Exotic Wisdom | Martial Arts Self Defense Was Born Out Of Necessity

Martial Arts Self Defense Was Born Out Of Necessity

Martial arts has been around for thousands of years.  We didn’t always have mini gun’s and attack helicopters but people have always needed to defend themselves.  Many people believe that initially martial arts self defense was developed by those who were not allowed to have any weapons by order of the king that was ruling the people who he previously conquered.  Being that people could not use weapons they developed in secret, their bodies as deadly weapons.

Although some can even argue that martial arts self defense techniques have many roots as early as 2600 B.C., the martial arts referred to here is the close cousin of what you see today.  In the earliest stages, martial arts stemmed from other forms such as Greco roman wrestling and boxing.  Some of the forms that are still active today that carry a great deal of tradition and history are Wing Chung, tae kwon do, karate, wushu, and many others.

Although martial arts self defense weapons are used, many villages could use no bladed weapons or bows and any other weapon that the king favored.  The result is many of the exotic weapons you see today.  People were forced to think outside the box when devising new ways to protect themselves.  A stick for example, is a powerful weapon when used as a bow staff or a pair of nunchaku

Another example of the development of a martial art is Arnis or as some call it, Escrima.  A martial art developed in the Philippines using fighting sticks.  The villagers developed the use of rattan sticks in order to protect themselves.  Being that the villagers were not military trained and also had no money for weapons, the villagers developed weaponry out of what was practical and available, in this case, rattan sticks.  They weren’t necessarily planning on going to war but still needed an effective method to protect themselves from other villagers attacking.

Martial arts in china, Japan and Korea are probably the most well known in the United States today.  Although the forms such as kung fu, Wu Shu, Tae Kwon Do and others are a far cry from what is even practiced in those countries today primarily due to fear of legal action.  In Korea for example, many students actually live in the Do Jang where they practice Tae Kwon Do.  They train for several hours per day and the masters can be very strict disciplinarians.  It is not unheard of for a child to be struck with a bamboo stick if the master feels the child is not trying hard enough.  This is why true traditional martial arts unfortunately will never be taught in the United States, The ultra strict nature and the physical discipline just don’t fly here.

Martial arts self defense is actually much more than simply defending yourself.  As in mastering anything, you end up developing many skills in order to perfect your training regardless of the form.  Few things are more rewarding than rising up to the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that arise from mastering a martial art.  There is a reason the arts have been around for thousands of years and seem to be getting even more popular.

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