MARTIAL ARTS

This site is dedicated to the different forms of martial arts in the world. We want to take a little bit of information about the arts for all interested in the subject. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. Though studied for various reasons, broadly speaking, martial arts share a single objective: to defeat a person physically or to defend oneself from physical threat. Some martial arts are linked to spiritual or religious beliefs/philosophies such as Buddhism, Daoism or Shinto while others have their own spiritual/non-spiritual code of honor.

SELF DEFENSE There is no doubt that one of the goals of any practitioner of martial arts is the self defense. However, the majority of styles known is practiced today, targeting the most part sports, which can make these styles less effective in a real fight. But there are some martial arts that were created specifically for the self defense. These styles are not considered a form of sport because there are no competitions or rules that limit the application of the martial arts techniques. Thus developed reflexes are usually absent in fighters from martial arts sports (protection of our genital area and eyes, for example). The goal is not to win, or check points, but to remain living in situations of real danger. Therefore, any coup is valid: attack on genitals, in the eyes, throat, bites, as well as the use of any material which is available as a weapon (twigs, stones, mobile, guard-rain, walking stick, etc.). In these styles are exempt because the artistic flourishes not search the plasticity and beauty of the movements, but the simplicity, speed and efficiency. Exemples: Kombato and Krav Maga. AIKIDO The Aikido is a martial art created at the beginning of the last century, Japan, by Master Morihei Ueshiba from their knowledge of many other martial arts. Highly spiritualized, the Master Ueshiba developed a martial art from philosophical and spiritual principles. Aikido The word means "the way of harmonizing energy." In aikido uses the energy of the opponent to win it. Generally there are no competitions since the real opponent is himself a practitioner who must seek beat yourself. It is an art essentially defensive, based on circular movements and fluids. Use keys, twists and projections and almost no traumatic blows. BOXING OR PUGILISM The Boxing is a martial art developed in England that uses only the fists (hands closed) both for the defense and for the attack. The fighters use colored gloves, usually blue or red, from 8 to 10 ounces. The Boxing has few, however efficient, coups. The Olympic Boxing (amateur) has some differences in relation to the Boxing professional. While in the Boxing professional struggles may reach to 10 rounds of 3 minutes, the Olympic version is four rounds of 2 minutes. CAPOEIRA This, it is perhaps the only legitimate Brazilian martial art, was created in the time of slavery, by blacks of Brazil, as a way of preparing for the leak. A capoeirist to flight had a greater chance of success against the masters-of-bush (the men responsible for the recapture that blacks fleeing from senzalas). How could not train techniques of openly fight the slaves were brought to disguise their practice in a dance. The music not only served to disguise, but also to warn the players that someone was approaching unwanted. Through a change of pace the fighters were warned that should stop fighting and start to dance, a new change in the pace alert the "dancers" who could return to fighting. HAPKIDO The Hapkido is a Korean martial art that encompasses techniques with various weapons such as sticks, swords, walking sticks, knives and practitioners to teach its self defense with almost any object. His techniques, and circular motions, cover kicks, punches, pitches, detentions in the soil, and many others. The word Korean Hapkido is the combination of three words: "Hap", harmony, "Ki", power or energy, and "Do", path, method. So Hapkido is "smooth the path of power." The founder of Hapkido seems to have been YOUNG SUL CHOI, in the years 50, who learned the Dayto-ryu Aikijujutsu in Japan and added some techniques such as kicks of the Korean Taekwondo and techniques of Yudo (judo). Over time this art has been developing and becoming modern in Hapkido. What is the relationship between the Hapkido Korean and Japanese Aikido? Both had the same influence of a Japanese martial art, the Dayto-ryu Aikijujutsu, which emphasizes twists, keys, projections, falls and detentions. In addition the founders of Hapkido and Aikido trained with the same master. So have some similarities. But unlike Aikido, Hapkido also has technical traumatic, as punches and kicks. JUDO The Judo is a Japanese martial art created by Jigoro Kano at the end of the nineteenth century from different styles of Jujutsu (gentle art), the martial art of the noble samurai in, and their goals go far beyond self defense because aim to strengthen the physical, the mind and spirit in an integrated manner. It is the struggle with techniques of soil better known in the world. Brazil is second in the number of practitioners, losing only to Japan. With thousands of practitioners and federations around the world, the judo became one of the most practiced sports, both for men and women, children and elderly. His technique uses basically the force and weight of the opponent against him. KARATE Karate-do means "path of hands empty," is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes the techniques of blocks, punches and kicks. The training of this martial art is divided into rationale (kihon), forms (kata) and fight (kumite). The kumite can be combined or free. There are competitions of kata and kumite. The story of Karate is full of uncertainties and myths. It is known that the inhabitants of the island of Okinawa, which lies between China and Japan, practiced a style called Okinawa-te (hands of Okinawa). It