Martial arts

Codified systems and traditions of combat

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Martial arts" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

United States Marine practicing martial arts, 2008

Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.[1] The concept of martial arts was originally associated with East Asian tradition,[2] but subsequently the term has been applied to practices that originated outside that region.

## Etymology

[edit]

The Chen style Taijiquan class at Fragrant Hills Park, Beijing, China

"Martial arts" is a direct English translation of the Sino-Japanese word (Japanese: 武芸, romanized: bu-gei, Chinese: 武藝; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: bú-gē; pinyin: wǔyì). Literally, it refers to "武 martial" and "芸 arts".

The term martial arts was popularized by mainstream popular culture during the 1960s to 1970s, notably by Hong Kong martial arts films (most famously those of Bruce Lee) during the so-called "chopsocky" wave of the early 1970s.[3]

According to John Clements, the term martial arts itself is derived from an older Latin term meaning "arts of Mars", the Roman god of war, and was used to refer to the combat systems of Europe (European martial arts) as early as the 1550s.[4]

The term martial science, or martial sciences, was commonly used to refer to the fighting arts of South Asia and East Asia (Asian martial arts) up until the 1970s, and the term Chinese boxing was also used to refer to Chinese martial arts until then.[5]

Some authors have argued that fighting arts or fighting systems would be more appropriate terms on the basis that many martial arts were never "martial" in the sense of being used or created by professional warriors.[6]

## Variation and scope

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Martial arts may be categorized using a variety of criteria, including:[citation needed]

* Traditional/historical arts vs. contemporary styles: e.g., folk wrestling compared to modern hybrid martial arts.
* Techniques taught: armed vs. unarmed, and within these categories
* armed: by type of weapon (swordsmanship, stick fighting etc.)
* unarmed: by type of combat (grappling, striking, stand-up fighting, ground fighting)
* By application or intent: self-defense, combat sport, choreography or demonstration of forms, physical fitness, meditation, etc.
* Within Chinese tradition: "external" vs. "internal" styles

### By technical focus

[edit]

#### Unarmed

[edit]

Unarmed martial arts can be broadly grouped into those focusing on strikes, those focusing on grappling, and those that cover both fields, often described as hybrid martial arts.[citation needed]

Strikes: punching and kicking techniques displayed at the Banteay Srei (967 A.D.) in Cambodia.

Strikes

* Punching: Boxing, Wing Chun
* Kicking: Kickboxing, Taekwondo, Capoeira, Savate, Karate, Kung Fu, Taekyyon
* Elbow Strike: Bokator, Kung Fu, Karate, Muay Thai
* Knee Strike: Lethwei, Muay Thai, Bokator, Kung Fu
* Others using strikes: Bokator, Lethwei, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Pencak Silat, Taijiquan, Vovinam

Grappling: bas-relief of grappling techniques at Prambanan (9th century) in Indonesia.

Grappling

* Throwing: Hapkido, Judo, Sumo, Wrestling, Aikido, Shuai Jiao, Taijiquan
* Joint lock/Chokeholds/Submission holds: Jujutsu, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Catch wrestling, Judo, Chin-na, Taijiquan, Karate
* Pinning Techniques: Judo, Wrestling, Aikido
* Trapping/Clinch fighting: Wing Chun, Filipino Martial Arts, Jeet Kune Do, Muay Thai, wrestling, Judo

#### Armed

[edit]

The traditional martial arts that cover armed combat often encompass a wide spectrum of melee weapons, including bladed weapons and polearms. Such traditions include eskrima, silat, kalaripayat, kobudo, and historical European martial arts, especially those of the Italian Renaissance. Many Chinese martial arts also feature weapons as part of their curriculum.[citation needed]

Sometimes, training with one specific weapon may be considered a style in its own right, especially in the case of Japanese martial arts, with disciplines such as kenjutsu and kendo (sword), bojutsu (staff), and kyūdō (archery). Similarly, modern martial arts and sports include modern fencing, stick-fighting systems like canne de combat, modern competitive archery and practical shooting.[citation needed]

### By application or intent

[edit]

#### Combat-oriented

[edit]

Main articles: Combat sport and Self-defense

#### Spirituality-oriented

[edit]

Traditional Korean martial arts place emphasis on the development of the practitioner's spiritual and philosophical being. A common theme in most Korean styles, such as Taekkyon, taekwondo, and Hapkido is the value of "inner peace" in a practitioner, which is stressed to be only achievable through individual meditation and training. The Koreans believe that the use of physical force is only justifiable for self defense.[7] Japanese martial arts can be classified as "budo"; the suffix "-do" indicates that the martial art is a path to a correct and full life and that physical training is meant to achieve a spiritual improvement.[8]

Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals is the name of a Persian Martial arts inscribed by UNESCO for varzesh-e pahlavāni (Persian: آیین پهلوانی و زورخانه‌ای, "heroic sport")[9] or varzesh-e bāstāni (ورزش باستانی; varzeš-e bāstānī, "ancient sport"), a traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in Iran (Persia), and first appearing under this name and form in the Safavid era, with similarities to systems in adjacent lands under other names.[10][11]

## History

[edit]

Main article: History of martial arts

Further information: Martial arts timeline

### Historical martial arts

[edit]

Main articles: History of Asian martial arts and Historical European martial arts

Detail of the wrestling fresco in tomb 15 at Beni Hasan The martial art of boxing was practiced in ancient Thera (1600–1500 BC).

Human warfare dates back to the Epipalaeolithic to early Neolithic era. The oldest works of art depicting scenes of battle are cave paintings from eastern Spain (Spanish Levante) dated between 10,000 and 6,000 BCE that show organized groups fighting with bows and arrows.[12][13] Similar evidence of warfare has been found in Epipalaeolithic to early Neolithic era mass burials, excavated in Germany and at Jebel Sahaba in Northern Sudan.[12]

Wrestling is the oldest combat sport, with origins in hand-to-hand combat. Belt wrestling was depicted in works of art from Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt c. 3000 BC, and later in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh.[14] The earliest known depiction of boxing comes from a Sumerian relief in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) from the 3rd millennium BC.[15]

The foundation of modern East Asian martial arts and South Asian martial arts is likely facilitated by cultural exchanges of early Chinese and Indian martial arts. During the Warring States period of Chinese history (480–221 BC) extensive development in martial philosophy and strategy emerged, as described by Sun Tzu in The Art of War (c. 350 BC).[16] Legendary accounts link the origin of Shaolinquan to the spread of Buddhism from ancient India during the early 5th century CE, with the figure of Bodhidharma, to China.[17] Written evidence of martial arts in Southern India dates back to the Sangam literature of about the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd century AD.[citation needed] The combat techniques of the Sangam period were the earliest precursors to Kalaripayattu[18]

In Europe, the earliest sources of martial arts traditions date to Ancient Greece. Boxing (pygme, pyx), wrestling (pale) and pankration were represented in the Ancient Olympic Games. The Romans produced gladiatorial combat as a public spectacle.[19]

A number of historical combat manuals have survived from the European Middle Ages. This includes such styles as sword and shield, two-handed swordfighting and other types of melee weapons besides unarmed combat. Amongst these are transcriptions of Johannes Liechtenauer's mnemonic poem on the longsword dating back to the late fourteenth century. Likewise, Asian martial arts became well-documented during the medieval period, Japanese martial arts beginning with the establishment of the samurai nobility in the 12th century, Chinese martial arts with Ming era treatises such as Ji Xiao Xin Shu, Indian martial arts in medieval texts such as the Agni Purana and the Malla Purana, and Korean martial arts from the Joseon era and texts such as Muyejebo (1598).[citation needed]

European swordsmanship always had a sportive component, but the duel was always a possibility until World War I. Modern sport fencing began developing during the 19th century as the French and Italian military academies began codifying instruction. The Olympic games led to standard international rules, with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime founded in 1913. Modern boxing originates with Jack Broughton's rules in the 18th century, and reaches its present form with the Marquess of Queensberry Rules of 1867.[20]

### Folk styles

[edit]

Main article: Folk wrestling

Drawing of Indian wrestlers carrying vajra-mushti (1792 A.D.)

Certain traditional combat sports and fighting styles exist all over the world, rooted in local culture and folklore. The most common of these are styles of folk wrestling, some of which have been practiced since antiquity and are found in the most remote areas. Other examples include forms of stick fighting and boxing. While these arts are based on historical traditions of folklore, they are not "historical" in the sense that they reconstruct or preserve a historical system from a specific era. They are rather contemporary regional sports that coexist with the modern forms of martial arts sports as they have developed since the 19th century, often including cross-fertilization between sports and folk styles; thus, the traditional Thai art of muay boran developed into the modern national sport of muay Thai, which in turn came to be practiced worldwide and contributed significantly to modern hybrid styles like kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Singlestick, an English martial art can be seen often used in morris dancing. Many European dances share elements of martial arts with examples including Ukrainian Hopak, Polish Zbójnicki (use of ciupaga), the Czech dance odzemek, and the Norwegian Halling.[citation needed]

Boxing in England, 1811

### Modern history

[edit]

Further information: Modern history of East Asian martial arts

#### Late 19th to early 20th century

[edit]

The mid to late 19th century marks the beginning of the history of martial arts as modern sports developed out of earlier traditional fighting systems. In Europe, this concerns the developments of boxing, wrestling and fencing as sports. In Japan, the same period marks the formation of the modern forms of judo, jujutsu, karate, and kendo (among others) based on revivals of old schools of Edo period martial arts which had been suppressed during the Meiji Restoration[21] In 1882, Kano Jigoro established the Kodokan School of judo which began the sport of judo.[22] Kano Jigoro had gathered the old knowledge of jujutsu before establishing his school of judo.

