Brief History of Martial Arts

Roman god of war Mars statue

The word ‘martial’ derives from the Roman god of war Mars and the word ‘martial arts’ means arts of Mars. Martial arts refers to every systems of training for combat including traditions and systematized practices. Even though learned for various reasons, these various systems and styles of martial arts generally designed and share a one objective: to defend oneself or to defeat opponents. Whereas martial arts are frequently correlate with East Asia, it is not exclusive to Asia. Each and every civilization have their own style of martial arts and combat, since almost all of ancient people engaged in hunting, fighting and war. The Native of Americans have a tradition that includes wrestling, the Hawaiians practice joint manipulation. The slaves in Brazil created Capoeira based on skills brought from Africa. The major system of martial arts in Europe existed until modern times and being reconstructed these days. In French, the sailors and street fighters develop a French kicking style called Savate. Some martial arts are associated to code of honour such as Bushido (the way of warriors) in japan while others are associated to religious or spiritual philosophies/belief such as Daoism and Buddhism.

The Seven Virtues of Bushido

Despite the fact that each and every style of combat and martial arts has its own characteristic which differs it from one another, they still have common characteristic in the fighting techniques method. The routines of techniques which are performed alone or with partner are especially common in the Asian martial arts. Martial arts can be categorized into strikes oriented, grappling oriented and weapons oriented training. This is a list of martial arts that focused in one of these areas:

· Striking

o Punching – Wing Chun, Western Boxing