Martial+Arts

=Martial Arts By Jamie =

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Martial Arts =

 Martial Arts, or fighting arts, are practices of and traditions that train you for combat. Lots of different kinds of martial art's objective is to defend one's self or other from physical threat. This is considered an art and science. Martial Arts got its name from 15th Century Europe for fighting arts called historical European martial arts. One common characteristic that ties the different types is the systematic fighting techniques. Akido, a Japanese martial art, was developed by Morihei Ueshiba who was also known as 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'. This is influenced by Jujitsu or more specifically Kenjutsu for the joint locks and throws.


 * [[image:http://www.withywoodcentre.com/cms/images/photos/aikido.jpg width="304" height="277" caption="An Example of Akido"]] ||
 * An Example of Akido ||

Another style is Bando Thaing which was native to Burma and used armed and unarmed combat. For more information at least 20 other arts, you can go to this link: []or []. Sparring, simulated combat, or formal routines known as kata, common in Asian-derived martial arts, are some methods of training. Students are periodically tested in order to become a higher level or achievement like a new belt color or title. There are three different types of sparring: light contact, medium contact, and full contact. Light contact is restricted force and you are supposed to pull back the movement as soon as it touches. Medium contact is not pulled back but not full blown contact so it doesnt knock out the opponent and a poiont system is used to score. Full contact means exactly what the name tells you; they don't pull back their moves and are thrown with full force. Jujutsu evolved among the [|samurai] of feudal Japan as a method for defeating an armed and armored opponent without weapons. This year we learned about the feudal systems of Japan and the Middle Ages. They used this system to trade land for loyalty. For example, the kings would give some land to the nobles and if they ever got invaded or attacked, the nobles would fight for the kings. The same thing happened but with the different social classes. For the Middle Ages, it was kings/queens, nobles, knights, and peasants and in Japan it was emperor, daimyo, shogun, samurai, and peasants.

 As said by [|Stefan Verstappen], from Black Belt Magazine, The five elements and their associated heraldic animals represent an ancient knowledge of how heavenly forces could be manipulated to affect earthly destinies. The central ritual of Taoist magic consists in the ability to call up the forces of these Spirit-Generals and indicates that the heraldic Animals are indeed the essence of supernatural powers.

 **__The Tiger__** ||
 * [[image:http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7945/kungfutigerma2.jpg width="338" height="179" caption="Kung Fu Panda-Tiger" link="http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7945/kungfutigerma2.jpg"]]
 * Kung Fu Panda-Tiger ||

// When two tigers fight, one will die, but the other will be crippled. // Chinese Saying

 **Attitude** The tiger has no natural predators and, therefore, knows no fear. He is unpredictable and quick to anger, and when attacking is sudden and brutal. The attitude is that of fearlessness, and fierceness. Mentally, one must cultivate an attitude of indestructibility, courage, and disdain for discomfort. Greet obstacles with delight for giving you the chance to exercise your powers.

 **Strategy**  Tiger style's combat strategy is to destroy the opponent with a relentless and unrestrained attack. This is a powerful method designed to shock the opponent into fear and panic. When used by a large and healthy human, it is almost unstoppable. When both opponents use the same strategy, however, the result is disaster with both sides suffering serious injuries.  Historical examples of this strategy can be found with Viking Berserkers, (literally “those who wear bear skins”). The Berserkers wore the skins of wolves or bears and, in Shamanic fashion, would call on the powers of the animal spirit to infuse them with energy before battle. Working themselves into frenzy, they would charge naked into the enemy lines swinging their broad swords oblivious to any wounds received in return, hence the expression “to go berserk”. However, there is a dark side. The feeling of power tends to lead to cruelty and ruthlessness. Those that practice this method must be careful the beast does not escape from its cage.  **Training Principles**  Physical training includes weight and conditioning training aimed at increasing strength and mass. When sparring, sink your stance low and become aware of your mass as it pushes against the earth. Feel as though your body density has increased, no longer flesh and bones but wood and steel. When you stand still; you are a mountain, when you move; you are like an avalanche destroying everything in your path.  **Flexing Your Claws** <span style="background-color: #ea7b3e; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Flexing your claws is done by extending and contracting the fingers of both hands using dynamic tension while imagining your arms and hands being infused with energy. This is an excellent training method to improve finger and gripping strength. Flexing the claws can also act as a conditioned stimulus. When flexing your claws you imagine strength and energy flowing through your body. By associating strength and energy with the finger exercise, you will be able to trigger this feeling whenever you form the Tiger claw <span style="background-color: #ea7b3e; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Method. Stand in a quite area and relax. Extend your arms and fingers out at shoulder height as though reaching out to grasp someone by the shoulders. Then, while breathing in, slowly turn the palms up and curl the fingers into tight fists and retract the arms using dynamic tension, as though pulling a great weight. As you perform the physical movements use the following imagery. When inhaling, imagine energy being drawn into your body through the nostrils, as well as up from the earth through your feet and legs. As you exhale, imagine the energy pulsating through your body and radiating outwards through the forearms and palms. Practice the method twice a day for several months, then, whenever faced with a difficult situation, flex your claws for a boost of confidence. <span style="background-color: #ea7b3e; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> **Tiger Claw Hand Formation** <span style="background-color: #ea7b3e; color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The tiger claw hand is formed by curling the fingers and bending back the wrist. You should feel a contraction of the extensor carpi muscles in the forearm and tiredness after holding the position for only a few minutes. Remember to tuck the thumb against the ridge and out of the way. In application, the heel of the palm is used in either a thrusting, or slashing motion, often followed by a clawing and grabbing action with the fingers.

