tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56067375749594808942024-02-21T14:09:29.512+07:00Unlimited Martial ArtsAll About Martial ArtsDonnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-91688463222106768482009-05-02T23:28:00.004+07:002009-05-02T23:43:56.146+07:00Bokator<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7T5NIaKvJ97HzMj0vEFuBwjilHgZmJsNE9zEMaetyuyvGWcTdWSpPxKk6sWT-eB4VOlXLzA5gtGJR-qBlsrGxDNCTz94mDnPP4YOMGN1Ufj8LaNUIL8UN4RhPP3uHzROWWJVIKfe7mc4/s1600-h/bokator.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 338px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7T5NIaKvJ97HzMj0vEFuBwjilHgZmJsNE9zEMaetyuyvGWcTdWSpPxKk6sWT-eB4VOlXLzA5gtGJR-qBlsrGxDNCTz94mDnPP4YOMGN1Ufj8LaNUIL8UN4RhPP3uHzROWWJVIKfe7mc4/s400/bokator.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331267164420352242" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bokator/Boxkator</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >, or more formally, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Labokatao</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > is a Khmer martial art that includes weapons, close hand-to-hand combat, and ground techniques. This martial art is based on animal forms like kung fu. Bokator is one of the earliest Cambodian martial art and only younger than the Mon-Khmer martial art of yuthakun khom. Oral tradition indicates that Bokator or an early form thereof was the close quarter combat system used by the ancient armies of Angkor 1000 years ago. A common misunderstanding is that the term 'Bokator' refers to all Khmer martial arts while in reality it only represents one particular type of Khmer martial arts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Angkorian warriors were a key factor in enabling a succession of Angkorian kings to dominate Southeast Asia for more than 600 years beginning in 800 AD.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bas-relief carvings at the base of the entrance pillars to the Bayon, Jayavarman VII's state temple, depict the various techniques of Bokator. One relief shows two men appearing to grapple, or possibly wrestle, another shows two fighters using their elbows. Both are standard techniques in modern Kun Khmer, or Khmer Boxing. A third depicts a man facing off against a rising cobra and a fourth shows a man fighting a large animal.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Unlike kick boxing, which is a sport fighting art, Bokator was a soldier's art, designed to be used on the battlefield. It uses a diverse array of elbow and knee strikes, shin kicks, submissions and ground fighting. Bokator practitioners are trained to strike with knees, hands, elbows, feet, shins, and head. Even the shoulders, hip, jaw, and fingers can be used to fight an opponent to submission or death.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >When fighting, Bokator practitioners still wear the uniforms of ancient Khmer armies. A krama (scarf) is folded around their waist and blue and red silk cords called sangvar day, are tied around the combatants head and biceps. In the past it is said that the cords were enchanted to increase strength, although now they are just ceremonial.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The krama shows the fighter's level of expertise. The first grade is white, followed by green, blue, red, brown, and finally black, which has 10 degrees. After completing their initial training, fighters wear a black krama for at least another ten years. To attain the gold krama one must be a true master and must have done something great for Bokator. Becoming a "true master" is most certainly a time-consuming and possibly life-long endeavor: in the unarmed portion of the art alone there are between 8,000 and 10,000 different techniques, only 1,000 of which must be learned to attain the black krama.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The art contains 341 different styles based on the study of life in nature. As examples, there are horse, bird, dragon, eagle, and crane styles, each containing several techniques. Because of its visually similar style, Bokator is often wrongly described as a variant of modern kick boxing. Bokator has many forms based on traditional animal-based styles as well as straight practical fighting techniques. Pradal Serey is a more simplified freestyle fighting system which uses a few of the basic (white krama) punching, elbow, kicking and kneeing techniques and is free from animal styles.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >History</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The name Bokator is itself a possible indicator of the age of Bokator. Pronounced "bok-ah-tau", the word comes from "labokator" meaning "to fight (like) a lion". The word tau translates as 'lion'. This refers to a story alleged to have happened about 2000 years ago. According to the legend, Bokator can be traced back to a warrior who defeated a lion bare-handed. Lions have never roamed Southeast Asia, although Asiatic lions are found in western India. Indian culture and philosophy were the major influences in Angkor culture. All the great buildings of Angkor are inscribed in Sanskrit and are devoted to Hindu gods, notably Vishnu and Shiva. Religious life was dominated by Brahmins. The concept of the lion and of a martial art named 'striking like a lion' most likely emerged during the reign of the Angkorean kings and this concurrent Indian influence. Martial arts imitating animals have long been practiced in India and it is likely that they had an impact on local fighting styles. The influence of the Brahmins diminished with the rise of Buddhism almost a thousand years ago.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >At the time of the Pol Pot regime (1975-1979) those who practiced traditional arts were either systematically exterminated by the Khmer Rouge, fled as refugees or stopped teaching and hid. After the Khmer Rouge regime, the Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia began and native martial arts were completely outlawed. San Kim Sean (English name order: Sean Kim San) is largely credited with reviving Khmer Bokator and is often referred to as the father of modern Bokator in Cambodia. During the Pol Pot era, San Kim Sean had to flee Cambodia under accusations by the Vietnamese of teaching Hapkido and Bokator, which he was, and starting to form an army, which he was not. Once in America he started teaching Hapkido at a local YMCA in Houston, Texas and later moved to Long Beach, California. After living in the United States and teaching and promoting Hapkido for a while, he found that no one had ever heard of Bokator. He left the United States in 1992 and returned home to Cambodia to give Bokator back to his people and to do his best to make Bokator known to the world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >In 2001 moved back to Phnom Penh and after getting permission from the new king began teaching Bokator to local youth. That same year in the hopes of bringing all of the remaining living masters together he began traveling the country, seeking out Bokator </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >lakrus</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >, or instructors, who had survived the regime. The few men he found were old, ranging from sixty to ninety years of age and weary of 30 years of oppression; many were afraid to teach the art openly. After much persuasion and with government approval, the former masters relented, and Sean effectively reintroduced Bokator to the Cambodian people. Contrary to popular belief, Sean is not the only suriving labokatao master. Others include Meas Sok, Meas Sarann, Ros Serey, Sorm Van Kin and Mao Khann.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The first ever national Bokator competition was held in Phnom Penh at the Olympic Stadium, from September 26-29, 2006. The competition involved 20 lakrus leading teams from 9 provinces.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Controversy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >In the first Bokator national championships, there were complaints how the event hoster, Yuthkun Khmer Foundation, unfairly awarded all prizes to Phnom Penh based fighters. The complaints come from provincial based fighters. An event organizer defends that the judging was fair but provincial club leaders did not know the rules. The event organizer stated that the problem arise due to judges being trained three days before the events. Also, older Bokator enthusiasts felt that the youth's style particularly the ones from Phnom Penh was unauthentic. They felt that they were not true bokator techniques but instead a hybrid between other martial arts. In addition, it is known that San Kim Sean is a practioner of Hapkido from which techniques of modern day Bokator could be derived from. Kru Meas Sok said this of San Kim Sean's students, "These fighters are not fighting with real bokator techniques. Some of these kids look like crabs walking."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Animal styles</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >White Krama</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Duck (tiea)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Crab (kdam)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Horse (seah)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Bird (preap)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Dragon (neak)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Green Krama</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Monkey king (sdach swaa)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Lion (tor)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Elephant (domrei)</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Apsara</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" > * Crocodile (krapeu) (wikipedia.org)</span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-3138398863974570502009-03-27T01:13:00.002+07:002009-03-27T01:18:37.635+07:00Muay Lao<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Muay Lao (also known as Lao Boxing or Lao Kickboxing in English) is a form of kickboxing practiced in Laos. It's also a branch of the many Indo-Chinese kickboxing styles. Other form of kickboxing from the region, for example, are Pradal Serey from Cambodia, Muay Thai from Thailand and Lethwei from Myanmar (Burma).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Like any other Indo-Chinese kickboing styles, Muay Lao includes attacks from knees, elbows, punches and kicks. In episode 170 of King of the Hill, Kahn uses Laotian martial arts (probably Muay Lao) to fight in street fights.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Unfortunately, we don't have any further information about this traditional Lao martial art. But, you can watch it on a video below:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPSvRDcN0-E&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPSvRDcN0-E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-86512070551208492222009-03-14T23:59:00.005+07:002009-03-15T00:20:41.231+07:00Lethwei<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt8xBZ1RQv7yAhHq_FjKMxs5dTFZV-CsM38mZ6W8lTSqaDpD6EZIpEQh46gZtsRFM4LGmH3MbOUk-4xXCs_76BKlDFn35gP5l5IR37QRfTS-xrh8kNwiFRgIKZbkpvwLZFixz3Rj_xw4/s1600-h/lethwei.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt8xBZ1RQv7yAhHq_FjKMxs5dTFZV-CsM38mZ6W8lTSqaDpD6EZIpEQh46gZtsRFM4LGmH3MbOUk-4xXCs_76BKlDFn35gP5l5IR37QRfTS-xrh8kNwiFRgIKZbkpvwLZFixz3Rj_xw4/s400/lethwei.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313090614275574034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Lethwei</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> or </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Lethawae</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (Read as "Let-whae", but quickly); also known as </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Burmese Boxing</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Myanmar Traditional Boxing</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">, is a form of kickboxing which originated in Burma (Myanmar). Lethwei is in many ways similar to its siblings from neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Tomoi from Malaysia, Pradal Serey from Cambodia, Muay Lao from Laos and Muay Thai from Thailand.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >History</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Early Lethwei</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Participants fight without gloves or protection, wrapping only their hands in hemp or gauze cloth. Rules are similar to Muay Thai but allow and encourage all manner of take-downs along with head-butts. In fact until the mid 1930s when Muay Thai was "modernized" (the introduction of timed rounds, western style boxing gloves, and elimination of headbutts), both Lethwei and Muay Thai fought under the same rules. Fights are traditionally held outdoors in sandpits instead of rings, but in modern times they are now held in rings. Popular techniques in Lethwei include leg kicks, knees, elbows, head butts, raking knuckle strikes, and take downs. In the past, sometimes biting and gouging were also permitted in the matches.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Matches traditionally and ultimately would go until a fighter could no longer continue. In earlier times, there were no draws, only a win or loss by knockout. No point system existed. Extreme bloodshed was very common and death in the ring was no surprise. Nowadays in the match, if a knockout occurs, the boxer is revived and has the option of continuing; as a result, defense, conditioning, and learning to absorb punishment are very important. Burmese boxers spend a great deal of time preparing the body to absorb impact and conditioning their weapons to dish it out. Matches today are carried out in both the traditional manner and a more modern offshoot started in 1996, the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Myanmar Traditional Boxing</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. The modern style has changed to make the contests more of an organized sport under the government's organization. The goal seems to be to make it a more marketable sport similar to Muay Thai. Some Lethwei boxers tried to participate in kickboxing and Muay Thai matches outside Burma but their extreme style and techniques were banned in worldwide kickboxing and Muay Thai matches thus making them unadaptable to professional sport fighting contests, and consequently unable to win any major titles. There are a number of Lethwei boxers who do compete in Thailand professionally with varying degrees of success.</span></span><br /><br /></div><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;font-family:verdana;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dance0.jpg" class="image" title="Dance0.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Dance0.jpg/59px-Dance0.jpg" border="0" width="59" height="119" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Lai Ka</i> (literally "fight-dance")</span></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Percut0.jpg" class="image" title="Percut0.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Percut0.jpg/66px-Percut0.jpg" border="0" width="66" height="119" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Let Khamonghkhat<br /></i></span></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Provoc0.jpg" class="image" title="Provoc0.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Provoc0.jpg/88px-Provoc0.jpg" border="0" width="88" height="119" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Slapping the palm three times to the right elbow</i></span></p> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Internationalization</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Myanmar government held the first championship tournament in 2000. In ordinary matches, there is no scoring system to decide the winners, but it was adopted then. After the championship tournament, the official title matches haven't been held. So, the fighters who knocked out the tournament winners are recognized as the unofficial champions by people. By the way, there are a lot of lethwei matches are done everywhere around Myanmar every month, but there are only 2 or 3 official events held by the government. Other matches are just a kind of a part of local festivals.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Myanmar government officially offered 3 American fighters from USA in June 2001. They were Shannon Ritch, Albert Ramirez and Doug Evans. That was the first official international event of lethwei in Myanmar. They fought against fighters from Myanmar, but all of them were knocked out at 1st round and they lost. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >In the official events held by Myanmar government, the winners and the losers, both of them are given belts as commemorative gifts</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. The winners are given black coloured belts, and the losers are given white coloured belts.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In July 10-11 2004, 4 Japanese fighters were offered to fight against Myanmar fighters. They were Akitoshi Tamura, Yoshitaro Niimi, Takeharu Yamamoto and Naruji Wakasugi. Only Tamura was a professional MMA fighter. It was the 2nd official event held by the Myanmar government. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Tamura knocked out Aya Bo Sein at 2nd round and became the first winner who beat a Myanmar fighter at the official Myanmar match</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In June 2006, 2nd Myanmar national championship tournament was held by the government. The new champions were decided at 10 weight classes.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Techniques</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lethwei is similar in concept, but radically different from Muay Thai due to the allowance of head-butts. In comparison, Lethwei can be interpreted as being bolder and more extreme. The techniques are a bit slower and stronger than in the other Southeast Asian kickboxing forms, possibly because it has more Indian influence than the other styles. There are records recording Lethwei style matches dating back to the Pyu empire in Burma. Ancient Burma armies successfully used Lethwei, Bando and its armed sibling Banshay in winning many wars against neighboring countries.</span></span><br /><br /></div><table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;font-family:verdana;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lethwei-Elbow.jpg" class="image" title="Lethwei-Elbow.jpg"><img style="width: 100px; height: 120px;" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Lethwei-Elbow.jpg/100px-Lethwei-Elbow.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Spinning Elbow</i></span></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lethwei-Hight-kick.jpg" class="image" title="Lethwei-Hight-kick.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Lethwei-Hight-kick.jpg/120px-Lethwei-Hight-kick.jpg" border="0" width="120" height="90" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Down Roundhouse Kick</i></span></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lethwei-Knee-Elbow.jpg" class="image" title="Lethwei-Knee-Elbow.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Lethwei-Knee-Elbow.jpg/101px-Lethwei-Knee-Elbow.jpg" border="0" width="101" height="120" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Knee and elbow</i></span></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lethwei-Knee-Hand.jpg" class="image" title="Lethwei-Knee-Hand.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Lethwei-Knee-Hand.jpg/92px-Lethwei-Knee-Hand.jpg" border="0" width="92" height="120" /></a></span></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><i>Knee and punch</i></span></p> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It should be noted that the modern style of </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Myanmar Traditional Boxing</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> greatly resembles Muay Thai in its sporting outlook, and not the rough and tumble fighting of its rural roots.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In many traditional and rural fights, members from the audience are welcomed onto the ring to fight with the professional boxers. Sometimes, fighters among the audience successfully knock out the boxers in the ring.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Many of the ethnic groups within Burma have their own variant of the indigenous martial arts giving them different styles of Lethwei that make for exciting action.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Kachin variant of Lethwei is referred to as soft (relaxed). There is very little wasted motion or effort. Lethwei matches usually start in long range with kicks to the legs and raking punches to the face in an effort to draw blood. As the match continues, the fighters often end up in a clinch and the primary techniques used are standing grappling coupled with various takedowns and sweeps. The preferred finishing techniques are head butts, elbows, and knees. The Kachin Practitioner generally prefers to fight from the clinch and tends not to fall after missing with a long distance strike, opting instead to follow low line kicks and raking punches into close range.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">If the sport is viewed in the context of preparing an athlete for combat you can see that it not only teaches timing, distance, and movement but also the ability to absorb and deliver punishment, thereby winning a war of attrition. The goal is not so much the winning and losing but fighting hard and learning lessons about survival. (wikipedia.org)</span></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-1832367566106853882009-03-07T20:20:00.004+07:002009-03-07T20:34:15.614+07:00Bando<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Bando2005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Bando2005.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bando is a self-defense martial art from Burma. The earliest meanings of Bando were "self-discipline, self-development, and self-improvement". Later, it came to mean, "self-protection, or self-defense". Bando includes the empty-hands methods and animal forms: eagle, bull, cobra, panther, monkey, and boar. There are a number of schools and styles. The main branches are:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> * </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Nan twin thaing</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (Royal Palace style)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> * </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Pyompya thaing</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (School of the "hard-soft way")</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> * </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Neganadai thaing</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (Snake style)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> * </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Shan thaing</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, a martial art influenced by Chinese styles (Shan province is close to the Chinese border).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bando's origins are closely linked to Buddhist temples and their teachings, the temples also traditionally functioned as educational centres. People from India, such as those who preached Buddhism, brought their culture and martial arts to the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. The Chinese whom the Burmese once regarded as kin also influenced Burmese culture. The mix of Chinese and Indian martial arts, particularly the animal styles were what originally gave birth to bando.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >The International Bando Association</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After WWII, Ba Than (Gyi), then director of physical education and athletics for the Union of Burma, tried to unite the techniques from the different bando styles and modernize them by founding a new Hanthawaddy bando system.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The International Bando Association was officially formed on March 9, 1946, in honor of those servicemen who fought and died in the China-Burma-India theater of World War II.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to Donn Draeger's Asian Fighting Arts first copyrighted in 1969: "</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >In 1933 the Military Athletic Club was formed at Maymyo [sic?] in northern Burma by Gurkha Officers. By the end of the decade the club included Chin, Burmese, Kachin and Karen army officers. G. Bahadur, a Gurkha, was elected the first chairman of the club. Another luminary was Ba Than (Gyi) who was to serve twenty five years as Director of Physical Education of Burma before retiring.