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Martial arts, can mean any number
of various fighting sports or skills, mainly of Far Eastern origin,
such as kung fu, judo, karate, and kendo. Martial arts can be divided
into the armed and unarmed arts. The former include archery, spearmanship,
and swordsmanship; the latter, which originated in China, emphasize
striking with the feet and hands or grappling. In Japan, traditionally
a warrior's training emphasized archery, swordsmanship, unarmed combat,
the use of artillery and firearms, and swimming in armour. Members
of other classes interested in combat concentrated on arts using the
staff, everyday work implements, such as thrashing flails, sickles,
and knives, and unarmed combat. Perhaps the most versatile practice
was ninjutsu, which was developed for military spies in feudal Japan
and also included training in disguise, escape, concealment, geography,
meteorology, medicine, and explosives. In modern times, derivatives
of some of the armed martial arts, such as kendo (fencing) and kyudo
(archery), are practiced as sports. Derivatives of the unarmed forms
of combat, such as judo, sumo, karate, and tae kwon do, are practiced,
as are self-defense forms, such as aikido, hapkido, and kung fu. Simplified
forms of T'ai Chi ch'uan, a Chinese form of unarmed combat, are popular
as healthful exercise, quite divorced from martial origins. Derivatives
of many of the armed as well as unarmed forms are practiced as a means
of spiritual development. The primary unifying aspect of the East Asian
martial arts, which sets them apart from other martial arts, is the
influence of Taoism and Zen Buddhism. This influence has resulted in
a strong emphasis on the mental and spiritual state of the practitioner,
a state in which the rationalizing and calculating functions of the
mind are suspended so that the mind and body can react immediately
as a unit, reflecting the changing situation around the combatant.
When this state is perfected, the everyday experience of the dualism
of subject and object vanishes. Since this mental and physical state
is also central to Taoism and Zen, and must be experienced to be grasped,
many of their adherents practice the martial arts as a part of their
philosophical and spiritual training. Conversely, many practitioners
of the martial arts take up the practice of these philosophies. Back to the List of Styles |
Wushu, Generic
term for Chinese martial arts, but with the advertisement made around
the "modern wushu" ( which appears like genuinely Chinese instead of the "mixed" Kung fu) it matches more and more the version designed by Chinese Government after 1956. The basic rules were easy : something entertaining to do and to watch, exalting the youth and vitality, no capable to make us on trouble (i.e. not designed to be effective, the PLA received a "true" wushu training, by former shaolin monks, now Generals and even one marechal !). That "modern wushu" is
very acrobatical and created new forms from scratches or modified old
forms to fit the new requirement. Back to the List of Styles |
Karate (Japanese: "empty hand"),
unarmed-combat system employing kicking, striking, and defensive blocking
with arms and legs. Emphasis is on concentration of as much of the
body's power as possible at the point and instant of impact. Striking
surfaces include the hands (particularly the knuckles and the outer
edge), the ball of the foot, heel, forearm, knee, and elbow. All are
toughened by practice blows against padded surfaces or wood. Pine boards
up to several inches in thickness can be broken by the bare hand or
foot of an expert. Timing, tactics, and spirit, however, are each considered
at least as important as physical toughening. In sporting karate and
sparring (kumite) in training, blows and kicks are stopped short, preferably
within an inch of contact. Sporting matches commonly last only three
minutes, to a decision, if neither contestant has scored a clean "killing" point
in the estimation of the judges. Contests of form (kata) are also held,
in which single competitors perform predetermined series of movements
simulating defense and counterattack against several opponents. Performances
are scored by a panel of judges, as in gymnastics. Karate evolved in
the Orient over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa
in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons.