was this system that is the modern Karate. But you came from the Okinawa-te? We know that Okinawa has influences of the continent next, some dances, for example, are Korean. Indeed the word "kara" has two meanings: "empty" and "Chinese", therefore Karate can also be translated as "Chinese hands." KUNG FU This martial art is characterized by its style flexible and soft, differentiating itself from the styles harder as Karate. Merge movements of leopard, Heron, monkey, snake, among other animals. The origin of Kung Fu is very old and appears to be born with the observation of movements used by several animals during a fight. According to some, the majority of Chinese martial arts were introduced by an Indian monk who lived some years in the famous Shaolin Temple in the sixth century AC. Realizing the difficulty that the monks had to meditate, not practice any physical activity, he taught an art martial Indian knew that to develop the body. But the Chinese martial arts are known much older, dating, perhaps, more than five thousand years, so that this monk must have only added to their existing knowledge. But it is true that the Shaolin Temple was responsible for disseminating the Kung Fu throughout China when it was invaded by imperial troops, which did not respect the immunity of the temple, forcing the monks to flee to different locations, leading to his knowledge, been Kung Fu and teaching through which passed. There are hundreds of styles of Kung Fu and one of the best known is the Wing Chun, popularized by Bruce Lee Few know, but this style is female and was originally developed by a nun shaolin and taught the other woman, named Wing Chun, who lent his name to this style. MUAY THAI Muay Thai means, literally, Thai boxing. This Martial Art was established more than thousand years, and is considered one of the most powerful struggles of contact of the world. It is characterized by the use of elbows, knees, legs and fists, and considered one of the martial arts which make more efficient use of knees and elbows. Earlier, the Thai Boxing was very similar to the Chinese Kung Fu. A fact normal because the Chinese origin of the Thai people. The former Thai boxing using it blows with the palms of the hands, attacks with the tips of the fingers, hands and detentions in claws to hold the opponent. Over time, he has been modifying and turning on the style of struggle that is today. In Thailand this sport is passed from father to son in practice usually start at around five years of age. The training helps children and adolescents have a greater concentration of power in their parallel activities. His performance has already been proven in tournaments of full contact as K1. It can be practiced by men, women and children, improving motor coordination, physical preparation and resistance cardiovascular, strengthening the entire body. TAEKWONDO The Taekwondo is a martial art of Korean origin which is predominant use of kicks, but has also techniques of hand. The word Taekwondo means "the way of hands and feet." He came up about two thousand years; archaeological discoveries show that Tae-Kyon, as it was called, was already being practiced in 50 BC. Today is an Olympic sport broadcast around the world. In the VII century Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Koguryo, Paekche and Silla, the lowest of them. The kingdom of Silla was constantly invaded by the other kingdoms. To reverse this situation, the king of Silla summoned the young noblemen of the kingdom to form a group of elite for the defense and protection of the nation, emerged the Hwarang, the "samurai" Koreans. They were trained in bow and arrow, sword, stick, spear, military tactics and various techniques without weapons, among which the Tae-Kyon. Promised loyalty to the king, loyalty to friends, respect for parents, never retreating before the enemy and kill only when there was no alternative. After the formulation of this code of honor his movement will be called Hwarang-do, a martial art and a philosophic integrated. The Hwarang-do (path of big brother) is the source of all the Korean martial arts. Silla then becomes the most powerful of the three kingdoms, and manages to unify Korea under its flag in 670 AD. The need to unify the different styles existing emerged the modern Taekwondo. In the beginning were used katas the Japanese, with names in Korean, so the Taekwondo was also known as Korean karate. TAI CHI CHUAN The Tai Chi Chuan is known for its sequence of movements, which can be seen the union of conscience and body movement, the slow, flexibility, the circularity, continuity, the softness and firmness; features that convey a sense of harmony and serenity. The Tai Chi Chuan was popularized by the health benefits that are attributed to their practice and the fact that it is a discipline that can have very broad layers of the population, regardless of their condition. Recent medical studies have corroborated the Tai Chi Chuan as a therapy to improve health. Your action is developed through circulars and connected actions that follow those of the opponent and who remember the symbol of Tai Chi. Some principles of Tai Chi Chuan: Winning the movement with the quietude; Winning the hardness with softness; Winning the fast with the slow. Today the Tai Chi Chuan is regarded as a discipline for the development of the integration body/mind and personal equilibrium, without having left the relationship form/function establishing its nature as art martial. When the publisher of Tai Chi Chuan, Yang Lu Chan, initially taught in the art Yong Nian (around 1855), his art was not yet called Tai Chi Chuan. While teaching, she had to face many challenges which won with its soft techniques. In one of these occasions was present Ong Tong He, who thought their techniques demonstrated the principles of philosophy Tai Chi. After that, his art was called Tai Chi Chuan (the fight of tai chi).