Welcome to my Martial Arts Page
The truth in combat is different for each individual. Research your own experiences for the truth.
Absorb what is useful. Reject what is useless. Add what is specifically your own.
Man, the creating individual, is more important than any style or system.
Kung Fu = 'mastery through effort'
Kung Fu (or Gung Fu) is not a martial art, but rather a concept. To achieve Kung Fu is to attain mastery through dedicated effort, but the concept of Kung Fu is not restricted to the martial arts. Today Kung Fu is the name given to a broad system of Chinese boxing styles. There are both internal and external styles, but most include both hard and soft techniques. Some of the better known external systems of Kung Fu include Shaolin, Wing Chun, Hung Gar, Choy Lee Fut and Praying Mantis. One of the most famous external Kung Fu practitioners Bruce Lee took his knowledge of Wing Chun as the base for a new system/philosophy of combat known as Jeet Kune Do.The most prevelant internal style is Tai Chi, but there are also two other less well-known styles, Pa Kua and Hsing I. In general, Kung Fu techniques include hand and foot strikes, blocking, trapping, joint locks, throws, takedowns and weapon skills.
Typically, Kung Fu styles from Northern China emphasize longer-range leg techniques, while Southern China stresses hand techniques. Many complete Kung Fu systems, as well as individual sets of techniques, are based on the movements and behavior of different animals (ex: Tiger, Snake, White Crane).
Karate = 'empty hand'
Karate is a hard style martial art that was distilled in Okinawa from Chinese fightng styles. It consists of dynamic offensive and defensive strikes using all parts of the body to maximum advantage. Karate's vast array of hand strikes and kicks are linear in nature and rely on the principle of meeting force with more efficient force. As Okinawa was occupied by the Japanese at the time of Karate's development, it was primarily a self defense style for the unarmed population.The man who brought Karate to the Japanese mainland was Gichin Funakoshi. He founded the version called Shotokan which is widely practiced today. However, there are numerous other styles both Japanese and Okinawan in design. Generally the Japanese styles utilize more kicks and lend more easily to sport (sometimes including basic Judo techniques as well), where the Okinawan systems are more strictly concerned with practical self-defense (deep stances and more circularity in defensive techniques). Typically, most Okinawan systems of karate still teach the same traditional weapons: the Bo, Tonfa, Nunchaku, Sai and Kama.
Jujutsu = 'the gentle fighting art'
The beginnings of Jujutsu (or Jujitsu) are shrouded in a mist of myth and folklore, like most early Japanese history, that no one really knows how it began...but we do know that it is really old. The Jujutsu we see today actually hasn't changed that much; the techniques include strikes, blocks, joint locks, throws, chokes, nerve attacks and ground fighting. Jujutsu is one of the most prolific of the martial arts, having spread to all parts of the world. Today you can study jujutsu systems from many different countries all varying in some aspect or another. The recent explosion in popularity of Brazilian (Gracie) Jui Jitsu is a perfect example.Jujutsu went through some changes in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Jigoro Kano removed many of the dangerous techniques to create Judo. This allowed students to practice full speed against resisting opponents, but with far fewer injuries that happened when Jujutsu was practiced at full speed. About the same time, Morehei Uyeshiba took a different set of techniques out to create Aikido. And yet another individual, a Korean named Yong Suhl Choi, combined Jujutsu techniques with the dynamic kicks and punches so prevalent in Korean martial arts to create Hapkido.
Aikido = 'the way of harmony'
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba (often referred to by his title 'O Sensei' or 'Great Teacher'). It is said that O'Sensei was greatly influenced by Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu, a fighting system developed during the feudal age as an empty handed extension of the sword fighting techniques of the Japanese Samuarai.On a purely physical level Aikido is an art involving some throws and joint locks that are derived from traditional aikijujutsu as well as some throws and other techniques derived from movements in kenjutsu (sword techniques). Aikido focuses not on punching or kicking opponents, but rather on using your opponents own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you. It is not a static art, but places great emphasis on motion and the dynamics of movement. Traditionally Aikido teaches the use of and defense against three Japanese weapons: Bokken (sword), Tanto (knife), and Jo (short staff).
