Samurai

Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. The word samurai is derived from the archaic Japanese verb samorau, changed to saburau, meaning “to serve”; thus, a samurai is a servant (i.e. the servant of a lord). It is believed warriors and foot-soldiers in the sixth century may have formed a proto-samurai class.Following a disastrous military engagement with Tang China and Silla, Japan underwent widespread reforms. One of the most important was that of the Taika Reform, issued by Prince Naka no Ōe (Emperor Tenji) in 646 AD. This edict introduced Chinese cultural practices and administrative techniques throughout the Japanese aristocracy and bureaucracy As part of the Taihō Code, of 702 AD and the later Yōrō Code, the population was required to report regularly for census, which was used as a precursor for national conscription. With an understanding of how the population was distributed, Emperor Mommu introduced the law whereby 1 in 3–4 adult males were drafted into the national military. These soldiers were required to supply their own weapons, and in return were exempted from duties and taxes. This was one of the first attempts by the Imperial government to form an organized army modeled after the Chinese system. It was called gundan-sei by later historians and is believed to have been short lived.

Wushu

Wushu, also known as modern wushu or contemporary wushu, is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts. It was created in the People’s Republic of China after 1949, in an attempt to nationalize the practice of traditional Chinese martial arts.^[1] Most of the modern competition forms (套路 taolu) were formed from their parent arts (see list below) by government-appointed committee.^[1] In contemporary times, wushu has become a truly international sport through the International Wushu Federation (IWUF), which holds the World Wushu Championships every two years; the first World Championships were held in 1991 in Beijing and won by Clark Zhang.^[2]

Modern wushu is composed of two disciplines: taolu (套路; forms) and sanda (散打; sparring) ^{[3][not in citation given]}. Taolu forms are similar to gymnastics and involve martial art patterns and maneuvers for which competitors are judged and given points according to specific rules. The forms comprise basic movements (stances, kicks, punches, balances, jumps, sweeps and throws) based on aggregate categories traditional Chinese martial art style and can be changed for competitions to highlight one’s strengths. Competitive forms have time limits that can range from 1 minute, 20 seconds for the some external styles to over five minutes for internal styles. Modern wushu competitors are increasingly training in aerial techniques such as 540 and 720 degree jumps and kicks to add more difficulty and style to their forms.^[4]

Wrestling

Wrestling is the act of physical engagement between two unarmed persons, in which each wrestler strives to get an advantage over or control of their opponent. Physical techniques which embody the style of wrestling are clinching, holding, locking, and leverage. Avoiding techniques likely to lead to serious injury, ritual fighting, but its basic principles are closely related to those of military hand-to-hand combat or self-defence systems. Many styles of wrestling are known all over the world and have long histories, and sport wrestling (particularly amateur wrestling) has been an Olympic sport for over one hundred years.

Tae kwon do

Tae kwon do is a Korean martial art which translates to “the art of kicking and punching”. It is sometimes misspelled as “tae kuon do”. Tae kwon do incorporates the linear movements of karate and the circular patterns of kung fu with Korean kicking techniques to create a very powerful hard martial art. Kicking is the primary attack of tae kwon do, many of which are targeted towards the head.

General Choi Hong Hi is considered the father of tae kwon do who taught it to the Korean military and American troops stationed in Korea in 1946. In 1955 tae kwon do was officially recognized as a separate martial art of Korea, and in 1988 it was introduced into the Olympics.

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art and national sport, which requires the use of only hands and feet, without weapons. The main goal of Tae Kwon-Do is to achieve total mind and body control.

Literally translated, “Tae kwon do” means “The Way of the Foot and Hand”. Tae Kwon Do recently became included as an Olympic Sport at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Red Phoenix Tae Kwon Do focuses on improving students’ coordination, flexibility, and balance, while developing confidence, self-discipline, and self-esteem through traditional Tae Kwon Do training. Although fighting is an important part of Tae Kwon Do, it is not our primary focus. For those students who desire additional fighting training, special sparring classes are scheduled according to age group on Friday evenings.

