Examining Martial Arts Styles

By Jake Ross

Generally speaking the term "martial arts" creates the mentalpicture of a person in white kicking with a leg or chopping withan arm. This illustrates one of a number of misconceptionsassociated with the martial arts, in particular the belief thatthere are only a handful of martial arts styles. The fact isthat there are a multitude of different martial arts styles.

Perhaps the best known of the martial arts styles is karate, aform of martial arts that began to take root more firmly incountries such as the United States and the United Kingdomduring the post war years of the 1940s. Karate originated on anisland known as Okinawa. Ultimately, the Japanese invadedOkinawa in the 17th century. By the 20th century, karate mastersfrom Okinawa were teaching karate on the Japanese mainland (atwhich time the term "karate" actually was brought into commonusage).

During the 1940s, many of these different styles became betterknown to people living all over the world. The practice of manydifferent martial arts styles became more prevalent in westernnations during this period of time. (Additionally, two newmartial arts styles came into formal existence during the1940s.)

Aikido

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was the first of these two martial arts stylesestablished in the 1940s. Aikido is a defensive martial art withthe stated ultimate goal of the unification of the body andsoul. As far as the martial arts styles are concerned, Aikido isintended to be a more contemplative practice.

The second of the martial arts styles to be founded during the1940s was Tae Kwon-do. Tae Kwon-do was established in Koreaafter World War II. This martial arts style was created by aKorean Army general in an attempt to better coordinate themartial arts of Korean troops.

Jiu Jitsu, another of the martial arts styles, was the martialart most closely associated with the Samurai warriors of Japan.Jiu Jitsu is closely connected with both the Samurai code ofconduct and ethics as well as the Zen Buddhist philosophy. (Judois an outgrowth of the Jiu Jitsu martial arts practice. However,purists do not consider Judo itself to be one of the martialarts styles in the strict, traditional sense. In the eyes ofthese traditionalists, Judo represents a sport despite itsconnection to Jiu Jitsu because it was established as a means ofpersonal development. Of course, many people consider Judo to beone of the martial arts styles.)

The many martial arts styles have continued to attract a growingnumber of adherents since the 1940s. People continue to be drawnto various martial arts styles as a mean of effective selfdefense program, to enhance discipline and to better theirphysical and mental conditions.

About the author:Jake Ross is an internationally recognized authority onhand-to-hand combat, martial arts and self defense. Jake hasresearched a multitude of martial arts from around the world andthroughout history, but he prefers the realistic combat systemsfrom the late 19th to early 12st centuries. For more informationon fighting techniques, visit http://www.combatclassics.com/