Chinese Martial Arts

By Leslie T.

Chinese martial arts is generally called Wushu, where Wu means military and shu means art, thus Wushu means the art of fighting. It is an important and unique component of Chinese cultural heritage. Being a complex art form, Wushu combines Chinese philosophy, meditation, aesthetics and physical exercise. It is definitely a highly demanding sport that trains one’s physical ability, health, willpower and mental discipline. Owing to its popularity, Chinese martial arts is not only practiced by the Chinese men and women, but also people around the world!

Some of martial arts fighting styles that are still practiced in present-day are types of Kung Fu including Bagua, Drunken Boxing, Eagle Claw, Five Animals, Hsing I, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Monkey, Praying Mantis, White Crane, Wing Chun and Tai Chi Chuan. Some styles are copied from the movements of animals; while others are inspired by Chinese philosophical thoughts, myths, and legends.

Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts always emphasize a basic skill, such as strength training, staff sparring, fencing, and eight methods of Shaolin. All of these methods are very effective to be an expert in Chinese Martial Arts. According to some Chinese experts, the martial arts of China are the ancestor of all types of martial arts practiced in Japan, Korea, and Tibet. Many different techniques derived from the arts of China.

Chinese Martial Arts have produced many eminent martial art practitioners. All of them had important contributions to make the art popular throughout the world. Some of them are NG Mui, Wong Fei hung, Huo Yuanjia, and Ten tigers – all of whom have had a strong influence in the culture and society of China.

Chinese Martial Arts of world

Chinese Martial Arts influenced other parts of world too. In the USA, it has been very popular since the 1960′s and it’s popularity continues to increase. increasing. Several Television shows were aired based on Chinese Martial Arts. There isn’t a country in the world, where a Chinese Martial Arts training center doesn’t exist.

China has one of the longest histories of continuously recorded martial arts tradition of any society in the world. There are styles that mimic movements from animals and others that gather inspiration from various Chinese philosophies, myths and legends. Some styles put most of their focus into the harnessing of qi energy, while others concentrate solely on competition and exhibition. Each style offers a different approach to the common problems of self-defense, health and self-cultivation of Chinese Martial Arts.

A Pick of My Top 5 Martial Arts Styles

By Jim E Knotts

I have been asked this same question time and time again; “There are so many martial arts styles, which one is best?”. And the answer is there is no superior style, only the level of dedication, training and conditioning a person has undergone. I personally believe that the practice of martial arts is a journey of self discovery, helping you synchronise body and mind in an effort to finding the best techniques to suit you.

My recommendation is to learn many different forms. Although there are “complete” systems out there it almost always won’t be a complete system for you. There will be techniques that work for you and those that don’t. For this reason I have picked out my top 5 martial arts styles to study but of course the list is expandable.

For your striking; Muay Thai – This is often linked to American style kick boxing however unlike most forms of kick boxing Muay Thai incorporates elbow and knee strikes along with clinches and throws. It is the national sport of Thailand and is incredibly brutal.

brazilian jiu jitsu

For your grappling; Judo – A martial art originating from Japan, it literally means ‘the gentle way’. It involves throws, locks and pins that manipulate an attackers energy with little strength needed on your part. It will help with your ground work enabling you to defend yourself if the fight happens to go to the ground. You will also learn how to break falls and prevent holds and locks happening to you.

For a real self defence system; Krav Maga – This system is quite new in comparison to older martial arts styles from Asia however it has drawn inspiration from these and others to create a very effective unarmed combat system for use in the streetof mixed martial arts. Krav Maga is especially renowned for it’s very efficient knife and gun disarms and it’s brutal counter attacks. Krav Maga was formally created by the Israeli Defence Force and is used by many military and law enforcement agencies around the world.

For the spiritual and meditative side; Tai Chi – Tai Chi is known for it’s slow movements and relaxed breathing exercises. It is practised individually in sets of moves much like ‘kata’ in Karate and some forms involve practising with a partner. It is a great way to relax and attain great flexibility which in turn can help out the other martial arts styles you practise.

