Martial Arts Training

Martial Arts Training

Traditional martial arts training is the training in a particular martial art which is rooted in the tenets that are set forth by the first master of the art. The techniques are then carried on through subsequent masters. The traditional martial art is always deeply rooted in a country’s history. Traditional martial arts training means that the learner upholds the art’s philosophical principles in a manner that is similar to the founder of the art or on its natural progression. The lineage that exists between masters and students is very essential in traditional martial arts training.

Types of Traditional Martial Arts Training

Aikido

This is a Japanese martial art that means ‘way to unify with your ki’. The Art was founded in 1942 by Morihei Uyeshiba. ‘ki’ means life force. In 1901, Uyeshiba practised tenjin shinyo-ryu jujutsu with Tozawa Tokasaburo. His true martial calling came in 1911 when he was taught daito ryu aikijujutsu by Takeda Sokaku in Japan-Hokkaido Island. Morihei replaced the linear approaches to techniques and striking points with much circular, and softer movements. In the process, he developed a spiritual outlook on life under his Omoto-kyo religion and Onisaburo Deguchi. Several events lead to Morihei’s new philosophy for aikido. Morihei defeated a navy officer in 1925 while unarmed. The Navy officer was armed with a wooden sword. After the fight, Uyeshiba incorporated the primary hand-guard position borrowed from kendo by copying the way kendo practitioners held their swords.

Aikijujutsu

Aikijujutsu is any jujutsu discipline that is focussed on the Japanese principle of ‘aiki’. In this art, the practitioner blends with and overpowers the opponent by using his internal energy (chi or ki). Some aikijujutsu and jujutsu schools can trace their lineage to daito-ryu.

Sokaku was the student of Morihei Uyeshiba, the founder of aikido. Takeda modified daito-ryu by combining the knowledge he had of daito-ryu, swordsmanship (kenjutsu), and some empty-hand martial arts. He named his style daito-ryu aikijujutsu in 1800s. Sokaku honed this art by teaching aristocrats, military officers and police officials.

The art is similar with bujinkan that was founded as an extremely ‘dark’, highly combative and secretive samurai art. Fighters of aikijujutsu who were unarmed killed samurai warriors in full armour.

Baguazhang

In Chinese martial arts, there are two dichotomies: Wu Dung and Shaolin. Wung-Tang (Wung-Dung) is popular known for its internal martial arts classified under Wu dung chuan. The three wu dung chuan’s known styles are baguazhang (Romanised pa kua chang). The founder of bagua-zhang, Dong Hai-Chuan was a manservant-turned-bodyguard for the emperor’s court. The art combines the principles that are found in the I Ching (translated as Book of Changes- a classic Chinese text that was written before 206 B.C.). The physical movements in this art are observed from the monkey, snake, lion, hawk, and movements devised theoretically of phoenix, dragon and unicorn. The method of training for this art is turning or walking the circle. This method is used to develop flexibility, balance and body alignment.

The eight different styles comes from the eight different famous students of Dong, who practised bagua martial art differently. Between 1821 and 1850, during the dynasty of Ching, a man called Cao combined the art of bagua with the other movements of the crane, monkey and dragon, rabbit plus additional tiger postures to come up with a fighting style that was later to be known as six-combination boxing or liu her chuan.