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >...the International Bando Association, was established recently by Ba Than (Gyi) in memory of those who died in the China-Burma-India area for the allied cause in World War II. As such, it continues the work of the Military Athletic Club, which lapsed in 1948. It has of course a more international character, and Maung Gyi, its teacher accredited to the United States, is the son of Ba Than (Gyi). Maung Gyi a versatile fighter in his own right, having studied Chinese, Indian, Japanese and Western methods.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bando in the U.S.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ba Than (Gyi)'s son was Maung Gyi. In the early 1960's, formally began teaching Burmese bando at American University in Washington, D.C. In the Occident, of all the styles, the most popular and familiar is Hanthawaddy bando system.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Bando System as taught within the American Bando Association today includes empty hand forms (aka) or kata as well as self defense, weapon forms or kata (Banshay), sparring, kickboxing (Lethwei), and grappling (Naban).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The American Bando Association incorporates 9 animal systems including: bull, boar, cobra, viper, python, panther, tiger, scorpion and eagle. A student first learns the Bando basics, and begins to learn the animal systems at higher ranks. The basis for the Bando System is a 9X9 matrix of techniques and principles. The student is encouraged to grasp the underlying principles of the system, as a single technique may only be useful in a specific situation, but the principle the technique is built on, will be useful in many situations.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The American Bando Association Belt Ranking System includes the White, Green, Brown, and Black colored belts. Some schools also include a Yellow belt which is considered as an advanced White belt. A student may not test for his Black Belt until he/she has 5 years in the system. In order to progress to Black Belt, a student must exhibit proficiency in Empty Hand Forms, Stick Weapons, Edge Weapons, Sparring or Kickboxing, and they must pass a physical fitness test.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Training levels</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">All bando schools start off by teaching the basic stances and the footholds. This preliminary stage of training lasts for several months and in some cases the first stage may continue for years, depending on the instructor or the style of bando being taught.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the second stage of training, the bando student has to go through a series of blocking and parrying techniques. At the end of this stage, the student is fairly well equipped for defending himself against unarmed attackers, but he cannot be regarded as a full-fledged fighter.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The final stage involves the learning of offensive techniques. Before the student learns these techniques, the master makes sure that he will not abuse his knowledge. This cautious attitude towards the learning of the martial arts was probably derived from the Chinese tradition of martial arts instruction. There have been many cases of students abusing their acquired skills to the extent that sometimes the masters are threatened.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Various names</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Animal names are used to denote some of the forms that can be found in Bando. This is probably from the influence of animal styles from China and India. There are forms called </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Boar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bull</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Cobra</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Deer</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Eagle</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Monkey</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Paddle Bird</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Panther</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Python</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Scorpion</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Tiger</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Viper</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The names indicate the characteristics of the forms. Thus the Python form includes crushing, strangling and gripping moves while the Tiger form applies to maneuvers which involve clawing and ripping. The Viper form stresses flexibility while the Deer form has been given that name because it is meant to develop alertness in the bandoist.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bando fighting generally leaves the initiative to the opponent. It is a style of combat that relies heavily on countering moves. Thus when attacked, the bandoist would first withdraw and then begin the counter-attack.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Bando attacks include much handwork directed at the body. But the bandoist does not neglect using the head, shoulder, elbow, knee, and foot for offensive purposes. Attacking the private parts is also a favorite technique with bandoists.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The techniques of bando fighting are learned mainly through the practice of forms and with partners. The final stage of mastery includes participation in contests, which sometimes end in deaths. (wikipedia.org)</span></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-34365048291026119882009-02-28T22:29:00.000+07:002009-02-28T22:31:22.371+07:00Martial Arts Death Touch<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The video below is a Fox Chicago newscast about a karate instructor who knocks people out without even touching them.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Notice that Stephan Bonnar is one of the Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students who is apparently immune to the deadly technique.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qa1nzD-n25Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qa1nzD-n25Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></span></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-14035517011677943472009-02-20T01:10:00.003+07:002009-02-28T22:32:09.323+07:00Cat Versus Dog Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just an intermezzo! Please check out this funny video!</span></span><br /></div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/L6QhIecMjZs&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/L6QhIecMjZs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-27081769689113364022008-11-23T23:51:00.003+07:002008-11-23T23:56:56.368+07:00Pencak Silat Video<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >This video is a display of several different Pencak Silat styles in Indonesia. Please enjoy it!</span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/baxTeLBTZGk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/baxTeLBTZGk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-35723317935412317762008-11-10T00:32:00.003+07:002008-11-10T00:45:58.906+07:00Silat Cingrik Goning<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zBOud7BNQuVC3MNSxWyNyrawP_QFep4a1O3uMi54EKDN_ne9hn795iCL8EKUWLkqSH1cDXQcPdncTG2TQjH_3EwpQCrF_ioaE3iFysiyWSePWf9UpLVul1DfHNGbzBZdHEjTid109B4/s1600-h/indonesian+flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zBOud7BNQuVC3MNSxWyNyrawP_QFep4a1O3uMi54EKDN_ne9hn795iCL8EKUWLkqSH1cDXQcPdncTG2TQjH_3EwpQCrF_ioaE3iFysiyWSePWf9UpLVul1DfHNGbzBZdHEjTid109B4/s400/indonesian+flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266712243129414354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you remember Pitung? The exploits of this Betawi rebel leader of the past have been portrayed through a film starring Dicky Zulkarnaen. Although many people certainly know about this heartbreaker, not many know about Cingkrik.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cingkrik is one of the Betawi silat styles. Because many of the movements in this style emphasize jumping with one leg (<span style="font-style: italic;">jejingkrikan</span> in Betawi language), the style is referred to as Jingkrik or Cingkrik and is believed to be the fighting style of the rebel fighter Pitung.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During its development, Silat Cingkrik branched into several different styles, which have taken on the name of the individual teaching each particular system.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this time there are two Cingkrik systems: Cingkrik Sinan and Cingkrik Goning.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is said that the difference between these two styles is that Cingkrik Sinan not only teaches fighting techniques, but also inner power (in the Indonesian language: <span style="font-style: italic;">tenaga dalam</span>). Meanwhile, the Goning system relies only on physical techniques. "This then, is one of the advantages of our system which can be learned by all people," says Tubagus Bambang Sudrajat, age 52, inheritor of the Cingkrik Goning silat system.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Engkong</span> Goning, whose original name was Ainin bin Urim, was the person who established this particular style. <span style="font-style: italic;">Engkong</span>, who was born in 1895 and died in 1975, taught his style of fighting to several people in the Jakarta neighborhoods of Rawa Belong, Kebon Jeruk, and Jembatan Dua in Harmoni. One of Engkong's students was Usup Utai, who continued to develop this style of silat in the area of Grogol. Before his death in 1993, Usup Utai passed on his knowledge to Bambang Sudrajat, who is now preserving it.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">One unique characteristic of Silat Cingrik Goning, according to H. Nizam, a student of this style, is the use of one leg to deliver a deadly kick. "The hands wait on the enemy's attack," he says. Then, as the opponent falls, he is finished off with a kick.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Apart from this, Silat Cingkrik Goning relies on speed. "Unlike other styles, the techniques' steps are not counted out slowly," he says. When an attack is delivered, the response must come instantly and <span style="font-style: italic;">braak</span> (wham): the opponent must fall to the ground.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The number of throwing techniques is another advantage of Silat Cingkrik Goning. Counting them all, there are around 80 techniques for throwing. All of which can be learned if one is patient and diligent enough to reach the higher levels of study in this system.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a member of IPSI (<span style="font-style: italic;">Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia</span>), Cingkrik Goning has a level system using colored belts. From absolute beginner to red belt requires a maximum of seven years. During this time the student is only taught techniques derived from <span style="font-style: italic;">jurus</span> (forms), which are used to resist incoming attacks. Afterward, the student learns throwing techniques by working with a partner who will attack him. This phase is called <span style="font-style: italic;">sambut</span> (answering).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the last phase of training, techniques for attack are taught. This phase of the training is referred to as "<span style="font-style: italic;">Jual-Beli</span>" (buying and selling). At this phase, students are taught both how to attack and respond to a possible counter-attack. "So, when we attack, we win," said Bambang.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Training in Cingkrik Goning is offered at the Padepokan Pencak Silat in Pondok Gede. They train there every Saturday evening. Training is also available in Bekasi. Two months ago, shocking news arrived from Holland. An Indonesian citizen named Herry Masfar, who now lives in Amsterdam, confessed that he had studied Silat Cingkrik Goning.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Masfar said that he had studied Cingkrik Goning from a silat teacher named Rochimin, who was possibly a student of <span style="font-style: italic;">Engkong</span> in the area of Kebon Jeruk in the 1950s. Since the 1960s, Masfar has been living in Amsterdam and began teaching his silat knowledge. He has even taught marines at the Dutch marine education center in Den Helder. He is planning to come to Indonesia this December to learn Cingrik Goning from the original source in Jakarta. If the Dutch marines are interested in learning this knowledge, why aren't we?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://silatindonesia.com/">silatindonesia.com</a></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-2727630553348359592008-11-01T22:16:00.003+07:002008-11-01T22:30:06.617+07:00Maen Pukulan Aliran Sabeni<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GGToQD_dvXTiHtkbfFMEwcr51b5ek7tcKs0lRWqemYx6driJUzpNlNUpVpDhZm1oQe-wr-0EwSUohlVknqRexQw68KdnTIlhrVzQ9pR9U0i7qKiQJNxU4v6NHTay_njko5eZTvjfQxs/s1600-h/indonesian+flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GGToQD_dvXTiHtkbfFMEwcr51b5ek7tcKs0lRWqemYx6driJUzpNlNUpVpDhZm1oQe-wr-0EwSUohlVknqRexQw68KdnTIlhrVzQ9pR9U0i7qKiQJNxU4v6NHTay_njko5eZTvjfQxs/s400/indonesian+flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263710882942860450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tanah Abang, one of the centers of commerce in Indonesia's capital city is known as the biggest garment market in Indonesia and perhaps in Southeast Asia.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Aside from being a large textile market, Tanah Abang has also been known for a long time as a place that produced a lot of Silat champions (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jago-jago</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">). One of these men was Sabeni, who became famous because of his unique fighting style.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Sabeni style is known for its speed and practicality. One of the unique characteristics of this style is fighting in close quarters and quick hand movements. Upon closer examination, the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (forms) of the Sabeni style seem to emphasize attacking and not purely self-defense. Unlike other silat styles from the Jakarta area, the Sabeni style doesn't have an artistic or dance form (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >kembangan</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >ibing</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sabeni was born around 1860 in Kebon Pala Tanah Abang. He earned a name for himself by defeating another champion from the neighborhood of Kemayoran who was called 'The Tiger of Kemayoran". The challenge was issued after Sabeni proposed marriage to a girl who turned out to be the daughter of the Kemayoran champion. Another notable event was "The Battle at Princen Park" (an area now called Lokasari) where Sabeni successfully defeated a Kuntao champion from China. The Chinese fighter was brought to Indonesia by a Dutch official named Mr. Danu who didn't approve of Sabeni teaching his fighting techniques to the youth. The most phenomenal example of Sabeni's expertise was his victory against Judo and Karate experts in Kebon Sirih Park (now called Gedung DKI) in 1943. At this time he was 83 years old. After his victory Sabeni was rewarded with a shirt and a towel. Sabeni continued teaching his fighting style until he died peacefully at the age of 85 on the 15th of August 1945. He was buried at Jalan Kuburan Lama Tanah Abang (Old Graveyard Road) and later the street name was by the local government from Jalan Kuburan to Jalan Sabeni (Sabeni Road).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At this time the Sabeni style is preserved by the children and descendants of Sabeni and is still practiced in Tanah Abang. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bapak</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> M. Ali Sabeni, the 7th child of the silat champion, is not only continuing to teach his father's silat style, but his is also an artist belonging to the Sambrah Betawi organization. Now at 72 years old, he has passed on the torch to his own son Bang Izul. </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Bapak</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> M. Ali Sabeni has expressed his desire that his family's Silat style can be preserved and developed by the new generation so that his family's legacy will not be lost.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Sabeni style a type of </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Maen Pukulan</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, or Pencak Silat, created by </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Engkong</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Sabeni (1860-1945) and come from the Tanah Abang area in Jakarta. Its unique characteristic is close-quarter fighting with quick hand movements synchronized with leg sweeps to knock down an opponent.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the Sabeni style, speed is the most important attribute (there is story that says when </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Engkong</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Sabeni demonstrated his </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, his feet never touched the ground). It is difficult to apply the techniques correctly without speed. The Sabeni style was both feared and respected while </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Engkong</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Sabeni as alive, some of his applications were even adopted and incorporated into other styles.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Sabeni style has 15 basic </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (forms) that are divided into </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Jalan Jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Jurus Inti</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">. Some of the techniques that have become legendary in the Jakarta are </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Jurus Kelabang Nyebrang</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> and </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Merak Ngigel</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">. The combine quick and unrelenting upper body attacks along with sweeping leg movements that can be done on the left or right side. When done at high-speed, these moves are hard to counter because the opponent's concentration is split between the upper body and lower body attacks.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Jurus Merak Ngigel</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> has been used successfully against other Silat fighters in the Jakarta area and beyond. This is a very unique movement that looks like the peacock (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >merak</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">) performing it's mating dance; showing off its feathers while shaking it's backside (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >ngigel</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">). In the application, the attacker's hands are held close to the chest. They seize and pull the opponent into an elbow strike while the attacker uses his hip to attack the opponent's stance. When done with speed and accuracy, the opponent can be flung far away. This technique is typically used in a close-quarters situation where there is little room to move.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Although the Sabeni style focuses on empty-hand fighting, weapons are taught to the high-level students. The </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Golok</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (machete) and </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Cukin</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (cloth worn around the waist or shoulders) are some of the weapon used</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At first, there were no student levels but they were created later in order to simplify the training methods so that every student had a clear goal. The ranking system is as follows:</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">1. Foundation level</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">2. Completed </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> level</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">3. Combination level</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">4. Teaching level</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For the basic level until the combination level, the standard length of training is around 3 years if meeting twice a month. Reaching the teaching level (upon which a certification to teach is given) requires 2 years acting as an assistant teacher while at the same time their character and morality are assessed by their teacher.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The spreading of Silat Sabeni is very limited because it is a family system but now it is blossoming and in accordance to the pursuit of preservers, this style of Pencak Silat is now taught openly and focuses on teaching young children in Tanah Abang.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope this writing can be of some use,</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eko Hadi S</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/07/maen-pukulan-aliran-sabeni-the-sabeni-fighting-style/">http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/07/maen-pukulan-aliran-sabeni-the-sabeni-fighting-style/</a></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-81963206676177769432008-08-24T01:45:00.004+07:002008-08-24T02:07:10.856+07:00Maen Pukulan Jiencin<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFqmAp1_7Yl5B2NN2lhXdL25LF82QB1do1-vFdizGrC9CaiKT9vBBcbY67Cv2CBryY-uROsiLO4_wlX2N4YQ-wKCJFwOAFK5uoxYU1W9l-m6T7s71jzCfmB5pkdgxDBI74kUxaUlbCTk/s1600-h/indonesian+flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFqmAp1_7Yl5B2NN2lhXdL25LF82QB1do1-vFdizGrC9CaiKT9vBBcbY67Cv2CBryY-uROsiLO4_wlX2N4YQ-wKCJFwOAFK5uoxYU1W9l-m6T7s71jzCfmB5pkdgxDBI74kUxaUlbCTk/s400/indonesian+flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237787511079176034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">In the past, silat wasn't a widely recognized word to describe the indigenous martial arts. People (in the Sunda area) called it </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">maen pukul</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">, which literally translates as </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">maen</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">: playing and </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">pukul</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">: hit or to hit.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">About two weeks ago, a heavy rain drenched the pavillion with woven bamboo walls located in the font of Book Cafe in Duren Tiga Street, South Jakarta, where a group of people were gathered. Lightning streaked across the skies creating a foreboding atmosphere.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Kretek</span> cigarettes and glasses of hot coffee were served and it was as if the cold and damp gradually receded as the talk about the history of Jiencin (one of Betawi's silat schools) began to flow. A middle aged man known as Muhammad Nurdin seemed to be unaware of the inclement weather outside as he sipped his hot coffee. His hands were flowing animately, describing a combat situation.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Based upon hearing the name Jiencin, it would be understandable if one were to conclude that the founder of the style (or the <span style="font-style: italic;">guru besar</span>) was Chinese. This however, is not the case, for <span style="font-style: italic;">maen pukul</span> Jiencin is a pencak silat style from Betawi.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"Jiencin was my father's nickname, the late Haji Husein bin Haji Utsman," said Nurdin (known affectionaly as Bang Udin) who is the current inheritor of the Jiencin silat style.