To enhance your journey read the ‘Tao of Jeet Kune Do’ – This is a collection of Bruce Lee’s thoughts, philosophies and interpretations put together by his widow and close friends. I recommend reading the Tao of Jeet Kune Do in addition to your martial arts training as it will introduce you to ways of thinking that will enhance your understanding of both the martial arts and yourself.

Of course it will be too much Martial Arts Styles for most people to study all of these forms at the same time but I recommend trying to attend classes in at least two of these martial arts styles at a time if you can. I wish you all the best in your training and hope you get the same level of fulfilment I have found.

Japanese Martial Arts – Aikido

By Tony Hackerott

The primary goal of aikido is to gain advantage by using an opponent’s energy and momentum against him. The art places emphasis on the continuous flow of a combination of movements, and combines physical action with philosophical thought. On the physical side, aikido incorporates a number of locking maneuvers aimed at injuring joints, along with throwing techniques from jujutsu. It draws technical knowledge from kenjutsu and is influenced in varying degrees by other Japanese Martial Arts weapon-based systems.

Religious influence

The moral element of aikido is equally important. The name, which translates as “the way of harmony,” describes the spirit in which training and fighting plays out. Its founder, Morehei Ueshiba, was influenced by the Omoto-kyu religion, which stresses the importance of finding Utopia, and extending compassion even to those who do harm.

akido

Early inspiration

Ueshiba’s early experiences played a great part japanese martial arts in the formation of aikido. As a child he was weak and sickly, so his father, a wealthy landowner, encouraged him to take up physical sports, such as sumo wrestling and swimming. Ueshiba’s grandfather had been a noted samurai, and the young Ueshiba grew up on stories of his great-grandfather’s prowess. Tales of his heroism undoubtedly led Ueshiba to the study of Japanese martial arts. His desire to be strong and to protect himself and his family was further galvanized when he witnessed his father suffering a vicious beating at the hands of followers of an opposing politician.

Period of learning

During military service, Ueshiba received sporadic martial training, but in 1912, after moving to Hokkaido with his wife, he began to take his martial arts training to a new level. He traveled widely and studied with a number of renowned teachers, one of whom, Sokaku Takeba Sensei, opened his eyes to the budo. His short study under this master inspired him to look further into Japanese arts.

Throughout the 1920s and 30s Ueshiba taught his system under the name of aiki-jujutsu. This early version included a variety of “atemi,” or strikes, aimed at vulnerable points on the body, and its approach to attacking and defending was less circular and flowing than in the later version of the system.

Divine knowledge

As Ueshiba grew in age and experience he became more spiritual. Many experts put the date of the founding of aikido as we know it today to 1925, following an incident in which an unarmed Ueshiba defeated, yet did not harm, a naval officer armed with a wooden sword. Later, while walking in the garden, Ueshiba had a spiritual awakening. He said: “I was able to understand the whispering of birds and was clearly aware of the mind of God, the creator of the universe.” Another spiritual experience came during World War II, when Ueshiba had a vision of the Great Spirit of Peace. Of this, he said: “The way of the warrior has been misunderstood. It is not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing a human can do. The real way of a warrior is to prevent such slaughter. It is the art of peace, the power of love.”

A lasting legacy

Today, japanese martial arts or aikido is one of the most popular martial arts and is practiced all over the world. Devotees remember its founder as a profound man who transcended the limitations of the technical aspects of martial arts, instead incorporating rigid moral and philosophical elements into his art, which stressed harmony, compassion, and understanding, even in the face of aggression.

Aikido in Hollywood

Hollywood action man Steven Seagal has built his career around his prowess in aikido. Before he became a movie star Seagal was an aikido and mixed martial arts instructor and was the first foreigner to own an aikido dojo in japan. He has starred in numerous martial-arts and action movies, usually as an avenging hero with extraordinary fighting skills.