MARTIAL ARTS
This is a site is dedicated to all kinds of Martial Arts. This site is to help you learn more about
martial arts and how they are all very different.
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KARATE
Karate is a martial art that emphasises hand techniques over kicks. Karate originated on the
small island of Okinawa Japan in --------. The beginning of Karate is shrouded in mystery and
debate. Some say that Karate techniques were borrowed from Kung Fu, a chinese martial art.
Others say that Karate was borrowed from animal movements.
However Karate was used as an unarmed way of combat since weapons were banned in Japan
at the time. Many Karate weapons were regular houshold tools but used as weapons. Such
as the Nunchuku or the Nun-chuk(two stick held together by a strind or chain. The nunchuck
was actually used as a rice-flail. The bo(a long stick used in martial arts) was a broom handle
or pole. The weapons were used to ward off bandits and theives, common in those days.
Tae Kwon Do
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Tae kwon do is a Korean martial arts developed over twenty centuries ago. Its origin dates back to the Koguryu dynasty in 37 B.C. During World War II, many Koreans were forced to leave their home country and Tae Kwon Do spread all over the world from there.
Tae Kwon Do was official made an Olympic Sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
JUDO
Judo was first developed by Jiggoro Kano in the 1880's, the sport broke into an official Olympic game in 1964 at Tokyo. Throwing an opponent to the floor wins most matches but it is the only Olympic sport where submission holds allow choking an opponent or breaking an arm. Unlike Taekwondo or boxing where the aim is to knockout an opponent, Judo is completely different. While the result is as least painful, Judo is not about using power to subdue opponents, but by using technique to control them. The main element in that pursuit is balance. To unbalance the opponent and to throw them the right way is to gain control. A correct throw wins a Judo bout immediately.
A Judo bout is between two combatants, or Judoka. The goal is to either throw an opponent or hold them in a submission in the certified time. A hold a combatant must be pinned for 20 seconds, and a throw is if a combatant is thrown on his/her back. The first Judokato score a point in the time limit wins. Bouts last 5 minutes for men and 4 minutes for women.
Penalties
Penalties are - being too defensive, pushing a combatant out of contest area, avoiding an opponent or dangerous play. A person is considered out of the contest area when the person places weight of any part of the body outside the ring.
Rules
1.Judoka must bow to each other before and after each bout.
2.Judoka must have short fingernail and toenails and have dry skin, They must also be free from body odour.
3. A Judoka in a hold signals the desire by tapping twice or more on the mat with hand or foot. Punching or putting a hand, foot, leg or arm on an opponents face is prohibited.
4. Judoka are not permitted to bend back opponents fingures or break a hold. If a Judoka is injured and opponent clearly to blame, the opponent loses the bout.
5. Judoka may not make derogatory remarks or gestures to another combatant.
ESCRIMA
"Kali," the mother of escrima and arnis de mano, is the preferred reference by its practitioners.
Always assuming the use of the blade, whether it be the sword or knife (dagger), Kali employs many
techniques, including strikes, stances and weapon handling, which have influence from China, Arab missionaries, Indonesia and Spain. This is due to
immigration as well as invasion and occupation. The Philippines’ colorful history records the immigration of several cultures to the islands, all of which influenced the Filipino Martial Arts. The Madjapahit, who settled in the Southern stretches of the islands, where influenced by Arab missionaries and became know as fierce Moslems (called "Moro Filipinos") who violently opposed foreign peoples on their native land. During the American occupation of the Philippines in the early 1900s, Moros, marked by tiger-eyes and red headbands - signifying a resolve to kill until killed - strode singly down the streets blading everything in their path, embracing the belief that every slain Christian assured their places in heaven. So tenacious was the Moros’ rampage that hundreds of reports by American soldiers surfaced, stating that the slugs of .38-caliber pistols failed to stop the advancing Moros. As a result of those reports, the .45-caliber pistol was designed and issued to American servicemen. Although the Moros’ religious fervor was a crucial element in their destruction, it was the use of their bladed weapons that allowed the bloody chaos to succeed. The art they so deftly employed was Kali.
In 1935, the Philippines were recognized as an independent nation until occupied by Japan during World War II. Welcoming U.S. intervention during the occupation, Filipinos eagerly enlisted in American services. Known for close-in, hand-to-hand combat with bolo knives, the Filipino troops established themselves as fierce guerrilla forces, marching in triangle formation with the point, or lead, man disabling enemy soldiers, leaving the following formation to finish the job.