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When he was younger, H. Husein was more commonly known as Bang Encin, however after completing his pilgrimage to Mecca, he became known as Ji-Encin. (Ji is a shortened form of Haji and Encin a variation of Husein).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Maen pukulan</span> is the Betawi terminology for pencak silat. In the past, people here were unfamiliar with the term 'silat', they called it <span style="font-style: italic;">maen pukul</span>," he said.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to Bang Udin, <span style="font-style: italic;">maen pukulan</span> Jiencin was a style that spread and grew energetically among the youth of Betawi. During this period, silat was used in the fight against the Dutch occupiers.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Husein himself was no exception to the norm of the day, as he volunteered a portion of his life to participate in the revolution to free the motherland of the occupier by joining <span style="font-style: italic;">Tentara Keamanan Rakyat</span> (TKR - transliterate to Soldiers for the Security of the People and translates to The Peoples Security Force).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a member of the revolutionary guerilla forces, the young Husein moved from village to village and from district to district with his unit. Consequently, the places he became familiar with included the areas of Bekasi, Tambun, Karawang, Cikampek, Cikarang, Bogor and Ujung Kulon in Banten.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">During his journeys, Husein had the opportunity to meet many well known silat stalwarts, capitalizing on these frequent exhanges with silat personalities from whom he was able to glean and internalize new ideas. "It was rare that the process didn't begin with them testing each other's skills, one against the other," said Bang Udin.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">From the personal experiences he accumulated, and supported by talent and intelligence, Haji Encin was able to successfully fuse silat moves and principles from a number of pencak silat styles, which included Cingkrig, Bandul, Beksi, Suliwa and Gerak Rasa, to become a unique silat without a name. "Consequently we called the style Jiencin as that was his name," he said.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Upon his return to Jakarta, the providence provided by his experience and wealth of knowledge made him a respected figure by friend and foe alike in the areas of Kampung Baru (now known as Warung Buncit), Duren Tiga, Tegal Parang, Pancoran and Mampang Prapatan.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is one note-worthy principle that this style firmly adheres to. Haji Encin always advised, don't ever sell, but if other people want to sell, then we buy, which is a metaphor for, don't go looking for an enemy, but if we are confronted by one, we don't run.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">"The adherence to principle combined with the good-will he commanded, as well as having never been defeated, helped to enhance and elevate his already considerable reputation," said Ahmad Fikri who is the head of the Jiencin style.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Haji Encin was born in 1922 and died in the year 2000. A number of his sons and students continue with his lifetime effort to expand the style, which has its headquaters in Mampang Prapatan XV No. 20, Duren Tiga, South Jakarta.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jiencin's 12 <span style="font-style: italic;">jurus</span> are characterized by their hard and fast hand work. "Each strike and move has to be filled with power," said Bang Udin. Additionally, the body's movement should also be hard and fast.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the early stages students are taught to develop and hone the skills of striking <span style="font-style: italic;">jurus</span> (with the hands), defensive footwork and "<span style="font-style: italic;">ngeles</span>" or the ability to evade an attack. In the latter stages they exercise to develop <span style="font-style: italic;">rasa</span>, which functions to hone reflexes to anticipate an adversary's attack.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Even as a combination of styles, the Jiencin style contains a complete and comprehensive technique including an arsenal of strikes, locks, blocks, evasions and elbow strikes, with the exception of kicks. It doesn't have kicks, but does include knee strikes to the groin and leg sweeps.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As well as learning the arts of self defence, the Jiencin student learns <span style="font-style: italic;">amalan</span> (morality). The method is by performing routine invocations of prayer before physical exercise and breath development with prayer chanting after exercise. "These activities are relevant to the purpose of the school, which is to strengthen Islamic faith," said Fikri.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taken from:<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/08/the-history-of-the-aliran-style-of-betawi-silat-jiencin/">http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/08/the-history-of-the-aliran-style-of-betawi-silat-jiencin/</a></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-3013346621775076092008-08-14T23:22:00.003+07:002008-08-14T23:54:28.718+07:00Silek Kumango<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD4X0mfFAzCgz-ap2Xyk-8MKoMq7Fs3FBigdi2Pl9s60SjmdNdyuk695sNwi31SV1Ag9r3xmgcPhbzT50o5fhdb9zbuV77IPT9A5DiOFYagX9F2uJ4YOtVtuy_uxPIEVXEsc1ENF5SYI/s1600-h/silek+kumango.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD4X0mfFAzCgz-ap2Xyk-8MKoMq7Fs3FBigdi2Pl9s60SjmdNdyuk695sNwi31SV1Ag9r3xmgcPhbzT50o5fhdb9zbuV77IPT9A5DiOFYagX9F2uJ4YOtVtuy_uxPIEVXEsc1ENF5SYI/s400/silek+kumango.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234417108818801362" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Surau Sumber Gerak</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> - The place of devotion, from where the source of movement comes. Locks are the distinctive feature of </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >gerak</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Silek Kumango.</span><br /><br /></span> <span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Translation note: Silek means silat in the traditional language of Minangkabau, West Sumatera in Indonesia. Gerak means movement in Indonesian and Surau indicates a communal place of devotion e.g. the place to learn about religion and silat.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Guru Tuo Lesmandri grimaced as he attempted to withstand the pain, his neck subjected to a what would normally be fatal locking combination (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">). There was a moment of intense labored silence, then as he signaled his surrender, he gasped, "yes, yes, enough, enough!"</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The young </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> drew a deep gasping breath as the powerful lock was released easing the pressure from around his neck. "If he'd continued, most possibly I wouldn't be going home," said Lesmandri, while rising and placing his </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >kopiah</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (a black velvet rimless cap usually worn by Muslim males in Indonesia) back into position on his head. Judging by the reaction of the group of eye witnesses' to the event, it was clear that the prevailing emotion was one of respectful awe. The remarkable old man who had just demonstrated the application of the painful lock described above was </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Guru Gadang</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Guru Besar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">) Lazuardi Malin Marajo.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lazuardi along with his group of West Sumatran pesilat were visiting Jakarta last week with the specific purpose to strengthen the bonds of friendship within the Sahabat Silat community.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">As guests of the head of the DPRD, Asrul Nurhasan (who is also the head of the Pencak Silat Group of Tanah Datar) as well as of Aslim Nurhasan, head of the Limpapeh Foundation, the group were able to share and explain a lot about their style (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >aliran</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">), Silek Kumango.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Translation Note: DPRD or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah is The Peoples Representative Council for a Region similar to a regional senate.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">According to the known history, the name "Silek Kumango" had its origins in the name of the village from where the originator came, Syekh Abdurrahman al-Khalidi who was better known as Syekh Kumango.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The guru who as a young man was known as Alam Basifat, was born in Nagari Kumango (the Kingdom or Land of Kumango), in the sub-district of Sungaitarab (Tarab River), in the district of Tanah Datar, West Sumatra. According to accepted history he was born in 1832 and passed away in the year of 1932. He lived to the age of 100.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, what is more amazing is the following discovery by a researcher of Silat Kumango, Agoes Tri Mulyono. Based upon the retelling of family history by direct descendants of the guru, it transpires that Syekh Kumango was born in the year 1782, which means that he actually lived for 150 years.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For 15 years, Alam Basifat drifted to and fro as a misfit on the streets. However that all changed as he applied himself to the teachings of Islam under the supportive patronage of Syekh Abdurrahman, until eventually he became a religious scholar/leader (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Ulama</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">). His experiences over the previous 15 years as a street waif had a major impact on his knowledge and understanding of the principles of personal combat, said Agoes.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">In addition to that, the religious teachings of Islam also provided a strong influence, in that it shaped the characteristic philosophy that underpins the physical techniques of Silek Kumango. These influences are also the reason why Kumango is different than other </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >silek aliran</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >silek</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> styles) in Sumatra, many of whom take their inspiration from the movements of animals, for example from the tiger.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our moves begin their journey from the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >surau</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (devotional place to study Islam), said </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Guru Gadang</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Lazuardi Malin Marajo. The same applies to the source of our underlying philosophy. In the Minang language we say, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >hiduik nan ka dipakai, mati nan ka ditumpang</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">, he said.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It means that the courtesy and behavior a man chooses to use in their daily lives, should always be motivated by piety and an uncontestable morality, because there will be judgement on all of our actions, both good and bad on earth when we eventually die.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's not surprising therefore, that the over-arching character of Kumango is one based on the concept of defense, and it only takes the offensive initiative when truly pressed to do so and all other options are exhausted. Defense is the major characteristic of Silek Kumango because it is forbidden to retaliate straight away, he said.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Should a Kumango </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> be attacked by an adversary, the first attack should be compared to that of a mother who is angry toward her child. What that means is that one should sincerely focus on the incident as if our mother were giving advice, such that it falls on us to try to understand and not to retaliate with aggression. Translated into the application of a physical nature, what needs to be performed is a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> of evasion, said Guru Tuo Lesmandri.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Furthermore, should the adversary continue to press the attack a second time, a Kumango </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> has to consider it as the motivation of a father who is angry at his child, such that we must still use a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> of evasion and resist the impulse to retaliate.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So to if the adversary attacks for the third and fourth time, the analogy to be made is that they must be considered in the light of a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >guru</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (teacher) and a relative who are angry at us.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Only after the fifth attack, should a Kumango </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> be obliged to retaliate with locking maneuvers to incapacitate the enemy, in order to reach a speedy resolution to the conflict and to seek forgiveness. If the enemy attacks using a weapon, the locking techniques must then be performed with speed and force, said Lesmandri.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Indeed, locking techniques are a unique and specific feature of Silek Kumango. Out of the 11 </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> within their arsenal, nearly all of them aim to incapacitate the adversary using locking techniques. One </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> contains within it tens of </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pecahan</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> or extrapolations of method and possibilities contained within the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >murid</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (student) who wishes to learn has to firstly internalize and understand all of the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> so that they can continue to pursue the multitude of knowledge contained within. Those who succeed in internalizing the 11 </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> are called </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >khalifah</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While those who reach the level where they understand all the knowledge there is contained within the </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >jurus</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >isi</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> or </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pecahan</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">) is known as a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >guru tuo</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What is interesting, is that in Tanah Datar we can observe the level of skill a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> has achieved by the way they wear their </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >sarung</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> (also known in the west as a sarong). If the sarong is rolled on the hips, it indicates a </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> who is still in the early stages of training. Because the sarong has the additional function to store weapons and to shield the stomach from the slash of a sharp weapon.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, if the sarong is slung across the shoulders, it indicates that the wearer is in the middle stages of their training. The sarong can at any moment be used as a weapon to tie and lock the adversary, he said. An skilled </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >pesilat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> artist, will wear their sarong on top of their kopiah. In this case, we can't even begin to imagine how they would use their sarong against an adversary.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Taken from:<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/08/silek-kumango-locks-are-the-distinctive-feature-of-gerak-silek-kumango/">http://silatindonesia.com/en/2007/08/silek-kumango-locks-are-the-distinctive-feature-of-gerak-silek-kumango/</a><br /></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-75607248806810376092008-08-14T23:20:00.001+07:002008-08-14T23:22:49.857+07:00We're Back!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are glad to be back to give you news and informations about martial arts all over the world. We hope you can enjoy this blog.</span></span><br /></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-45380662477679585242008-02-04T17:26:00.000+07:002008-02-12T02:00:54.826+07:00Kuntao<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rUmecItLiYsZ-dJgZtLluYGb9dWqdDnEEn9Hz34XSmY8IPfZLNy6eRJ0L-gtlaKWTh0mEr9bSaz7Z_Ax_bgqCFQ09-wer6Aj00CBGm7xiHZ-A9KHRRkcquDjPTTIX1N4B8KfpDySlmo/s1600-h/kuntao+macan.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rUmecItLiYsZ-dJgZtLluYGb9dWqdDnEEn9Hz34XSmY8IPfZLNy6eRJ0L-gtlaKWTh0mEr9bSaz7Z_Ax_bgqCFQ09-wer6Aj00CBGm7xiHZ-A9KHRRkcquDjPTTIX1N4B8KfpDySlmo/s400/kuntao+macan.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163082465514113698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Kuntao is a form of Chinese martial art which practiced in South East Asia. This form of martial art have usually been influenced by Indonesian martial arts of <a href="http://unlimitedmartialarts.blogspot.com/2008/01/pencak-silat.html">Pencak Silat</a>.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >History</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >The original Chinese Kuntao styles came from China. The styles still exist in China and Taiwan, but Kuntao styles have been spread for centuries by the Chinese merchants and other traveling Chinese people. Forms of Kuntao are practiced in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia (particularly Borneo), and the Southern Philippines as well as in some other countries. Some Kuntao styles were not changed, but many were changed because of some reasons. Many styles were changed because the styles had to be adapted to new environments, fighting in different terrains, fighting local styles, and defending or fighting with local weapons.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Etymology<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >The word Kuntao in Hokkien dialect means "way of the fist". It similar to Mandarin term of <span style="font-style: italic;">Chuan Fa</span> which means "fist technique".</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:130%;" >Styles and Forms</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Most Indonesian Kuntao styles began to integrate techniques from Pencak Silat styles and often called Kuntao Silat. Some even changed their name to Silat. Kuntao Silat also practiced by several ethnic groups in Southern Philippines. It is said that it is the combination of indigenous Pencak Silat and Chinese Kuntao which arrived in that places by Chinese merchants.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" >Some styles and forms of that we can found today, for example are:</span> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Kuntao Silat de Thouars, a combination of several Kuntao and Pencak Silat styles which created by Willem de Thouars</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Malabar Kuntao Silat, created by Willem de Thouars' student, Steve Gartin</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">American Kuntao Silat, a friendlier and less brutal version of the original Malabar Kuntao Silat which created by Steve Gartin</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Talio American Kuntao, created by Roberto Torres based on several Kuntao, Pencak Silat, and <a href="http://unlimitedmartialarts.blogspot.com/2008/01/arnis-and-eskrima.html">Arnis</a> styles</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Liu Seng Kuntao, a hybrid Kuntao Silat system which created by Willem Reeders</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s4933yu3h7Q&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s4933yu3h7Q&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />See also <a href="http://unlimitedmartialarts.blogspot.com/2008/01/pencak-silat.html">Pencak Silat</a><a href="http://unlimitedmartialarts.blogspot.com/2008/01/pencak-silat.html"><br /></a></span>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-89407396309340613202008-01-21T23:12:00.000+07:002008-01-22T02:31:04.872+07:00Pencak Silat<div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZpDLmE2CdQSFX2v065HGpNaMyBsG0iO9Ch170eAWNob67Ur4b53D27gCexyRnxBxWyqz4qt2LfxvjyR2607SHGudiFF_zm7eze7lkPWSwVpfW34yIZ1q-a8OgglJg5eI7mz1FAq37JQ/s1600-h/pencak+silat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZpDLmE2CdQSFX2v065HGpNaMyBsG0iO9Ch170eAWNob67Ur4b53D27gCexyRnxBxWyqz4qt2LfxvjyR2607SHGudiFF_zm7eze7lkPWSwVpfW34yIZ1q-a8OgglJg5eI7mz1FAq37JQ/s400/pencak+silat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157986235646772002" border="0" /></a>Pencak Silat (or Silat) is Indonesian traditional martial art. This type of martial art was rooted from Malay cultures. Pencak Silat is widely known in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, and wherever that Malay descendants are exist, such as in Southern Thailand and Southern Philippines.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >History</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Consisting of about thirteen thousands islands, Indonesia remains one of the richest centers of ethnic and cultural diversity today. Though little is accurately known of its ancient history, the impact of both cultural and combative influences from other countries such as China and India has been widely documented. The migrations between peoples of these many islands have been frequent and of long duration, and the combative and mystical elements that continued to evolve over time developed into highly sophisticated martial arts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">There are three major combative forms that presently found in Indonesia. They are Pencak Silat, Kuntao, and a variety of "endemic" forms. It is generally conceded that Pencak Silat is the best known self defense discipline and the one that has the strongest association with spiritual practices. There are many theories abound concerning its origins. However, a commonly held view suggests that it first developed in the Minangkabau Kingdom on the west central coast of Sumatra (now the Province of West Sumatra). While probably a relatively crude form during its formative development in the eleventh century, by the fourteenth century it had become a highly refined and sophisticated technical art that belonged exclusively to the kings of Majapahit and their court officials. Over time, the practice of this combative art was open to the other social classes. Combative influences derived from Indian, Chinese, and Arabic sources as well as travel among the various islands led to rapid diversification of varying styles currently exceeding over 150 in number.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Etymology</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The term <span style="font-style: italic;">pencak</span> generally connotes skillful body movements in variation for self defense. <span style="font-style: italic;">Silat</span> refers to the fighting application of <span style="font-style: italic;">pencak</span>. While these two components can be demonstrated separately, neither can be said to exist authentically without the other.