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Martial arts
The highly respected
martial
arts author Dave Lowry maintains that not
all so-called 'martial arts' are actually martial arts...
'Martial art' literally refers to a combat system that has been tried in
battle/used by professional warriors/soldiers.
Such an art was intended to incapacitate, maim or kill - and the fighting
methods should reflect this. Usually a martial art is weapons-oriented, with
unarmed combat being a secondary concern.
Fighting arts are the most common
Most contemporary classes teach 'fighting arts'. They may have been
designed as a sport, fighting bouts/competitions, gang warfare/street
fighting or for their aesthetic value.
A fighting art is usually very functional and effective, but (by Lowry's
definition) it is not a martial art.
What does
martial arts training involve?
You may find different combat approaches in a typical
martial arts class:
The purpose/function of each mode of combat is an essential consideration. e.g. the aim of fighting is to beat the opponent whereas self defence is all about avoiding harm.
1. Fighting
'Fighting' literally refers to conflict - physical and psychological - and
typically culminates in the exchange of blows. It has the connotation of
reciprocity: two people trading blows. Taking turns.
Both parties are involved in the conflict. People may fight over serious
matters, for fun, prestige or money.
Fighting often involves emotion, aggression, stubbornness, pride and the
desire to get your point across/have your way. Usually there are two or more
people involved in the combat.
There may or may not be rules. A fight can be for sport, it can be lethal,
it can be playful.
It is said; “If the opponent does not move, then I do not move. At the
opponent's slightest move, I move first."
(Wu Yu-hsiang)
2. Sparring
Sparring is fighting practice.
There are rules.
The combatants may wear protective gear and there may be a referee to ensure
fair play/sporting attitude.
People spar in order to hone their skills and experience fear.
Although sparring is not as emotionally charged as fighting, it still has
the potential to be very dangerous.
3.
Self defence
Self defence is quite different to fighting
and sparring.
Unlike fighting, self defence involves one person being assaulted by
another.
The scenario is not a fight or a duel. It involves bullying.
There is an attacker and a victim/defender.
Self defence classes vary greatly in what they teach.
Some classes offer short courses featuring tips & pointers.
Other classes are much more serious; with the defender seeking to fight the
attacker or even incapacitate them.
4. Traditional martial arts
Most martial arts were not
designed for competition fighting or for sparring or for self defence. They
were designed to inflict serious harm on the opponent.
Maiming, killing and breaking limbs was typically the goal. Clearly, such
outcomes are not suitable for competitions, sparring or necessarily self
defence.
Schools that train classical/traditional martial arts explore these skills
safely and carefully, with the aim being to apply the techniques as
realistically as possible without actually harming anyone.
Exponents are usually roughed-up but not typically injured. The training is
not geared towards fighting in a ring/bout and may not even work
in that context.
Which approach is best?
Martial arts classes tend to offer a variety of options aimed at
different personalities and preferences.
Individual systems and styles favour certain training methods.
Most classes teach a workable system.
Which approach is best?
It all depends on what you want.
A person who enjoys fighting will choose a class that focuses on fighting.
Someone who wants to finish the somebody
quickly may select a traditional martial art that
focuses on incapacitation.
Another person may choose self
defence because they have no interest
in fighting.
Which approach works best for you?
Too lethal for practice?
Some martial artists assert that their
particular art is too lethal to be used against other people. This seems
counter-productive. If the art is lethal, then what do you plan to do
with it?
In all fairness, most fighting and martial arts have the potential to
maim or kill somebody. It is relatively easy to inflict injury, break a bone
or cause joint damage.
A good instructor should be
capable of demonstrating their fighting method without hurting the student.
And should be able to provide material that adequately illustrates the
nature of their given art in a non-lethal way.
Full contact or full power?
Full contact is commonly assumed to mean full power.
This is not accurate.
A full power karate punch would kill.
A full power judo, ju jitsu or aikido application would break a limb or
concuss the attacker.
Full contact
If you don't actually
make
contact, there is no way of knowing whether or not your martial art even
works.
Pulling punches is just bad practice.
A punch must impact a body.
A throw must take the person to the ground.
An arm break (during practice) must tax the joint.
Power management
Think of power management as being akin to volume control on a stereo system.
Low volume is suitable for safe, controlled practice.
The higher the volume, the more unpredictable the outcome.
Martial arts are meant to be lethal, so
full power means killing somebody and no one wants to do that.
Ideally, you should train as vigorously as you safely can.
The martial arts were not
developed for the defence of soldiers fighting on battlefields. Neither are
they sports. The combat that martial artists practice is free of restraints.
Martial arts have one objective only: to neutralise an attack by any means,
and as rapidly as possible.
(Howard Reid)
Page created 14 February 1996
Last updated
04 May 2023