It was imported into Japan in the 1920s. Several schools and systems
developed, each favouring somewhat different techniques and training
methods. Karate, like other Oriental fighting disciplines, stresses
mental attitude, rituals of courtesy, costumes, and a complex ranking
system (by colour of belt). There is some overlapping of technique
with other fighting styles. Back to the List of Styles |
Aikido (Japanese: "Way of spiritual harmony"), self-defense system that resembles the fighting methods jujitsu and judo in its use of twisting and throwing techniques and in its aim of turning an attacker's strength and momentum against himself. Pressure on vital nerve centres is also used. Aikido was developed to subdue, rather than maim or kill as in jujitsu and karate, but many of its movements can nevertheless be deadly. Aikido especially emphasizes the importance of achieving complete mental calm and control of one's own body to master an opponent's attack. As in other Oriental martial arts, the development of courtesy and respect is an integral part of aikido training. The basic skills of aikido probably originated in Japan in about the 14th century. In the early 20th century they were systematized in their modern form through the work of the Japanese martial-arts expert Ueshiba Morihei. There are no offensive moves in aikido. As taught by Ueshiba, it was so purely defensive an art that no direct contest between practitioners was possible. Later a student of Ueshiba, Tomiki Kenji, developed a competition style (known as Tomiki aikido) that incorporates aikido techniques. A competitor attempts to score points by swiftly touching an opponent with a rubber or wooden knife, and the other tries to avoid and disarm the attacker. The two alternate in wielding the knife. Back to the List of Styles |
Tae
Kwon Do (Korean: "Art of kicking and punching"), Korean art of
unarmed combat that is based on the earlier form of Korean self-defense
known as tae kyon and on karate. The name tae kwon do was officially
adopted for this martial art in 1955 after that name had been submitted
by the South Korean general Choi Hong Hi, the principal founder of
tae kwon do. Tae kwon do is characterized by the extensive use of
high standing and jump kicks as well as punches and is practiced
for sport, self-defense, and spiritual development. Training in tae
kwon do is carried out by learning individual techniques of kicking,
punching, and blocking, which are practiced in combined series of
techniques in traditional sets known as hyung. (Proficiency in the
graded series of hyung determines rank in the lower grades.) Students
also practice basic sparring combinations (id-bo tueryon, "one-step sparring");
these are short, set sequences of attack and counter practiced between
partners, after which the students may practice free sparring as
opponents. In sparring, blows are stopped just short of contact.
Tae kwon do is practiced as a sport by awarding points to correctly
executed techniques during free sparring or by judging the quality
of performed hyung. |
T'ai
Chi ch'uan (Chinese: "Grand Ultimate Fist"), also called CHINESE
BOXING, ancient and distinctive Chinese form of exercise or attack
and defense. As exercise, T 'ai Chi ch'uan is designed to provide
relaxation in the process of body-conditioning exercise and is drawn
from the principles of T'ai Chi, notably including the harmonizing
of the yin and yang, respectively the passive and active principles.
It employs flowing, rhythmic, deliberate movements, with carefully
prescribed stances and positions, but in practice no two masters
teach the system exactly alike. As a mode of attack and defense,
T 'ai Chi ch'uan resembles kung fu and is properly considered a martial
art (q.v.). It may be used with or without weapons. Freehand exercise
to promote health was practiced in China as early as the 3rd century,
and, by the 5th century, monks at the Buddhist monastery of Shao
Lin were performing exercises emulating the five creatures: bear,
bird, deer, monkey, and tiger. The snake was added later, and, by
the early Ming dynasty (1368), the yin and yang principles had been
added to harmonize the whole. There have been many schools of T'ai
Chi ch'uan, and two, the Wu and the Yang, survive. Depending on school
and master, the number of prescribed exercise forms varies from 24
to 108 or more. The forms are named for the image created by their
execution, such as "White stork displays its wings" and "Fall back and twist like monkey." All
start from one of three stances, weight forward, weight on rear foot,
and horse riding, or oblique. Back to the List of Styles |
Jujitsu, also
spelled JUJUTSU, ("Gentle art"), method of fighting that makes
use of few or no weapons and employs holds, throws, and paralyzing
blows to subdue an opponent. It evolved among the warrior class (bushi,
or samurai) in Japan from about the 17th century. Designed to complement
a warrior's swordsmanship in combat, it was a necessarily ruthless
style, with the usual object of warfare: crippling or killing an
antagonist. Jujitsu was a general name for many systems of fighting
involving techniques of hitting, kicking, kneeing, throwing, choking,
immobilizing holds, and use of certain weapons. Central to these
systems was the concept j., from a Chinese character commonly interpreted
as "gentle" gentle, however, in the sense of yielding to an opponent's
direction of attack while attempting to control it. Also involved
was the use of hard or tough parts of the body (e.g., knuckles, fists,
elbows, and knees) against an enemy's vulnerable points. Jujitsu
declined after the fall of the Japanese feudal government in the
mid-19th century, but many of its concepts and methods were incorporated
into such modern fighting arts as judo, karate, and aikido. Back to the List of Styles |
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, In the mid-1920's, Carlos Gracie opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He taught the skills he learned from Japanese Judo master Esai Maeda. The skills were later modified to use less strength and to be more effective against larger opponents. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's reputation spread due to the success of its practitioners in no holds barred contests. Back to the List of Styles |
Iaido (Japanese), One of the most beautiful and mysterious martial arts is that of the Japanese Sword. The art is divided into Iaido and Kendo (also known as iaijutsu and kenjutsu). Iaido is the art of drawing the sword from its scabbard, killing an opponent with one stroke of the sword, flipping blood from the blade and returning the sword to its scabbard. Traditional Kendo is the art of using the sword outside the scabbard. Modern Kendo includes the practice of students wearing protective armor and striking each other with bamboo swords (shinai). Back to the List of Styles |
Kendo, (Japanese: "Way of the sword"),
traditional Japanese style of fencing with a two-handed wooden sword,
derived from the fighting methods of the ancient samurai (warrior class).
