| For the human race, martial arts have been at | | | | children, but not many at that time. When I |
| the center and key to our survival since the very | | | | studied, there was virtually no safety equipment |
| beginning. Throughout our history the martial arts | | | | and when we matched up on Wednesday nights, |
| have been developing and changing in every | | | | it was full contact, except no strikes to the face. |
| culture and continent in the world. The name | | | | There was still the occasional broken nose and |
| "Martial Arts" is actually a 15th century European | | | | black eyes. There were a lot of hand injuries, |
| term, but today we usually think of them as | | | | broken fingers, broken toes, contusions and |
| being of Asian origin. The word "Martial" is derived | | | | numerous other injuries. In the room where we |
| from "Mars", the roman military god of war. | | | | had the matches there were holes in the walls |
| Interestingly, the month of March was also named | | | | and blood on the mats and the walls. Even back |
| after the roman god of war. | | | | then, many of the arts were starting to be more |
| The basic definition of the martial arts is any skill | | | | sport oriented. In the sport arts there are a few |
| that can be applied in warfare (military art), to | | | | techniques that if performed perfectly could be |
| include archery, horsemanship and many, many | | | | useful in self defense. This is more common |
| others. Logistics and battle strategy are also | | | | today and you will see black belt instructors who |
| considered martial arts. The martial arts are also | | | | have never been in a fist/street fight in their lives. |
| considered to be an art as well as a science. The | | | | This is why I question their abilities when it comes |
| word "arts", usually applies to the physical side of | | | | to teaching self defense. Bruce Lee said that if |
| the arts, while another term "way" refers to the | | | | you want to learn how to fight you must do so |
| mental aspects such as religion, a code of honor, | | | | by fighting. I can tell you from experience that he |
| ethical conduct, restraint, humility and respect. | | | | was absolutely correct. |
| Martial Arts can be categorized into three main | | | | The sport martial arts are extremely good for |
| areas of focus, which are strikes, grappling and | | | | physical conditioning and for learning discipline. |
| weapons. The martial arts taught in modern times | | | | People of all ages can participate and the use of |
| can be broken down into two major groups which | | | | safety equipment is always stressed. Your |
| are combat and sport. Combat martial arts are | | | | strength is your ability to act safely and it is your |
| taught by the military and the police and are most | | | | best means of self defense. Ninety eight percent |
| often referred to as HTH or H2H (hand to hand) | | | | or more of all battles are won by the mentally |
| and CQC (close quarters combat) or CQB (close | | | | strongest combatants, not the physically |
| quarters battle). These are the deadly force | | | | strongest. Use your head to stay out of |
| martial arts, used for extreme situations that we | | | | dangerous situations and your feet also when |
| as civilians would likely never encounter. | | | | necessary (I mean run fast). In the U.S. Infantry |
| Nearly all other martial arts taught in the United | | | | we used to say there are two kinds of people, |
| States today are sports martial arts. | | | | the quick and the dead. |
| Over the last fifty years or so the styles taught | | | | The moral of this story is: Be quick. I should point |
| in the United States have gradually become more | | | | out that I have seen exceptions to the sports |
| and more sports oriented. In short, they have lost | | | | arts I talked about earlier. The problem is that a |
| a lot of what they originally were. There are | | | | lot of the sport arts are sold as self defense arts |
| several reasons for this. Safety was an important | | | | and I don't want people to go out on the streets |
| issue from a business standpoint and today we | | | | to test their effectiveness. Combat is dangerous |
| see a lot of family participation. When I studied | | | | and could be deadly. Just remember to not get in |
| Kempo Karate in the late sixties, there were no | | | | over your head unless you are an Olympic |
| children at all allowed to participate and only an | | | | swimmer, and use every precaution to protect |
| occasional woman participated in the style I | | | | your family and yourself. Be safe at all times and |
| studied. Some other styles did allow women and | | | | in all places. |