The Styles of Martail Arts |
Today there are more than 1,000 different forms of martial arts around the world. Its generally accepted that Martial Arts developed its roots in ancient China among the monks who used weaponless fighting techniques to protect themselves.
It is not known which type of unarmed techniques was used first, but it's clear that specialization was the custom. Combinations of different forms of fighting were unknown.
Judo began to spread its wings across the world when Takashima Shidachi lectured, The Japan Society in London 1892. On the history and development of Judo
America's first introduction to Judo was in 1904, Yoshitsugu (Yoshiaki) Yamashita, traveled to the US and taught this Japanese sport to Theodore Roosevelt and West Point Cadets. Although many local clubs and regional associations developed, attempts to organize Judo on a national basis were not successful.
World War II saw a different development of Judo. Instead of being used for sport, Judo was being taught as a combat skill. Those selected for commando and special services training often achieved a high standard of expertise.
When Japan hosted the 1964 Olympics, Judo was given its first opportunity as an event. Of the sixteen medals awarded for Judo, Japan won three gold medals, and one silver medal. Judo was no longer a Japanese sport but had developed to become an international sport.
Prior to the late sixties, Judo and Karate where the only two martial arts, really known in the west. The Chinese Kung Fu films, introduced to western cinemas in the late sixties early seventies, were a huge success and created a lot of interest in the fighting styles of Chinese martial arts.
In 1972 Enter the Dragon staring Bruce Lee, filmed in Hong Kong was showed in cinemas worldwide it was a huge success. Bruce Lee became a national hero to millions and the forerunner of the modern martial arts schools.
His Hong Kong and Hollywood produced films elevated, martial arts films to a new level of popularity and acclaim, and sparked the first major surge of interest in Chinese martial arts in the West.
Bruce Lee died 1973, while in Hong Kong, his legend lives on today. Particularly with the Chinese, as he portrayed Chinese national pride and Chinese nationalism in his movies.
Bruce Lee was an American born martial artist, philosopher, instructor, martial arts actor and the founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts system, widely regarded as the most influential martial artist of the twentieth century and a cultural icon.
Bruce Lee said:
I have not invented a New Style, composite, modified or otherwise that is set within distinct form as apart from This method or That method. On the contrary, I hope to free my followers from clinging to styles, patterns, or molds. Remember that Jeet Kune Do is merely a name used, a mirror in which to see Ourselves Jeet Kune Do is not an organized institution that one can be a member of. Either you understand or you don't, and that is that. There is no mystery about my style. My movements are simple, direct and non-classical. The extraordinary part of it lies in its simplicity. Every movement in Jeet Kune Do is being so of itself. There is nothing artificial about it. I always believe that the easy way is the right way. Jeet Kune Do is simply the direct expression of one's feelings with the minimum of movements and energy. The closer to the true way of Kung Fu, the less wastage of expression there is. Finally, a Jeet Kune Do man who says Jeet Kune Do is exclusively Jeet Kune Do is simply not with it. He is still hung up on his self-closing resistance, in this case anchored down to reactionary pattern, and naturally is still bound by another modified pattern and can move within its limits. He has not digested the simple fact that truth exists outside all molds, pattern and awareness is never exclusive. Again let me remind you Jeet Kune Do is just a name used, a boat to get one across, and once across it is to be discarded and not to be carried on one's back. |
Bruce Lee
In Kickboxer, Jean Claude Van Damme mixes Muay Thai with Shotokan Karate. It should be noted that Van Damme's techniques are more Karate oriented than Muay Thai, and there are some techniques where it seems Van Damme adds a Karate twist to Muay Thai.
The villain Tong Po uses Muay Thai only. Xian Chow uses a style of Muay Thai that seems to have incorporated Tai Chi or other internal Chinese martial arts. Kickboxer should not be seen as an accurate representation of Muay Thai, but as a portrayal of a hybrid martial art which combines Karate and Muay Thai.
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