The unification of Japan about 1600 removed most opportunities for
actual sword combat, so the samurai turned swordsmanship into a means
of cultivating discipline, patience, and skill for building character.
In the 18th century, practice armour and the shinai, a sword made of
bamboo, were introduced to allow realistic fencing without risk of
injury. The study of what came to be known as kendo was even compulsory
in Japanese schools from time to time. An All-Japan Kendo Federation
was formed following the end of the occupation in 1952, and an International
Kendo Federation was founded in 1970. Kendo matches take place in an
area 9 to 11 m (about 30 to 36 feet) square. Contestants wear the traditional
uwagi (jacket), hakama (long divided skirt), do (chest protector),
tare (waist protector), men (mask), and kote (padded gloves). The shinai
varies from 43 to 46 inches (110 to 118 cm) in length and is made of
four lengths of seasoned bamboo bound by waxed cord. All blows use
the "cutting" edge of the shinai, though this is not sharp. The shinai
is usually held with both hands. Points are awarded for blows delivered
upon the left side, right side, or top of the head; the right or left
wrist; the right or left side of the trunk; and for a thrust to the
throat. These are the only scoring areas. The name of the point struck
must be called out simultaneously by the attacker with his blow and
is verified by judges. A contest is won by the first combatant who
scores two points. Kendo is widely practiced among students (required
in high schools), police, and military groups in Japan and to a lesser
extent in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Brazil. Back to the List of Styles |
Hapkido (Korean: "Art of coordinated power"), a Korean form of unarmed self-defense based on the circular foot sweeps and kicks of traditional Korean tae kyon but incorporating punches and circular throws and a yielding principle similar to that of aikido. The emphasis on circular motion allows for a free-flowing form of combat in which one technique can merge with the next and the direction of force can easily be changed by changing the axis of rotation. Primarily practiced for self-defense or spiritual development or both, hapkido came to be used in free-sparring contests of the karate type. Back to the List of Styles |
Jeet Kune Do (Jie Quan Dao), (Way of the Intercepting Fist) is
a style created by Li Xiaolong (Bruce Lee 1940 - 1973) from a personal
synthesis of several martial arts (yongchun (wing Chun), hongjia, philipino
Kali, jujutsu, wrestling and more). The style is very popular in western
countries but almost unknown in Asia (save for Hongkong). It seems
there is confusion about the diffusion of this syncretic style but
Bruce Lee's only "inheritor" is Dan Inosanto. Main features of Jeet
Kune Do: huge amount of various techniques, pragmatic fighting skills,
training personalized for each student, use of yongchun (Wing Chun)
basis (such as chisao). Back to the List of Styles |
Bruce Lee |
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Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do is made up of both a 'style' and a series of 'concepts'. The style (or techniques) has a core, a set of criteria that had to be met in order to be included in the Art. Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do is not a set of Martial Arts techniques just thrown together in a haphazard manner. It is more than just an eclectic Martial Art. The goal of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do is to be a competent fighter in all areas of combat. The concepts of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do can be applied to other Arts, and it should be, but in order to be a Jeet Kune Do practitioner, you have to have the complete Art. Knowing the techniques of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and not understanding the concepts behind them or understanding the concepts of the Art but not know the techniques is missing the point. Back to the List of Styles |