Modern Muay Thai rules date to the 1920s. In China, the modern history of martial arts begins in the Nanjing decade (1930s) following the foundation of the Central Guoshu Institute in 1928 under the Kuomintang government.[citation needed]

Western interest in Asian martial arts arises towards the end of the 19th century, due to the increase in trade between the United States with China and Japan.[23] Relatively few Westerners actually practiced the arts, considering it to be mere performance. Edward William Barton-Wright, a railway engineer who had studied jujutsu while working in Japan between 1894 and 1897, was the first man known to have taught Asian martial arts in Europe. He also founded an eclectic style named Bartitsu which combined jujutsu, judo, wrestling, boxing, savate and stick fighting.[citation needed][24]

Fencing and Greco-Roman wrestling was included in the 1896 Summer Olympics. FILA Wrestling World Championships and Boxing at the Summer Olympics were introduced in 1904. The tradition of awarding championship belts in wrestling and boxing can be traced to the Lonsdale Belt, introduced in 1909.[25]

Boxing in 1943

#### 20th century (1914 to 1989)

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Bruce Lee (right) and his teacher Ip Man (left)

The International Boxing Association was established in 1920. World Fencing Championships have been held since 1921.[26] As Western influence grew in Asia a greater number of military personnel spent time in China, Japan and South Korea during World War II and the Korean War and were exposed to local fighting styles. Jujutsu, judo and karate first became popular among the mainstream from the 1950s–1960s. Due in part to Asian and Hollywood martial arts movies, most modern American martial arts are either Asian-derived or Asian influenced.[27] The term kickboxing (kikku bokushingu キックボクシング) was created by the Japanese boxing promoter Osamu Noguchi for a variant of muay Thai and karate that he created in the 1950s. American kickboxing was developed in the 1970s, as a combination of boxing and karate. Taekwondo was developed in the context of the Korean War in the 1950s.[citation needed]

The later 1960s and 1970s witnessed an increased media interest in Chinese martial arts, influenced by martial artist Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee is credited as one of the first instructors to openly teach Chinese martial arts to Westerners.[28] World Judo Championships have been held since 1956,[citation needed] and Judo at the Summer Olympics was introduced in 1964.[citation needed] Karate World Championships were introduced in 1970.[29]

The "kung fu wave" of Hong Kong action cinema in the 1970s, especially Bruce Lee films, popularized martial arts in global popular culture. A number of mainstream films produced during the 1980s also contributed significantly to the perception of martial arts in Western popular culture. These include The Karate Kid (1984) and Bloodsport (1988). This era produced some Hollywood action stars with martial arts background, such as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris.[citation needed]

Also during the 20th century, a number of martial arts were adapted for self-defense purposes for military hand-to-hand combat. World War II combatives, KAPAP (1930s) and Krav Maga (1950s) in Israel, Systema in Soviet-era Russia, and Sanshou in the People's Republic of China are examples of such systems. The US military de-emphasized hand-to-hand combat training during the Cold War period, but revived it with the introduction of LINE in 1989.[citation needed]

#### 1990 to present

[edit]

Mixed martial arts championship in Russia in 2021

In 1993, the first Pancrase event was held in Japan.[30] The K-1 rules of kickboxing were introduced, based on 1980s Seidokaikan karate.[31]

During the 1990s, Brazilian jiu-jitsu became popular and proved to be effective in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions such as the UFC and PRIDE.[32]

Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee were prominent martial artists who became major movie figures. Their popularity and media presence has been at the forefront for promoting Chinese martial arts in the Western world since the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[33]

With the continual discovery of more medieval and Renaissance fighting manuals, the practice of Historical European Martial Arts and other Western Martial Arts have been growing[citation needed] in popularity across the United States and Europe.[citation needed]

On 29 November 2011, UNESCO inscribed Taekkyon onto its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.[34]

### Revival

[edit]