<span style="background-color: #ffce00; color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**__ The Crane __**
 * [[image:http://free-photo-download.info/free-photo-downloads/wallpapers/cinema_and_movie/image/kung_fu_panda,_2008,_crane_%28david_cross%29_2.jpg width="368" height="229" caption="Kung Fu Panda crane" link="http://free-photo-download.info/free-photo-downloads/wallpapers/cinema_and_movie/image/kung_fu_panda,_2008,_crane_%28david_cross%29_2.jpg"]] ||
 * Kung Fu Panda crane ||

// Tire them by flight, cause division among them. //// Sun Tzu, The Art of War // **Attitude** The crane is the antithesis to the tiger. The crane tends to be nervous and flighty, but when strolling unmolested through the rice fields appears somber and regal. The emotion traditionally associated with the crane is an aloof awareness. Crane stylists must cultivate an attitude of calm, wariness, while always prepared to move and counter-strike quickly. **Strategy** The perfect counter to the Tiger’s aggressive onslaught is the strategy of the crane - to retreat and evade until the attack has lost its momentum, then launch a counter attack to exposed targets. The crane maintains a constant watchfulness to successfully evade the initial attack, waiting and watching for the opportunity to attack a weakness. Technically, the crane strategy is more advanced than the tiger's. One must remain relaxed and fluid in order to evade the initial attack, counter-strikes must be precise and unexpected, plus it requires a great degree of self-composure and awareness to be able to see and recognize the moment when the attacker is weakest. In modern times this strategy forms the basis of guerrilla warfare, and is summed up by Sun Tzu; “Evade what is strong, attack what is weak.” There is one weakness to this strategy, the tendency to become reactive. Ideally, one should move in sync with the attack, always staying one step ahead. However, if caught off guard, then instead of anticipating the attack, the defender can only react to the attack. Eventually reactions lose out to initiative. ** Training Principles ** Training should focus on awareness, mobility, speed, and deceptive evasions. Running, skipping, jumping are excellent exercises. When sparring, practice evading and absorbing attacks. Learn to stay just outside of critical range enticing the attacker into exhausting himself with techniques that fall short. When you are able to make yourself virtually untouchable, counter strikes become a matter of opportunity. When you stand still you are supple as water, when you move you are swift as the wind Beating the Broom. Using a padded stick three or four feet long, have a partner thrust the stick at you from different angles while continuously moving towards you. Evade the attack by turning and moving the body out of the way, use the hands or arms only as a last resort to prevent being struck. Increase the difficulty of the exercise by allowing the partner to use swinging and thrusting actions together at random. Increase the difficulty even further by using two or more partners to attack simultaneously. ** Crane Hand Formation ** Crane Hand Formation. There are several hand formations associated with the crane beak. One method uses the four fingers to press against the thumb and uses the cluster of fingertips as the striking surface. Another uses just the first two fingers pressed against the thumb, and yet another extends just the first two fingers similar to a Boy Scout salute. ** Conclusion ** The Tiger, Crane, and Dragon are but a few styles whose forms and techniques occasionally resemble moves indicative of their namesake. However, did the ancient founders intend their legacy to be merely a graceful pantomime or was there more to it? Perhaps Myamoto Mussashi revealed the answer when he wrote. “In a contest where the opponents are equally matched in strength and technique, then it is the one with the greatest spirit who will win.


 * [[image:http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HbO9e19zQA4/SGwFPajZ_GI/AAAAAAAAAR8/mXu9dXg8-k4/s400/kung%2Bfu%2Bpanda.jpg width="348" height="316" caption="The animals in Kung Fu Panda actually represented the different moves"]] ||
 * The animals in Kung Fu Panda actually represented the different moves ||




 * [[image:http://www.designverb.com/wp-content/images/2008/06/kungfupanda.jpg width="418" height="295" caption="Kung Fu Panda"]] ||
 * Kung Fu Panda ||

There is a wide variety but they can be grouped by the focus of strikes, grappling, or weapons training. Thanks to wikipedia, we know that:
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; text-align: left;">[|Striking] **

<span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Weaponry**
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Punching]: [|Boxing (Western)], [|Wing Chun]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Kicking]: [|Capoeira], [|Kickboxing], [|Savate], [|Tae][|kwondo]
 * Other strikes:
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Elbows] and [|knees]: [|Muay Thai]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Open-hand]: [|Karate], [|Shaolin Kung Fu]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Grappling] **
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Throwing]: [|Glima], [|Judo], [|Jujutsu], [|Sambo]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Joint lock]/[|Submission holds]: [|Aikido], [|Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu], [|Hapkido]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Pinning Techniques]: [|Judo], [|Wrestling]

<span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Many martial arts, especially those from [|Asia], also teach side disciplines which pertain to medicinal practices. This is particularly prevalent in traditional [|Chinese martial arts] which may teach [|bone-setting], [|qigong], [|acupuncture], [|acupressure] ([|tui na]), and other aspects of [|traditional Chinese medicine].[|[2]]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">[|Traditional Weaponry]: [|Fencing], [|Gatka], [|Kendo], [|Kyūdō], [|Eskrima]
 * <span style="background-color: #7f00ff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Modern Weaponry: [|Jukendo], [|Shooting sports]


 * [[image:http://fencingsabre.org/images/classic-picture-of-epic.jpg caption="Martial Arts was part of the traditional weaponry" link="http://fencingsabre.org/images/classic-picture-of-epic.jpg"]] ||
 * Martial Arts was part of the traditional weaponry ||