| The martial arts are widely perceived in North | | | | called "savate". For every Judo, there is a sambo. |
| America as a form of sport. Parents enroll children in | | | | Through the centuries, people the world over have |
| karate classes to instill a sense of discipline. Adults | | | | developed a range of martial arts systems. While |
| train in martial arts to learn self-defense techniques. | | | | each is distinct in its own way, there are many |
| Many in the western world strive to obtain a black | | | | similarities. The primary function of martial arts is a |
| belt, thinking that this is the pinnacle of their training | | | | means of effective self-defense during combat. |
| and education. In eastern countries, the martial arts | | | | Watch a martial arts performer, and you will often |
| are much more than sport. They are history, | | | | see a blur of arms and legs. But true martial artists |
| culture, philosophy, and respect. | | | | don't just flail around to punch and kick. They use |
| The term "martial arts" is used as a general | | | | their bodies to execute single or multiple |
| categorization of fighting systems that originated in | | | | pre-choreographed movements that have been |
| ancient times. If you were to fully review martial | | | | perfected over time. When executed properly, these |
| arts, you would find a vast array of systems; each | | | | moves can be lethal weapons in their own right. |
| with its own set of techniques that have been | | | | Practicing martial arts, in any of its forms, requires a |
| perfected over the ages. For the most part, martial | | | | high degree of skill. The routines and techniques that |
| arts do not encourage the use of weapons in | | | | students perfect over the years form a fighting |
| combat, though exceptions do exist. | | | | vocabulary. Students with larger vocabularies |
| In studying martial arts, you'll find the earliest form | | | | become more highly skilled fighters. Each routine |
| originated in China more than 2500 years ago. Some | | | | takes a great deal of time to perfect, and true |
| philosophies hold that martial arts systems were | | | | martial artists have a large repertoire to choose from. |
| adapted into various forms in Japan and other | | | | In times of need, the skill of the artist depends on |
| eastern countries. Another school of thought | | | | his or her ability to use the right technique at the |
| believes that these other countries developed their | | | | appropriate time. |
| own original styles and systems of martial arts. | | | | Of course, there is more to martial arts than the |
| Unfortunately, their origins were not well documented | | | | perfect execution of movement. Martial arts were |
| and therefore largely unknown. | | | | created for use in combat. Serious combat. For |
| Images of martial arts, as North Americans see | | | | this reason, success at martial arts means training and |
| them, were conjured up by Hollywood. Filmmakers | | | | using your mind, as well as your body. Invariably, |
| will have us believe that martial arts are part of the | | | | every form of martial arts is characterized by a very |
| Oriental mystique, and that kung fu, judo, karate and | | | | conscious application of force, utilized to achieve |
| tae kwon do belong exclusively to the Oriental | | | | maximum effect. |
| countries. In reality, nothing could be further from | | | | Learning karate, or judo, or tae kwon do is one |
| the truth. | | | | thing. Studying the martial arts is something |
| Martial arts have evolved from countries around the | | | | altogether different. If you wish to be a true student |
| globe. For every person practicing tae kwon do, | | | | of the martial arts, you must concentrate with your |
| there is someone doing a French form of kickboxing | | | | mind while you perform with your body. |