In Depth Martial Art Aspects
- Part 5 -
Dr. Hanjabam Barun Sharma *
Sports & Competitions are integral part of martial art. In ancient Greece, Roman enjoyed while the Gladiators fought to death. Pankration fighters showed their skills in ancient Olympic. The Chinese rulers used to recruit new soldiers through martial art competition.
Indian kings organized Swayumbar, which were also usually martial art competition to select appropriate bridegrooms for their daughters.
Today, almost every martial art form has its apex body which organizes competitions at various levels. Taekwondo, Judo, Fencing, western Boxing, & Wrestling are martial art forms included in Olympic at present.
Indian Olympic Association, in addition to the above forms, also approved Karate-do & Wushu, & yet to give to Thang ta, Muay thai & Kickboxing etc. It seems, a new sport form is born out of original martial art form.
However many traditional martial artists believe this sport form is threatening the very originality of the art, as it emphasizes
only on point scoring, & limit the art with new rules, thereby neglecting many techniques & concepts which are now considered illegal or
fault or useless.
Today martial art is an essential part of police, commandos, bodyguard & military training. This is also due to the increasing importance of human rights & avoidance of direct fatal/lethal action.
Martial art not only keep them fit & ready for any situation, but also make their bodies a feared human weapons. Some of the best examples are
- American force using MCMA (Marine Corps Martial Art) & MMA;
- Israelites, Krav maga;
- Greek, Pankration;
- Thais, Muay thai;
- Russian, Sambo;
- Japanese, Jujitsu & karate;
- French, Savate etc
It is a prescription for personal growth, an investigation of freedom to act naturally & effectively, not only in combat, but in life also. It means "to absorb what is useful, to reject what is useless & to add specifically what is your own."
It leads the practitioners to individual independence, life long health, a warm heart justice, freedom, opportunity, prosperity, security and wealth.
In other words, it develops an individual's character by eliminating physical violence and evil thoughts. Such a character inspires cooperation among people, which ensures harmony at home; a sound, stable society; & a strong nation- all in the interest of achieving sublime world peace.
"Using no way as way, having no limitation as limitation"
- Bruce Lee
Concluded....
* Dr. Hanjabam Barun Sharma is a regular contributor to e-pao.net .
He is at Martial Art & Combat Sports Club (MACC), Raipur (C.G.) also Secretary, Raipur Taekwondo Vikash Samiti, Raipur(C.G.).
The writer can be contacted at wang_fei03(at)rediffmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on November 20, 2008.
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