Many styles of Indian martial arts were banned by the colonial authorities during the period of British rule in India, which led to a decline in their popularity.[35] Some, such as Kalaripayattu, were able to resist this decline by practicing in secret. Other Indian martial art, such as Silambam, while not widely practiced in India, continue to be practiced in other countries in the Indian cultural sphere such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Many other Indian martial arts such as Mardhani Khel and Paika Akhada survived by practitioners practicing the art in secret, or by telling the colonial authorities that it was a form of dance. While many regional Indian martial arts forms are fading into obscurity, martial arts such as Gatka and Kalaripayattu are experiencing a gradual resurgence.[36]

## Testing and competition

[edit]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Testing or evaluation is important to martial artists of many disciplines who wish to determine their progression or own level of skill in specific contexts. Students often undergo periodic testing and grading by their own teacher in order to advance to a higher level of recognized achievement, such as a different belt color or title. The type of testing used varies from system to system but may include forms or sparring.

Steven Ho executing a Jump Spin Hook Kick

Various forms and sparring are commonly used in martial art exhibitions and tournaments. Some competitions pit practitioners of different disciplines against each other using a common set of rules, these are referred to as mixed martial arts competitions. Rules for sparring vary between art and organization but can generally be divided into light-contact, medium-contact, and full-contact variants, reflecting the amount of force that should be used on an opponent.[citation needed]

### Light- and medium-contact

[edit]

These types of sparring restrict the amount of force that may be used to hit an opponent, in the case of light sparring this is usually to 'touch' contact, e.g. a punch should be 'pulled' as soon as or before contact is made. In medium-contact (sometimes referred to as semi-contact) the punch would not be 'pulled' but not hit with full force. As the amount of force used is restricted, the aim of these types of sparring is not to knock out an opponent; a point system is used in competitions.[citation needed]

A referee acts to monitor for fouls and to control the match, while judges mark down scores, as in boxing. Particular targets may be prohibited, certain techniques may be forbidden (such as headbutting or groin hits), and fighters may be required to wear protective equipment on their head, hands, chest, groin, shins or feet. Some grappling arts, such as aikido, use a similar method of compliant training that is equivalent to light or medium contact.[citation needed]

In some styles (such as fencing and some styles of taekwondo sparring), competitors score points based on the landing of a single technique or strike as judged by the referee, whereupon the referee will briefly stop the match, award a point, then restart the match. Alternatively, sparring may continue with the point noted by the judges. Some critics of point sparring feel that this method of training teaches habits that result in lower combat effectiveness. Lighter-contact sparring may be used exclusively, for children or in other situations when heavy contact would be inappropriate (such as beginners), medium-contact sparring is often used as training for full contact.[citation needed]

### Full-contact

[edit]

Further information: Full-contact

Full-contact sparring or competition, where strikes or techniques are not pulled but used with full force as the name implies, has a number of tactical differences from light and medium-contact sparring. It is considered by some to be requisite in learning realistic unarmed combat.[37]

In full-contact sparring, the aim of a competitive match is to knock out the opponent or to force the opponent to submit. Where scoring takes place it may be a subsidiary measure, only used if no clear winner has been established by other means; in some competitions, such as the UFC 1, there was no scoring, though most now use some form of judging as a backup.[38] Due to these factors, full-contact matches tend to be more aggressive in character, but rule sets may still mandate the use of protective equipment, or limit the techniques allowed.[citation needed]

Nearly all mixed martial arts organizations such as UFC, Pancrase, Shooto use a form of full-contact rules as do professional boxing organizations and K-1. Kyokushin karate requires advanced practitioners to engage in bare-knuckled, full-contact sparring allowing kicks, knees and punching although punching to the head is disallowed while wearing only a karate gi, mouthguard, groin guard for males, or chest guard worn under the karate gi for females. Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo matches do not allow striking, but are full-contact in the sense that full force is applied in the permitted grappling and submission techniques. Competitions held by World Taekwondo requires the use of Headgear and padded vest, but are full contact in the sense that full force is applied to strikes to the head and body, and win by knockout is possible.[citation needed]

Within Kyokushin Karate, one of the defining aspects is the level of challenge and contact within kumite. The ultimate challenge in Kyokushin Karate is the 100-man kumite challenge, this is where a challenger must complete a total of 100 continuous rounds each with fresh Karateka ready to fight often with minimal or no protective gear. This challenge is considered one of the ultimate tests of endurance, strength, technique and spirit in martial arts with only 30 people to have successfully completed this feat.[39]

### Martial sport

[edit]

See also: Combat sport

Several martial arts, such as judo, are Olympic sports.

