MARTIAL ARTS AND THEIR GREATEST FIGHTERS far back as 1639 But such disciplines as kung fu judo karate and kendo are mostly linked to East Asia Martial arts can be divided into the unarmed and armed styles of battle and sport The origins of European martial arts included the use of archery and spears Those styles were practiced later in Japan Unarmed mar tial arts were born and developed in China They stressed striking with feet or hands The advancement of martial arts in Asia also X Two students practice kendo drills using shinai wooden usually bamboo swords Kendo the Japanese style of fencing originated from the fighting methods of the ancient warrior class called the samurai Boston Globe Getty Images
INTRODUCTION included the use of everyday work tools such as sickles and knives In modern times offshoots of some of the armed martial arts such as kendo fencing and kyudo archery are practiced as sports Spinoffs of unarmed forms of battle such as judo sumo wrestling karate and tae kwon do are also embraced So are self defense forms such as aikido hapkido and kung fu Forms of martial arts once used in fighting including a Chinese style of unarmed combat called tai chi chuan have also been simplified for peaceful purposes They have been used to improve health and spiritual well being East Asian martial arts boast a strong tie to mental and spiritual strength That sets them apart from martial arts disciplines practiced elsewhere East Asian martial arts are heav ily influenced by religions of the region such as Taoism and Zen Buddhism They place an emphasis on creating an ideal relationship between body and mind so the two can work in unison The goal is to shut down the calculating and rationalizing functions of the mind That shutdown allows the mind to react immediately and in harmony with the body to whatever situ ation it might encounter This book will examine some of the mar tial arts forms from their beginnings in Asia
ARTS AND TEIR GREATEST FIGHTERS to their growing influence around the world at the present time It will also introduce readers to historic figures whose martial arts have long been celebrated Today s martial arts stars who stand out for their excep tional fighting techniques are also profiled exemplifying the rich culture of the martial arts that continues to capture the interest of athletes who want to master the variety of attack and defense skills the sports offer These noteworthy figures have contributed greatly to the evolution of martial arts as a legitimate and highly regulated form of ath letics and competition IO
AN OVERVIEW OF MARTIAL ARTS Nhe term martial arts refers to a large variety of fighting sports originat ing in Europe and East CEO PETERSON Asia but practiced in modern times around the world The word martial is derived from Mars the Roman god of war It is used to describe activities with a combative bent Many of the martial arts however are not combative Some are medita tive forms of self discipline with strong religious or philosophi cal overtones They are heavily influenced by Eastern religion and emphasize mental and spiri tual training Folktales and mythologies cloud the origins of martial arts Buddhist monks fight bare banded before Chinese dignitaries Herve BRUHATI Gamma Rapho Getty Images II