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Muay Thai, The origins and history of Muay Thai are unknown, and many books on Muay Thai conclude that it has been in the Thai nation since the distant past as a unique national martial art. In war believed to have been practiced by the soldiers of the army, used to keep enemies beyond the range of old weapons such as swords. It was with neighbouring countries. The Thais used the art of Muay Thai, especially 'date' and 'teep', to keep their opponents at a distance, as well as to keep them off balance so that they would surrender more easily. Besides using this art for protecting the country, it was also used for self-defense. In the past Muay Thai boxing was done with bare hands and training was undertaken at well-known camps in various parts of the country. Nai Khanohm Tohm was famous for his battle against a group of Burmese before Bangkok became the capital of Thailand. Some Thai Kings, such as Phra Seua and Phra Chao Taksin, and warriors, such as Phrayas Pichai Dab Huk, were also great Muay Thai fighters. Since much training was involved at all levels of Thai life, many great schools of practice evolved their own techniques. During the Bangkok period, Muay Thai could be grouped into five recognized periods; those of Suan Gulab, in which the fighters used string bindings, not gloves; Ta Chang, in which gloves started to be used; Suan sanuk, when Muay Thai produced a number of famous boxers; Luk Muang and Suan Chao Chet periods, when Muay Thai became accepted widely as a favorite sport. After the Second World war, Muay Thai moved to Europe and America, and since then it has expanded all over the world. Training camps have been set up in many countries, creating a large number of professional and amateur Muay Thai boxers, coached by many Thai as well as non-Thai Instructors. Back to the List of Styles |
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SAMBO (Russian "Self-protection without weapons"), SAMBO is a curriculum of martial tricks, covertly taught in the former Soviet Union to the Soviet special forces, since the Communist Revolution in October of 1917. Sambo has been the object of a voluminous amount of clandestine research, experimentation, and propaganda. For this very reason, Sambo was the Soviet attempt to suppress the patriotic and liberating tendencies of indigenous Slavic martial traditions, entitled "Russian Martial Art". Sambo was the Soviet hope to unify the State under one combat and one sport. A composite of 25 variant Russian style hand-to-hand combat systems, Sambo added complementary research from various European, North African and Middle Eastern influences. Weighing also upon the formulation of Sambo were some Asian influences from Jujitsu, Aikido and Karate. Melding these combat systems with the 25 national folk styles of wrestling, Sambo came into being. Back to the List of Styles |
Kyudo, (The Way of the Bow),
("archery"), traditional Japanese form of archery, closely associated
with Zen Buddhism. When firearms supplanted the bow and arrow in warfare,
the art of archery was retained by Zen monks and some members of the
Japanese upper class as a mental and physical discipline. In kyudo
the primary aim is not to hit the target, as in Western archery, but
to achieve through spiritual and physical training an intense concentration
on the act of shooting and a style expressing perfect serenity. In
kyudo the kyujutsushi (archer) uses a traditional asymmetrical bow
about 7.5 feet (2.3 m) long with a grip about one-third of the distance
from the bottom. The bow is composite, made of strips of bamboo and
mulberry and strung with hemp. The archer employs an Oriental, or Mongolian,
grip, holding the string with the thumb supported by the fingers, and
wears a special glove with a thumb reinforced by bone or wood. In the
apparently continuous movements leading to the release of the arrow,
there are eight recognized stages, each of which must be learned and
practiced until the archer can move through them smoothly. There are
many kyudo schools in Japan, and tournaments are held annually in Ky*to
and Tokyo. In the second half of the 20th century, there were more
than 70,000 registered ky.d* archers in Japan. Back to the List of Styles |
Capoeira, Brazilian martial art created by African slaves. The maneuvers were disguised as gymnastic and dance-like moves to avoid persecution during the slaves revolt. Back to the List of Styles |
Judo, Japanese
(from Chinese: "gentle way"), system of unarmed combat, now primarily a sport. Sporting judo rules are complex; the objective is to throw the opponent cleanly, or pin him, or master him by applying pressure to arm joints or to the neck. Techniques are generally intended to turn an opponent's force to one's own advantage rather than to oppose it directly. A ritual of courtesy in practice is intended to promote an attitude of calm readiness and confidence. The usual costume is a loose jacket and trousers of strong white cloth. White belts are worn by novices and black by masters, with intermediate grades denoted by other colours. Kano Jigoro (1860-1938) collected the knowledge of the old jujitsu schools of the Japanese samurai and in 1882 founded his Kodokan School of judo, the beginning of the sport in its modern form. By the 1960s judo associations had been established in most countries and affiliated to the International Judo Federation with headquarters in Paris. Judo was included in Olympic Games competition for the first time at Tokyo in 1964. World judo championships for women began in 1980. Back to the List of Styles |