Martial arts have crossed over into sports when forms of sparring become competitive, becoming a sport in its own right that is dissociated from the original combative origin, such as with western fencing. The Summer Olympic Games includes judo, taekwondo, western archery, boxing, javelin, wrestling and fencing as events, while Chinese wushu recently failed in its bid to be included, but is still actively performed in tournaments across the world. Practitioners in some arts such as kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu often train for sport matches, whereas those in other arts such as aikido generally spurn such competitions. Some schools believe that competition breeds better and more efficient practitioners, and gives a sense of good sportsmanship. Others believe that the rules under which competition takes place have diminished the combat effectiveness of martial arts or encourage a kind of practice which focuses on winning trophies rather than a focus such as cultivating a particular moral character.[citation needed]

The question of "which is the best martial art" has led to inter style competitions fought with very few rules allowing a variety of fighting styles to enter with few limitations. This was the origin of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament (later renamed UFC 1: The Beginning) in the USA inspired by the Brazilian Vale tudo tradition and along with other minimal rule competitions, most notably those from Japan such as Shooto and Pancrase, have evolved into the combat sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).[40]

Some martial artists compete in non-sparring competitions such as breaking or choreographed routines of techniques such as poomse, kata and aka, or modern variations of the martial arts which include dance-influenced competitions such as tricking. Martial traditions have been influenced by governments to become more sport-like for political purposes; the central impetus for the attempt by the People's Republic of China in transforming Chinese martial arts into the committee-regulated sport of wushu was suppressing what they saw as the potentially subversive aspects of martial training, especially under the traditional system of family lineages.[41]

## Health and fitness benefits

[edit]

Martial arts training aims to result in several benefits to trainees, such as their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.[42]

Through systematic practice in the martial arts a person's physical fitness may be boosted (strength, stamina, speed, flexibility, movement coordination, etc.) as the whole body is exercised and the entire muscular system is activated. [citation needed] Beyond contributing to physical fitness, martial arts training also has benefits for mental health, contributing to self-esteem, self-control, emotional and spiritual well-being. For this reason, a number of martial arts schools have focused purely on therapeutic aspects, de-emphasizing the historical aspect of self-defense or combat completely.[citation needed]

Bruce Lee viewed martial arts as an art form, emphasizing that it involves not only physical mastery but also emotional and mental expression. Through fluidity, balance, and spontaneous reaction, martial artists communicate emotionally, transcending mere technique and transforming combat into a deeply personal and expressive form of communication.[43]

## Self-defense, military and law enforcement applications

[edit]

Main articles: Hand-to-hand combat and Self-defense

U.S. Army combatives instructor demonstrates a chokehold.

Some traditional martial concepts have seen new use within modern military training. Perhaps the most recent example of this is point shooting which relies on muscle memory to more effectively use a firearm in a variety of awkward situations, much the way an iaidoka would master movements with their sword.

Demonstration of a Ju-Jitsu defense against a knife attack. Berlin 1924

During the World War II era William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes were recruited by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to teach their martial art of Defendu (itself drawing on Western boxing and Jujutsu) and pistol shooting to UK, US, and Canadian special forces. The book Kill or Get Killed, written by Colonel Rex Applegate, was based on the Defendu taught by Sykes and Fairbairn. Both Fairbairn's Get Tough and Appelgate's Kill or Get Killed became classic works on hand-to-hand combat.[citation needed]

Traditional hand-to-hand, knife, and spear techniques continue to see use in the composite systems developed for today's wars. Examples of this include European Unifight, the US Army's Combatives system developed by Matt Larsen, the Israeli army's KAPAP and Krav Maga, and the US Marine Corps's Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Unarmed dagger defenses identical to those found in the manual of Fiore dei Liberi and the Codex Wallerstein were integrated into the U.S. Army's training manuals in 1942[44] and continue to influence today's systems along with other traditional systems such as eskrima and silat.[citation needed]

The rifle-mounted bayonet which has its origin in the spear, has seen use by the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, and the British Army as recently as the Iraq War.[45]

Many martial arts are also seen and used in Law Enforcement hand-to-hand training. For example, the Tokyo Riot Police's use of aikido.[46]

## Martial arts industry

[edit]

Martial arts since the 1970s has become a significant industry, a subset of the wider sport industry (including cinema and sports television).[citation needed]

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide practice some form of martial art. Web Japan (sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) claims there are 50 million karate practitioners worldwide.[47] The South Korean government in 2009 published an estimate that taekwondo is practiced by 70 million people in 190 countries.[48]

The wholesale value of martial arts related sporting equipment shipped in the United States was estimated at US$314 million in 2007; participation in the same year was estimated at 6.9 million (ages 6 or older, 2% of US population).[49] R. A. Court, CEO of Martial Arts Channel, stated the total revenue of the US martial arts industry at US$40 billion and the number of US practitioners at 30 million in 2003.[50]

