia also teach side disciplines such as ayurveda and yoga. This is why many Asian martial arts masters were said to be able to cure as well as kill.
The martial arts, though commonly associated with East Asian cultures, are by no means unique to this region. For example, Native Americans have a tradition of open-handed martial arts that includes wrestling. Hawaiians also have historically practiced arts featuring small and large joint manipulation. Savate is a French kicking style developed by sailors and street fighters.
Many martial arts also strive to teach moral values and provide guidance for children who join the ranks of those learning the art. Many arts require those who achieve black belt or the equivalent to take an oath restricting their use of their knowledge. Martial artists may also receive specific instruction in mental and emotional discipline.
The history of martial arts around the world is complex. Most groups of people have had to physically defend themselves at some time and have developed fighting techniques for that purpose. Development of many martial arts was related to military development, but many of those techniques have been rendered technologically obsolete over the centuries. In the modern day, most populations would be more likely to face adversaries wielding firearms than melee weapons during battle. Furthermore, the preservation of a martial art requires many years of teaching at the hands of a good instructor to pass on the art for a single generation. Given these circumstances, not all martial arts from a particular era have been passed down to following generations.
Some method of certification can be involved, where one's skills would be tested for mastery before being allowed to study further; in some systems, there may not be any such certifications, only years of close personal practice and evaluation under a master, much like an apprenticeship, until the master deems one's skills satisfactory.