Red Phoenix Tae Kwon Do follows the guidelines set out by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation (WTF). The WTF guidelines are also followed in major national and international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

pencak Silat

pencak Silat is the official name used to indicate more than 800 martial arts schools and styles spread across more than 13,000 islands in Indonesia. The art has also reached Europe, and is especially popular in the Netherlands, Spain and France.In Indonesia, the official name used to indicate more than 800 martial arts schools and styles spread across more than 13,000 islands is “pencak silat”. However, this is actually a compound name consisting of two terms used in different regions. The word “pencak” and its dialectic derivatives such as “penca” West Java and “mancak” (Madura and Bali) is commonly used in Java, Madura and Bali, whereas the term “silat” or “silek” is used in Sumatra. The ambition to unify all these different cultural expressions in a common terminology as part of declaring Indonesia’s unity and independence from colonial power, was first expressed in 1948 with the establishment of the Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia (Indonesian Pencak Silat Association, IPSI). However, it could only be realized in 1973 when representatives from different schools and styles finally formally agreed to the use of “pencak silat” in official discourse, albeit original terms are still widely used at the local level. ^[1]

Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu was developed by groups of people mainly from the Iga Province and Kōka, Shiga of Japan. Throughout history the shinobi have been seen as assassins, scouts and spies. They are mainly noted for their use of stealth and deception. They have been associated in the public imagination with activities that are considered criminal by modern standards. Throughout history many different schools (ryū) have taught their unique versions of ninjutsu. An example of these is the Togakure-ryū. This ryū was developed after a defeated samurai warrior called Daisuke Togakure escaped to the region of Iga. Later he came in contact with the warrior-monk Kain Doshi who taught him a new way of viewing life and the means of survival (ninjutsu) ^[4].

Ninjutsu was developed as a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques in the warring state of feudal Japan. The ninja used their art to ensure their survival in a time of violent political turmoil. Ninjutsu included methods of gathering information, and techniques of non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection. Ninjutsu can also involve training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, medicine, explosives, and poisons. ^[5]

Skills relating to espionage and assassination were highly useful to warring factions in feudal Japan. Because these activities were seen as dishonorable, Japanese warriors hired people who existed below Japan’s social classes to perform these tasks. These persons were literally called “non-humans” (非人, hinin^?).^[6] At some point the skills of espionage became known collectively as ninjutsu. And the people who specialized in these tasks were called shinobi no mono. Somewhat later they were called ninja. This may be too fine a point. Because we should note that the characters for “shinobi no mono” are 忍びの者. The characters for “ninja” are “忍者.”

Muay Thai

(IPA: /muɑɪ.tʰɑɪ/, pronounced [muāitʰāi]; Thai: มวยไทย) literally Thai Boxing and also known as The Art of the Eight Limbs is a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. The art is similar to others in Southeast Asia such as: Kun Khmer in Cambodia, Lethwei in Myanmar, Tomoi in Malaysia, and Muay Lao in Laos. Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country’s national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies significantly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing.

Muay Thai is referred to as “The Science of Eight Limbs”, as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A practitioner of Muay Thai (“nak muay“) thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight “points of contact,” as opposed to “two points” (fists) in Western boxing and “four points” (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts.

Kung Fu

Kung Fu, also known as Wushu, is the generic name for any Martial Art that comes from China, both “internal” and “external,” “bare-handed” and “with weapons,” “traditional” and “contemporary.”

Kung Fu or Gong Fu is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one’s expertise in any skill, not necessarily martial. Literally Kung (Gong) means effort and Fu means time. The words “Kung Fu” refers to “skill from effort” or “achievement”. It can be used to describe anything that requires a person to invest both time and effort into training to become skillful. Thus, little Kung Fu means little achievement. Good Kung Fu means big achievement. Therefore, many consider Wushu a better term for Chinese martial arts, as it translates directly into martial art.