### Equipment

[edit]

Martial arts equipment can include that which is used for conditioning, protection and weapons. Specialized conditioning equipment can include breaking boards, dummy partners such as the wooden dummy, and targets such as punching bags and the makiwara. Protective equipment for sparring and competition includes boxing gloves, headgear and mouthguards.[51]

### Martial arts fraud

[edit]

Asian martial arts experienced a surge of popularity in the West during the 1970s, and the rising demand resulted in numerous low quality or fraudulent schools. Fueled by fictional depictions in martial arts movies, this led to the ninja craze of the 1980s in the United States.[52] There were also numerous fraudulent ads for martial arts training programs, inserted into comic books circa the 1960s and 1970s, which were read primarily by adolescent boys.[53]

In the seventies, lower ranks (kyu) began to be given colorful belts to show progress. This proved to be commercially viable and colored-belt systems were adopted into many martial arts schools and systems, this also led to exploitation within many martial arts degree mills (also known as McDojos and belt factories) as a means to generate additional cash.[54] This was covered in the Penn & Teller: Bullshit! episode "Martial Arts" (June 2010).[55]

Fraudulent martial arts practitioners are still common across the world. Martial arts fraudsters will often run their classes with a cult-like mentality. Another red flag around this is that they discourage cross-training in other martial arts styles or make it deliberately difficult to leave. They often teach techniques which are ineffective and dangerous that are likely to give practitioners a false sense of security and even claim that they can perform "no-touch K.O's". Instructors of "McDojo's" often make outlandish claims about their own success or in many cases self-promote themselves to the rank of 10th Dan Black Belt or even claim to have invented their own style of martial art which claims to be more effective or deadlier than "other styles".[56]

## See also

[edit]