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Systems</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">One of the most eclectic martial arts, Pencak Silat styles make used of both armed and unarmed techniques, employing fast, deceptive movements, blending with an opponent's force, and directing it along specific channels where it may be controlled. Weaponry includes numerous blade, staff, stick, and projective instruments, as well as unarmed techniques that includes hand strikes, kicks, grappling, and methods of falling. Technical characteristics of the respective style are determined by physical abilities and cultural mannerism of the people of a particular area, and major characteristics can be generally localized to specific regions. For example, foot and leg tactics in Sumatra; hand and arm tactics in West Java, Borneo, and Celebes; grappling tactics in East Java, Bali, and Sumatra; and a synthesis of foot and hand tactics in Central Java, East Java, Madura, and Bali.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Most systems begin with physical training, learning various movements, and applying various techniques to avoid physical injury at the hands of an assailant. Having mastered this preliminary foundation, the practitioner may proceed to develop his inner power. The effort to develop the inner power can be expressed in various ways.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Aspects</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">There are four main aspects in Pencak Silat:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Mental and Spiritual Aspect</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Art and Culture Aspect</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Martial Art Aspect</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sport Aspect</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Capability Levels</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Briefly, the Pencak Silat practitioners (or called <span style="font-style: italic;">pesilat</span>) are divided into some levels according to their capability. Those levels are:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pemula</span> (novice)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Menengah</span> (intermediate)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pelatih</span> (coach)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pendekar</span> (fighter, skilled duelist)</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Organizations</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The International Pencak Silat Federation is also called <span style="font-weight: bold;">PERSILAT</span> (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antara Bangsa). This organization is founded by Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. The member of PERSILAT now have reached 33 countries throughout the world. The other organizations of Pencak Silat, for example are:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia) - Indonesia</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">PESAKA Malaysia (Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia) - Malaysia</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">PERSISI (Persekutuan Silat Singapura) - Singapore</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">EPSF (European Pencak Silat Federation)</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Styles and Forms</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Today, there are many styles and forms of Pencak Silat. About two of three are founded and created in Indonesia.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Indonesia</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Perisai Diri</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Merpati Putih</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Tapak Suci Putera Muhammadiyah</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Elang Putih</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silek Tuo (or Silat Tua)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silek Harimau (or Silat Harimau)</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Cingkrik</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Cimande</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Cikalong</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Serak</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">etc.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Malaysia</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Gayung Malaysia</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Cekak</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Lincah</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">etc.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Southern Thailand</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Gayung Fatani</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippines</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Maphilindo Silat (founded by Dan Inosanto)</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">East Timor</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Kmanek Oan Rai Klaran (KORK)</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Europe</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Perisai Diri</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Gerak Ilham</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">United States</span>:</span><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Silat Serak</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Soempat Silat</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">ODF Silat</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Tongkat Silat</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Bukti Negara</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Pukulan Cimande Pusaka</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Persatuan Pencak Silat Inti Ombak</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/beeRyGyOLn4&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/beeRyGyOLn4&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-28598643694653594832008-01-12T16:33:00.001+07:002008-01-22T03:12:53.499+07:00Arnis and Eskrima<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7aJlfrblKJKPjdtSBwGlVo_Rr_2TFYRr1FFB12001An_slI3ixtKyVjrLNFkj6c04LJ8_VnZ_8W4Ziz7x3LuA6owT0zP3pcWAG7z-qdwqCJmZs9xuSVIyEh6vWuhljE9eeaqNIcPv20/s1600-h/eskrima.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7aJlfrblKJKPjdtSBwGlVo_Rr_2TFYRr1FFB12001An_slI3ixtKyVjrLNFkj6c04LJ8_VnZ_8W4Ziz7x3LuA6owT0zP3pcWAG7z-qdwqCJmZs9xuSVIyEh6vWuhljE9eeaqNIcPv20/s400/eskrima.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154545099259282146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Arnis and Eskrima (or Escrima) are Filipino traditional martial arts. Both of the fighting systems, in general, are use knife, sword, spear, or stick as the weapon</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >History</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Filipino combat skills were derived from many sources. It is generally thought that an early pygmy tribe (called the Negritos) were the first settlers to arrive from Central Asia. Three separate Malay migration followed, beginning around 200 BC, the last continuing until the middle of the fifteenth century AD. During this period, the second group of people who called Brahins, came from India to Sumatra, creating the famous empire of Sriwijaya. The third migration involved the takeover of the Sriwijaya Empire by the Majapahit Empire, originally formed in Java. Other than the use of bladed weapon brought by the Malay migrations, martial skills from China entered the islands country following earlier Indian influences. The invasion of the islands by Spaniards in the early part of the sixteenth century eventually forced the highly developed martial arts of Kali underground. However, the initial defeat of Magellan at the hands of Lapulapu on Mactan Island served to illustrate the skill of the natives in the use of the blade and hardwood stick as viable weapons.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The martial arts of Kali (derives from <span style="font-style: italic;">kalis</span>, Tagalog, sword/sabre) came to signify various system of self defense that made use of bladed weapons. Dating back prior to the arrival of Portuguese and Spanish explorers in the early sixteenth century, Kali also referred to a stick, empty hand, or multi-weaponed art that had been used effectively as a system of self defense by the islanders for centuries.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When the Spaniards returned after their initial defeat, they brought firearms as well as additional reinforcements. Adopting the strategy of conquering specific regions of the islands and then using the natives to conquer their neighbors in adjoining areas, the Spanish victory was assured. Though Filipino martial arts were outlawed, in 1637 the Spaniards introduced <span style="font-style: italic;">komedya</span> (derived from <span style="font-style: italic;">comedia</span>, Spanish), a socio-religious play that dramatized the religious victory of the Spaniards over the natives. The mock combat portrayed in these plays served to secretly preserve the martial movements and techniques as well as transform aspects of the martial arts that were later outlawed in 1764. These modifications later became known as Arnis and Eskrima. Under American rule in the 1990s, the arts resurfaced and were use to fight the Japanese in World War II. A number of practitioners remained on the islands while others migrated to the United States.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Systems</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Though its beginning are rooted in weapons combat, especially blade, dagger, or stick, the Filipino martial arts are complete self defense disciplines, making use of a variety of weapons and empty hand techniques. There are over a hundred styles or systems of Filipino martial arts. They are often divided into three main groups, which are northern systems, central systems, and southern systems. In general, the northern systems are based on the long stick and long blade, are designed to be used at a long range, and seldom have an empty hand component. The central systems are based on the principles of sword and dagger, use the stick from training and fighting, are designed to be employed at medium range, and have a sophisticated empty hand art to be used against armed opponents. And finally, the southern systems use the blade for training and combat, possess an empty hand component, and are used at medium or close range.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Arnis is the term that refers to those systems generally based on sword and dagger (<span style="font-style: italic;">espada y daga</span>). While Eskrima often pertains to those systems based on the use of the single stick (<span style="font-style: italic;">solo baston</span>) or double stick (<span style="font-style: italic;">doble baston</span>). Both terms now are largely interchangeable an generally maintain all three components. Terminology is often fluid and imprecise among various practitioners of even the same system.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Famous Practitioners</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Filipino martial arts now are globally known thanks to the kindness of some Hollywood action movies. The arts are also known because of the struggle of the famous international martial arts experts who also the practitioners of Arnis and/or Eskrima like Dan Inosanto, Cacoy Canete, Elmer Ybanez, Tony Diego, Teofilo Velez, Richard Bustillo, Ryan Gialogo, Edgar Sulite, Leo Gaje, Armando P. Angeles, Leo Giron, Mike Inay, Ernesto Presas, Remy Presas, and Angel Cabales.</span><br /></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-19298773556717043822007-12-31T17:41:00.000+07:002008-01-22T03:05:10.275+07:00Jeet Kune Do<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRBGtU4aTVTyyrvY5G8G_SbO42jY7zA4DusB4KfRHfW40CfraT3pUY5F-C2n2sm1BLPVLY08qVT3LF5K4EKIyh6jeQrpDl3-FzwSAo1p2R6jGsY8qhITTxJDAwNFhsO6KaCbdiaWTzII/s1600-h/JKD.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRBGtU4aTVTyyrvY5G8G_SbO42jY7zA4DusB4KfRHfW40CfraT3pUY5F-C2n2sm1BLPVLY08qVT3LF5K4EKIyh6jeQrpDl3-FzwSAo1p2R6jGsY8qhITTxJDAwNFhsO6KaCbdiaWTzII/s400/JKD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150088782926873266" border="0" /></a><b>Jeet Kune Do</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language" title="Chinese language">Chinese</a>: <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%88%AA" title="wiktionary:截"><span style="" lang="JA">截</span></a><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%8B%B3" title="wiktionary:拳"><span style="" lang="JA">拳</span></a><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%81%93" title="wiktionary:道"><span style="" lang="JA">道</span></a>, lit. "<i>Way of the Intercepting Fist</i>") is a martial arts system developed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_artist" title="Martial artist">martial artist</a> and actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee" title="Bruce Lee">Bruce Lee</a>.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004" title="2004">2004</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Lee_Foundation" title="Bruce Lee Foundation">Bruce Lee Foundation</a> decided to use the name <b>Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do</b> to refer to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts" title="Martial arts">martial arts</a> system that Lee founded. "Jun Fan" was Lee's Chinese given name, so the literal translation is "<i>Bruce Lee's Way of the Intercepting Fist</i>."<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:130%;">System</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is the name Bruce Lee gave to his combat philosophy in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967" title="1967">1967</a>. Originally, when Lee first began researching various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting" title="Fighting">fighting</a> styles, he gave his martial art his own name of Jun Fan Gung Fu. However not wanting to create another style that would share the limitations that all styles have, he instead gave us the process that created it. JKD as it survives today – if one wants to view it "refined" as a product, not a process – is what was left at the time of Bruce Lee's death. It is the result of the life-long martial arts development process Lee went through. Bruce Lee stated that his concept is not an "adding to" of more and more things on top of each other to form a system, but rather, a winnowing out. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor" title="Metaphor">metaphor</a> Lee borrowed from Chan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" title="Buddhism">Buddhism</a> was of constantly filling a cup with water, and then emptying it, used for describing Lee's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy" title="Philosophy">philosophy</a> of "casting off what is useless". He also used the sculptor's mentality of beginning with a lump of clay and hacking away at the "unessentials"; the end result was what he considered to be the bare combat essentials, or JKD.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bruce Lee, and thus JKD was heavily influenced by European <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing" title="Fencing">fencing</a>. Although the backbone concepts (such as centerline, vertical punching, and forward pressure) come from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wing_Chun" title="Wing Chun">Wing Chun</a>, Lee stopped using the Wing Chun stances in favor of what he considered to be more fluid/flexible fencing and boxing stances. Lee stated that they allowed him to "flow" rather than being stuck in stances. For instance, instead of using footwork to position the body for maximum fighting position vis-a-vis the opponent, JKD uses flowing "entries" that do not require "bridges" from Wing Chun. Bruce Lee wanted to create a martial art that was unbounded and free. Later during the development of Jeet Kune Do, he would expand that notion and include the art for personal development, not just to become a better fighter. To illustrate Lee's views, in a 1971 <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Belt_Magazine" title="Black Belt Magazine">Black Belt Magazine</a></i> article, Lee said "Let it be understood once and for all that I have NOT invented a new style, composite or modification. I have in no way set Jeet Kune Do within a distinct form governed by laws that distinguish it from 'this' style or 'that' method. On the contrary, I hope to free my comrades from bondage to styles, patterns and doctrines."</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">While practicing European <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" title="Wrestling">wrestling</a>, Lee was once pinned by an opponent, who asked what Lee would do if he found himself in the situation in a real fight. Lee replied, "Well, I'd bite you, of course". One of the theories of JKD is that a fighter should do whatever is necessary to defend himself, regardless of where the techniques used come from. Lee's goal in Jeet Kune Do was to break down what he claimed were limiting factors in the training of the traditional styles, and seek a fighting thesis which he believed could only be found within the event of a fight. Jeet Kune Do is currently seen as the genesis of the modern state of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_martial_arts" title="Hybrid martial arts">hybrid martial arts</a>.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeet Kune Do not only advocates the combination of aspects of different styles, it also can change many of those aspects that it adopts to suit the abilities of the practitioner. Additionally, JKD advocates that any practitioner be allowed to interpret techniques for themselves, and change them for their own purposes. For example, Lee almost always chose to put his power hand in the "lead," with his weaker hand back, within this stance he used elements of Boxing, Fencing and Wing Chun. Just like fencing, he labeled this position the "On Guard" position. Lee incorporated this position into his JKD as he felt it provided the best overall mobility. Lee felt that the dominant or strongest hand should be in the lead because it would perform a greater percentage of the work. Lee minimized the use of other stances except when circumstances warranted such actions. Although the On-Guard position is a good overall stance, it is by no means the only one. Lee acknowledged that there were times when other positions should be utilized.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lee felt the dynamic property of JKD was what enabled its practitioners to adapt to the constant changes and fluctuations of live combat. Lee believed that these decisions should be done within the context of "real combat" and/or "all out sparring". He believed that it was only in this environment that a person could actually deem a technique worthy of adoption.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bruce Lee did not stress the memorization of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_%28martial_arts%29" title="Kata (martial arts)">solo training forms</a> or "Kata", as most traditional styles do in their beginning-level training. Lee often compared doing forms without an opponent to attempting to learn to swim on dry land. Lee believed that real combat was alive and dynamic. Circumstances in a fight change from millisecond to millisecond, and thus pre-arranged patterns and techniques are not adequate in dealing with such a changing situation. As an anecdote to this thinking, Lee once wrote an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epitaph" title="Epitaph">epitaph</a> which read: 'In memory of a once fluid man, crammed and distorted by the classical mess.' The "classical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mess" title="Mess">mess</a>" in this instance was what Lee thought of classical martial arts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bruce Lee's comments and methods were seen as controversial by many in his time, and still are today. Many teachers from traditional schools disagreed with his opinions on these issues.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> The notion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-training" title="Cross-training">cross-training</a> in Jeet Kune Do is similar to the practice of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_Martial_Arts" title="Mixed Martial Arts">Mixed Martial Arts</a> (MMA) in modern times -- Bruce Lee has been considered by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC" title="UFC">UFC</a> president <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_White" title="Dana White">Dana White</a> as the <b><i>"father of mixed martial arts"</i></b>. Many consider Jeet Kune Do to be the precursor of MMA because of its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncretism" title="Syncretism">synteric</a> nature. This is particularly the case with respect to the JKD "<st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on"><i>Combat</i></st1:placename><i> <st1:placetype st="on">Ranges</st1:placetype></i></st1:place>". A JKD student is expected to learn various combat systems within each combat range, and thus to be effective in all of them, just as in MMA. Although there are similarities between JKD and MMA the one distinguishing feature is that MMA practitioners are trained to fight according to a set of rules to fit the sport that they are participating in (UFC, Pride, etc.). Thus MMA is a sport while JKD is a fighting concept optimized for real street situations.<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:130%;">Principles</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The following are principles that Lee incorporated into Jeet Kune Do. He felt these were universal combat truths that were self evident and would lead to combat success if followed. The <i>"4 <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Combat</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Ranges</st1:placetype></st1:place>"</i> in particular are what he felt were instrumental in becoming a "total" martial artist. This is also the principle most related to mixed martial arts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JKD practitioners also subscribe to the notion that the best defense is a strong offense, hence the principle of "Intercepting". Lee believed that in order for an opponent to attack someone they had to move towards them. This provided an opportunity to "intercept" that attack or movement. The principle of interception covers more than just intercepting physical attacks. Lee believed that many non-verbals and telegraphs (subtle movements that an opponent is unaware of) could be perceived or "intercepted" and thus be used to one's advantage. The <i>"5 Ways of Attack"</i> are attacking categories that help Jeet Kune Do practitioners organize their fighting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repertoire" title="Repertoire">repertoire</a> and comprise the offensive portion of JKD. The concepts of Stop hits & stop kicks and simultaneous parrying & punching were borrowed from European Fencing and comprise the defensive portion of JKD. These concepts were modified for unarmed combat and implemented into the JKD framework by Lee. These concepts also complement the other principle of interception.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Be_like_water"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Be like water</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lee believed that martial systems should be as flexible as possible. He often used water as an analogy for describing why flexibility is a desired trait in martial arts. Water is infinitely flexible. It can be seen through, and yet at other times it can obscure things from sight. It can split and go around things, rejoining on the other side, or it can crash through things. It can erode the hardest rocks by gently lapping away at them or it can flow past the tiniest pebble. Lee believed that a martial system should have these attributes. JKD students reject traditional systems of training, fighting styles and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucian" title="Confucian">Confucian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy" title="Pedagogy">pedagogy</a> used in traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu" title="Kung fu">kung fu</a> schools because of this lack of flexibility. JKD is claimed to be a dynamic concept that is forever changing, thus being extremely flexible. <i>"Absorb what is useful; Disregard that which is useless"</i> is an often quoted Bruce Lee <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:Maxim_%28saying%29" title="w:en:Maxim_(saying)">maxim</a>. JKD students are encouraged to study every form of combat possible. This is believed to expand one's knowledge of other fighting systems; to both add to one's arsenal as well as to know how to defend against such tactics.