Martial Arts Include Numerous Ancient Fighting Systems

Ancient fighting systems that have been perfected over the ages are typically known as "martial arts."  There are a number of different types of martial art systems, each having its own set of techniques.  Generally, martial arts do not encourage the use of weapons in combat, although there are some exceptions.

The Origins of Martial Arts

The earliest form of martial arts can be traced back 2500 years ago to China.  As people migrated to Japan and other eastern countries from China, they introduced martial arts to those countries.  Some martial arts experts argue that these other countries had independently developed their forms of martial arts.  Unfortunately, their origins are not so well documented.

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Popular Hollywood films have clouded the history of martial arts by portraying them as part of an Oriental mystique.  Whether it is Karate, Kungfu, Judo or Taekwando, most people think that martial arts belong only to the Oriental countries. Nothing can be further from the truth. Martial arts have existed across the world since time immemorial.  For every Taekwondo, there is a French from of kickboxing called savate, and for every Judo there is a sambo.

Skill, Practice and Mental Clarity Are Essential for the Martial Arts

A range of martial art systems were developed throughout the world over the centuries, each distinct in its own way, yet quite alike. The primary function of any martial art form is effective self-defense during combat. This self-defense is not about flailing arms and legs and making weird noises such as in popular film culture. The self defense system underlying each form of martial arts is about using the body to execute a single or a series of pre-choreographed movements that have been codified over time. When done properly,  these movements are lethal weapons in their own right.

No matter what the name or system, all martial arts forms require a high degree of skill. The routines and the techniques have been perfected throughout the years. Each routine takes a long time to perfect and the true martial artist has learned numerous routines and techniques. As is often the case, the skill of the martial artist lies in his ability to learn the right technique at the right time.

Because martial arts evolved from serious fighting, there is as much emphasis on the mind as on the body. Invariably, all of the martial arts are characterized by a conscious mental decision coupled by a physical technique to produce the maximum effect.

"Martial Arts Include Numerous Ancient Fighting Systems" contributed by Aaron Aguilar