* Martial arts portal

* Martial arts timeline
* History of martial arts
* List of martial arts

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "martial art | Definition, History, Types, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
2. ^ Corcoran 1992, p. 16.
3. ^ Bowman, Paul (2021). The Invention of Martial Arts: Popular Culture Between Asia and America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-754033-6.
4. ^ Clements, John (January 2006). "A Short Introduction to Historical European Martial Arts" (PDF). Meibukan Magazine (Special Edition No. 1): 2–4\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
5. ^ Lewis, Dan (22 April 1973). "Newest Movie Craze: Chinese Agents". Lima News. p. 30. Retrieved 15 April 2022 - via NewspaperArchive. "First there were "spaghetti westerns" made in Italy, and then the Spanish got into the act and they became "gaspacho westerns."
Now, there's going to be an invasion of "chow mein spies." It's the newest rage, the superhero Chinese agent, who takes on 84 adversaries at one time and pounds them into the ground — without a dangerous weapon, except his hands and his feet.
They're coming here under the label of "martial sciences," an umbrella label that takes in all of the oriental arts of self-defense, such as karate, jujitso, kung fu and so on.
They're made in Hong Kong and the biggest hero of them all at the moment, surely the biggest box-office attraction there, is a face pretty familiar to American television audiences. Remember Bruce Lee, the swift, agile oriental chauffeur in "The Green Hornet"?
(...) Lee already has starred in three Chinese boxer (another label) pictures and there are several dozen others available to the international market. They reportedly are sweeping the European market and have just started to infiltrate the American scene.
Warner Brothers has just released one called "The Five Fingers of Death" and, with Fred Weintraub as producer, is now involved in the first American-Chinese production of a martial-science picture, a film that stars Bruce (Kato) Lee."
6. ^ Donn F. Draeger and P'ng Chye Khim (1979). Shaolin Lohan Kung-fu. Tuttle Publishing.
7. ^ "Taekwondo in a Street Fight: Effective for Self-defense?". www.sportsver.com. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
8. ^ Corcoran, p. 20.
9. ^ "International Zurkhaneh Sports Federation". www.izsf.net.
10. ^ "Martial arts" at Encyclopædia Iranica
11. ^ "UNESCO - Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei rituals". ich.unesco.org.
12. ^ a b Hamblin, William J. (2006). Warfare in the ancient Near East to 1600 BC : holy warriors at the dawn of history (Repr. ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 15. ISBN 978-0415255899.
13. ^ Nash, George, "Assessing rank and warfare strategy in prehistoric hunter-gatherer society: a study of representational warrior figures in rock-art from the Spanish Levant" in: M. Parker Pearson & I.J.N. Thorpe (eds.), Warfare, violence and slavery in prehistory: proceedings of a Prehistoric Society conference at Sheffield University, 2005, Archaeopress, ISBN 1841718165, 978-1841718163, Fully online
14. ^ "Wrestling". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
15. ^ Michael Poliakoff. "Encyclopædia Britannica entry for Boxing". Britannica.com. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
16. ^ "Sun Tzu Biography and Introduction: Sun Tzu The Art of War and Strategy Site by". Sonshi. Com. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
17. ^ Reid, Howard and Croucher, Michael (1983). The Way of the Warrior – The Paradox of the Martial Arts. New York: Overlook Press [ISBN missing][page needed]
18. ^ "Actualizing Power and Crafting a Self in Kalarippayattu". spa.exeter.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
19. ^ Cartwright, Mark (4 December 2013). "Roman Games, Chariot Races & Spectacle". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
20. ^ "Marquess of Queensberry rules | Glove size, Rounds & Referees | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
21. ^ "History Of Martial Arts". Primae. Participation and Recreation through Inclusive Martial Arts Education and E-Learning. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
22. ^ Burdick, D. (2022, September 12). judo. Britannica. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/sports/judo
23. ^ Primae. (2011, November 29). History Of Martial Arts. Retrieved March 24, 2023, from https://primae.eu/history-of-martial-arts/?lang=sv
24. ^ Godfrey, Emelyne (2009). "Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery Baritsu". History Today. 59 (5): 4–5 - via EBSCOhost.
25. ^ "Lonsdale Belt | boxing | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
26. ^ The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records & Results (1987). Fencing World Championships, pages 165. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
27. ^ Berreby, David (28 August 1988). "The Martial Arts as Moneymakers". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
28. ^ "Jeet Kune Do". absolutedefense.net. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
29. ^ "World Karate Federation - The Book". www.wkf.net. 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
30. ^ "The origins, history and rules from the early days of Pancrase circa 1993". bloodyelbow.com. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
31. ^ Soldwedel, A. (2003). 21st Century Shogun. Black Belt, 41 (1), 54-59.
32. ^ "fighting art used in the UFC". UFC.com. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
33. ^ Shu, Yuan (2003). "Reading the Kung Fu Film in an American Context: From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan". Journal of Popular Film and Television. 31 (2): 50–59\. doi:10.1080/01956050309603666. ISSN 0195-6051. S2CID 192198724.
34. ^ "UNESCO Culture Sector – Intangible Heritage – 2003 Convention". UNESCO.org.
35. ^ Tandon, Nikita. "Reviving the Lost Martial Arts of India". The Armchair Lounge. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
36. ^ Manoharan, Suresh K. "History of Varmakalai". www.varmam.org. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
37. ^ "Aliveness 101". Straight Blast gym. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2008. – An essay on contact levels in training
38. ^ Dave Meltzer (12 November 2007). "First UFC forever altered combat sports". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2008.
39. ^ "100 Man Kumite". MasutatsuOyama.com. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
40. ^ Lopez, Esai (12 December 2024). "Combat Sports in Japan: Japanese Martial Arts and Beyond". Coto Japanese Academy. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
41. ^ Fu, Zhongwen (2006) [1996]. Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan. Berkeley, California: Blue Snake Books.
42. ^ Bu, Bin; Haijun, Han; Yong, Liu; Chaohui, Zhang; Xiaoyuan, Yang; Singh, Maria Fiatarone (2010). "Effects of martial arts on health status: A systematic review". Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine. 3 (4): 205–219\. doi:10.1111/j.1756-5391.2010.01107.x. PMID 21349072. S2CID 41065668.
43. ^ Tao of Jeet Kune Do: New Expanded Edition: Lee, Bruce: 8601400174913: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 0897502027.
44. ^ Vail, Jason (2006). Medieval and Renaissance Dagger Combat. Paladin Press. pp. 91–95.
45. ^ Sean Rayment (13 June 2004). "British battalion 'attacked every day for six weeks'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
46. ^ Twigger, R. (1997). Angry White Pyjamas. London: Phoenix. ISBN 978-0753808580 [page needed]
47. ^ "Martial Arts : Fact Sheet" (PDF). Web-japan.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
48. ^ Kim, H.-S. (2009): Taekwondo: A new strategy for Brand Korea Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (21 December 2009). Retrieved on 8 January 2010.
49. ^ Jack W. Plunkett (2009). Plunkett's Sports Industry Almanac, ISBN 978-1593921408.
50. ^ Black Belt Magazine September 2003, p. 20.
51. ^ "The Importance Of A Mouthguard When Playing Sport". Orthodontics Australia. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
52. ^ see “The Real Deal, The Buzzwords and the Latest Trend” Black Belt Magazine, June 1999, p. 78.
53. ^ Tom Heintjes (20 June 2017). "The Deadliest Ads Alive! | Hogan's Alley". Cartoonician.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
54. ^ Ford, Justin Lee (7 October 2022). "The McDojo Excuse". Black Belt Magazine.
55. ^ Van Brunt, Brian (2012). Ending Campus Violence: New Approaches to Prevention. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. p. 97\. ISBN 978-0-415-80743-2.
56. ^ "Warning: 93 Signs Your Dojo is a McDojo". www.karatebyjesse.com. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2025.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Corcoran, John (1992). The Martial Arts Companion: Culture, History, and Enlightenment. Mallard Press. ISBN 0-7924-5762-5.

