What is MartialArts?

Martial arts refers to all of the various systems of training

for combat that have
been arranged or systematized. Generally, these different systems or styles
are all
designed for one purpose: physically defeating opponents
and defending against threats.

Brief History of MartialArts

Ancient peoples of all types engaged in fighting,war, and hunting. Thus, each and every
civilization subscribed to a version of martial arts or combat all their
own. most
Still,
people think of Asia when
they hear the term martial arts. Along with this, around the
year 600 BC trade between
India and China flourished. Itis believed that
during this
time information regarding the Indian martial
arts was passed onto the Chinese and
vica versa.

Types of MartialArts

1. Aikido: considered a grappling art, aikido

is a Japanese martial art performed by
flowing with the motion of the attacker
rather than opposing it straight-on. This
requires much less physical strength, as
the practitioner directs
momentum with entering and turning motions, followed by various the attacker's
locks. throws or joint

2. Haplkido: a Korean martial art which uses joint locks, kicks,

punches, and other
striking attacks.Weapons such as sword,
nunchaku, rope, cane, and staff are also
used, although their emphasis varies.
Hapkido focuses on using circular motions,
non-resisting movements, and control of the opponent, using footwork and
body
positioning to gain leverage and avoid strength
against strength. Although aikido
and hapkido are thought to share a
common history,they differ significantly in
philosophy, range of responses, and execution of techniques.

3. Judo: modern Japanese martial art (created in 1882). The goal

arelatively

to either throw of judo is

or takedown one's opponent to the ground
and immobilize or
subduethem with a grappling maneuver,joint lock,
strangle hold, or choke. Strikes
and thrusts by hands and feet or
weapons are only allowed in pre-arranged forms
(kata),and are not allowed in
competition or free practice.

4. Jiu Jitsu (Jujitsu, Jujutsu): a Japanese

martial art for defeating an armed
armored opponent in which one uses no weapon,
and
or only a short weapon.
Practitioners neutralize an enemy with
pins, joint locks, and throws by
attacker's energy against him, rather using an
than directly opposing it (as with other
martial arts such as karate). There
are five main areas or arts of
training: blocking,
fulcrum throw,non-fulcrum throw,
escaping, and striking.

5.Karate:a martial art developed in

Okinawa,Japanthat stresses striking techniques,
such as punching, kicking, knee and elbow
strikes, and open-handed techniques
such as knife-hands (karate chop). In
comparison to tae kwon do, karate tends
focus more on hand strikes, to
whereas tae kwon do emphasizes kicking
The major traditional styles of karate are Shotokan, techniques.
Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu, and
Wado Ryu.
6. Krav Maga: a hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel that involves
wrestling, grappling and striking techniques, mostly known for its extremely
efficient and brutal counter-attacks used to keep the practitioner safe and
incapacitate the opponentby any meansnecessary. Generally, there are no rules
in krav maga, and it has no sporting federation. In addition, there is no official
uniform, although some organizations recognize progress with rank badges,
levels, and belts.

7. Kung Fu(Chinese martial arts): a number of fighting styles that have developed
over the centuries in China. There are common themes to the various styles
(which are usually classified by families, schools, or sects). Some styles include
physical exercises that mimic animal movements, while others are inspired by
Chinese philosophies, religions, and legends. Internal styles focus mainly on
harnessing of qi, while external styles concentrate on improving muscle and
cardiovascular fitness. Some of the more common styles include Eagle Claw,
Hung Gar, Five Animals (Shaolin Kung Fu), Monkey, Praying Mantis, and Wing
Chun. (Theterm kung fu is often used in the west to refer to Chinese martial arts,
howeverits original meaning refers to one's expertise in any skill, not just martial
arts.)

8. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts): a full contact sport that allows a variety of fighting
styles to be used (including martial and non-martial arts techniques). Striking
and grappling techniques, either standing or on the ground,are allowed. The
early years of the sport saw a wide variety of traditional styles, but as the sport
evolved many styles were shown to be ineffective. It is now common for fighters
to train in multiple styles, creating a more balanced skill set.

9. Muay Thai: a martial art from Thailand which uses stand-up striking and clinching
techniques. It makes prominent use of punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee
strikes, using eight points of contact, in contrast to the hands and feet (four
contact points) more often relied upon in other martial arts. Numerous
techniques associated with Muay Thai can be found in MMA.

10. Tae Kwon Do(Taekwondo): the Korean art of self-defense, one of the
oldest
forms of martial arts (reaching back over 2,000 years), and the most
widely
practiced martial art in the world. Training involves learning a
system of blocks,
kicks, punches, and open-handed strikes, as well as varying forms of take
downs,throws, and joint locks, all of which develop
strength, speed, balance,
flexibility, and stamina. Taekwondo is known for its
emphasis on kicking
techniques, as compared to other martial arts such as karate. In
addition to self
defense training, students learn prearranged sequences of techniques
formsor poomsae (known in other martial arts as kata). Tae known as
kwon do and judo
are the only two martial arts included in
the OlympicGames.