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Economy_of_motion"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Economy of motion</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JKD students are told to waste no time or movement. When it comes to combat JKD practitioners believe the simplest things work best.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Stop_hits_.26_stop_kicks"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Stop hits & stop kicks</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This means intercepting an opponent's attack with an attack of your own instead of a simple block. JKD practitioners believe that this is the most difficult defensive skill to develop. This strategy can be a feature of some traditional Chinese martial arts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Simultaneous_parrying_.26_punching"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Simultaneous parrying & punching</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When confronting an incoming attack, the attack is parried or deflected and a counter attack is delivered at the same time. Not as advanced as a stop hit but more effective than blocking and counter attacking in sequence. This is also practiced by some Chinese martial arts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="No_high_kicks"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">No high kicks</span></h4><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JKD practitioners believe they should target their kicks to their opponent's shins, knees, thighs, and mid section. These targets are the closest to the foot, provide more stability and are more difficult to defend against. However, as with all other JKD principles nothing is "written in stone". If a target of opportunity presents itself, even a target above the waist, one could take advantage of the situation without feeling hampered by this principle.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Learn_the_4_ranges_of_combat"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Learn the 4 ranges of combat</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kicking" title="Kicking">Kicking</a></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_%28strike%29" title="Punch (strike)">Punching</a></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapping_%28Martial_Arts%29" title="Trapping (Martial Arts)">Trapping</a></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">Grappling</a></span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jeet Kune Do students train in each of these ranges equally. According to Lee, this range of training serves to differentiate JKD from other martial arts. Lee stated that most but not all traditional martial systems specialize in training at one or two ranges. Bruce Lee's theories have been especially influential and substantiated in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts#Phases_of_combat" title="Mixed martial arts">MMA Phases of Combat</a> are essentially the same concept as the JKD combat ranges. As a historical note, the ranges in JKD have evolved over time. Initially the ranges were categorized as short or close, medium, and long range. These terms proved ambiguous and eventually evolved into their more descriptive forms although there may still be others who prefer the three categories.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Five_Ways_Of_Attack"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Five Ways Of Attack</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Single Angular Attack</i> (SAA) and its converse <i>Single Direct Attack</i> (SDA).</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Hand Immobilization Attack</i> (HIA) and its counterpart <i>Foot Immobilization attack</i>, which make use of trapping to limit the opponent's function with that appendage.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Progressive Indirect Attack</i> (PIA). Attacking one part of the opponent's body followed by attacking another part as a means of creating an opening.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Attack By Combinations</i> (ABC). This is using multiple rapid attacks, with volume of attack as a means of overcoming the opponent.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Attack By Drawing</i> (ABD). This is creating an opening with positioning as a means of counter attacking.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Three_Parts_of_JKD"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Three Parts of JKD</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">JKD practitioners believe that techniques should contain the following properties:</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Efficiency</i> - An attack that reaches its mark</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Directness</i> - Doing what comes naturally in a learned way.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Simplicity</i> - Thinking in an uncomplicated manner; without ornamentation.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="Centerline"></a></span><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:100%;">Centerline</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The centerline refers to an imaginary line running down the center of one's body. The theory is to exploit, control and dominate your opponent's centerline. All attacks, defenses and footwork are designed to preserve your own centerline and open your opponent's. Lee imported this theory into JKD from Wing Chun. This notion is closely related to maintaining control of the center squares in the strategic game <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess" title="Chess">chess</a>.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The three guidelines for centerline are:</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The one who controls the centerline will control the fight.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Protect and maintain your own centerline while you control and exploit your opponent's.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> Control the centerline by occupying it.<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline" style="font-size:130%;">Branches</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Although Bruce Lee officially closed his martial arts schools two years before his death, he allowed his instructors to teach privately. Since his death, Jeet Kune Do has split into different groups. There are two major branches:</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The <i>Original (or Jun Fan) JKD</i> branch, whose main proponents are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taky_Kimura&action=edit" title="Taky Kimura">Taky Kimura</a>, James Lee, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Poteet" title="Jerry Poteet">Jerry Poteet</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Wong" title="Ted Wong">Ted Wong</a>; these groups principally teach just what Bruce Lee taught, and encourage the student to further develop his or her abilities according to Bruce Lee's teachings.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The <i>JKD Concepts</i> branch, whose main proponents are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Inosanto" title="Dan Inosanto">Dan Inosanto</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hartsell" title="Larry Hartsell">Larry Hartsell</a>; these groups have continued to modify Jeet Kune Do, under the philosophy that it was never meant to be a static art but rather an ongoing evolution, and have incorporated elements from many other martial arts into the main fold of its teachings (most notably, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">grappling</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali_%28martial_art%29" title="Kali (martial art)">Kali</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escrima" title="Escrima">Escrima</a> material).</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">To understand the branches of JKD it is important to understand the difference between the two "types" of Jeet Kune Do:</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A. <b>JKD framework</b> This type of JKD provides the guiding principles. Bruce Lee experimented with many styles and techniques to reach these conclusions. To Lee these principles were truisms. The JKD framework is not bound or confined by any styles or systems. This type of JKD is a process.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">B. <b>JKD Personal Systems</b> This type of JKD utilizes the JKD framework along with any techniques from any other style or system to construct a "personal system". This approach utilizes a "building blocks" manner in which to construct a personalized system that is especially tailored to an individual. Lee believed that only an individual could determine for themselves what the usefulness of any technique should be. This type of JKD is thus a product.</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lee believed that this freedom of adoption was a distinguishing property from traditional martial arts.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There are many who confuse the JKD Framework with a JKD Personal System (IE. Bruce Lee's personal JKD) thinking them to be one and the same. The system that Bruce Lee personally expressed was his own personal JKD; tailored for himself. Before he could do this, however, he needed to first develop the "JKD Framework" process. Many of the systems that Bruce Lee studied were not to develop his "Personal JKD" but rather was used to gather the "principles" for incorporation in the JKD Framework approach. The uniqueness of JKD to Lee is that it was a "process" not a "product" and thus not a "style" but a system, concept, or approach. Traditional martial arts styles are essentially a product that is given to a student with little provision for change. These traditional styles are usually fixed and not tailored for individuals. Bruce Lee claimed there were inherent problems with this approach and established a "Process" based system rather than a fixed style which a student could then utilize to make a "tailored" or "Personal" product of their own.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> The two branches of JKD differ in what should be incorporated or offered within the "JKD Framework". The <b>Original (or Jun Fan) JKD</b> branch believes that the original principles before Bruce Lee died are all that is needed for the construction of personalized systems. The <b>JKD Concepts</b> branch believe that there are further principles that can be added to construct personalized systems. The value of each Branch can be determined by individual practitioners based on whatever merits they deem important.<span style="font-size:100%;"> (wikipedia.org)<br /></span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-60689980178331402252007-12-19T12:19:00.000+07:002008-01-22T03:01:12.106+07:00Capoeira<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 0.9em; font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" style="font-size: larger; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Focus</b></td> <td>Acrobatic, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kicking" title="Kicking">Kicking</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Country of origin</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Brazil.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Brazil"><img alt="Flag of Brazil" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Famous practitioners</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Bimba" title="Mestre Bimba">Mestre Bimba</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Pastinha" title="Mestre Pastinha">Mestre Pastinha</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Jo%C3%A3o_Grande" title="Mestre João Grande">Mestre João Grande</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Olympic Sport</b></td> <td>No</td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><b>Capoeira</b> is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa">Afro</a>-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazilian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art" title="Martial art">martial art</a>, game, and culture created by enslaved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa">Africans</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a> during the 16th Century. Participants form a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roda" title="Roda">roda</a></i> (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws. Capoeira has evolved from one main form, known as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_Angola" title="Capoeira Angola">Capoeira Angola</a>", into two other forms known as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_Regional" title="Capoeira Regional">Capoeira Regional</a>", and the ever-evolving "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capoeira_Contempor%C3%A2nea&action=edit" class="new" title="Capoeira Contemporânea">Capoeira Contemporânea</a>".<sup id="_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira#_note-0" title=""></a></sup></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">History</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CapoeiraEarle.JPG" class="image" title=""Negroes fighting, Brazil" c. 1824.Painting by Augustus Earle depicting an illegal capoeira-like game in Rio de Janeiro"><img alt=""Negroes fighting, Brazil" c. 1824.Painting by Augustus Earle depicting an illegal capoeira-like game in Rio de Janeiro" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/CapoeiraEarle.JPG/300px-CapoeiraEarle.JPG" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="199" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CapoeiraEarle.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> "Negroes fighting, Brazil" c. 1824.<br />Painting by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Earle" title="Augustus Earle">Augustus Earle</a> depicting an illegal capoeira-like game in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro" title="Rio de Janeiro">Rio de Janeiro</a></div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">From the 16th to the 19th centuries, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a> shipped slaves into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America" title="South America">South America</a> from western <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa" title="Africa">Africa</a>. The South American country of Brazil was the most common destination for African captives<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> with 42% of all enslaved peoples shipped across the Atlantic. Most commonly sold into Brazil were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akan_people" title="Akan people">Akan</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo_people" title="Igbo people">Igbo</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_people" title="Yoruba people">Yoruba</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahomey" title="Dahomey">Dahomean</a>, Muslim Guineans, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hausa" title="Hausa">Hausa</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantu" title="Bantu">Bantu</a> (among them <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongos" title="Kongos">Kongos</a>, Kimbundas and Kasanjes) from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola" title="Angola">Angola</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" title="Democratic Republic of the Congo">Congo</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique" title="Mozambique">Mozambique</a><sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;">These Africans brought their cultural traditions and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_traditional_religion" title="African traditional religion">religions</a> with them to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World" title="New World">New World</a>. One theory suggests that capoeira originated from a fern courtship dance<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> in Angola used by suitors of young women, however, this is only one of many disputed theories. There is contention as to whether the game arrived with enslaved Africans or whether Africans refined a preexisting Brazilian game. One catalyst for capoeira was the homogenization of African people under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppression" title="Oppression">oppression</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery" title="Slavery">slavery</a>. Capoeira emerged as a way to resist oppression, secretly practice art, transmit culture, and lift spirits. Some historians believe that the indigenous peoples of Brazil also played an important role in the development of capoeira.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batuque_%28game%29" title="Batuque (game)">Batuque</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maculele_%28dance%29" title="Maculele (dance)">Maculelê</a> are other fight-dances also developed by African-descended populations that are closely connected to capoeira. There are also engravings and writings that describe a now-lost fighting dance in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba" title="Cuba">Cuba</a>, the <i>baile del maní</i>, with two Bantu men moving to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuka" title="Yuka">yuka</a> drums.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">After slavery was abolished in 1888, the freed people often moved to the cities of Brazil. With employment scarce, many joined or formed criminal gangs. They continued to practice capoeira, which in time became associated with anti-government and criminal activities. As a result, capoeira was outlawed in Brazil in 1890. The punishment for practicing it was extreme (practitioners would have the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles_tendon" title="Achilles tendon">tendons</a> on the backs of their feet cut)<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>, and the police were vicious in their attempt to stamp out the art. Capoeira continued to be practiced, but it moved further underground. Rodas were often held in areas with plenty of escape routes, and a special rhythm called <i>cavalaria</i> was added to the music to warn players that the police were coming. Capoeira practitioners (<i>capoeiristas</i>) also adopted <i>apelido</i>s or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickname" title="Nickname">nicknames</a> to make it more difficult for police to discover their true identities. To this day, when a person is baptized into capoeira at the <i>batizado</i> ceremony, they may be given an <i>apelido</i>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Legal persecution of the art faded eventually.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Bimba" title="Mestre Bimba">Mestre Bimba</a> made a major contribution to the preservation of the art by opening the first academy for instruction in capoeira. This was a significant development because it eventually led to the legalization of the art in Brazil, and allowed capoeira to gain popularity at a time when the art could possibly have died out. A notable example of the influence of Mestre Bimba's system of formal instruction took place in 1937, when he was invited to perform with his students at an event at which Getulio Vargas, the president of Brazil at that time, was present. Vargas was so impressed with the discipline and devotion of Mestre Bimba's students he declared capoeira the national sport of Brazil<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. Mestre Bimba also had a major impact on the practice and method of instruction of the art, and introduced changes that affect the practice of the art to this day. Because of these changes Mestre Bimba remains a controversial figure. Prior to the legalization of the art, the public associated the art of capoeira with the poor underclass, criminal activity, and negative stereotypical elements of the afro-Brazilian population. In order to alter the image of the art in the eye of the public, Mestre Bimba removed many of the rituals and traditions of the art of capoeira for practice in his academy. Because of the negative stereotypes associated with capoeira, he called his capoeira Uma Luta Regional de Bahia (A regional fight from Bahia). Mestre Bimba's capoeira is now called capoeira regional, and subsequently many modern forms of capoeira not directly derived from Bimba's teaching are also called regional. Mestre Bimba's capoeira continued to gain popularity, but eventually an effort was made to prevent the art from losing its traditions and rituals.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1942, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Pastinha" title="Mestre Pastinha">Mestre Pastinha</a> opened the first formal academy for instruction in the traditional form of the art, known as capoeira Angola. Mestre Pastinha's efforts prevented capoeira Angola from being lost as newer, modernized forms of the art gained popularity.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">This era was a milestone of a dramatic change in the mode of instruction of the art of capoeira. Previously, capoeira was passed on in secret, usually from a relative such as one's father or uncle, or in a small group setting where several young people in a particular community would receive guidance from elder practitioners from that community. During this era, the academy system became the predominant form of participation in the art. Presently, there are capoeira academies on almost every continent of the world.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Another significant change that occurred due to the proliferation of capoeira 'schools' is the participation of middle and upper class members of the population. Presently, some Mestres participate in seminars where they discuss the need to make the art available to poor blacks who can not afford the cost of training in an academy. This is an issue of concern to practitioners who recognize the importance of making the art available to people who come from the culture that invented the art in the first place.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">After the sport was brought to the United States, the only school that ever incorporated it with academic subjects as an in-school class was created, and is known as Hoggetowne Middle School, located in Gainesville, Florida.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Etymology" id="Etymology"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Etymology</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The derivation of the word "capoeira" is under dispute, as there are several possibilities:</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The Portuguese word "capoeira" derives from the word <i>capão</i>, which translates as <i>capon</i>, a castrated rooster. The sport's name may originate from this word since its moves resemble those of a rooster in a fight.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">A Capoeira "fight" is one that implies that the purpose is a pretend cock fight, whereby men participate to show off their skills rather than fighting to actually kill or harm an opponent. Though this gymnastic almost dance-like display can appear to be a fight, participants are expected to restrain themselves from inflicting grievous harm upon one another. Hence, all participants are reminded by the word Capoeira, that the intent of the "fight" should remain one with the restraint of the show-off, yet castrated, rooster called Capão. These showy cock like fights are mock fights of skill between performing "capão" in the mock cockfight pen known as the "capoceira". Capoeira is an extreme display of a cockfight-like competition of one-up-man-ship between show-off cocky "roosters" absent deadly intent.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">"Capoeira" has several meanings, including any kind of pen where poultry is kept, a fowl similar to a partridge, and a basket worn on the head by soldiers defending a stronghold. "Capoeira" is also what people used to call a black inlander who mugged travelers.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro-Brazilian" title="Afro-Brazilian">Afro-Brazilian</a> scholar Carlos Eugenio has suggested that the sport took its name from a large round basket called a <i>capa</i> commonly worn on the head by urban slaves selling wares<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>.