Judo = 'the gentle way'
Judo is a martial sport derived from Jujutsu. It was created by Professor Jigoro Kano, who after mastering several styles of jujutsu in his youth began to develop his own system based on modern sports principles. Judo is practiced on mats and consists primarily of throws, pins, chokes and armbars. Additional techniques, including striking (atemi-waza) and various joint locks are found in the judo katas. Judo training emphasizes mental, moral and character development as much as physical training. Most instructors also stress the the scientific principles of leverage, balance, efficiency, momentum and control. In 1964 men's Judo competition became a part of the Olympics, the only eastern martial art that is an official medal sport. In 1992 Judo competition for women was added to the Olympics. Judo is governed by one international body, the International Judo Federation, and one technical authority the Kodokan so unlike other martial arts, competition rules, training methods, and rank systems are relatively uniform throughout the world.Ninjutsu = 'the art of stealth'
Ninjutsu began more than 900 years ago among the ninja people who lived in Japan. Japan was a society that was ruled by a warrior class, the samurai who controlled everything, the land, and its people. They were answerable only to their lord, the shogun. The ordinary peasant served the warrior's every whim. The ninja would not serve the samurai, and fled to the barren, cold, mountainous regions of Iga and Koga. There they trained in the arts of war. Over the centuries the ninja trained from the cradle to the grave in every known martial art. Ninjutsu training encompasses both a wide variety of unarmed fighting techniques (taijutsu) as well as numerous weapons.The ninja fighting style is a series of flowing, simple moves, not a system of elaborate and complex techniques. The essence of ninjutsu is simplicity. The central priniciples are always the same -agile footwork, power and speed.
Hapkido = 'the way of coordinated power'
Hapkido is a unique, diverse (complex) and practical method of self defense, developed in Korea, which focuses on realistically applicable techniques. It can be applied from any position: standing, sitting or lying, and from any direction. Hapkido employs the philosophy of using minimal force to overcome a stronger opponent. Therefore, great strength is not needed to apply the techniques effectively. Hapkido has a powerful arsenal of spinning kicks, thrusts and sweeps combined with hard and soft fist attacks and defences. As well as the use of punches and kicks, Hapkido uses nerve and pressure point attacks, wrist and joint locks, and many twisting and throwing techniques. In Hapkido, linear techniques form a solid base upon which the skill of circular techniques can be developed.Tae Kwon Do = 'the way of hand and foot'
Tae Kwon Do is a modern art developed in Korea, and is one of the most popular sports and martial arts in the world. It was created by combining the styles of the numerous kwans (schools) active within the country (as well as Japanese Karate) as a way of promoting Korean nationalism after the Japanese occupation had ended in 1945. (Though originally Tae Kwon Do was fairly similar to Japanese karate, it has evolved greatly in a uniquely Korean way.) General Hong Hi Choi was primarily responsible for the creation of this new national art.Tae Kwon Do is primarily a kicking art, and places greater emphasis on the sport aspect of the art. Stylists tend to fight at an extended range, using the art's vast array of kicks to keep their opponents at bay. It is an external style with both hard and soft elements, and is almost solely linear in nature. Tae Kwon Do training utilizes forms, but places special emphasis on sparring and competition.
Tang Soo Do = 'the way of the Tang hand'
The martial art of Tang Soo Do is relatively modern. It was developed by Grandmaster Hwang Kee in the 1940s. Hwang Kee was a black belt in Shotokan karate, which formed the core of Tang Soo Do. (The Hyung forms of Tang Soo Do are still very similar to the kata found in many Japanese and Okinawan Karate styles.) Tang Soo Do is also commonly called Soo Bahk Do, the name of an ancient Korean martial art that influenced modern Tang Soo Do. Even though its origins are fairly modern, Tang Soo Do is still considered a traditional system of Korean martial arts, with linear strikes and a wide array of kicking techniques and strategies. It is especially effective for long-range attacks. It is both a hard and soft style, not relying exclusively on either. Unlike it's Korean sister-art Tae Kwan Do, Tang Soo Do does not emphasize competition. It is a true martial art combining combat effectiveness with philosophical and artistic endeavor. It is a classical martial art, and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature personality who totally integrates his intellect, body, emotions and spirit.
Kajukenbo = 'Through this fist art one gains long life and happiness'
Kajukenbo is an American martial art developed in Hawaii between 1947 and 1949. It is a VERY self-defense oriented art. Kajukenbo was developed by five men known as the Belt Black Society; P.Y.Y. Choo, Frank Ordonez, Joseph Holek, Clarence Chang, and Adriano Emperado. Each of these men were experts in a different art and hoped to combine what they knew into a complete, practical system of self-defense. The five arts were Tang Soo Do (Choo), Se Keino Jujitsu (Ordonez), Kodokan Judo (Holek), Shaolin Kung Fu (Chang), and Chinese Kenpo (Emperado). Kajukenbo has spread rapidly in the mere 50 years it has existed...
