Martial Arts from China and other Countries.
Arnis: This is a Filipino martial art originally know as Kali. Techniques are performed empty handed or with a stick or blade. It has three main forms: Espada y daga (sword & knife) using a long sword and a short knife; Solo baston (single stick) employing a long stick made of wood or a rattan cane; and sinawal (two sticks) which is made up of intricate movements of two sticks that make a crisscrossing pattern. Arnis is most effective in close range fighting, and stresses striking and parrying skills. The use of the leg and leg-hip fulcrum maneuver to offset balance and throw an opponent is a very important skill in arnis. Arnis practitioners also train with the stick and knife intensely.
Brazilian Jujutsu: Brazilian Jujutsu was created by Mistsuyo Maeda, who studied both judo and jujutsu. Brazilian Jujutsu specializes in grappling and forcing your opponent to submit by a joint lock or choke. Brazilian Jujutsu also includes throws, and a few kicks and striking techniques.
Capoeira: Brazilian martial art founded more than 300 years ago by African slaves and banned by the government for much of its history. Capoeira is beautiful to watch, it looks a lot like dance, encompassing such moves as back flips, cartwheels, and spectacular kicks.
Hapkido: Hapkido (The way of the coordinated force) is a Korean form developed by master Yong Shul Choi . It is a system of unarmed self-defense based on the circular foot sweeps and kicks of traditional Korean tae kwon do but incorporating punches and circular throws and a yielding principle similar to that of aikido. The emphasis on circular motion allows for a free-flowing form of combat in which one technique can merge with the next and the direction of force can easily be changed by changing the axis of rotation.
Jeet Kune Do: Jeet Kune do or "the way of the intercepting fist" was created by Bruce Lee. Jeet Kune Do is not a synthesis of any other existing arts. It is simply and essentially whatever it needs to be at any given point in time.
Kung Fu: Kung Fu translated can mean skill, the art of kung fu can be traced to the Chou dynasty (1111-255 BC) and even earlier. As exercise it was practiced by the Taoists in the 5th century BC. Its prescribed stances and actions are based on keen observations of human skeletal and muscular anatomy and physiology, and it employs great muscular coordination. The various movements in kung fu, most of which are imitations of the fighting styles of animals, are initiated from one of five basic foot positions: Normal upright posture and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse riding, and snake. There are many different of styles of kung fu, and armed as well as unarmed techniques have been developed.
Muay Thai Kickboxing: Muay Thai originated in Thailand. Muay Thai became noticed during the reign of King Naresuan, around 1560 A.D. Captured during a battle with Myanmar, King Naresuan, reputed to be the most skilled unarmed combatant in the Kingdom, was given the opportunity to fight for his freedom. After discarding Myanmar's most skilled fighters, one by one, King Naresuan returned to his homeland to a hero's welcome and Muay Thai was dubbed a national sport. Muay Thai involves boxing techniques, hard kicking, and knee and elbow strikes. Low kicks to the thighs are a very distinguishing technique used frequently in Muay Thai.
Sambo: Sambo is a Russian art of wrestling, which involves throws, joints locks, chokes, and hold downs. Sambo is divided into two categories: a) sport and b) combat (a series of vital grips of self-defense against an armed attack). The latter category is highly recommended by a little instruction booklet published by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, and in this pamphlet it is stated that "the sport category enforced by these elements /combat techniques/ becomes a powerful means in the hands of the sportsman for the defense of his homeland as well as for his own personal protection."
Tae Kwon Do: Tai kwon do is a Korean art, roughly translated it means "the way of hand and foot". Korean art of unarmed combat that is based on the earlier form of Korean self-defense known as tae kyon. The name tae kwon do was officially adopted for this martial art in 1955 after that name had been submitted by the South Korean general Choi Hong Hi, the principal founder of tae kwon do. Tae kwon do is characterized by the extensive use of high standing and jump kicks as well as punches and is practiced for sport, self-defense, and spiritual development. Training in tae kwon do is carried out by learning individual techniques of kicking, punching, and blocking, which are practiced in combined series of techniques in traditional sets known as hyung. Students also practice basic sparring combinations (id-bo tueryon, "one-step sparring"); these are short, set sequences of attack and counter practiced between partners, after which the students may practice free sparring as opponents. In sparring, blows are stopped just short of contact. Tae kwon do is practiced as a sport by awarding points to correctly executed techniques during free sparring or by judging the quality of performed hyung.
Tai Chi: Tai Chi is a Chinese internal martial art, in english Tai Chi has two meanings one is "Supreme Ultimate Fist" the other is "Peaceful Energy". This duel and opposite meaning symbolize the Yin-Yang aspect of Tai Chi. By an internal art I mean that it focuses on inner chi power instead of external physical power. Tai Chi is a slow moving, graceful art in which it's dance like quality hides it's combative origins. Tai Chi was originally practice by the Chinese peasantry, because the practice of martial arts was outlawed in ancient China and they needed a way to protect themselves from not only bandits but cruel Chinese warlords and warriors. The main purpose of Tai Chi is to gradually build one's internal energy, know as chi in Chinese and ki in Japanese. When you do this you discover how soft can over come hard, and how energy can overcome brute force.
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