Martial Arts — Spiritual Warriors — Martial
Art Forms — Warrior
Monks
Martial Arts Forms
Generally, skill based martial arts have evolved or developed as an unarmed
way of defending oneself against an aggressor (armed or not) and often
employed common or everyday items as the weapons themselves. In Japan,
during feudal times many examples of such weapons exist, particularly
originating from Okinawa (the southern most island) where peasants
used their wheat thrashers as the original nunchukers, walking sticks
as bo or jo (fighting staffs of different lengths). Mainly the various
styles and forms of defense were unarmed because if one was seen walking
around with a weapon then one would be perceived to be prepared to
fight with those authorised to carry weapons, and naturally draw that
conflict to oneself. Today this is also the case in most countries.
The various different forms of martial arts are know today as :
Kung Fu
China Gongfu and wushu are popular Chinese terms that have
become synonymous with Chinese martial arts. Chinese martial arts can
be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty in the 12th century BC and possibly
earlier. The development of Chinese martial arts is closely related to
its use in the military. Hand to hand combat and weapons practise were
important components in the training of Chinese soldiers. The Art of
War was written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu, dealing with military
warfare but contain ideas that are used in the Chinese martial arts.
Karate
Japan Karate
literally means "empty hand" and is
a martial art of Ryukyuan origin. Karate has a rich and diverse history
of development, incorporating countless influences from other martial
arts and cultures. Today, karate is known primarily as a hard style striking
art, featuring linear punches, blocks, kicks, knee/elbow strikes and
open handed techniques. However, soft style punches and blocks, grappling,
joint manipulations, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point striking
are often an inherent part of many karate styles.
Qigong
China
or "Energy-Cultivation",
is an aspect of Chinese medicine involving the coordination of different
breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the
body. Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but
there are also some who teach it as a therapeutic intervention. Various
forms of traditional qigong are also widely taught in conjunction with
Chinese martial arts, and are especially prevalent in the advanced
training of what are known as the Neijia or internal martial arts.
Tai Chi Chaun
China,
T'ai Chi Ch'uan or Taijiquan The Mandarin term "T'ai
Chi Ch'uan" translates as "Supreme Ultimate Boxing" or "Boundless
Fist", commonly known as Tai Chi, T'ai Chi, or Taiji, is an internal
Chinese martial art. There are different styles of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, although
most agree they are all based on the system originally taught by the
Chen family to the Yang family starting in 1820. It is often promoted
and practiced as a martial arts therapy for the purposes of health and
longevity, sometimes even to the point of being taught exclusively as
an exercise technique ignoring martial applications entirely. T'ai Chi
Ch'uan is considered a soft style martial art, an art applied with deep
relaxation or "softness" in the musculature as possible, to
distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial
art styles which use a degree of tension in the muscles. The ability
to competently use T'ai Chi as a martial art is said to be proof that
the health and meditation aspects are working according to the dictates
of the theory of T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
Aikido
Japan,
Aikido is a modern Japanese budo (Art of War), developed by Morihei
Ueshiba between the 1920s and the 1960s primarily from Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu.
Aikido is known for emphasizing the spiritual and philosophical development
of its students. This is a direct result of Ueshiba's background in
the Ōmoto-kyo religion. Aiki is a martial arts principle or tactic.
It typically describes an idea of oneness or blending in the midst of
combat. This principle finds expressions in such lethal concepts as ai
uchi ("mutual strike/kill"), but in aikido it generally describes
the more elevated notion of blending rather than clashing. Emphasis is
upon joining with the rhythm and intent of the opponent in order to find
the optimal position and timing with which to apply force. The techniques
of aikido can, when applied judiciously, divert or immobilize rather
than damage or kill. As a result, aikido can be considered to be a practical
symbol of meeting aggression (physical, verbal, etc.) with an effective
but merciful response, and finding harmony within conflict. Ueshiba declared, "To
control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace."
Judo
Japan
Judo ("gentle way") is a martial art, combat
sport, and philosophy which originated in Japan. Judo was founded by
Dr Jigoro Kano in 1882. The sport became the model for the modern Japanese
martial arts, gendai budo, developed from old koryu schools. Practitioners
of judo are called judoka. The word Judo is composed of two kanji: "ju",
which means gentleness, and "do", way or road (the same character
as the Chinese "tao"). Thus Kano saw jujutsu as a disconnected
bag of tricks, and sought to unify it according to some principle; he
found it in the notion of "maximum efficiency". Jujutsu techniques
which relied solely on superior strength were discarded or adapted in
favour of those which involved redirecting the opponent's force, off
balancing the opponent, or making use of superior leverage.
