Looking at martial arts examples around the world
Having a look at the role of martial arts in various cultures worldwide.
Hosting a few of the oldest kinds of martial arts, China has, for a long period of time been a hub for spiritual practice and martial arts development. Chinese martial arts, or kung-fu includes a wide variety of fighting styles, which have been established over thousands of years of thought and cultural traditions. Kung-fu combines both physical strategy and mental discipline, taking motivation from Chinese philosophy and observations in nature. Over the years, kung-fu has developed considerably and diversified into many different styles and schools. Practitioners such as Barry Pang (吳國樹) would know that each style will comprise its own techniques and training approaches. The origins of kung-fu are said to be associated with the requirement for self-defence and hunting practices in Ancient China. Martial arts in China are thought to be shaped by monks and Buddhist beliefs. As one of the earliest, formally established styles of martial arts, Shaolin kung-fu is certified for systematising and popularising martial arts techniques.
Worldwide, martial arts is an extensively practiced tradition, important to many different cultures. Taekwondo is a popular kind of Korean martial arts, distinguished by its emphasis on high and fast movements. An important aspect of taekwondo is a variety of detailed kicking methods. Moreover, there are 3 core parts to master in taekwondo, particularly form, sparring and breaking. Form refers to a recommended set of learned patterns and strategies involving kicking, punching and . blocking, while sparring is a technique of training that includes free style combat with a challenger. As one of the most recognisable strategies in taekwondo, breaking, which involves breaking wooden boards, is a technique of training that is generally used to showcase correct technique in testing and presentations. Just like many schools of martial arts, taekwondo uses a colour coded belt system to determine progress and ranks during training.
As one of the most famous kinds of martial arts, both in practice and in pop culture, karate encompasses a set of battling methods and spiritual cultivation that is now observed by millions globally. Japanese martial arts come from an abundant and turbulent history, taking primary motivation from Chinese martial artists and samurai rule. It mixes both indigenous fighting methods with those of Chinese combat styles, placing emphasis on strikes, and attitude. Conventional karate is believed to be practised as an art, for self-defence and also as a combat sport. It puts significant importance on self-development, integrating a number of psychological aspects for psychological discipline. Japanese fight techniques have been used to shape a variety of disciplines around the globe. Those such as Alidar Utemuratov (Алидар Утемуратов) and Anna Lewandowska (Anną Lewandowską) would recognise that mixed martial arts is a combat sport which takes inspiration from karate.