What is considered a
"Martial Art"?
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Martial:
Of,
relating to, or suggestive of war or
combat
Arts:
A system of principles and methods
employed in the performance of a set
of activities; Skill attained by
study, practice and observation. |
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From the above
definitions, we can can understand that the martial
arts are systems of principals and methods employed
in war or combat. The martial arts are as old as the
first fist fight. Over thousands of years, man has
developed systems of unarmed and armed combat, which
evolved from the first human confrontation. The
martial arts are not just a way of fighting, but an
efficient method of fighting. From Africa to Asia to
America, conflict has always been present and so has
the need for more efficient combative techniques.
Not only are the martial
arts a fighting method, but they are also a way of
life. Through the in depth study of a martial art
and the discovery of its core principles, an
individual finds themselves discovering the core of
their own person. The martial way is a lifestyle,
not a hobby, and it involves not only physical
development but mental development and character
building. Those involved in martial arts are on a
continuous journey as a martial
artist.
The Martial Artist
The martial artist is
an individual seeking to empower themselves
physically and mentally through rigorous training.
At one level their goal is to become stronger
physically and gain a level of proficiency in
physical self-defence. On another level they strive
for the mental strength and confidence that will
allow them to continually succeed at their physical
efforts. To gain higher levels of physical ability,
their minds have to be freed from the natural
barriers of self-consciosness and insecurity, and be
released to the possibilities that they are able to
do things they never believed. Self-discovery.
Many perceive the
martial arts to be simply kicks and punches thrown
at an opponent as a means of destroying an attacker.
In truth, this is only half right. A martial artist
will learn how to fight or physically defend himself
in a hostile situation, but to be able to dominate
that situation to the point where the kicking and
punching are not necessary is the ultimate goal.
When worst comes to worst though, of course it will
be the fighting ability that saves your life. It is
not only the physical confrontations that one
becomes adept at coping with, but the many struggles
that crop up in daily life.
Through martial arts,
an individual not only increases their physical
prowess: strength, speed, agility, but also
increases their self-confidence, self-control and
mental sharpness. It is the psychological side of
the martial arts that brings the individual to a
higher level. Bruce Lee said that he practiced the
art of 'fighting without fighting'. It's this way of
thinking that separates the brawlers from the people
who have come to a real understanding of the martial
way.
What types of
Martial Arts are there?
Most people are familiar
with the more popular styles of martial arts from
China and Japan, such as Kung-Fu, Judo and Karate.
The fact is that there are several martial arts
originating from many countries. Styles such as what
Karate and what we commonly call Kung-Fu, are
comprised of many sub styles. Examples of styles
from other countries could be ones such as
Thailand's Muay Thai and Krabi
Krabong, Indonesia's Pentjak Silat,
India's Kalaripayattu, Savate from
France, and the list goes on. A style can have a
focus on striking or grappling or be comprised of
many fighting strategies, each style having their
own take on how to implement the strategy. |
