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A martial art is a system of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat . Today, people study martial arts for various reasons including Sport , Fitness , Self-defense , self-cultivation ( Meditation ), mental discipline and character development, and self-confidence. OVERVIEW Worldwide there are a great diversity of martial arts; which, broadly speaking, share a common goal: to physically defeat a person or defend oneself. In many martial arts, training goes beyond fighting to include personal, mental, and spiritual development. A common characteristic of martial arts is the systemization of fighting techniques. One common traditonal method of training, particularly in the East Asian martial arts, is the form or kata (also called poomse, ch'ůan t'ao, kuen, tao lu, hyung, or tuls), which is a set routine of techniques performed alone, or sometimes with a partner. Martial arts may focus on
Most martial arts include the study of several or all of these areas. Some martial arts, particularly the traditional Chinese arts, also go beyond this to teach side disciplines such as Bone-setting , Qigong , Acupuncture , Acupressure ( Tui Na ), and other aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine . At an advanced level martial artists can take advantage of a detailed knowledge of how the opponent's body works to drastically increase their techniques' effectiveness. The martial arts, though commonly associated with East Asian cultures and people, are by no means unique to this region. Savate , for example, was developed from Chausson and English boxing as a form of Kickboxing in France . Capoeira 's athletic movements were developed in Brazil by slaves based on skills brought with them from Africa . English Boxing was developed from Bare-knuckle boxing. 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 equivilant to take an oath restricting their use of their knowledge. Martial artists are also trained in mental and emotional discipline. HISTORY Each martial art has its own history and goals. Some focus on Tournament competition, while others focus on self-defense, or the preservation of an ancient tradition. The history of martial arts around the world is complex. Most groups of people have had to defend themselves at some time and have developed fighting techniques for that purpose. However, many of those techniques have been rendered technologically obsolete over the centuries. Even at an individual, rural level, the threat to the safety of a group of people is now more likely to come from modern weaponry such as Automatic Rifle s than from men with Sword s. Furthermore, the preservation of a martial art requires many years of teaching at the hands of a good teacher to pass on the art for a single generation. So it is relatively unlikely that a particular martial art would survive and become popular in today's culture, and each art that has done so has a unique history. Martial arts in Asia For more details on this topic, see List Of Asian And Pacific Martial Arts The teaching of martial arts in Asia has historically followed the , ''Sensei'' (先生) in Japanese ; in Chinese 老師, ( Wade-Giles ) ''Lao Shih'', (Pinyin) ''lǎo shī'' (lit., old master); Cantonese '' Sifu ''; 師父 Mandarin (Wade-Giles) ''Shih fu'', (Pinyin) ''Shī fù'' (lit., the master-father), 사범님 ''Sah Bum Nim'' ( Korean ), '' Kalari Gurukkal '' ( Malayalam Language of South India ). The instructor is expected to directly supervise their students' training, and the students are expected to memorize and recite as closely as possible the rules and basic training routines of the school. In a Confucian influenced martial art, students with more seniority are considered older brothers and sisters; those with less seniority as younger brothers and sisters. Such clearly delineated relationships are designed to develop good character, patience and discipline. 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, especially in China , there may not have been 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. This Pedagogy , while still preserved and respected in many traditional styles, has weakened to varying degrees in others and is even actively rejected by some schools, especially in the West. The Western interest in East Asian Martial Arts dates back to the late 19th Century, due to the increase in trade between America and China and Japan. Relatively few Westerners actually practiced the arts, considering it to be mere performance. Many of the first demonstrations of the martial arts in the west, were done by Asians in Vaudeville shows, which served to further reinforce the perception of the martial arts as dramatic performance. As Western influence grew in the East a greater number of military personnel spent time in China, Japan, and elsewhere. Gradually some soldiers began to see the value of Eastern martial arts and began training in them. This training resulted in various techniques being incorporated into Western military training, so that by the Second World War nearly all commandos received training in Japanese Jiu-jitsu and/or Judo. With large numbers of American servicemen stationed in Japan after World War II, the adoption of techniques and the gradual transmission of entire systems of martial arts to the West started. It was in the 1950's, however, when this exportation of systems really began to gain momentum. Large groups of US Military personnel were taught Korean arts ( Taekwondo ) during the War with North Korea , and many of these brought their training home and continued to practice and teach after their demobilisation. By the 1960's, the Japanese arts like Karate and Judo had become very popular. The early 1970s saw martial arts movies, due in part to Bruce Lee , cause the rise in popularity of Chinese styles. This exportation of the martial arts led to such styles as sport karate, which became a major international sport, with professional fighters, big prizes, television coverage, and sponsorship deals. The later 1970's