WING CHUN KUNG FU
Wushu , literally meaning "martial art," is a time-honored traditional Chinese sport with a strong national flavor, created and developed by the laboring people. It is a cultural heritage which can be traced back to the primitive society, when tools and weapons came into use in hunting, self-defense and tribal wars. As evidenced by archaeological finds, ancient weapons like bone swords and rapiers with stone edges and earthen swords were used in the neolithic age, and in the latter part of that age, there appeared a small quantity of bronze swords, lances and halberds. With the steady improvement and diversification of weapons, wushu grew richer in form and content and more refined in technique. According to ancient records, ka chiwu , a dance with axe and shield, and chiaoti , a kind of wrestling popular among soldiers, were embryonic forms of wushu in China's clan society.
Generally, in karate, as well as in many styles of Chinese boxing, there is much wasted movement. The practice of blocking and then striking is structurally slow when compared to Wing Chun's method of simultaneous block and strike. The emphasis in karate is on developing driving power, and thus most of the technique has evolved with that in mind. This type of power is generated by large movements designed to gain speed and momentum.
The foundation of Wing Chun is its economy of motion. Thus, the Wing Chun practitioner's main concern is proper position, for herein lies the success of his or her technique. The more exact the tactic, the less power is needed to overcome an opponent. In order to develop this proper positioning, Wing Chun employs a unique sensitivity training exercise called "sticking hands." Specific technique also is quite different.
The stances utilized by many karate styles are long and low, whereas the Wing Chun stances are close and upright. When fighting, a karateka will usually assume a stance with one foot to the rear. Oftentimes, a Wing Chun practitioner will fight from a square stance, fully facing the opponent. The punch in karate is done by twisting the fist and making contact with the two large knuckles of the index and middle fingers, generating power from the hips.
The Wing Chun punch does not twist but instead snaps out, hitting with the three knuckles of the middle, ring, and small fingers, applying energy from the shoulder, elbow, and wrist
JEET KUNE DO
To follow the J.K.D. Concept of martial arts training you must become proficient with weapons. This includes impact weapons, edged weapons, throwing weapons, and projectile weapons. This doesn't mean that you must know how to operate a surface to air missile. Our scope here is to become familiar with the most practical of common weapons.
You should know how to handle firearms. Even if you are opposed to their use, knowledge of their workings will give you an advantage if you must defend yourself against a firearm. Do you know how to tell if a revolver is loaded when it is pointing at you? Can you tell if a gunman forgot to take the safety off his semi-automatic weapon? These simple things and many more will be learned by understanding firearms. If you aren't comfortable with these weapons, find an expert to instruct you in the safe handling and usage of firearms. You should at least be able to recognize when someone is handling a gun hazardously. This could save you or others from an accidental shooting.
JKD is based on Bruce Lee's philosophy of Martial arts and I think it is the most effective one. If you want to be a complete and skillful martial artist, you must understand the following. Combat occurs in different RANGES. In each range there are different POSTURES. For each posture there are an unlimited number of TECHNIQUES. ATTRIBUTES are the qualities that bring techniques alive and make them functional. In order to be proficient, you must use various TRAINING METHODS that improve all of your attributes, while practicing techniques, in various postures, in all of the ranges. Training methods are the way you practice, and the secret to proficiency is to practice correctly, and consistently, over a long period of time.
MUAY THAI BOXING
Muay Thai is an art of self defense using various parts of the body. Because it is based on the principle of "doing no more than necessary to teach a lesson," it is equally well suited to be used as a competitive sport as well as a "fight to the finish." In ancient times, Thai warriors had intensive training in the art, giving them a distinct advantage in close-combat situations. Royalty, military leaders, and those common people responsible for defending the nation received regular instruction by leading exponents of the art.
The origins of the art itself was as colorful as the men who practiced it. Origins trace back to the Yunnan Province in central China. Because of the Chinese invasion, the Thai race fled and were thinned out by invaders, disease, and hunger. They finally settled in Chao Phraya Valley of the Mekong River. To deal with the many enemies, the Thai leaders developed a military training program for the young men of their race. This original art was called Chupasart. This taught use of knives, swords, pikes, and later muskets. Because of many injuries to soldiers who sparred in this system, the techniques were developed for open hand as well. This was the birth of Dee Muay , which later evolved into modern Muay Thai .
The average Thai fighter hangs up his gloves during his middle or late twenties, though there are exceptions. After leaving the ring many will enter the monkhood for a short time. Many return later to their camps to be among friends or train to stay fit. Some act as assistant trainers and others, if they can afford to, may open their own training camp. Very seldom will one find an ex-fighter who has divorced himself from the fight night, the elation after a victory and the bitter taste of defeat all have formed a bond that it too strong to break.