Strength, Discipline and Self-Defense - Martial Arts

Martial arts are well known movements and training used for combat and self-defense. The most popular martial arts are those developed in Asian countries. However, other countries and cultures also have their own form of martial arts. Nowadays, one of the most popular combat sports aside from boxing is mixed martial arts wherein participants can use different forms of martial arts and other types of movements for combat. There are also several martial arts equipment & weapon used for specific forms of training.

Origins of Martial Arts

Martial arts can be traced back in 600 B.C. in China and India. Asian martial arts are considered to be a mixture of Chinese and Indian arts during a time when these two countries were involved in trading and other business. In the United States, interest in using and learning martial arts only became popular in the late 19th century when the U.S. began trading with the Chinese and Japanese. Subsequently, other forms of martial arts were developed by mixing different movements and combat styles. Some forms of martial arts also incorporate dancing for their movements. Popular martial arts include Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai or kickboxing, kung fu, shaolin, aikido, judo, taekwondo, karate, and arnis, among many others.

Mixed Martial Arts

These combinations of movements are incorporated into a full contact combat sport called mixed martial arts or MMA. This allows participants to use various fighting techniques such as traditional martial arts movements, striking and grappling techniques, and even boxing movements. This sport is further popularized with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It is now one of the most popular and most viewed combat sports aside from boxing and wrestling.

Weapons in Martial Arts

Even though most martial arts involve hand to hand combat, many variations use martial arts weapon and equipment. These include the uniforms and sparring gear worn by competitors for their protection. Weapons, on the other hand, include ninja weapons, fighting fans, swords, and escrima sticks, among others. Training equipment such as mats, breaking boards, body shields, focus targets, and striking bags are also important for any martial arts training.