and 1980's wintessed an increased media interest in the martial arts. Martial arts were unearthed from Vietnam, Burma, the Philippines, Indonesia, South America, and almost every other corner of the Earth. This in turn led to further exploration of disciplines from Korea, Japan and China for their historical and cultural value. Martial arts in Europe Martial arts with historical roots in Europe do not exist to the same extent as in Asia. Boxing as well as forms of wrestling have endured. European martial arts have mostly adapted to changing technology and are truer to the English meaning of that phrase, so that while their descendants still exist, martial arts are focused on things like flying Helicopter s and Infantry Tactics for riflemen. These are generally not referred to as martial arts. Martial Arts existed in Classical European civilization, most notably in Greece where Sport was integral to the way of life. Boxing (pygme, pyx), Wrestling (pale) and Pankration (pan, meaning all, kratos, meaning power or strength) were represented in the Ancient Olympic Games . The Romans produced Gladiatorial Combat as public spectacle based on a more martial sport. Some traditional martial arts have been preserved in one form or another. For example, Boxing , Wrestling , Archery , Savate and Fencing were preserved by being made into sports; of course this has changed the practice significantly. Some forms of Historical Fencing have survived, and many groups are working to Reconstruct older European martial arts. The process of reconstruction combines intensive study of detailed combat treatises produced from 1400-1900 A.D. and practical training or "pressure testing" of various techniques and tactics. This includes such styles as Sword And Shield , Two-handed Swordfighting , Jousting and other types of melee weapons combat. Another aspect of the Reconstruction effort involves more historically recent martial arts and combat sports, such as those practiced during the 1800s and 1900s . A partial list would include Bare-knuckle boxing, Bartitsu , Quarterstaff , fencing according to late 1800s rules, etc. Unarmed European martial arts that have survived in active form include English Boxing , Olympic Wrestling , and French Savate . Some weapon systems have also survived as folk sports and as self defence methods, including stick-fighting systems such as Jogo Do Pau of Portugal, and the Juego Del Palo style(s) of the Canary Islands . Other martial arts were made into sports that we no longer recognize as combative, such as some kinds of Gymnastics , where the Pommel Horse is called a horse because it simulates a horse; the art comes from the necessity of a Cavalry man to be able to change positions and fight effectively from the back of a Horse . More ancient origins exist for the Shot Put and the Javelin Throw , both weapons utilised extensively by the Romans . Martial arts in the Americas While the Native Peoples of North America had their own martial training, these, like much of their culture, have been almost completely lost. However, the European colonists (and later, Asian immigrants) brought over their own martial arts such as Boxing , Fencing and Wrestling . In 1831 Jim Bowie is reputed to have won a duel, killing three bandits with his soon-to-be-famous Bowie Knife . Due to the sensationalism of American newspaper reports, the Bowie knife soon became the most popular personal blade being sold in the US. Schools of Bowie fighting quickly sprung up across the country, which probably drew from European influences and possibly drew from Native influences. Although more in South America , Capoeira with roots in Africa, is a Martial Art originating in Brazil that involves an incredible amount of flexibility and endurance. It consists of kicks and sweeps, although modern Capoeira has incorporated punches and arm strikes. Aside from Capoeira, a sport known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu developed in Brazil. Before the war years many Japanese people emigrated to Brazil. They took with them the Judo fighting style. Carlos Gracie and brother Hélio Gracie adopted this system of fighting and refined it in to a more comprehensive ground grappling system. The system is has now become one of the most popular martial arts and has proven to be extremely successful in mixed martial arts competitions such as the UFC . Martial arts internationally Every village and tribe around the world had a few trained fighters who passed on their knowledge; however, it is difficult to pass on a fighting system, so almost all of these have been lost as their practical relevance has declined. A few have nonetheless survived for one reason or another, and a very few of those have seen a recent boom in popularity, perhaps related to the World Music phenomenon. Examples of this are Capoeira and some related arts in Cuba , Haiti and Trinidad And Tobago , which were preserved partly through their relationship with Candomblé , Santería , Vodun , and other Syncretic religions. Of these, only Capoeira has risen to worldwide prominence. The 2003 movie '' Whale Rider '' featured several scenes involving Mau Rakau , a traditional martial art of the Māori people. It involves the use of the Taiaha , a 2-handed fighting staff. Martial arts also developed among military and police forces to be used as:
Martial Arts On The Modern Battlefield As modern warriors continue to refine tactics and tecniques utilizing modern weaponry such as handguns and rifles, old concepts seem new again. A good example of this is Point Shooting which relies on muscle memory to more effectively utilize a Firearm in a variety of awkward situations, much the way a Iaidoka would master movments with his or her sword. This is now a central part of Infantry and Special Forces weapons training. In addition to these new forms, traditional hand-to-hand and spear tecniques continue to see use. Examples of this include Combatives and Bayonet Jousting tecniques, both taught by the U.S. Army . As urban combat and Close Quarters Combat become increasingly the norm, the former is likely to see more use this century than last, and while the bayonet may seem a relic of history to many, the weapon has seen use by the British Army as recently as the Invasion Of Iraq {Link without Title} . COMPARISONS BETWEEN MARTIAL ARTS The comparison between martial arts can be based on the goals, teaching methods, and the techniques of different fighting systems. Such comparisons tend to be controversial when there is a lack of format in which a direct and objective comparison is possible. In addition to physical combat, many martial arts have spiritual or philosophical aspirations, such as the various Chinese, Japanese and Korean martial arts that emphasise traditional Confucian teaching methods. Some systems are sports-oriented, such as Judo , Tae Kwon Do and Wushu , and have their own distinct set of rules which are incompatible with other systems. Some are described as "reality-based", with a focus on self-defense, including Jeet Kune Do , Defendo , Krav Maga , Kombato , and Angeles Eskrima . As different martial arts often have differing goals, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of various martial arts based on one general standard or method. However, many martial arts claim to be effective fighting disciplines within a particular context, such as unarmed combat between two fighters, self-defense against multiple attackers, use of specific weapons, escaping from those seeking to harm or capture the practitioner, and so on. While some of these claims are sometimes difficult to assess, an objective evaluation of practitioners may be achieved within context. For instance, regardless of background, those sharing a common interest in hand-to-hand fighting may engage in sparring using a mutually accepted set of rules in order to determine who is the better fighter at that time. An example of a martial arts tournament that attempted to answer the question of "''which fighting system is the best''" using as few rules as possible was the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States in the early 1990's. Organizations such as the UFC have since evolved due to the rise of Mixed Martial Arts . ''Mixed martial arts'' or MMA is an eclectic, modern form of martial arts cross-training. Followers of this practice believe that no traditional fighting system is strictly better than all others, and that by being competent and well-trained in multiple areas, one can become a better fighter overall. Due to this movement, tournaments such as the UFC ( Ultimate Fighting Championship ) and Pride Fighting Championships have emphasized more on competition between individuals and less on competition between specific systems, as virtually all participants in these events have become knowledgable in multiple systems. While MMA is currently seen largely as a form of sport competition with organization-specific rules, it can also be considered a school of thought in which the practitioner may incorporate any useful martial art technique into their personal training. Classification Numerous criteria have been devised to classify different fighting systems, though many of these criteria are either controversial or overly generalized. For example, while some Chinese systems have traditionally been classified as either "'' and Holding , as in Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ? While some systems may consist of mostly striking or mostly grappling, various arts such as Ninjutsu , Sambo or San Shou , among many others, often utilize both areas in conjunction. Muay Thai , for example, is studied primarily as a striking art, yet it makes frequent use of the grappling technique Double Collar Tie . Technical aspects Fighting is a highly complex discipline. In the past, Soldiers such as Greek Hoplites , Roman Legionary ( Roman Legion ), Mongol ian cavalrymen, Manchu Bannermen , European Knight s and Japanese Samurai usually spent lifetimes studying all relevant aspects of unarmed fighting and fighting with basic weapons, honed by real, close-quarters combat resulting in fatalities. While soldiers today are still trained in these areas, due to the characteristics of modern warfare, unarmed fighting is often practiced now by civilians in sport-like and less lethal fashions. Modern militaries are typically trained in only the most basic of hand-to-hand combat skills. Practitioners today generally study a limited number of fighting aspects within specific martial art systems. Nonetheless, many practitioners would like to have some skill in more than one context, and most arts include some study of many aspects. In certain systems, in-depth study of certain aspects is not begun until a practitioner has been training for many years. Some aspects of fighting include:
Rank Systems In martial arts such as Karate , Tae Kwon Do , and Judo , students are ranked according to a belt system. In the martial arts that use a belt system, the lowest ranking belt is usually white, and the highest ranking belt is usually black. The arrangement of the intermediate colored belts varies. Sometimes the white belt is said to symbolize innocence and purity, and the black belt to symbolize the collection of all colors of experience. In most martial arts that use a belt system, there are multiple degrees of black belt called Dans . Even when a black belt has been achieved, training in the art is not complete. Traditionally in the Chinese systems, no ranks were used other than teacher, senior student, and junior student. Many western kung-fu schools now use a system of sashes, similar in practice to the Japanese belt system. Other martial arts may use a system of titles. TESTING AND COMPETITION In general, testing or evaluation in some form is important to martial art practitioners of many disciplines who wish to determine their own level of skill in specific contexts. Students within individual martial art systems often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own teacher in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different