11. Tai Chi: an internal Chinese martial art practiced

for both its defense training and
its health benefits. A multitude of
training forms exist, inchuding the
westernized, standardized version of tai chi (tai chi
chih) which has visual
similarities to the Chinese tai chi (tai chi
chuan), but
Some forms are particularly well known because of their no martial arts aspect.
slow movement.

What is Karate?

In Japanese, "kara" means empty and

"te" means hand. Karate is a non
weapons based martial art that was created in Okinawa
because the emperor had
banned all weaponsand the villagers needed to protect themselves.

So they made karate an open hand or fist style fighting that

Karate today has been westernised a bit more
would protect them.
is more today about
self defence. Depending competition and
on the school, the art of Karate still has the core
values and
respectsof the old days.

In this form, properly called karate-do, or

"karate way," karate is seen as an
all
encompassing approach to life, rather than only a
system for combat. Karatekas
curb their punches,
concentrating mainly on physical,
development rather than competition.
spiritual and mental
Uniform of Karate

The traditional karate uniform is called a "Gi",pronounced gee. The Japanese

and Okinawans wear a dogi, usually referred to as the gito work out in.The belt, or
obi, that holds the top together, is also used to indicate rank.

Traditional Karate Training Equipment

1. Makiwara

The main purpose of the Makiwara is to provide a hittable target and to condition
the striking area. Having a hittable target obviously improves your aim and also if
your hitting something your hands start to get used to the pain.Unlike if you were to
hit the air all the time.
2. Jari Bako

This is amore simple piece of equipment, in a nutshell it's sand in a bucket. It's
not really a traditional karate trainingequipment as a lotof okinawa martial artists used
Though non the less traditional karate practitioners still used this exercise
this exercise.
to improvethere gripping powerand forearm strength.

3. Chi Ishi

The Chi Ishi is simply a stone attached to a piece of wood. This piece
of
equipment was used as a way to develop upper body strength. If your interested to know
how it was used to develop upper body strength, here's a video by a great martial artist.
Explaining how the chi ishi works, while showing us someChi Ishi
exercise drills

4. Kongoken

The Kongoken is another equipment, that made a piece of metal. The

using it had to person
move a lot of different muscles to control it. Thus, giving you a
workout on it. full body

1. Upperbody strength
2. Core
3. Lower body strength
 s. Makiage Kigu

Essentially the Makiage Kigu is, simply apiece of wood with a string attached to a
weight. The person using the makiage kigu holds the wooden rod in front of him, while
rotating the wooden piece so that the weight would start to come up. The purpose of
this exercise is to increasethe strength of your wrists.

6. Nigiri Game

The Nigiri Game is essentially just a traditional ceramic jar. The exercise was to

hold the jar by the lid and than do different types of exerciseswile holding the ceramic
jars.

The purpose of this traditional karate training equipments was to improvegrip,

arm, core and leg strength. Essentially you were using every part of your body while
doing this traditional exercise.

When the exercise became easy, one would put sand in the jar to increase the
amount of resistance the jar posses. This obviously makes the exercise harder therefore
developing even bigger muscles.

7. Taketaba
nother classical piece of equipment that was used by older
karate practitioners.
The taketaba was basically a bunch of bamboo sticks placed
together in a fashion that
was not to tight nor to lose.

Thís made it perfect for karate students

to practice spear hand strikes. The
Taketaba provides you with a great resistance
for your fingers, that other traditional
karate training tools could not because of the
fact that they were to hard to strike with
the spear hand strike technique.
 Master Gichin Funakosh

THE VALUE OF KARATE

Those who must neverforsake a humble

followKarate-do
mind and gentle manner. The tremendous offensive and
defensive power of Karate-do is uvell known where one can
defeat enemies with a single attack. The value of the art
depends on the one applying it. If its application is for good
purpose, then theart is of great vaue,but ifitis misused, then
there is no more harmful art than karate. One who truly trains
in the art of Karate-do is never easily drawon into a
fight. Karate is used only in thoserare occasions in which one
must really defend one's self. This situation is experienced
possibly once in a lifetime by an ordinaryperson, andtherefore
there may bean occasion to use karate techniques only onceor
not at all. In Kkarate-do, one's individual goal might be
improvement of his or her health or training of his orher body
to function eticienthy. One might wish todevelop total body
strength and coordination or to attain poise and spiritual
fortitude. One who trains in Karate do strives internally to
train his or her mind to develop a clear conscience enabling him
or her to face the world truthfully, while externally developing
strength.
 The Five Precepts of Master Funakoshi

DOJO KUN
(Japanese Pronunciation)
tsutomu beshi
Hitotsu. Jinkaku kansei ni
ourcharacter
We shall endeavor tobuild

Hitotsu. Makoto no michio mamoru beshi

We shall befaithful in ourstudy

Doryoku noseishin o yashinau

beshi
Hitotsu.
We shallcultivatetcourage and tenacity
Hitotsu. Reigi omonzu beshi
o

We shallattach greatimportance to etiquette.

Hitotsu. Kekki no yu
o imashimubeshi
We shall be wary offoolishness