What is Martial Arts?

The word martial is defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary as "related to or suited for war or a warrior." Answers.com defines martial arts as "any of several Asian arts of combat or self-defense, such as aikido, karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as a sport. "

Wikipedia defines martial arts as:

Martial arts (literally meaning arts of war but usually referred as fighting arts) are systems of codified practices and traditions of combat. Martial arts all have similar objectives: to physically defeat other persons or defend oneself or others from physical threat.

The term martial arts refers to the art of warfare (derived from Mars the Roman god of war) and comes from a 15th-century European term referring to what are now known as historical European martial arts specifically to what is today known as Historical Fencing, but is now most commonly associated with Asian fighting styles, especially the combat systems that originated in East Asia.

Although the term martial arts is now commonly associated with Asian fighting styles, it actually has roots around the world. It was never a monopoly of one region. Fencing, for instance, was popular around the world long before karate or tae-kwon-do became known in Europe and America. The European styles and techniques of European fencing are different from the Asian fencing.

Wrestling, a martial art popular in America, Europe and Asia, has a Mediterranean origin. There are cave drawings of wrestling that are over three thousand years old and wrestling was introduced into the Olympics around 700 BC.  There is no doubt wrestling is a martial art, so the idea that martial arts refers to Asian fighting systems is a limited view. Martial arts is global, no doubt about it.

But what caused martial arts to be commonly associated with Asian fighting styles? The explanation lies in the history of tae-kwon-do in Korea and karate in Japan. Before judo and karate were introduced in Japan, martial arts was a discipline practiced only by the few. The objective of war is to defeat the enemy and keeping fighting methods secret was an important martial discipline. The less the enemy knows, the better. 

Keeping the general population ignorant of martial arts, and training only the law enforcers,  was the normal way of maintaining peace and order. As a way of preventing rebellion, the victor of war, or the new master, forbid the vanquished society from manufacturing weapons and from teaching their fighting methods. This was the common experience of Korea and Okinawa. Both countries have a long history of being conquered. Its people were forbidden from making any fighting weapons.

Human beings, by nature, do not easily accept defeat or domination by a foreign power. Every human being values freedom, if not for one's self, at least for one's family or society.  And fighting back to regain freedom is a basic expression of that human value. Usually, a few in the subjugated society, those who can afford weapons, will rebel and take up the cause. When denied all weapons, for the sake of freedom, people choose to fight with bare hands, bare feet, hand tools, and anything naturally available.  

This explains the development of two popular martial arts, tae-kwon-do in Korea and karate in Okinawa.

Korea has a history of being conquered by its neighbors. China conquered it and then used it as a bridge to Japan and the China Sea. The Russians conquered it and then used it as a bridge to Japan, its arch enemy. And Japan, likewise, conquered Korea and used it conquer territories in China. Denied of freedom, much less any chance of prosperity, the Koreans had to accept the reality that their bare hands and feet were their remaining reliable weapon. And because bare hands and feet, unlike manufactured weapons, were available to all, as many as willing and able were taught how to fight. Thus, the Koreans developed a weaponless fighting system now popular known as tae-kwon-do.

Okinawa has a history similar to Korea. China and Japan took turns in conquering it. Like the Koreans, the Okinawans, too, forbidden to carry or make weapons. But because they were required to produce food for their masters, they possessed strong hands and feet, as well as farming tools. Thus, they developed ways of fighting which used bare hands, bare feet, and farm tools like nunchaku. The Okinawan method of fighting is known around the world as karate.

When Korea became an independent country, tae-kwon-do became integral part of its military training. Okinawa became part of Japan and so, eventually, karate became part of Japanese military training, too.  After the World War II, both karate and tae-kwon-do remained popular  among former military people as a formal discipline for the body and spirit.

Just as most military personnel, after World War II, converted to civilian lifestyle, tae-kwon-do and karate were transformed, too. From a martial art primarily designed to kill and maim, these martial arts evolved into popular civilian sports, designed to win tournaments. Then, as its practitioners sought to improve their lifestyle, with greater focus on healthy and harmonious living, they incorporated the gentler side of the martial arts by also learning the philosophies of its ancient masters.

This trend of a martial arts branching into other forms has been common in the last fifty years. Two Oriental martial arts, tai-chi and jujitsu, helped produce two martial arts very popular around the world - aikido and judo. Shizen-Na Karate, a martial art discipline developed in the United States and used for police training in some American cities, combines techniques from tae-kwon-do, karate, boxing, jujitsu, and judo.

The desire to achieve physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as flexibility and agility, in varying, often unexpected difficulties, has led many individuals to study martial arts. Not just for one year but for many years. Many of those who have been through such experience say such holistic view allows for a more complete understanding and experience of martial arts.  

Ray Colorado
Brown Belt, Shizen-na Karate under Richard Morris

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