Sambo = 'SAM-oborona Bes Orushya'
Sambo is an eclectic martial art which developed in Russia during the early part of the 20th century. The name Sambo is actually a shortened version of the full name, SAM-oborona Bes Orushya, which means "self-defense without weapons". A large percentage of Sambo techniques come from jujutsu and judo (pre-Olympics), along with influences from native Russian wrestling styles. Since Sambo was created as a military system for the Russian soldier, and many soldiers during World War II were former criminals lots of street fighting was added to combat sambo. The founders of Sambo also noted that since the techniques of judo were ideally suited for the build of the average Japanese (long torso, short limbs), they both had to include more Western wrestling techniques and modify the classical judo moves for taller, stronger Russian soldiers. Besides combat or military sambo, there is a sport version of the art called borba sambo, which is the national sport of Russia. Borba sambo is alot like sport judo, but less emphasis is placed on throws and more on quick takedowns followed by crushing arm and leg locks.
Muay Thai = 'Thai Kickboxing'
Muay Thai is considered one of the hardest and most rigorous martial arts around. Thai kickboxers are famous for their toughness. Muay Thai Kickboxing originated from the Thai weapons art of Krabi Krabong.Muay Thai involves boxing techniques, kicking (especially low kicks to the thighs), knee and elbow strikes. Stand-up grappling is also used and allowed in the ring. The training is very intense and is similar to the training of Western boxers.
Escrima = 'harness of the hand'
The Philippines developed the stick art of escrima, in which the combatants fight with two hardwood sticks. Their expertise is incredible and on many occasions they defeated Spanish invaders who were armed with swords and lances. Because the Philippines were being constantly invaded, the islanders, known as Moros, retreated to the jungle and waged a continual guerrilla war against the enemy, abandoning their escrima sticks in favor of short, razor-sharp daggers which could be more easily wielded in the jungle's dense foliage. However, escrima is only one branch of a whole art of the Filipino islanders, called kali. Kali first really gained prominence through Dan Inosanto, and the pairing of kali and Bruce Lee's jeet kune do . The martial art of kali is different from most systems in that it teaches the use of weapons first and empty-handed techniques as derivatives of the weapons.
Pentjak Silat = 'to do fighting for self-defense'
Silat is a general term for a set of Indonesian martial arts. Some of the arts included under the term Silat are rather modern creations, while others are traditional native styles with long histories. The various substyles of Silat can differ greatly from island to island. In general, Silat is comprised of a mixture of indigenous techniques along with techniques borrowed from Chinese Wu Shu and Indian arts such as Kalaripayit. Pentjak Silat depends heavily on indigenous weapons (especially the kris) and animal-styles heritage. It began as a predominately weapons system, with empty hand techniques derived from the weapons (same as Kali). Techniques are quite varied, and improvised weapons are taught right along with traditional. The foot work is sophisticated and the development of stability is of major importance. The foot and and hand techniques are so subtle and intricate that they are often taught separately, then integrated after the student has mastered them individually. Pentjak Silat is a very comprehensive martial art, with a good balance between offensive and defensive techniques.
Kalaripayit = 'battlefield practices'
Kalaripayit originated in southern India, and traces its origins to forms of boxing used by the Brahmin caste. There are several regional substyles of Kalaripayit; some utilizing low stances and kicks, while others prefer high stances and fist techniques. Kalaripayit fighters train in four levels of fighting: verumkai (unarmed-fighting), kolthari (stick-fighting), angathari (other weapons), marmaadi (108 vital points). High level practitioners must learn both the fighting and healing uses of the vital points.
Krav Maga = 'contact battle'
Krav Maga was developed in Israel in the early forties when the underground liberation organizations were fighting for the independence of the State of Israel. At that time, it was illegal to possess weapons. Krav Maga is based in techniques from Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Jujitsu, and Karate. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Krav Maga was adopted as the official martial art taught in the defense forces, army, and now even in public schools. Krav Maga has no katas or specific sequences that must be followed. Students use the basic moves in conjunction with any one of a number of other moves to fend off an attack, the key idea being adaptability to new situations through improvisation. Emphasis is put on speed, endurance, strength, accuracy and co-ordination especially for intensive Krav Maga training. Since the Krav Maga by definition is for self defense, it does not have any competitions.
If you are interested in the healing arts take a look at this link about
Acupuncture and Herbalism