</li><li>The word could derive from two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupi-Guarani" title="Tupi-Guarani">Tupi-Guarani</a> words, <i>kaá</i> (leaf, plant) and <i>puéra</i> (past aspect marker), which literally means "formerly a forest", referring to an area of forest that had been cleared by burning or cutting down. In such places a thick, low secondary vegetation would grow, making it a good place for those who escaped slavery and bandits to hide. According to this etymology, the term was first used as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synonym" title="Synonym">synonym</a> of outlaw, especially the type of outlaws that would evade justice by escaping to the jungles, to be only later applied to the fighting art most of them knew<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kongo_language" title="Kongo language">Kongo</a> scholar K. Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau has posited that "capoeira" could be derived from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikongo" title="Kikongo">Kikongo</a> word <i>kipura</i>, a term used to describe a rooster's movements in a fight and meaning to flutter, flit from place to place, struggle, fight, or flog.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Music" id="Music"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Music</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Capoeira-three-berimbau-one-pandeiro.jpg" class="image" title="A capoeira bateria led by Mestre Cobra Mansa featuring three berimbaus and a pandeiro."><img alt="A capoeira bateria led by Mestre Cobra Mansa featuring three berimbaus and a pandeiro." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Capoeira-three-berimbau-one-pandeiro.jpg/300px-Capoeira-three-berimbau-one-pandeiro.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="228" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Capoeira-three-berimbau-one-pandeiro.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> A capoeira bateria led by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mestre_Cobra_Mansa" title="Mestre Cobra Mansa">Mestre Cobra Mansa</a> featuring three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berimbau" title="Berimbau">berimbaus</a> and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandeiro" title="Pandeiro">pandeiro</a>.</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Music is integral to capoeira. It sets the tempo and style of game that is to be played within the <i>roda</i>. The music is composed of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_instruments" title="Musical instruments">instruments</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song" title="Song">song</a>. The tempos differ from very slow (Angola) to very fast (São Bento Regional). Many of the songs are sung in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_and_response_%28music%29" title="Call and response (music)">call and response</a> format while others are in the form of a narrative. Capoeiristas sing about a wide variety of subjects. Some songs are about history or stories of famous capoeiristas. Other songs attempt to inspire players to play better. Some songs are about what is going on within the roda. Sometimes the songs are about life, or love lost. Others are lighthearted or even silly things, sung just for fun. Capoeiristas change their playing style significantly as the songs or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_toques" title="Capoeira toques">rhythm</a> from the berimbau commands. In this manner, it is truly the music that drives capoeira.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are three basic kinds of songs in capoeira<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. A <i>ladainha</i> (litany) is a narrative solo usually sung at the beginning of a roda, often by the <i>Mestre</i> (Master). These ladainhas will often be famous songs previously written by a Mestre, or they may be improvised on the spot. A ladainha is usually followed by a <i>chula</i> or <i>louvação</i>, following a call and response pattern that usually thanks God and one's teacher, among other things. Each call is usually repeated word-for-word by the responders. The ladainha and chula are often omitted in regional games. Finally, <i>corridos</i> are songs that are sung while a game is being played, again following the call and response pattern. The responses to each call do not simply repeat what was said, however, but change depending on the song.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The instruments are played in a row called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bateria" title="Bateria">bateria</a>. Three instruments are berimbaus, which look like an archer's bow using a steel string and a gourd for resonance. It is played by striking the string with a stick, and the pitch is regulated by a stone. Legend has it that, in the old times, knives or other sharp objects were attached to the top of the berimbau for protection and in case a large fight broke out<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. These three bows are the Berra boi (also called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_%28musical_term%29" title="Bass (musical term)">bass</a> or Gunga), Medio, Viola, and lead the rhythm. Other instruments in the bateria are: two <i>pandeiros</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine" title="Tambourine">tambourines</a>), a <i>Reco-Reco</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasp" title="Rasp">rasp</a>), and an <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agogo" title="Agogo">Agogo</a></i> (double <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong" title="Gong">gong</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_%28instrument%29" title="Bell (instrument)">bell</a>). The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atabaque" title="Atabaque">Atabaque</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga" title="Conga">conga</a>-like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum" title="Drum">drum</a>), a common feature in most capoeira baterias, is considered an optional instrument, and is not required for a full bateria in some groups.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="The_capoeira_roda" id="The_capoeira_roda"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">The capoeira roda</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bantus_roda.jpg" class="image" title="A sit-down roda held in a capoeira academy."><img alt="A sit-down roda held in a capoeira academy." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/36/Bantus_roda.jpg/300px-Bantus_roda.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="225" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bantus_roda.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> A sit-down roda held in a capoeira academy.</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The "roda" is the circle of people within which capoeira is played. People who make up the roda's circular shape clap and sing along to the music being played for the two partners engaged in a capoeira "game" ("jogo"). In some capoeira <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School" title="School">schools</a> an individual in the audience can "buy in" to engage one of the two players and begin another game.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The minimum roda size is usually a circle of about 3 metres (10 feet) in diameter. They are often larger, up to 10 metres in diameter (30 feet). The rhythm being played on the berimbau sets the pace of the game being played in the roda. Slow music limits the game to slow yet complex ground moves and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handstand" title="Handstand">handstands</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Hits usually aren't made but feigned or just shown, although this depends directly on the rhythm played by the berimbaus. In some rhythms (e.g., Benguela) strikes are generally shown but not finished while in others (e.g., São Bentro Grande da Regional) the players have more freedom to strike each other. Slow games are often seen as <i>finesse</i> games, less impressive for the casual viewer. Faster music allows for more circular momentum which is key to gaining "big air" in the roda. Note, however, that it is the specific toque played on the berimbau, regardless of its speed, which dictates the type of game to be played.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">For the participants, the roda is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcosm" title="Microcosm">microcosm</a> of life and the world around them. Most often in the roda, the capoeirista's greatest opponent is himself. Philosophy plays a large part in capoeira and the best teachers strive to teach Respeito (Respect), Responsabilidade (Responsibility), Segurança (Safety/Security), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malicia" title="Malicia">Malicia</a> (Cleverness/Street-smarts), and Liberdade (Liberty/Freedom).</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Modern capoeira is often criticized by more traditional practitioners of capoeira as being in the process of losing its "playfulness" and dialogue, in the sense that many capoeiristas tend to focus more on impressive acrobatics or the martial elements than the playful interaction with the other player in the roda<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. Dominance in the roda is much psychological and artistic as it is a question of who winds up tumbling to the floor.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira is uniquely social. Networking with other groups and students from other teachers can teach a capoeirista more about the art and improve their skills.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="The_game" id="The_game"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">The game</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bostoncapoeira.JPG" class="image" title="Capoeiristas outside Faneuil Hall in Boston."><img alt="Capoeiristas outside Faneuil Hall in Boston." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Bostoncapoeira.JPG/300px-Bostoncapoeira.JPG" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="200" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bostoncapoeira.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Capoeiristas outside <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faneuil_Hall" title="Faneuil Hall">Faneuil Hall</a> in Boston.</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira does not focus on injuring the opponent. Rather, it emphasizes skill. Capoeiristas often prefer to show the movement without completing it, enforcing their superiority in the roda. If an opponent cannot dodge a slow attack, there is no reason to use a faster one. Each attack that comes in gives players a chance to practice an evasive technique.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Ginga" id="Ginga"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Ginga</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginga_%28capoeira%29" title="Ginga (capoeira)"><i>ginga</i></a> (literally: rocking back and forth; to swing) is the fundamental movement in capoeira. Capoeira Angola and capoeira regional have distinctive forms of <i>ginga</i>. Both are accomplished by maintaining both feet approximately shoulder-width apart and then moving one foot backwards and then back to the base, describing a triangular 'step' on the ground. This movement is done to prepare the body for other movements.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The rest of the body is also involved in the <i>ginga</i>: coordination of the arms (in such a way as to prevent the body from being kicked), torso (many core muscles may be engaged depending on the player's style), and the leaning of the body (forward and back in relation to the position of the feet; the body leans back to avoid kicks, and forward to create opportunities to show attacks). The overall movement should match the rhythm being played by the <i>bateria</i>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Attacks" id="Attacks"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Attacks</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira primarily attacks with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick" title="Kick">kicks</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweep_%28grappling%29" title="Sweep (grappling)">sweeps</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbutt" title="Headbutt">head strikes</a>. Some schools teach <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_%28strike%29" title="Punch (strike)">punches</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_%28attack%29" title="Strike (attack)">hand strikes</a>, but they are not as common. Some scholars<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> have speculated that this is because the art was originally developed by handcuffed slaves fighting against their guards but this is highly unlikely as slaves were just as often restrained by the feet and/or neck. Another, more probable explanation for the primary use of feet is the common West African belief that hands are for creation and feet for destruction<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_strike" title="Elbow strike">Elbow strikes</a> are commonly used in place of hand strikes. "Cabeçada" or Headbutts are common- as they are in many of the fighting arts of the African Diaspora<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_strike" title="Knee strike">Knee strikes</a> are sometimes seen. Capoeira also uses acrobatic and athletic movements to maneuver around the opponent. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartwheel_%28Capoeira%29" title="Cartwheel (Capoeira)">Cartwheels</a> called "<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%BA" title="Aú">aú</a></i>" (a very common acrobatic movement), handstands (<i>bananeira</i>), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headspin" title="Headspin">headspins</a> (<i>pião de cabeça</i>), hand-spins (<i>pião de mão</i>), hand-springs (<i>gato</i>), sitting movements, turns, jumps, flips (<i>mortal</i>), and large dodges are all very common in capoeira though vary greatly depending on the form and rhythm. Fakes and feints are also an extremely important element in capoeira games and the setting of "traps" or illusory movements are very common.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Defenses" id="Defenses"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Defenses</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira defenses consists of evasive moves and rolls. A series of ducks called <i>esquivas</i>, which literally means "escape", are also staple of a capoeiristas' defensive vocabulary. There are typically different esquivas for every step of the Ginga, depending on the direction of the kick and intention of the defender. A common defense is the <i>rolê</i>, which is a rolling move that combines a duck and a low movement. This move allows the defensive player to quickly evade an attack and position themselves around the aggressor in order to lay up for an attack. It is this combination of attacks and defense which gives a game of capoeira its perceived 'fluidity' and choreography.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Other evasive moves such as <i>rasteira</i>, <i>vingativa</i>, <i>tesoura de mão</i> or <i>queda</i> allow the capoeirista to move away or dangerously close in an attempt to trip up the aggressor in the briefest moment of vulnerability (usually in a mid-kick.)</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 302px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Au_batido.jpg" class="image" title="A capoeirista performing the au batido."><img alt="A capoeirista performing the au batido." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Au_batido.jpg/300px-Au_batido.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="215" width="300" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Au_batido.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> A capoeirista performing the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_capoeira_techniques#A.C3.BA_batido" title="List of capoeira techniques">au batido</a></i>.</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Combinations" id="Combinations"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Combinations</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are also styles of moves that combine both elements of attack and defense. An example is the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_capoeira_techniques#A.C3.BA_batido" title="List of capoeira techniques">au batido</a></i>. The move begins as an evasive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartwheel_%28Capoeira%29" title="Cartwheel (Capoeira)">cartwheel</a> which then turns into a blocking/kick, either as a reflexive response to a blocking move from the opposing player or when an opportunity to do so presents itself, e.g., at an opponent's drop of guard. Two kicks called <i>meia lua de compasso</i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_capoeira_techniques#Armada" title="List of capoeira techniques">armada</a></i> are usually combined to create a double spinning kick.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Chamada" id="Chamada"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Chamada</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The Chamada is a ritual that takes place within the game of Capoeira Angola. Chamada means 'call', and consists of one player 'calling' their opponent to participate in the ritual. There is an understood dialogue of gestures of the body that are used to call the opponent, and to signal the end of the ritual. The ritual consists of one player signalling, or calling the opponent, who then approaches the player and meets the player to walk side by side within the roda. The player who initiated the ritual then decides when to signal an end to the ritual, whereby the two players return to normal play. The critical points of the chamada occur during the approach, and the chamada is considered a 'life lesson', communicating the fact that the approach is a dangerous situation. Approaching people, animals, or life situations is always a critical moment when one must be aware of the danger of the situation. The purpose of the chamada is to communicate this lesson, and to enhance the awareness of people participating in the ritual.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">During the ritual, after the opposing player has appropriately approached the caller of the chamada, the players walk side by side inside the circle in which the game is played. This is another critical situation, because both players are now very vulnerable due to the close proximity and potential for surprise attack.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Experienced practitioners and masters of the art will sometimes test a student's awareness by suggesting strikes, head-butts, or trips during a chamada to demonstrate when the student left themselves open to attack. The end of a chamada is called by the player that initiated the ritual, and consists of a gesture inviting the player to return to normal play. This is another critical moment when both players are vulnerable to surprise attack.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The chamada can result in a highly developed sense of awareness and helps practitioners learn the subtleties of anticipating another person's intentions. The chamada can be very simple, consisting solely of the basic elements, or the ritual can be quite elaborate including a competitive dialogue of trickery, or even theatric embellishments.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Volta_ao_mundo" id="Volta_ao_mundo"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Volta ao mundo</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Volta ao mundo means 'around the world'.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The volta ao mundo takes place after an exchange of movements has reached a conclusion, or after there has been a disruption in the harmony of the game. In either of these situations, one player will begin walking around the perimeter of the circle, and the other player will join the 'around the world' before returning to the normal game.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Malandragem" id="Malandragem"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Malandragem</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">As students master the basic moves, their game naturally acquires a more cunning slant as they begin to perfect the art of trickery, or <i>malandragem</i>. This involves a lot of improvisation and modifications of basic moves into a flurry of feints and fakes to trick the opponent into responding wrongly. These attempts can be blatant or subtle at discretion of the players. Effective <i>malandragem</i> lies in the development of sharp observation skills and a keen innate ability to anticipate the moves of the opponent and prepare an appropriate response. Some capoeiristas take this aspect of the art to heights akin to the guile of theatrics and drama. Games displaying elaborate performances and even staging skits reenacting historic cultural aspects of capoeira are commonly demonstrated amongst the most learned of the arts.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Styles_of_capoeira" id="Styles_of_capoeira"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Styles of capoeira</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira has two main classifications: traditional and modern. Angola refers to the traditional form of the game. This is the oldest form, approximately 500 years old<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>, with roots in African traditions that are even older<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>, and is the root form from which all other forms of capoeira are based<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>. Modern forms of capoeira can be classified as Regional and Contemporanea.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Capoeira_Angola" id="Capoeira_Angola"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Capoeira Angola</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira Angola is considered to be the mother form of capoeira<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> and is often characterized by deeply held traditions, sneakier movements and with the players playing their games in closer proximity to each other than in regional or contemporanea. Capoeira Angola is often mis-characterized as being slower and lower to the ground than other major forms of capoeira. However, this is a common misperception as some of the fastest and intriguing games can be found in Capoeira Angola rodas<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The father of the best known modern Capoeira Angola schools is considered to be Mestre Pastinha who lived in Salvador, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahia" title="Bahia">Bahia</a>. Today, most of the capoeira Angola media that is accessible in the United States comes from mestres in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_lineage_under_Mestre_Pastinha" title="Capoeira lineage under Mestre Pastinha">Pastinha's lineage</a>. He was not the only Capoeira Angola mestre. However, he is the best known mestre who helped bring more traditional Capoeira philosophy and movements into the modern setting of an academy.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Capoeira_Regional" id="Capoeira_Regional"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Capoeira Regional</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_regional" title="Capoeira regional">Regional</a> is a newer form of Capoeira. Regional was developed by Mestre Bimba to make capoeira more mainstream and accessible to the public, and less associated with the criminal elements of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a>. The regional style is most often composed of fast and athletic play.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Later, so called <i>modern regional</i> came to be (see the next section about capoeira Contemporânea). Developed by other people from Bimba's regional, this type of game is characterized by high jumps, acrobatics, and spinning kicks. This <i>regional</i> should not be confused with the original style created by Mestre Bimba.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Regional ranks capoeiristas (capoeira players) by ability, denoting different skill with the use of a <i>corda</i> (colored rope, also known as <i>cordel</i> or <i>cordão</i>) worn as a belt. Angola does not use such a formal system of ranking, relying instead upon the discretion of a student's mestre. In both forms, though, recognition of advanced skill comes only after many years of constant practice.