martial-arts-hall-of-fame For Your Reading Pleasure
The Origins and Development of the Martial Arts

Many people around the world, even those familiar with martial arts in general or specific martial arts, do not know of the origins of martial arts. In reality, when it comes to the origins of martial arts, a great deal is based on legend.

According to legend, martial arts originated in Northern China. Specifically, martial arts are said to have been born in the Shaolin Temple in the Honan Province in China. Traditional stories of the creation of the martial arts state that a wandering monk named Ta Mo came to the Shaolin Temple from India. This wanderer brought with him the fighting techniques and contemplative philosophy associated with his homeland.

In reality, it is likely that rudimentary forms of martial arts were being practiced and followed in China well before this wandering monk ended up in Honan Province. Most experts in the field have concluded that martial arts in some form have been practiced in China for over three thousand years.

In time innumerable different types of martial arts traditions have developed. Many of these different types of martial arts began to be practiced by people in Western nations during the 1940s. Over the course of the past sixty-plus years, many men, women and children across North America, Europe and other countries have elected to engage in one martial art practice or another.

When it comes to involvement in the martial arts, many people in Western nations were attracted to these disciplines to learn effective self defense techniques. While countless people still seek out instruction in the martial arts for the purpose of self defense, as the 20th century drew to a close, a growing number of people took up the martial arts for the purpose of physical fitness and exercise.

Interestingly, when it comes to the martial arts, there remain a significant number of techniques that are still shrouded in secrecy and mystery. In other words, there are devotees of certain martial arts in China, Japan, Korea and other East Asian nations that keep the martial arts secrets from the general public and from other martial arts practitioners. This is particularly the case with Chinese martial arts that are often kept secret. According to legend, these techniques are only taught in Chinese to Chinese people.

Since the beginning of the martial arts centuries ago, different martial arts have been created with metronomic regularity. The 1940s marked a particularly prolific time when it came to the development of different martial arts. For example, Aikido was founded in Japan during the 1940s. (Aikido is a martial arts that means "way of harmony.") The ultimate stated goal of Aikido is self realization through the unification of the body, mind and spirit.

Most martial arts experts agree that martial arts will continue to develop far into the future. Additionally, most of these analysts believe that the martial arts will continue to attract a growing and diverse group of men, women and even children.

About the Author

Jake Ross is a world renowned author, researcher, and student of the martial arts, Western hand to hand combat, and military fighting skills of the 19th to 21st Centuries. More of his writings are available at www.combatclassics.com

Copyright ? 2004-2007 Omni Universal Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

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