There are 4 basic skills in Chinese Kung Fu — kicking, punching, wrestling and seizing-finishing (Qin-na in Chinese). Advanced skills are involved in pressure points, arts of war as well as various weapons.

Kung Fu is the most popularly known of all the martial arts. It employs kicks, strikes, throws, body turns, dodges, holds, crouches and starts, leaps and falls, handsprings, somersaults and etc. These movements include more techniques involving the open hand, such as claws and rips, than those used in Karate. As a very ancient form of martial arts, Kung Fu also has innumerable styles and sub styles. It includes the legendary Shaolin style of fighting, which was named after a 6th century monastery in Henan province, China.

Kung Fu is a great exercise for discipline, encouragement, concentration, flexibility, balance as well as self-defense. Kung Fu has greatly benefitted the physical well-being of the people who practice it.

Kickboxing

(キックボクシング) refers to the sport of using martial-arts-style kicks and boxing-style punches to defeat an opponent in a similar way to that of standard boxing. Kickboxing is a standing sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once a combatant has reached the ground.
Kickboxing is often practised for general fitness, or as a full-contact sport. In the full-contact sport the male boxers are bare-chested wearing shorts and protective gear including: mouth-guard, hand-wraps, 10oz boxing gloves, groin-guard, shin-pads, kick-boots, and optional protective helmet (usually for those under 18.) The female boxers will wear a tank top and chest protection in addition to the male clothing/protective gear. In European kickboxing, where kicks to the thigh are allowed using special low-kick rules, use of boxing shorts instead of long trousers is possible.

In addition, amateur rules often allow less experienced competitors to use light or semi-contact rules, where the intention is to score points by executing successful strikes past the opponent’s guard, and use of force is regulated. The equipment for semi-contact is similar to full-contact matches, usually with addition of head gear. Competitors usually dress in a t-shirt for semi-contact matches, to separate them from the bare-chested full-contact participants.

Kickboxing is often confused with Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing. The two sports are similar, however, in Thai Boxing, kicks below the belt are allowed, as are strikes with knees and elbows.

There are many arts labelled kickboxing including Japanese, American, Indian, Burmese kickboxing, as well as French savate. The term kickboxing is disputed and has become more associated with the Japanese and American variants. Many of the other styles do not consider themselves to be ‘kickboxing’, although the public often uses the term generically to refer to all these martial arts. The term kickboxing was created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi for a variant of Muay Thai and Karate that he created in the 1950s. The term was later used by the American variant. When used by the practitioners of those two styles, it usually refers to those styles specifically.

Kendo

(剣道, kendō^?), or “way of the sword“, is the Japanese martial art of sword-fighting. Kendo developed from traditional techniques of Japanese swordsmanship known as kenjutsu.

Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sporting-like physical elements.Practitioners of kendo are called kendōka (剣道家, kendōka^?), meaning “one who practices kendo”, or kenshi (剣士, kenshi^?), meaning “swordsman”.

Kendo is practiced wearing traditionally styled clothing and protective armour (bōgu), using one or two bamboo swords (shinai) as weapons. Kendo may be seen as a Japanese style of fencing. However, the movements in kendo are different from European fencing because the design of the sword is different, as is the way it is used. Unlike western style fencing, kendo employs strikes with a defined ‘edge’ and tip of the shinai. Kendo training is quite noisy in comparison to other martial arts or sports. This is because kendōka use a shout, or kiai, to express their spirit, and when a strike or cut is performed, the front foot contacts the floor in a motion similar to stomping, called fumikomi-ashi.

There are estimates that about eight million people world-wide practice kendo, with approximately seven million in Japan. The “Kodansha Meibo” (a register of dan graded members of the All Japan Kendo Federation) shows that as of January 2003, there were 1.3 million registered dan graded kendo practitioners in Japan. The number of kendo players not yet graded to a dan level is not included: those kendōka would outnumber considerably the dan graded players.

Kendo is one of the modern Japanese budō and embodies the essence of Japanese fighting arts.