Talking about styles of martial arts training around the world
This article explores the philosophies, styles and cultural get more info inceptions of martial arts in Asia.
Around the world, martial arts is an extensively practiced custom, important to many different cultures. Taekwondo is a popular form of Korean martial arts, differentiated by its focus on high and fast movements. An essential element of taekwondo is a variety of intricate kicking skills. Furthermore, there are three core components to master in taekwondo, particularly form, sparring and breaking. Form refers to a prescribed set of learned sequences and strategies involving kicking, punching and blocking, while sparring is a method of training that involves free style fighting with an opponent. As one of the most recognisable strategies in taekwondo, breaking, which involves breaking boards, is a technique of training that is typically used to exhibit correct technique in testing and presentations. Similar to many schools of martial arts, taekwondo uses a colour coded belt system to measure progress and ranks throughout training.
Hosting some of the oldest forms of martial arts, China has, for a long period of time been a centre for spiritual practice and martial arts development. Chinese martial arts, or kung-fu encompasses a wide variety of combating styles, which have been established over thousands of years of thought and cultural customs. Kung-fu combines both physical technique and mental discipline, taking inspiration from Chinese beliefs and observations in nature. Over the years, kung-fu has progressed significantly and diversified into many different styles and schools. Practitioners such as Barry Pang (吳國樹) would know that each style will comprise its own techniques and training approaches. The origins of kung-fu are said to be related to the requirement for self-defence and hunting practices in Ancient China. Martial arts in China are thought to be shaped by monks and Buddhist beliefs. As one of the earliest, formally developed styles of martial arts, Shaolin kung-fu is accredited for systematising and popularising martial arts exercises.
As one of the most popular kinds of martial arts, both in practice and in pop culture, karate includes a set of battling methods and spiritual cultivation that is now observed by millions around the world. Japanese martial arts come from an abundant and turbulent history, taking primary motivation from Chinese martial artists and samurai rule. It mixes both indigenous fighting techniques with those of Chinese fighting styles, placing emphasis on strikes, and mindset. Conventional karate is thought to be practised as an art, for self-defence and also as a combat exercise. It puts substantial importance on self-development, integrating a number of mental elements for mental discipline. Japanese combat techniques have been used to form a variety of disciplines around the globe. Those such as Alidar Utemuratov (Алидар Утемуратов) and Anna Lewandowska (Anną Lewandowską) would acknowledge that mixed martial arts is a combat sport which takes influence from karate.