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Overview
What would happen if the masters of different martial art's academies join forces to devise one master form of martial arts? This should include all the martial arts systems, styles, philosophies, and functionalities and to embrace the hidden secrets of their individual styles and formulate one master super self-defense universal system that is all incorporating and encompassing. A structure in which entails the very essence of human survival. This new system of martial arts would maintain the subsistence for the sacredness and protection of our evolutionary way. This "way" is the continuation of the human-species. Longevity depends on maintaining your survival skills and survival skills depend on maintaining your health. It is all tied together and there is no separation of these factors. This book is about that; to maintain and live a healthy and long life through the use of the martial arts format. I called the union above "The Yoda System."
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781665501187 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 06/16/2018 |
| Pages: | 230 |
| Product dimensions: | 8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.75(d) |
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Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
THE ORIGINS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS AND HEALTH
Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn from each other's experience. On a spiritual journey, we all have the same destination. A.R. Rahman
THE ORIGINS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS FOR HEALTH
PHILOSOPHY, MODELS, AND CONCEPTS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS
What are some of the theories and practices of the martial arts and where did it originate from? Some say the answer is not to be found because it has been lost through time. It is certainly among the most ancient, sophisticated, and enduring happenings of our or any generation. The martial arts have deeply influenced our way of thinking regarding health, sports, in the combat spectrum, and in the manner and rules of engagement. It is now utilized in the military and the police force in many countries around the world. So, what do we really mean when we say "The Martial Arts?"
WHAT ARE THE TRUE ROOTS OF "THE MARTIAL ARTS?"
Too many of us envision the martial arts to be an ancient way of practicing individual battle or fight, be it armed or unarmed. This usually involves some sort of physical contact or violence which may or may not entail some particular type of weapon. When we talk about martial art weapons, we have to accept the fact that for each classification or system of the martial arts, and they are many, a particular weapon or weapon type of apparatus may be used and knowing this, certain physical techniques have had to be developed and assigned within the body of its teaching. This understanding will incorporate the implementation of strategies, psychological and physiological identification markers, as well as, motivational responsiveness of self-control, and power or strength movements as long as all the elements are balanced and are equal. What we all tend to forget is that this manner of what is now known as the martial arts in ancient times was so much more than just sports, exercises, and combative skills. Martial arts, as it relates to the ancient and traditional forms, integrated a myriad of many other human factors to fulfill its total "mind-body" philosophy. It unites art in the form of drawings, paintings, sculpturing, poetry, and music not to leave out dance as a unified and equivalent whole. Throughout Asia, the martial art embraces spirituality and meditation which is disseminated and is inseparable in their total beliefs.
In these Asian countries, this spiritualism and meditation is influenced mainly by Hindu-Buddhist philosophies and these ideas and concepts may be used as an aid or a pathway to attaining enlightenment. What is not practiced in the martial arts in the present day is the study of the healing arts and herbal medicine which was a major player in this martial arts spectrum. All of these arts together as stated were a great part of the training in ancient or traditional practice and was the holistic realm of the martial arts influence. This is why, to a great extent, steered the practice to a more religious path or right of experience and so the martial art teacher was held in high esteem and true respect was engendered by the student practitioner's towards their master or in this case sensei. In fact, this reverence and honor was a form of dying loyalty to their teacher and to the history and art one is taught.
Bear in mind that the information in this present study is for further study on this subject and is not meant to be locked in as a historical conclusion. It is to establish a platform of study and learning as to what is already written by the masters of the martial arts which may be analyzed as expressions of its cultural influence. In this transcript, we will be dealing mainly with the sports and exercise aspects as it relates to self-defense and health. Please keep in mind that through the millennium, there have been numerous forms of self-defense or the martial arts that have been designed throughout Asia and attempts will be made to name and give a very brief overview of just some of the various methods developed over the years. This would entail the integration of the different practices of combat and choices of weaponry which made these techniques relevant and effective for that clan or in-group. After extensive practice and combat training by the master sensei, one felt the need and desire to walk the warrior's path as a protector of their sensei or teacher. This path also helped the monarchs of the sensei's realm or district in the training of their soldiers or warriors. This relationship gave the dojoor school special privileges and freedoms passed down to the sensei and his students. Albeit, the aim was primarily to restore a certain balance between the societal clan members and other clans members within the district that had various martial art systems, even if only in an indeterminate historical standpoint. An attempt would be made to bring together the general knowledge and expand the readers understanding of some of the systems of those already in existence. Again, keep in mind, that there are many, many forms of what is known today as "The Martial Arts." Some of these forms will be discussed in a very abridged fashion. So, if you want to take a ride through martial arts history, good, just lookout for the speed bumps and hidden paths on our explorations through time.