* v
* t
* e

Martial arts

* List of styles
* History
* Timeline
* Records
* Hard and soft

Classification

| Regional origin|

* China
* Europe
* India
* Indonesia
* Italian
* Ireland
* Japan
* Okinawa
* Korea
* Mainland Southeast Asia
* Philippines
* Russia
* Vietnam

|

Unarmed
techniques|

* Arm strikes
* Chokehold
* Punch
* Elbow strike
* Clinch
* Ground
* Headbutt
* Leg strikes
* Footwork
* Kick
* Flying
* Knee strike
* Stomp
* Grappling
* Hold
* Joint lock
* Sweep
* Takedown
* Throw
* Stand-up

Weapons|

* Duel
* Melee weapons
* Knife fighting
* Stick-fighting
* Swordsmanship
* Archery
* Shooting

Training|

* Kata
* Boxing glove
* Practice weapon
* Punching bag
* Pushing hands
* Randori
* Sparring

Grappling|

* Barróg
* Brazilian jiu-jitsu
* Judo (Para judo)
* Jujutsu
* Luta Livre esportiva
* Malla-yuddha
* Pehlwani
* Sambo
* Shuai jiao
* Sumo
* Wrestling
* catch
* Cornish
* folk
* freestyle
* Greco-Roman
* Mongolian
* oil
* shoot

Striking|

* Bando
* Boxing
* Capoeira
* Chess boxing
* Choi Kwang Do
* Dambe
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Kun Khmer
* Lethwei
* Muay Thai
* Northern Praying Mantis
* Russian boxing
* Sanda
* Shaolin kung fu
* Shoot boxing
* Savate
* Taekwondo
* Tang Soo Do
* Tien Shan Pai
* Vovinam
* Wudangquan
* Yoshukai Karate

Internal|

* Aikido
* Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
* Baguazhang
* Tai chi
* Xingyiquan

Full contact /
combat sports|

* Professional boxing
* Kickboxing
* Full contact karate
* Mixed martial arts
* Pankration
* Shootfighting
* Submission wrestling
* Vale Tudo

Self-defense /
combatives|

* Arnis
* Bartitsu
* Hapkido
* Kajukenbo
* Jieitaikakutōjutsu
* Krav Maga
* MCMAP
* Pencak silat
* Pencak Silat Harimau
* Suffrajitsu
* Systema
* Street fighting
* Taekkyon
* To-Shin Do
* Wing Chun
* Silat Melayu

Eclectic / hybrids|

* American Kenpo
* Angampora
* Chun Kuk Do
* Hokutoryu Ju-Jutsu
* Jeet Kune Do
* Shooto
* Shorinji Kempo
* Unifight
* Qwan Ki Do

Battlefield|

* Banshay
* Bokator
* Historical European martial arts
* Huiyen Lallong
* Jujutsu
* Kalaripayattu
* Krabi–krabong
* Krav Maga
* Mardani khel
* Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
* Pencak Silat Harimau

Entertainment|

* Fighting game
* Martial arts film (Chanbara)
* Professional wrestling
* Stage combat
* Tricking
* Wuxia

International games

| Martial arts at the
Summer Olympics|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman)
* Demonstration sports
* Budō
* Pistol dueling
* Glima
* Savate

|

Martial arts at the
World Games|

* Ju-jitsu
* Karate
* Kickboxing
* Muay Thai
* Sumo
* Former official sports
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Invitational sports
* Aikido
* Wushu

Martial arts at the
Pan American Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
Asian Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Ju-jitsu
* Karate
* Kurash
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling
* Wushu
* 2018 Only
* Pencak silat
* Sambo

Martial arts at the
African Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

Martial arts at the
European Games|

* Boxing
* Fencing
* Judo
* Karate
* Muaythai
* Sambo
* Taekwondo
* Wrestling

* Portal
* Outline

Authority control databases

National|

* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Japan
* Czech Republic
* Israel

Other|

* NARA
* Yale LUX

*[c.]: circa
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template