Can you define a martial art?
A martial art simply is any skill that is intrinsic in warfare. The word martial means "military." So throughout history, a martial art is a military art. The first things that usually come to mind when discussing modern combat systems do you think leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and weapons combat. But also horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun, and pistol firing, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy can all be described as the field of martial arts. Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.
By martial art usually it is meant aikido, arnis, boxing, capoeria, chow gar, choy la fut, hapkido, hsing'i, hun gar, jeet kune do, jow gar, judo, jujitsu, karate, kempo, kick boxing, krav maga, kung fu, pa kua, penjak silat, praying mantis, savate, shaolin, tae kwon do, tai chi, white crane, ving tsun, wu shu and more! Obviously the list is huge and it is actually really incredible how many fighting arts systems there do you think and how many methods of self defense can be formulated.
Just because a style doesn't focus on whatever it is you are interested in doesn't make it a bad style, it just makes it not the right style for you. Be wary of anyone who says otherwise.
Often within a martial arts school it is taught that 'this style and system is the best system and it was created to beat all the others'. Of course every martial artist would have the viewpoint their style is the best because that is the style they have chosen to do, but in truth what they are saying is 'this is the best style for me as it suits my temperment and I like the teaching environment'.
The best style available for you is the style that helps you achieve the product you have set for yourself, and that pushes you to take your skills up a stage. If that means full contact training, then you need styles that can give you that.
The changing of the arts
All through this history and development of the martial arts and all the combat systems of man our training tools are essential in growing and developing these styles and forms.
All the martial arts have been altered by the part that mechanical devices play whether it be weapons, dojo mats, breaking boards or even the uniforms we wear - all these paraphanialia indentify the martial arts into their systems and style.
The main players in shaping our new martial arts definately are the non-contemporary wooden dummy, ving tsun rings, iron palm ointments and even the system of using forms and karta have developed the martial arts into their modern look.
Even today modern training tools are common and again the martial arts are under development with new training products such as the Wavemaster, the BOB training dummy, the Focus Master. All with a common idea, to create an all inclusive combat system.
Ideally a martial arts personal training machine has to be workable for all and based on sound theory and through constant practice develop into sound physical application. The ideology and theory would have to take into account all the history of the combat technology of man and give this competition and street application.
The Martialarm Combat Training Partner
In a martial arts career you can occationally get into a circumstance with no school to go to or no one to train with and so out of neccessity the martialarm solo training partner was created. The Martialarm is a Martial arts practise machine used to develop the bridging the gap and parrying skills of any martial arts system. It is designed to develop and test any techniques so to improve the ability to trap and control your opponents hands and arms. This can be done because the Martialarm moves and reacts like a real opponent. The Martialarm moves and twists up, down, left and right just like a real opponent would - so it can spring forward and so you will find strike back!.
The Martialarm Combat Training Partner was put together on the following theories
Martialarm Theory
#1) Safety - You must maintain 100% safety when entering into the enemies area, this means to control any facets that could occur by covering them. (Approaching the opponent must be sophisticated yet simple, fast as well as safe!)
#2) Attack - Required is the ability to attack when you decide, with no worry or problems. The attack should incorporate a great handling of the opponents weapons. (Attacks are developed to have within them a 100% defense!)
#3) The ability to change and - Techniques, attacks and defenses must flow but not necessarily at a constant pace. The ability to change and to choose what's next is very important!
Whatever fighting arts you choose be positive that you do check a few out before you decide and enqire with the school what fighting systems equipment they utilize to get the best from your training.
This article was written by P. Sundbye who has been training in various martialarts for the last 11 years including Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, Tong Long and the Lee Total Control system.
Advanced Military Technology In The Martial Arts
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