WHAT DO WE MEAN BY "THE MARTIAL ARTS?"
The term " Martial Arts" was originally words used in Europe and referred to the warfare going on during that European span of time. It was first recorded in this form and put together in these words in the year 1550. The term itself means "Arts or Mars" Mars is the Latin Roman mythological "God of War," the word "Martial" means "Military," so one can see how the two words became synonyms as a common saying or expression. How these words became symbolic to the Eastern Asian fighting system is still rather vague even though "Wu-shu" many think, bears a slight resemblance to it. This will be discussed later.
Since the usage of the phrase " Martial Arts" in the 1550's, you can imagine the split between the ancient, traditional, and modern forms. The systems of martial arts are a collection from a vast variety of practices throughout thousands of years of human evolution. There is nothing new about all species wanting to live, to stay alive; ergo self-defense was obviously a natural progression. As civilization advanced and self-preservation continued to evolve, self-defense ushered in competition, the challenge, you being better than the other guy syndrome. Then it became a way or means of entertainment, then to physical health and spiritual growth combining the mind and body as a by-product.
When talking about the martial arts we have to include human and animal behavior and not necessarily in that order. Many of the forms of kata's or choreographed dance movements in the martial arts were observed by humans observing other humans as they responded to crisis. Seeing human behavior and how the humans responded to these crisis's are what formed the obvious conclusions to that self-defense event. When you are frightened or fearful for your life, you would either run or stop and try to defend yourself and that may entail the use of picking up a stone or a branch from a tree off the ground for defense. It may even go as far as physical confrontation with another man or beast. This is a natural instinct to protect one's self from harm or death and is a primitive reaction called the fight-or-flight response. It is our body's primitive automatic inborn response to a perceived threat or attack to our survival. This instinct to defend ourselves gives us the equal right to move on to the next day. When one is successful in surviving this attack, one tends to remember and continue to use that particular movement or technique in future events. A new method of self-defense is born. In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220AD), a renowned medical physician called Hua Tuo created a set of exercises called Wuqingxi (Five Animal Plays) which mimicking the movements of animals. Observing the habits of these animals and how the animals protect themselves and copying their movements helped man's instinct for survival was enhanced. Seeing this happening with positive results and practicing that movement of observation by the animals was a means to further protect oneself. Most of your present martial arts originated and was formed by mimicking actions from humans and animals with great scrutiny toward the goal for adaption to human self-defense.
From this, a sundry of other forms, techniques, and styles have been created and are well known in the martial arts arena. In the animal kingdom, method and forms were created such as the praying mantis style, dragon style, monkey style, tiger style, crane style, and many other animal practices were fashioned and designed. In the human method there is the clumsy master style or drunken master style, and what I call the rock style. In the wrestling format, you have the cattle or goat style and the gorilla style of wrestling. These mentioned are just a few of the common systems of what is known and utilized as sports and exercise with an additional self-defense modality.
Weapons became an additional means for protection and self-defense. An assortment of many different types of weapons were discovered and developed for this express purpose and means to inflict severe damage and harm to your opponent. Weapons increase the efficiency for hunting, law enforcement, self-defense, and in times of necessity and/or warfare. This advantage in using a material is to try and gain the strategic benefit or advantage over your adversary be it man or beast. While just about any ordinary object can be used as a weapon, many are specifically designed for that precise purpose. Believe it or not, the use of weapons have been observed by chimpanzees, and the earliest known fashioned weapons were eight wooden throwing spears dating as far back as 300,000 years called the Schoninger Speere.
Ancient weapons development was a great revolutionary survival skill. Humankind owes its success, in a large measure, to the mastery and technology of tool making and is grounded in the history of knowledge for the human species. Weapons technological advancement basically started the same way that all survival skills developed, and that is by using observation and mental skills for existence, again, adapting to the surrounding environment. As Homo sapiens evolved, their skills vault became larger which allowed the brain to grow from 450cc (Australopithecus-Lucy) to well over 1400cc (Homo sapiens-sapiens). The larger the brain capacity allowed more rational thinking, understanding, and reasoning to kick in. I must say, that the Neanderthals really had the largest brain compared to the present humans but maybe it was needed to move us to the next level. So, when the rock and branch worked as a protective object then maybe putting the rock and branch together may work even better making a hammer or axe. If I make the tip of the branch pointy, a spear is formed or by bending the branch and tying a vine to each end and using a pointy branch, a bow and arrow emerges. The spear may have been the first weapon but the bow and arrow was the first aerial weapon used second only to the thrown rock.
