Since time began, every culture has developed fighting styles out of necessity. Modern martial arts history categorizes Western heroes and martial societies as practicing martial arts, which opens up an interesting can of martial arts worms.
Besides the ancient martial arts heroes of China (Shaolin), Japan (samurai) and Korea (Hwarang), the world has witnessed great fighters like the Spartans, Vikings, Mongols, Huns, Romans, Ottomans, Macedonians, Goths, Knights, Persians and Celts. Warriors like Alexander the Great, Richard the Lionheart, Hannibal, Hercules, Eric the Red, Hector, Attila, Achilles and even Siddhartha (Buddha) trained in systematic ways of fighting and lived by a code of ethics.
This leads us to ask several intriguing questions. Did martial arts originate from China, India or Greece? Or have they risen independently? How did they spread? Many arts have come and gone. Recent efforts hinged on nationalism are bringing back lost martial arts, especially in Europe. So why has Chinese martial arts consistently endured and flourished more than in any other country? New evidence suggests Brazilian capoiera came from China rather than Africa. There’s a great history book waiting to be written.
– June 17, 2011
Every man, as he grows older, seeks some real or symbolic achievement with which to cap his career. If the calendar years have flown past the 80 mark, pushed upward to 85, you’re going to check your personal record books that much more. Usually, when you take the profits and
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– June 16, 2011
Tak-tak! Tak-tak! Bamboo training swords smash against one another, and interspersed among them are sharp kiai shouts. With row after row of seemingly alien figures clad in black armor, their faces hidden behind metal masks, it’s a scene that wouldn’t be out of place in a Star Wars movie. Welcome
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– June 9, 2011
Century Martial Arts CEO / Chairman of the Board Mike Dillard and two-time Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee Pat Burris (1974, 1976 Judo Player of the Year) remember the early days of their favorite martial arts magazine and the parallel paths of influence Black Belt and Century Martial Arts
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– June 9, 2011
Haruo Matsuoka is a study in contrasts. Although he speaks with a noticeable Japanese accent, he’s eloquent in his English explanation of the esoteric concepts of aikido. While he’s known as one of the most combat-competent aikido stylists on the planet and was one of the very few who could
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– June 7, 2011
It’s a testimonial to the ninja that Japan’s 1964 Olympic team seriously considered using a number of ninjutsu training methods. Yoshiaki Hatsumi, one of Japan’s few remaining ninja practitioners, describes the ninja of old as the perfect all-around athletes of their day—expert in running, jumping, swimming, climbing walls, long-distance hiking,
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– June 7, 2011
Like the Green Berets, the ninja operated in small bands in which each man was a specialist in some form of ninjutsu training. They had such a huge assortment of ninja weapons they were expected to master that it was only natural that some men became more adept at specific
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– June 7, 2011
The ninja were accomplished pharmacists, skilled in preparing different poisons and special powders and compounds. Ninjutsu training in yogen (pharmacy) also allowed them to prepare gunpowder and explosives, medicines and even concentrated foods as part of their ninja gear.
Ninja Gear #1: Poisons
Poisons were made from mineral, plant and animal sources.
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– June 7, 2011
As Heichichiro Okuse says, it was cunning and deception that gave the ninja the edge over their enemies. These traits were emphasized and sharpened during ninjutsu training. The ninja raised espionage to a highly developed art centuries before such training was given to cloak-and-dagger agents in Western countries.
There were three
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– June 2, 2011
In the combat sports, a dilemma beginners face remains a point of contention even for the more experienced: Should you stand with your strong side to the rear or in front?
Typically, beginners choose their leads by emulating what they see or adopting the advice of their first coach. Boxing has
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– June 1, 2011
Welcome to Ninja History 101. During today’s lesson, we’ll be examining Spies and Assassins, Ninja Gear, Ninjutsu Weapons and Ninjutsu Training. But first, a brief introduction.