Jujitsu
Japan
Jujutsu is a Japanese martial art that utilizes a large variety of
techniques in defense against an opponent. Fighting forms have existed
in Japan for centuries. The first references to such unarmed combat
arts or systems can be found in the earliest purported historical records
of Japan, the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and the Nihon Shoki
(Chronicles of Japan). Methods of combat included striking (kicking,
punching), throwing (body throws, joint-lock throws, unbalance throws),
restraining (pinning, strangulating, grappling, wrestling) and weaponry.
Defensive tactics included blocking, evading, off balancing, blending
and escaping. Minor weapons such as the tanto (dagger), ryufundo kusari
(weighted chain), jutte (helmet smasher), and kakushi buki (secret or
disguised weapons) were almost always included in Sengoku jujutsu
Ninjitsu
Japan
Ninjutsu is a collection of techniques originally practiced for espionage
purposes. It includes methods of gathering information, non-detection,
avoidance, and misdirection techniques. Ninjutsu can also involve training
in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, and explosives.
Although the popular
view is that ninjutsu is the art of secrecy or stealth, actual practitioners
consider it to mean the art of enduring - enduring all of life's hardships.
The character nin carries both these meanings, and others. However,
Ninja Juhakkei was often studied along with Bugei Juhappan (the 18
Samurai fighting art skills). Though some of them are the same, the
techniques of each discipline were used with different approaches by
both Samurai and Ninja.
Aikijutsu
Japan
originally called Daito-ryu jujutsu, is a Japanese martial art that
first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership
of Sokaku Takeda. Takeda had extensive training in several martial
arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu and sumo) and referred
to the style he taught as Daito-ryu. Although the ryu's traditions
claim to extend back centuries in Japanese history there are no known
extant records regarding the ryu before Sokaku Takeda. Whether he is
regarded as the restorer or founder of the art, the known history of
Daito-ryu begins with Sokaku Takeda. Perhaps the most famous student
of Sokaku Takeda was Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido.
Sokaku Takeda's third son, Tokimune Takeda, became the headmaster of
the art following the death of Sokaku Takeda in 1943. Tokimune Takeda
taught what he called Daito Ryu Aikibudo, an art that included the sword
techniques of the Ono-ha Itto-ryu along with the traditional techniques
of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. It was also under Tokimune Takeda's headmastership
that modern dan rankings were first created and awarded to students.
Tokimune Takeda died in 1993 leaving no official successor.
Tai Kwon Do
Korea
Taekwondo means "to strike or smash with the
foot"; kwon means "to strike or smash with the hand";
and do means "way" or "path", It is a hard martial
art originating as an amalgamation of Chinese, Japanese, and traditional
Korean fighting styles, taekwondo has become the world's most commonly
practiced martial art, and is the national sport of Korea as well as
an Olympic sporting event. Taekwondo's popularity has resulted in the
divergent evolution of the martial art. As with many other martial arts,
taekwondo is a combination of combat technique, self-defense, sport,
exercise, entertainment, and philosophy.
Hapkido
Korea
In the Korean language, hap means "harmony", "coordinated",
or "joining"; ki describes internal energy, spirit, strength,
or power; and do means "way" or "art". Thus, hapkido
translates literally as "joining-energy-way", but it is most
often rendered as "the way of coordinating energy" or "the
way of coordinated power."
Kalari (India)
The traditional training of Kalarippayattu, a martial art always done
inside the Kalari (literally, threshing floor or battlefield), which
is in a specially constructed practice area. Payattu means 'exercise
in arms or practice'. Every Kalari has a Puttara (meaning "platform
where flowers are kept" in the Malayalam language). It's a seven
tiered platform placed in the south-west corner of every Kalari, housing
the guardian deity of the Kalari. The seven tiers symbolise the seven
abilities that each person must possess: Vignesva (strength), Channiga
(patience), Vishnu (power to command), Vadugashcha (the posture), Tadaguru
(training), Kali (the expression) and Vakasta - purushu (sound). Other
deities, most of them incarnations of the Bhagavathi or Shiva, are installed
in the corners. Flowers, incense and water are offered to the deity every
day. Before starting the day's practice, it is the norm for practitioners
to pray to the deity. Not only is the Kalari a temple of learning, but
it is also a temple of religious worship with a cult and ritual of its
own.
Other ancient Indian martial arts include:
Adithada • Bothati • But Marma Atti • Chakram • Dravidian
martial arts • Gatka • Inbuan Wrestling • Kabaddi • Kalarippayattu • Kuttu
Varisai • Lathi • Malla-yuddha • Mallakrida • Malyutham • Marma
Adi • Mizo Inchai • Mukna • Niyuddha-kride • Pancavarunum • Pata • Pehlwani • Sarit
Sarak • Shastar Vidiya • Silambam • Savasu • Thang
Ta • Varma Kalai • Vajra Mushti
Martial Arts Forms 