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Capoeira_Contempor.C3.A2nea" id="Capoeira_Contempor.C3.A2nea"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Capoeira Contemporânea</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Capoeira_Contempor%C3%A2nea&action=edit" class="new" title="Capoeira Contemporânea">Contemporânea</a> is a term for groups that train Angola and modernized capoeira simultaneously. This is controversial because many modern practitioners<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> argue that Angola must be practiced alone, or that regional can only be practiced alone for the student to truly understand the form of the game. Other practitioners<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since June 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup> argue that a capoeirista should have a working knowledge of traditional and modern capoeira, and encourage training both forms simultaneously. This is an issue of great disagreement amongst capoeiristas.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The label contemporânea also applies to many groups who do not trace their lineage through Mestre Bimba or Mestre Pastinha and do not strongly associate with either tradition.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In recent years, the various philosophies of modern capoeira have been expressed by the formation of schools, particularly in North America, which focus on, and continue to develop their specific form of the modern art. This has become a defining characteristic of many schools, to the point that a seasoned student can sometimes tell what school a person trains from, based solely on the way they play the game. Some schools teach a blended version of the many different styles. Traditionally, rodas in these schools will begin with a period of Angola, in which the school's mestre, or an advanced student, will sing a ladainha, (a long, melancholy song, often heard at the start of an Angola game). After some time, the game will eventually increase in tempo, until, at the mestre's signal, the toque of the berimbaus changes to that of traditional Regional.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Each game, Regional and Angola stresses different strengths and abilities. Regional emphasizes speed and quick reflexes, whereas Angola underscores a great deal of thought given to each move, almost like a game of chess. Schools that teach a blend of these try to offer this mix as a way of using the strengths of both games to influence a player.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Capoeira_in_popular_culture" id="Capoeira_in_popular_culture"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Capoeira in popular culture</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">As capoeira's popularity spreads throughout the world, so does its use in popular culture. Capoeira players (Capoeiristas) have been seen in television commercials, video games and music videos for a number of years. The well known game Tekken included the characters <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Gordo" title="Eddy Gordo">Eddy Gordo</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christie_Monteiro" title="Christie Monteiro">Christie Monteiro</a>, who both fight in the style of Capoeira.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Whitening" id="Whitening"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Whitening</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content"> <tbody><tr> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The concept of “whitening”, “embranquecimento”, or “bleaching”, was discussed widely beginning of the nineteenth century throughout Brazil. Even though this concept was intended to combat the racist view of Brazil by European theorists, this whitening theory, which was supported mainly by the Brazilian elites at the time, was obviously founded on racist assumptions of white superiority. Whitening influenced the art in at least two ways, demographically and aesthetically. More white people play or involve with Capoeira throughout the region of Brazil. And the practice of Capoeira demonstrate the “embranquecimento” or “whitening” values or style. For example, observers constantly describe Capoeira as “clean” in relation to whitening. Modern day capoeira consist of flowing movements, uniforms, and accepted rules are required to be abided to.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Special_events" id="Special_events"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Special events</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Capoeira regional groups periodically hold <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batizado" title="Batizado">Batizados</a></i> ("baptisms" into the art of capoeira). Members being "baptized" are normally given a <i>corda</i> (cord belt) and an <i>apelido</i> (capoeira nickname) if they haven't already earned one. <i>Batizados</i> are major events to which a number of groups and masters from near and far are normally invited. Sometimes a <i>Batizado</i> is also held in conjunction with a <i>Troca de Corda</i> (change of belts), in which students already baptized who have trained hard and been deemed worthy by their teachers are awarded higher-ranking belts as an acknowledgment of their efforts. Such ceremonies provide opportunities to see a variety of different capoeira styles, watch <i>mestres</i> play, and see some of the best of the game. Sometimes they are open to the public.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Batizados</i> and <i>Trocas de Corda</i> do not occur in capoeira Angola, which does not have a system of belts. However, some contemporary schools of capoeira have combined the study of both arts and may require their students to be learned in the ways of capoeira Angola before being awarded a higher belt.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Related_activities" id="Related_activities"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Samba_de_roda" id="Samba_de_roda"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Samba de roda</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Performed by many capoeira groups, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samba_de_roda" title="Samba de roda">samba de roda</a> is a traditional Afro-Brazilian dance that has been associated with capoeira for many years. The orchestra is composed by pandeiro (tambourine), atabaque (drum), berimbau - viola (berimbau with the smallest cabaça and the highest pitch), chocalho (rattle - a percussion instrument), accompanied by singing and clapping.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Maculel.C3.AA" id="Maculel.C3.AA"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline"></span><span class="mw-headline">Important Mestres</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_dos_Reis_Machado" title="Manuel dos Reis Machado">Manuel dos Reis Machado</a>, A founder of the regional style, and one of the foremost authorities on capoeira.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since November 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup></li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Ferreira_Pastinha" title="Vicente Ferreira Pastinha">Vicente Ferreira Pastinha</a>, a founder of the first organized Angola academy</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><br />Taken from: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira</a><br /></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-88337908198554071392007-12-04T12:35:00.000+07:002008-01-22T02:59:00.043+07:00Muay Thai<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NmsgwEEhEzlE83Z-96dkcpkZwCMLxM4SErsEkusRWZa17jzSqY6iO4VzgXA1rLLnFJPSVfSdUM75W0NYRi5klYzYOc3NnRcj2xD2kbtTnYDeP_VOnmpcN1RdKxpRFrAHDK39ftWX-l8/s1600-h/flying_ki.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NmsgwEEhEzlE83Z-96dkcpkZwCMLxM4SErsEkusRWZa17jzSqY6iO4VzgXA1rLLnFJPSVfSdUM75W0NYRi5klYzYOc3NnRcj2xD2kbtTnYDeP_VOnmpcN1RdKxpRFrAHDK39ftWX-l8/s320/flying_ki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140018191664900530" border="0" /></a>Muay Thai is traditional martial art that has been developed in Thailand. For many martial artists, Muay Thai also known as "the art of all members", because the practitioners (or fighters) almost use all of the body parts as their weapon in the competition. That body parts consist of hands, feet, elbows and knees.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The high kicks in the head seem to make a stronger effect in the competition. In spite of this, the special skilled fighter who has many experience in the tournament declare that the low kicks, the elbow attacks, and the knee attacks are more damageable and more causing destruction for the enemy.</span></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The fighters who take part in the competition, especially whose native fighters from Thailand, usually do a long ceremony and an act established by custom before the fight. They usually do that due to the religious reasons. Despite it, that also useful for stretching the muscles and to make the fighters ready enough to fight in the tournament.</span></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The training for Muay Thai is known for its being strong and its firmness. It aims to harden the eight parts of the body. So even they being hit with the shinbone</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, they will not be hurt. This because the Muay Thai fighters' shin is often being hit with a wood stick to make their shinbone hard enough. They usually kick with the shinbone instead of with the foot.</span></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Muay Thai has influenced a lot on developing of the modern kickboxing which afterwards has been created in North America, Europe, and Japan.</span></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Almost every act of moving in Muay Thai use the whole body, while turning the hip to every kick and every blow with the fist. As a result, the attacks and the defense in Muay Thai are slower than many other striking form martial arts but more powerful than those.</span></p>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-60724020642925662632007-12-04T12:16:00.004+07:002008-01-22T02:56:01.189+07:00Savate<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 0.9em; font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" style="font-size: larger; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Also known as</b></td> <td>French foot fighting, French Boxing</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Focus</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_%28attack%29" title="Strike (attack)">Striking</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Hardness</b></td> <td>Full contact</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Country of origin</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_France.svg" class="image" title="Flag of France"><img alt="Flag of France" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i><b>Savate</b></i> (pronounced<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA" title="Help:IPA"></a>: <span title="Pronunciation in IPA" class="IPA">[savat]</span>), also known as <i><b>boxe française</b></i>, <b>French boxing</b>, <b>French Kickboxing</b> or <b>French Footfighting</b>, is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">French</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art" title="Martial art">martial art</a> which uses both the hands and feet as weapons and combines elements of western <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> with graceful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick" title="Kick">kicking</a> techniques. Only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot" title="Foot">foot</a> kicks are allowed, unlike some systems, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai" title="Muay Thai">Muay Thai</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silat" title="Silat">Silat</a>, which allow the use of the knees or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibia" title="Tibia">shins</a>. <i>Savate</i> is perhaps the only style of kickboxing in which the fighters habitually wear shoes (<i>savate</i> being a French synonym for "old <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe" title="Shoe">shoe</a>"). A practitioner of <i>savate</i> is called a <i>savateur</i> (male) or <i>savateuse</i> (female).</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody><tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Martial art</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Savate</i> takes its name from the French for "old boot" (heavy footwear that used to be worn during fights). The modern formalized form is mainly an amalgam of French <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_fighting" title="Street fighting">street fighting</a> techniques from the beginning of the 19th century. <i>Savate</i> was then a type of street fighting common in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris" title="Paris">Paris</a> and northern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a>. In the south, especially in the port of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille" title="Marseille">Marseille</a>, sailors developed a fighting style involving high kicks and open-handed slaps. It is conjectured that the kicks were done so as to allow the kicker to use a free hand for balance on a rocking ship's deck, and that the kicks and slaps were used on land to avoid the legal penalties for using a closed fist, which was considered a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadly_weapon" title="Deadly weapon">deadly weapon</a> under the law. It was known as <i>jeu marseillais</i> ("game from Marseille"), and was later renamed <i>chausson</i> ("<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper" title="Slipper">slipper</a>", after the type of shoes the sailors wore). In contrast, at this time in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England" title="England">England</a> (the home of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquess_of_Queensberry_rules" title="Marquess of Queensberry rules">Queensberry rules</a>), kicking was seen as unsportsmanlike. Traditional <i>savate</i> or <i>chausson</i> was at this time also developed in the ports of North-West Italy and North-Eastern Spain.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The two key historical figures in the history of the shift from street-fighting to the modern sport of <i>savate</i> are Michel Casseux (also known as <i>le Pisseux</i>) (1794–1869), a French pharmacist, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Lecour&action=edit" class="new" title="Charles Lecour">Charles Lecour</a> (1808–1894). Casseux opened the first establishment in 1825 for practicing and promoting a regulated version of <i>chausson</i> and <i>savate</i> (disallowing head butting, eye gouging, grappling, etc). However the sport had not shaken its reputation as a street-fighting technique. Casseux's pupil Charles LeCour was exposed to the English art of boxing when he was defeated in a friendly sparring match by British pugilist Owen Swift around 1830 and felt that he was at a disadvantage, only using his hands to bat his opponent's fists away, rather than to punch. He trained in boxing for two years before, in 1832, combining boxing with <i>chausson</i> and <i>savate</i> to create the sport of <i>savate</i> (or <i>boxe française'</i>, as we know it today). At some point <i>la canne</i> and <i>le baton</i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stickfighting" title="Stickfighting">stickfighting</a> were added, and some form of stick-fencing, such as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_canne" title="La canne">la canne</a></i>, is commonly part of <i>savate</i> training. Those who train purely for competition may omit this. <i>Savate</i> was developed professionally by LeCour's student Joseph Charlemont and then his son Charles Charlemont.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Savate</i> was later codified under a Committee National de Boxe Francaise under Charles Charlemont's student Count Pierre Baruzy (dit Barrozzi). The Count is seen as the father of modern <i>savate</i> and was 11-times Champion of France and its colonies, his first ring combat and title prior to World War One. A student of the Count, Baron James Shortt of Castleshort, established <i>boxe francaise/savate</i> in the United Kingdom and Ireland. <i>Defense de la Rue</i> is the name given to those methods of fighting excluded from <i>savate</i> competition.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In competitive <i>savate</i>, there are four allowed kinds of kicks, and four kinds of punches.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Kicks:<br /></li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><i>fouetté</i> (literally "whip", roundhouse kick making contact with the instep), high, medium or low</li><li><i>chassé</i> (side or front piston-action kick), high, medium or low</li><li><i>revers</i> ("reverse" or hooking kick making contact with the sole of the shoe), high, medium, or low</li><li><i>coup de pied bas</i> (literally, simply "low kick", a front or sweep kick to the shin making contact with the inner edge of the shoe, performed with a characteristic backwards lean) low only</li></ol><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Punches:</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><i>direct bras avant</i> (jab, lead hand)</li><li><i>direct bras arrière</i> (cross, rear hand)</li><li><i>crochet</i> (hook, bent arm)</li><li><i>uppercut</i> (either hand)</li></ol><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Perhaps the ultimate recognition of the respectability of <i>savate</i> came in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1924" title="1924">1924</a> when it was included as a demonstration sport in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games" title="Olympic Games">Olympic Games</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris" title="Paris">Paris</a>. Despite its roots, <i>savate</i> is a relatively safe sport to learn. According to USA Savate, "<i>savate</i> ranks lower in number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injury" title="Injury">injuries</a> when compared to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football" title="American football">American football</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey" title="Ice hockey">hockey</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_%28soccer%29" title="Football (soccer)">football</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics" title="Gymnastics">gymnastics</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball" title="Basketball">basketball</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball" title="Baseball">baseball</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inline_skating" title="Inline skating">inline skating</a>".</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Today, <i>savate</i> is practiced all over the world by amateurs: from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">USA</a> and from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland" title="Finland">Finland</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">Britain</a>. Many countries (including the United States) have national federations devoted to promoting <i>savate</i>. <i>Savate</i> was also featured in the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship" title="Ultimate Fighting Championship">Ultimate Fighting Championship</a> tournament, where Dutch <i>savate</i> champion <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerard_Gordeau" title="Gerard Gordeau">Gerard Gordeau</a> beat a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo" title="Sumo">sumo</a></i> wrestler and an American kickboxer before a submission loss to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu" title="Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu">Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu</a> fighter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie" title="Royce Gracie">Royce Gracie</a> in the final round.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Modern codified <i>savate</i> provides for three levels of competition: <i>assaut</i>, <i>pre-combat</i> and <i>combat</i>. <i>Assaut</i> requires the competitors to focus on their technique while still making contact; referees assign penalties for the use of excessive force. <i>Pre-combat</i> allows for full-strength fighting so long as the fighters wear protective gear such as helmets and shinguards. <i>Combat</i>, the most intense level, is the same as pre-combat, but protective gear other than groin protection and mouthguards is prohibited.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Many martial arts provide ranking systems, such as belt colors. <i>Savate</i> uses glove colors to indicate a fighter's level of proficiency (unlike arts such as <i>karate</i>, which assign new belts at each promotion, however, moving to a higher color rank in <i>savate</i> does not necessarily entail a change in the color of one's actual gloves, and a given fighter may continue using the same pair of gloves through multiple promotions). Novices begin at no color. Promotion tests allow the fighter to graduate successively to blue, green, red, white and yellow. Competition is restricted to yellow glove rank and above, fighters at white glove rank are considered to be instructors in training, and yellow gloves are required to teach what they know to others and can attend a <i>combat</i> competition. Silver gloves are the highest regular rank in <i>savate</i>. However, golden gloves are awarded to <i>savate</i> pioneers and leading exponents by their national committees. White gloves and lower ranks can be attributed by the teacher but for the higher ranks, the fighter must take a real exam.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Other_meanings" id="Other_meanings"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="In_Popular_Culture" id="In_Popular_Culture"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">In Popular Culture</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Transporter" title="The Transporter">Transporter</a> films, the main character <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Martin" title="Frank Martin">Frank Martin</a>'s fight style (though never defined as any style) bears a strong resemblance to savate.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambit_%28comics%29" title="Gambit (comics)">Gambit</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batroc" title="Batroc">Batroc</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Comics" title="Marvel Comics">Marvel Comics</a> characters who are both savateurs.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_Calculus" title="Professor Calculus">Professor Calculus</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin" title="The Adventures of Tintin">Tintin</a>'s comics was a <i>savateur</i>.</li><li>Vorstedt in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_Weapon_2" title="Lethal Weapon 2">Lethal Weapon 2</a></i> was a <i>savateur</i>.</li><li>In the novel <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers" title="Starship Troopers">Starship Troopers</a></i>, one of the martial arts taught to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Infantry_%28Starship_Troopers%29" title="Mobile Infantry (Starship Troopers)">Mobile Infantry</a> is <i>savate</i>.</li><li>In the film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Am_I" title="Who Am I">Who Am I</a></i>, there was a fight scene where Jackie Chan fought with two fighters, one of the fighters uses <i>savate</i>.</li><li>The main character in <i>Le Pacte des Loups</i> (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_the_Wolf" title="Brotherhood of the Wolf">Brotherhood of the Wolf</a></i>), Grégoire de Fronsac, uses <i>savate</i> in the rare moments when he is seen fighting.</li><li>In the film <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_and_Jim" title="Jules and Jim">Jules and Jim</a></i>, the two eponymous characters are seen practicing <i>savate</i>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vega_%28Street_Fighter%29" title="Vega (Street Fighter)">Vega</a> from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Fighter_%28series%29" title="Street Fighter (series)">Street Fighter</a> video games has a fighting style which is partially based on <i>savate</i>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Chaolan" title="Lee Chaolan">Lee Chaolan</a> from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekken_%28series%29" title="Tekken (series)">Tekken</a> video game series does not have a set martial art, but borrows a variety of maneuvers from other styles, and several of his moves are based on <i>savate</i>.