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Kapu Kuialua, The Hawaiian art of bone breaking. Emphasizes joint locks as well as strikes. Back to the List of Styles |
Sumo, Ancient Japanese sportive martial art that is steeped in tradition. Sumo wrestlers are usually large men whose goal is to push their opponent out of the ring or make them touch the floor with any part of the body above the knee. Back to the List of Styles |
Wrestling, Possibly the worlds oldest sport. Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch as catch can. Back to the List of Styles |
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Kickboxing, Sportive martial art combining boxing punches and martial arts kicks. Many different styles with different rules exist such as Muay Thai, Savat, Full Contact Karate, and Asian Rules Fighting. Back to the List of Styles |
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Ninjutsu, Feudal Japanese art of the Ninja. Training consists of hand to hand combat, weapons, and stealth. Back to the List of Styles |
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Savate, French style of kick boxing noted for precise kicking techniques and the use of shoes in competition. Back to the List of Styles |
Kung
fu (Chinese: "Skill"), a martial art, both a form of exercise with a spiritual
dimension stemming from concentration and self-discipline and a primarily
unarmed mode of personal combat often equated with karate or tae kwon
do. The term kung fu can also signify careful preparation for the
performance of any skillful endeavour without interference from the
intellect or emotions. As martial art, kung fu can be traced to the
Chou dynasty (1111-255 BC) and even earlier. As exercise it was practiced
by the Taoists in the 5th century BC. Its prescribed stances and actions
are based on keen observations of human skeletal and muscular anatomy
and physiology, and it employs great muscular coordination. The various
movements in kung fu, most of which are imitations of the fighting
styles of animals, are initiated from one of five basic foot positions:
normal upright posture and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse
riding, and snake. There are hundreds of styles of kung fu, and armed
as well as unarmed techniques have been developed. Kung fu performed
as exercise resembles T'ai Chi ch'uan. Back to the
List of Styles |
Wing Chun "Beautiful springtime",
was founded by a woman, Yim Wing Chun. The style was founded over four
hundred years ago. Yim Wing Chun learned her basic self-defense from
a Buddhist nun, Ng Mui. Although Yim Wing Chun learned from another,
she still is considered the founder of the wing chun system. She felt
that too much emphasis was placed on the "hard" system, and being a woman, she applied techiques in which a person "flows" with an opponent rather than trying to dominate them. Wing chun developed into an aggresive style with very conpact, economical attacks and defenses. Yip Man was renowned for teaching wing chun to Bruce Lee, and bringing the style from mainland China to Hong Kong. Wing chun is a style that mainly focuses on hand techniques. Practitioners of this art will often make use of a wooden dummy (the most sofisticated training device) to sharpen their "sticky hands" techniques,
and toughen their arms. Back to the List of Styles |
Yip Man |
Kuk Sool Wan, Korean martial art founded in 1966 by In Hyuk Su that combines kicking and hand strikes with throws and joint locks. The three branches of traditional Korean martial arts of SahDoh MuSool, BoolKyo MuSool, and KoongJoong MuSool are systemized as Kuk Sool in 1958 by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh, the founder of Kuk Sool Won. Kuk Sool consists of 270 categories and more than 3600 techniques from the three branches of traditional Korean martial arts. Kuk Sool has been actively promoted worldwide by the World Kuk Sool Association, and recognized in the martial arts community as one of the most effective and comprehensive systems of traditional Korean martial arts. Back to the List of Styles |
 In Hyuk Su
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