Martial Arts InsightMartial Arts Insight provides unique online perspectives into the fighting arts as forms of self-defense, to promote health and well-being and reduce stress, as sports, for personal development and the pursuit of personal success and as a way of life to foster spiritual enlightenment through meditation. In addition we examine the historical, cultural and psychological factors that have and continue to shape the development of the martial arts.
What is Martial Arts? Many of the martial arts available to study in modern life owe their origins ultimately to the battlefield of yesteryear. Before technology could the art of war forever, warriors fought at close-quarters using hand weapons or, if disarmed, their bare hands. Warfare was brutal and required the fighting men to develop highly honed skills along with immense bravery. Defense training was not the main goal; victory in a one-on-one, brutally violent fight was the sole aim of training. In these circumstances the fighting arts of Ancient Greece and Ancient India were spawned and began to spread into neighboring areas. As technology advanced the role of the elite warrior became obsolete. Mass conscript armies dominated the battlefield and the distance between the lines of soldiers increased as firearms became more widespread and easier to use. A key to victory became simply amassing greater firepower than the enemy. Skill in the use of weapons was less important than the number - and the power - of weapons that could be brought to bear on an opponent. The usefulness of traditional fighting arts began to decline and self defense became a priority instead. Others began to adapt classical techniques for the sporting arena. Fencing, boxing and wrestling in the West were introduced to the Olympic Games, thereby encouraging standardization of techniques and rules for different arts in other countries. In Japan in particular, the move to modernization of classical fighting arts was undertaken and led by Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, whose sport would later also be included in the Olympics. Other masters, moreso in Asia than in the West, encouraged the pursuit of spiritual awakening through the intensive practice of a fighting system. In Japan in particular the arts had long been associated with Zen Buddhism through the samurai warrior class who had adopted the ascetic spiritual tradition as their own. In India yoga had always heavily influenced all physical pursuits. Training then was less about fighting and personal protection or sport and more about the serious nature of spiritual realization. Combative movement became a form of dynamic meditation. Still others recognized that martial arts could provide a good workout. Again, Jigoro Kano was an early proponent of this approach. The movements naturally lent themselves to the development of both aerobic and anaerobic fitness, along with promoting flexibility and, again moreso in Asia, healthy, deeper breathing patterns. Today one of the most attractive features of training is that the arts are so multi-faceted. A practitioner can choose to specialize or he or she can soak up the immense benefits that regular practice offers for all ages. Well-balanced lessons will provide instruction in the various techniques that comprise the different styles in a safe, productive manner. Supplementary conditioning will further help to improve your level of fitness and raise your health awareness. Many classes end with a period of meditation, visualization or quiet reflection. Training can be performed as a solo exercise or at an academy which will also offer the benefit of a social support network. Martial arts can be studied by anyone of any age or background. Schools and gyms tend to offer different programs to cater for kids and adults. Children especially love to train and are highly motivated by the acquisition of different colored belts that reflect growing expertize and personal growth and development, with the much-respected black belt being the ultimate target of many participants. In recent years more women have also become attracted to the pursuit of a chosen art and continue to reap the rewards. Indeed, it is not unusual nowadays to find a family training together either in the same class or at different times in the same school. You will usually be able to observe classes and take a free lesson prior to joining to take your time and choose the gym and instructor that is best suited for you and your needs. Equipment tends to be fairly simple and may comprise of nothing more than a training uniform. Any needs you may have can be met by shopping online or at a local store. The arts have become so popular that most cities will have at least one specialist shop selling clothing and other apparel, sparring gear, books, and instructional DVDs.