Throughout history, survival brought on many discoveries. Scraping two flint stones together to make a fire was the single most important discovery of adaption in defense and self-preservation ever appreciated. Control of fire became a key to new technology for humankind. Fire provided warmth and migration into much colder climates now became possible for humankind. It provided artificial light which meant that humankind can live in caves which will protect them against the elements and animals. It provided a means to start to cook their food. Food collecting now became an essential attribute in a hunter-gathering society. Realizing that all these events took thousands of years to be discovered at the pace of one small step per millennia we have come to a more human existence.
Things started to change when fire brought on the metal era and life became more achievable. Copper was probably the first metal discovered due to its ease in melting and pliability capabilities but although used as a weapon, it was too malleable or soft. Then the discovery of tin and the process of both tin and copper being melted together formed bronze and brought on what is now known as the " Bronze Age" emerged. This was followed by the " Lead Age" and then the " Iron Age." Iron began to be used widely as a weapon in many countries and the production of iron weapons as well as shields and other protective equipment became common in the weapons production trade.
When talking about shields, one must consider the importance of self-defense as well as for protection from the elements. Animal skins for warmth and foot wear for walking was just one of the protective uses. As weapons were used, some as simple as a thrown rock, protection to block this thrown rock or any thrown object became a threat element and a need to stop this threat had to be developed. Shields of some sort act as a hindering means between the attacker and attackee became necessary as a protective device. Turtle shells, wood, animal hide, and other materials were used as personal armaments to ward off and intercept projectiles from the attackers and to shield the attackee from bodily harm. The shields came in various sizes, shapes, and thicknesses and were designed to deflect different types of strikes against the shield holder. They were mostly carried by foot soldiers, knights, and cavalry.
Shields became more advanced when time moved on. Connecting the leather to the wooden plank made the scene. This reduced the impact of a weapon thrown or softened the strike intensity force and made it more tolerable against a hard shield even if it was a thrown rock, arrow or spear. The Greeks used round bowel shaped wooden shields that were reinforced with cooper or bronze and lined with cloth with a hanging curtain for low thrown objects.
The advent of body armor soon emerged and shields became smaller; made of wood with either leather or bronze cover but the smaller size gave the holder more mobility. To this day, we still use shields against armed attackers. Riot shields are used in riot control and are made of metal or some polymer material.
MARTIAL ARTS SCOPE, KIND, AND DISSIMILARITY
There are a number of categories one must consider when discussing the martial arts. There is the ancient,traditional or historical, and the contemporary or modern forms. This includes the historical wrestling vs. modern wrestling, armed vs. unarmed to include types of weapons (swordsmanship, stick fighting etc.), combat types (grappling vs. striking; standup fighting vs. ground fighting). This scope also depends on the use or reason for their use, be it, self-defense, warfare, combat sports, choreography, physical fitness or meditation.
UNARMED
STRIKING:
Most of the hand-to-hand fighting is included in this area. The methods can be any form of striking techniques or hands-on system:
Punching can be of many forms such as, punching, elbow strike, forehead strike, boxing (Western), or Wing Chun.
Kicking style includes Capoeira, Savate, or Taekwondo which uses 70% of its strikes by leg, feet, and knee attacks.
Karate, Muay Thai, and Sanshou are other forms of strikes.
GRAPPLING:
Throwing includes Hapkido, Judo, or Sumo movements. Grappling style requires physical holding and body contact. It requires leverage and torque movements.
Joint locks/Chokeholds/Submission holds can be categorized and used in Aikido, Jujutsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Sambo.
Pinning Techniques are Judo and Wrestling.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Health, Longevity And The Martial Arts"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Edmund A. Cruz.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Preface, xi,
For the Reader, xiii,
Chapter 1 The Origins of the Martial Arts and Health, 1,
Chapter 2 Past Martial Arts, 13,
Chapter 3 Universal Martial Art styles, 33,
Chapter 4 The Making of a Martial Artist, 63,
Chapter 5 Sports and Martial Arts injuries, 77,
Chapter 6 Serious Injuries from Martial Arts and Sports, 85,
Chapter 7 The Age of Enlightenment, 129,
Chapter 8 Chinese food cures as Preventive Medicine, 141,
Chapter 9 Eastern Asian Herbology, 147,
Chapter 10 The History of massage therapy, 155,
Chapter 11 History of the philosophy and aim of Yoga, 161,
Chapter 12 History of Acupuncture, 171,
Chapter 13 History of Moxibustion, 183,
Chapter 14 Cupping Therapy, 187,
Chapter 15 Gua Sha Therapy, 191,
Chapter 16 Reiki healing, 197,
Chapter 17 The True Dawn of the Human Race, 201,
Glossary, 207,
Index, 213,