Belt color or title. The type of testing used varies from system to system but may include forms or '''sparring'''. Sparring can generally be divided into ''light- or medium-contact'', and ''full-contact'' variants. Both forms and sparring are commonly used in martial art exhibitions and tournaments. Some competitions pit practitioners of different disciplines against each other using a common set of rules. Light and medium-contact sparring Sparring in some martial arts may involve a point-based system of light- to medium-contact sparring in a marked-off area where both competitors are protected by foam padding; particular targets are prohibited, such as face and groin, and certain techniques may be also prohibited. Points are awarded to competitors on the solid landing of one technique. Again, master-level judges start and stop the match, award points, and resolve disputes. After a set number of points are scored or when the time set for the match expires (for example, three minutes or five points), and elimination matches occur until there is only one winner. These matches may also be sorted by gender, weight class, level of expertise and even age. Some critics of these point sparring competition note that this type of training teaches students to pull their punches or not throw combination attacks as the fighting is frequently stopped by judges to award points or declare fouls. This disruption alters the flow of actual combat and enforces what some see are the bad habits of not following through on attacks, lowering your guard, and relying on tactics that may score points but lack the power to disable or hurt an actual attacker. Full-contact fighting ''"Full-contact"'' sparring or fighting is often pursued by martial art practitioners who are interested in realistic unarmed combat. The phrase may refer to several aspects which differentiate it from light and medium-contact sessions. It may simply be a general lack of protective gear. For example, Kyokushin is a variant of Karate that requires advanced practitioners to engage in sparring while wearing no more than a groin guard for protection. It may refer to a full variety of permitted attacks and contact zones on the body, excluding a small and limited number of forbidden techniques such as biting, groin striking or attacking the eyes, bestowing significant fighting freedom upon the competitors. The phrase could also refer to the use of full force in order to disable the opponent, either by knock out or direct submission of defeat. There is often a lower emphasis on scoring points, assuming a point system exists; points, judges and time limits were not used in the early UFC events, whose outcomes were determined only by the inability to continue. Due to these factors, full-contact matches tend to be more aggressive in character. Vale Tudo , meaning ''anything goes'' in Portuguese, is a definite form of full-contact fighting. Nearly all MMA events, including UFC , PRIDE , Pancrase and Shooto , use full-contact rules, although recently the use of small protective gloves and other safety rules have been added. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo do not allow striking but are full-contact in the sense that full force is applied during grappling and submissions. Some versions of Sambo are full-contact. Some practitioners believe that physically defeating the enemy, as opposed to winning a sport match by rules, is the only important matter in hand-to-hand combat. Some of them treat martial arts only as matters of Self-defense or life-and-death situations. As such, these people may prefer not to participate in most types of rule-based martial art competition (even one such as vale tudo), electing instead to study fighting techniques with little or no regard to competitive rules or, perhaps, Ethical concerns and the Law (the techniques practiced may include attacking vulnerable spots such as the groin or the eyes). Nonetheless, others maintain that, given proper precautions such as a referee and a ring doctor, full-contact matches with basic rules could serve as a useful gauge of one's overall fighting ability, encompassing broad categories including striking, grappling and finishing holds. MARTIAL ARTS AS SPORT On the subject of competition, martial artists vary wildly. Practitioners in some arts such as Boxing , Taekwondo , Judo , and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu often train for sport matches in those arts, whereas those in other arts such as Aikido and Krav Maga generally spurn such competitions. Some schools believe that competition breeds better and more efficient practitioners, and gives a sense of good sportsmanship. Others believe that the rules under which competition takes place have removed the combat effectiveness of martial arts or encourage a kind of practice which focuses on winning trophies rather than the more traditional focus of combat effectiveness, or in East Asian cultures, of developing the Confucian person, which eschews showing off (see Confucius , also Renaissance Man .) As part of the response to sport martial arts, new forms of competition are being held such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the U.S. or Pancrase in Japan which are also known as mixed martial arts or MMA events. MARTIAL ARTS AND DANCE As mentioned above, some martial arts in various cultures can be performed in dance-like settings, either for evoking fiercefulness/pumping adrenaline in preparation of battle, or rather showing off skill in a more stylised manner, or both. Examples of such war dances include the Gymnopaidiai from ancient Sparta , New-Zealand's Haka , the '' Sabre Dance '' depicted in Khachaturian 's ballet '' Gayane '', the Maasai "jumping" dance, Brunei 's '' Aduk-Aduk '', Qatar 's '' Ayyalah '', the Indian Kalarippayattu , Pakistani/Afghan Khattak Dance, Brazil 's '' Capoeira '', Scotland 's '' Dannsa Biodag '' ... (not to forget the spoofing Weasel War Dance ). NOTABLE STYLES OF MARTIAL ARTS
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