How to do Martial Arts Currently the fighting arts are undergoing a resurgence in popularity owing to the success of the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). There is much discussion over what is the 'best' style but with so much variation in approaches from different arts from around the world, such discussion tends to be redundant and a better question to ask is what style is best for you. Even then, the quality of instruction and the rapport you enjoy with your teacher will in all likelihood contribute more to your enjoyment and advancement that the particulars of the art you study. Much of your practice will focus on repetition of basic techniques and forms - series of pre-arranged movements done in a strict sequence. Once your are comfortable with some basic techniques they may be applied against pads or punching bags to increase your power and speed. Your timing will be improved through sparring with training partners. Sparring in the early stages will be pre-arranged with participants agreeing to limit and control their techniques. Eventually you will build up to free sparring which allows you to exchange techniques with a partner in an unrehearsed (but safe and controlled) manner. Depending on the art you study, advanced students may also cover weapons practice. Ultimately how you train will depend on the art you study and the approach taken by your instructor. Broadly speaking the arts can be divided in Western and Asian martial arts. The most popular Western arts are Boxing and Wrestling, both of which have become more popular with the rise in the study of MMA. The most popular Asian arts are Chinese (Kung Fu), Japanese (Karate and Judo) and Korean (TaeKwonDo) but you can find online guides to the history, philosophy and technique of many more diverse methods on this site. Finally, I encourage you to take a look below at some of the most popular articles and videos on this site. Enjoy your journey!
Bruce Lee - Pierre Berton Interview
Bruce Lee was interviewed by Pierre Berton in 1971, giving his first English language television interview. This was before the Bruce Lee phenomena had hit in the West and two years before Enter the Dragon. Later interviews of all kinds would focus on his movies and his fame. Pierre Berton, a noted Canadian non-fiction author, caught Bruce before the fame took over thereby giving Lee the chance to express his philosophy and the deeper, more thoughtful side to his personality in this famous interview...Read more
Dan Inosanto on Bruce Lee and Jeet Kune Do
Dan Inosanto was Bruce Lee's right hand man and the master charged with spreading Jeet Kune Do around the world. Dan himself is of mixed Filipino-American descent and has done much to popularize South East Asian martial arts such as Kali, Muay Thai and Silat. He blends techniques and concepts together seamlessly and is equally successful in teaching others to do the same. Stressing the need to be a versatile fighter at all ranges, Dan was a Mixed Martial Artist before the term had even been coined...Read more
Sean Sherk - the Muscle Shark - is a former UFC Lightweight Champion. He continues to fight in the UFC and is considered (August 2010) to be one of the top ten fighters in the lightweight division...Read more
Personal Development and the Martial Arts
Personal development can be understood as developing the self and / or developing others. Its mainstream techniques include setting goals, developing plans useful in achieving those goals and then taking action in pursuit of those same goals. Typically goals are set in areas such as health and fitness, personal finances, relationships, careers, spiritual beliefs and overall life satisfaction...Read more In the East, and in Japan in particular, perhaps because it is an island, water has been used symbolically in philosophy for centuries. The pond, representative of nature's lakes, is a common and important feature of many Japanese gardens. Alternatively, the carefully raked sand of austere gardens found in some Zen temples also betray the influence of water, with the sand symbolizing the ocean. References to water in one form or another can be found throughout Japanese literature and philosophy, but one phrase in particular that stands out in the martial arts is Mizu no Kokoro, or ‘a mind like water’...Read more Chuck Liddell - MMA Focus Mitt and Thai Pad Drills Chuck Liddell needs no introduction for Mixed Martial Arts fans. He is a former UFC World Champion and won many of his bouts via knockout. He is a world class striker and combined excellent timing with immense KO power while defending with his sprawl against grapplers. In the video below you can see Chuck doing various MMA focus mitt and Thai pad drills....Read more Chuck Liddell - Ground and Pound Chuck Liddell is a familiar figure to all martial artists. He is the former UFC Light Heavyweight World Champion and played a major contributing factor in popularizing the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts. He is best known for his striking and knock out ability along with his excellent take down defense....Read more In this Georges St Pierre workout you can take a look at how this phenomenal UFC champion does his weight training. Georges St Pierre is well known for his athleticism and muscular definition and this workout will give you an idea of how he attains and maintains his body...Read more
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