</li><li>In the film <i>Nikki, Wild Dog of the North (1961)</i>, two of the characters fight using <i>savate</i>.</li><li>Caroline, a British-Korean teacher in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unbalance_x_Unbalance" title="Unbalance x Unbalance">Unbalance x Unbalance</a>, was a <i>Savate</i> practitioner.</li><li>Japanese pro-wrestler <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takuma_Sano" title="Takuma Sano">Takuma Sano</a> is known for the frequency with which he executes the rolling savate kick (or rolling solebutt), a spinning back kick to the gut, like the revers. His official shirt shows Sano in mid-kick, with the word "savate" written underneath.</li><li>In the manga and anime <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece" title="One Piece">One Piece</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanji" title="Sanji">Sanji</a>, the chef of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_Hat_Pirates" title="Straw Hat Pirates">Straw Hat Pirates</a> and his mentor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece_minor_characters#Zeff" title="One Piece minor characters">"Red Leg" Zeff</a> uses a fictional fighting technique called <i>Red Leg</i> which is very similar to savate. Many of this technique's attack names are French words referring to various dishes.</li><li>Savate was featured in the fourth episode of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_Channel" title="The History Channel">The History Channel</a>'s show <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Weapon" title="Human Weapon">Human Weapon</a> on August 10th 2007.</li><li>The fictional character <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes" title="Sherlock Holmes">Sherlock Holmes</a> was said to be an expert in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baritsu" title="Baritsu">baritsu</a> (a typographical error for the real martial art of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartitsu" title="Bartitsu">Bartitsu</a>, which incorporated savate and French/Swiss <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stick_fighting" title="Stick fighting">stick fighting</a> along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiujitsu" title="Jiujitsu">jiujitsu</a>).</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate</a><br /></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-32335335029592834832007-12-04T11:39:00.001+07:002008-01-22T02:54:16.578+07:00Kickboxing<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="floatleft"><span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Absorb_low2.jpg" class="image" title="Absorb low2.jpg"><img style="width: 95px; height: 107px;" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Absorb_low2.jpg/60px-Absorb_low2.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><b>Kickboxing</b> refers to sport-fighting using kicks and punches and sometimes throws and bows representing a certain martial art or can be practiced for general <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_fitness" title="Physical fitness">fitness</a>, or as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full-contact" title="Full-contact">full-contact</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport" title="Sport">sport</a>. In the full contact version of the sport the male boxers are bare chested, barefoot and wear boxing trunks. The female boxers sometimes wear a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_top" title="Tank top">tank top</a> and shorts. Kickboxing is sometimes practiced as an independent style, but in many cases kickboxing is just an event and set of rules of by which martial artists of other styles may compete openly. Typically kickboxing in many competitions is a standing fight sport and does not allow continuation of the fight once the fight has reached the ground, however some styles may still train in this component for example; sanshou especially in the military and police and so must be adapted for kickboxing tournaments as well as many Japanese martial arts. Kickboxing can be attributed to K series of fighting styles. There are different rules for different kinds of kick-boxing. One can start at any age, but until 18 years old, a helmet is strongly recommended.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Forms of <i>kickboxing</i> that have been labelled under this term include:</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adithada" title="Adithada">Adithada</a> (Indian kickboxing) — A form of kickboxing that uses <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_%28strike%29" title="Knee (strike)">knee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_%28strike%29" title="Elbow (strike)">elbow</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forehead" title="Forehead">forehead</a> strikes</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethwei" title="Lethwei">Lethwei</a> (Burmese Kickboxing) — Traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese_martial_arts" title="Burmese martial arts">Burmese martial arts</a> of which has now grown into a popular kickboxing event with strong emphasis on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_%28strike%29" title="Knee (strike)">knee</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_%28strike%29" title="Elbow (strike)">elbow strikes</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_butt" title="Head butt">head butt</a>. Any part of the body may be used to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_%28attack%29" title="Strike (attack)">strike</a> and be struck. It us also known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bando_kickboxing" title="Bando kickboxing">Bando kickboxing</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pradal_Serey" title="Pradal Serey">Pradal Serey</a> (Khmer kickboxing) — A possible predecessor of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai" title="Muay Thai">Muay Thai</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai" title="Muay Thai">Muay Thai</a> (Thai boxing) — Traditional Thai martial art of which has now grown into a popular kickboxing event with strong emphasis on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_%28strike%29" title="Knee (strike)">knee</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_%28strike%29" title="Elbow (strike)">elbow strikes</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_kickboxing" title="Japanese kickboxing">Japanese kickboxing</a> — Similar to Muay Thai, but different point system is taken (e.g. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-1" title="K-1">K-1</a>).</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_kickboxing" title="American kickboxing">American kickboxing</a> — Similar to Japanese kickboxing and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_contact_karate" title="Full contact karate">Full contact karate</a>, but different point system is taken</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_contact_karate" title="Full contact karate">Full Contact Karate</a> — Most of the time padding and in some cases body armor is used and is the applicable component of karate like many other styles which also include routines training.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savate" title="Savate">Savate</a> (French kickboxing) — Allows the use of shoes</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanshou" title="Sanshou">Sanshou</a>/Sanda (Chinese kickboxing) — The applicable component of wushu/kung fu of which <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takedown_%28grappling%29" title="Takedown (grappling)">Takedowns</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_%28grappling%29" title="Throw (grappling)">throws</a> are legal in competition as well as all other sorts of striking (use of arms and legs).</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot_boxing" title="Shoot boxing">Shoot boxing</a> — A Japanese form of kickboxing which allows <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_%28grappling%29" title="Throw (grappling)">throwing</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_hold#Submission_hold" title="Grappling hold">submission</a> while standing similar to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Shou" title="San Shou">San Shou</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaw-Yan" title="Yaw-Yan">Yaw-Yan</a> (Filipino Kickboxing) — Sayaw ng Kamatayan (Dance of Death) is the proper name for Yaw-Yan, a Filipino martial art developed by Napoleon Fernandez. The art resembles Muay Thai in a sense, but differs in the hip torquing motion as well as downward-cutting of its kicks.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are many additional derivatives of these forms, as well as combined styles which have been used in specific competitions (e.g. K-1). The rules of 'kickboxing' also vary between these different styles.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The term <i>kickboxing</i> is disputed and has become more associated with the Japanese and American variants. It must be noted that many of the above styles do not consider themselves to be 'kickboxing' as such, although the public uses the term generically to refer to all these martial arts. The term itself was created by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japanese</a> boxing promoter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Noguchi" title="Osamu Noguchi">Osamu Noguchi</a> for a variant of Muay Thai and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate" title="Karate">Karate</a> that he created in the 1950s; this term was later used by the American variant. When used by the practitioners of these two styles, it tends to refer to them specifically rather than the martial arts they were derived from.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody><tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">History</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Japanese_Kickboxing" id="Japanese_Kickboxing"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Japanese Kickboxing</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">On <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_20" title="December 20">December 20</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1959" title="1959">1959</a>, a Muay Thai match among Thai fighters was held at <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo" title="Tokyo">Tokyo</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asakusa" title="Asakusa">Asakusa</a> town hall</i> in Japan. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tatsuo_Yamada&action=edit" class="new" title="Tatsuo Yamada">Tatsuo Yamada</a> who had established "<i>Nihon Kempo Karate-do</i>" was interested in Muay Thai because he wanted to perform Karate matches in Full-contact rules since practitioners are not allowed to hit each other directly in Karate matches. At this time, it was unimaginable to hit each other in Karate matches in Japan. He had already announced his planning which was named <b>"The draft principles of project of establishment of a new sport and its industrialization"</b> in November, 1959, and he put forward a new sport "Karate-boxing" which was a tentative name then. It is still unknown that Thai fighters were invited by Yamada, but it is clear that Yamada was the only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karateka" title="Karateka">karateka</a> who was really interested in Muay Thai. Yamada invited a Thai fighter who was the champion of Muay Thai formerly as his son Kan Yamada's sparring partner, and started studying Muay Thai. At this time, the Thai fighter was taken by Osamu Noguchi who was a promoter of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a> and was also interested in Muay Thai. For example, the Thai fighter's photo was on the magazine "The Primer of Nihon Kempo Karate-do, the first number" which was published by Yamada.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There were "Karate vs. Muay Thai fights" <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_12" title="February 12">February 12</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963" title="1963">1963</a>. The 3 karate fighters from <b>Oyama Dojo</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyokushin" title="Kyokushin">Kyokushin</a> later) went to the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Thailand, and fought against 3 Muay Thai fighters. The 3 karate fighters' names are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadashi_Nakamura" title="Tadashi Nakamura">Tadashi Nakamura</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenji_Kurosaki&action=edit" class="new" title="Kenji Kurosaki">Kenji Kurosaki</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akio_Fujihira&action=edit" class="new" title="Akio Fujihira">Akio Fujihira</a> (as known as Noboru Osawa). Japan won by 2-1 then. Noguchi and Kenji Kurosaki (Kyokushin karate instructor) studied <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_thai" title="Muay thai">Muay thai</a> and developed a combined martial art which Noguchi named <i>kick boxing</i>. However, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_%28grappling%29" title="Throw (grappling)">throwing</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbutt" title="Headbutt">butting</a> were allowed in the beginning to distinguish from Muay Thai style. This was repealed later. The <b>Kickboxing Association</b> the first kickboxing sanctioning body was founded by Osamu Noguchi in 1966 soon after that. Then the first kickboxing event was held in Osaka, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_11" title="April 11">April 11</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966" title="1966">1966</a>. Tatsu Yamada died in 1967, but his dojo changed its name to <i>Suginami Gym</i>, and kept sending kickboxers off to support kickboxing.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Kickboxing boomed and became popular in Japan as it began to be broadcast on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television" title="Television">TV</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadashi_Sawamura" title="Tadashi Sawamura">Tadashi Sawamura</a> was an especially popular early kickboxer. However, the boom was suddenly finished and became unpopular after Sawamura was retired. Kickboxing had not been on TV until K-1 was founded in 1993.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1993, as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuyoshi_Ishii" title="Kazuyoshi Ishii">Kazuyoshi Ishii</a> (founder of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seidokan_karate&action=edit" class="new" title="Seidokan karate">Seidokan karate</a>) produced K-1 under special kickboxing rules (No elbow and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling#Stand-up_grappling" title="Grappling">neck wrestling</a>) in 1993, kickboxing became famous again. The sport has spread through North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Spreading_to_Europe.2C_Australia.2C_North_America_and_New_Zealand" id="Spreading_to_Europe.2C_Australia.2C_North_America_and_New_Zealand"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Spreading to Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Jan Plas, the Dutch kickboxer, founded <i>Mejiro Gym</i> with some Muay Thai pioneers in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a> in 1978, after he learned kickboxing from Kenji Kurosaki in Japan. Plas also founded NKBB (The Dutch Kickboxing Association), which was the first kickboxing organization in Netherlands, in 1978. The sport took off in the U.S. with the popularity and success of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Wallace_%28martial_arts%29" title="Bill Wallace (martial arts)">Bill "Superfoot" Wallace"</a> in the 1970s.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Rules" id="Rules"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Rules</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Japanese_Kickboxing_2" id="Japanese_Kickboxing_2"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Japanese Kickboxing</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">This is almost same as Muay Thai but there are differences between them.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Similarities <ul><li>time: three minutes × five rounds</li><li>allowed to attack with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow-joint" title="Elbow-joint">elbow</a></li><li>allowed to attack with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee" title="Knee">knee</a></li><li>allowed to kick the lower half of the body except <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotch" title="Crotch">crotch</a></li><li>allowed to do neck-wrestling (folding opponent's head with arms and elbows to attack the opponent's body or head with knee-strikes)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_butt" title="Head butt">head butts</a> and throws were banned in 1966 for boxers' safety.</li></ul> </li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Differences <ul><li>No ram muay before match</li><li>No Thai music during the match</li><li>Interval takes one minute only as same as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a></li><li>Point system: <dl><dd>In muay thai, kicking to mid-body and head are scored highly generating a large number of points on judges' scorecards. Moreover, kicking is still judged highly even if the kick was blocked. In contrast, punching is worth fewer points. In kickboxing punches and kicks are held in closer esteem.</dd></dl> </li></ul> </li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="American_style_kickboxing" id="American_style_kickboxing"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">American style kickboxing</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">These are rules used in American and Australian Full Contact Karate.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Opponents are allowed to hit each other with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fist" title="Fist">fists</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot" title="Foot">feet</a>, striking above the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip" title="Hip">hip</a></li><li>Using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_%28strike%29" title="Elbow (strike)">elbows</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knee_%28strike%29" title="Knee (strike)">knees</a> is forbidden and the use of the <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shin" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:shin">shins</a> is seldom allowed.</li><li>Bouts are usually 3 to 12 rounds (lasting 2 - 3 minutes each) for amateur and professional contests with a 1-minute rest in between rounds.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">This is in contrast to Muay Thai where the use of elbows and knees are allowed; in fact some Muay Thai practitioners consider kickboxing a "watered down" version of Muay Thai. Fighters and promoters can agree to various rules including kicks only above the waist, kicks anywhere, no knee strikes, knees only to the body, and so on. American Kickboxing is essentially much a mixture of Western <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">Boxing</a> and Karate.</p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> The round durations and the number of rounds can vary depending on the stipulations agreed to before hand by each fighter or manager. A winner is declared during the bout if there is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submission_%28combat_sport_term%29" title="Submission (combat sport term)">submission</a> (fighter quits or fighter's corner throws in the towel), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockout" title="Knockout">knockout</a> (KO), or referee stoppage (Technical Knock Out, or TKO). If all of the rounds expire with no knockout then the fight is scored by a team of 3 judges. The judges determine a winner based on their scoring of each round. A split decision indicates a disagreement between the judges, while a unanimous decision indicates that all judges saw the fight the same way and all have declared the same winner.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="European_style_kickboxing" id="European_style_kickboxing"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">European style kickboxing</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Originally, European style kickboxing was formed with Muay thai and Japanese kickboxing.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>time: 3 minutes × 5 rounds</li><li>not allowed to attack with elbow</li><li>allowed to attack with knee</li><li>allowed to kick the lower half of the body except crotch</li><li>allowed to do neck-wrestling but frequency is limited.</li><li>headbutts and throws are not allowed</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Technical" id="Technical"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Technical</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Punching_Techniques" id="Punching_Techniques"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Punching Techniques</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Common_techniques" id="Common_techniques"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Common techniques</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jab" title="Jab">Jab</a></b> - straight punch from the front hand, to either the head or the body, often used in conjunction with the cross</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_%28boxing%29" title="Cross (boxing)">Cross</a></b> (Straight punch) - The straight punching whirl by feeling it out-without using target</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hook_%28boxing%29" title="Hook (boxing)">Hook</a></b> - rounded punch to either the head or body in an arching motion, usually not scored in points scoring</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppercut" title="Uppercut">Uppercut</a></b> - rising punch striking to the chin</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 17px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jab7.jpg" class="image" title="Jab7.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Jab7.jpg" border="0" height="111" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>jab</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cross5.jpg" class="image" title="Cross5.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Cross5.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Cross</i> (<i>Right straight punch</i>) here in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpunch_%28boxing%29" title="Counterpunch (boxing)">counterpunch</a></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crochet1.jpg" class="image" title="Crochet1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Crochet1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="105" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Hook</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Uppercut2.jpg" class="image" title="Uppercut2.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Uppercut2.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="119" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Uppercut</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Other_types" id="Other_types"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Other types</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-counter" title="Cross-counter">Cross-counter</a></b> – a cross-counter is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpunch_%28boxing%29" title="Counterpunch (boxing)">counterpunch</a> begun immediately after an opponent throws a jab, exploiting the opening in the opponent's position</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undercut_%28boxing%29" title="Undercut (boxing)">Undercut</a></b> (Drop) - a semi-circular and vertical punch thrown with the rear hand. It is usually when the opponent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbing_%28boxing%29" title="Bobbing (boxing)">bobbing</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipping" title="Slipping">slipping</a>. The strategic utility of the drop relying on body weight can deliver a great deal of power</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_punch" title="Bolo punch">Bolo punch</a></b> - a combination of a wide <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppercut" title="Uppercut">uppercut</a>/right cross/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_%28boxing%29" title="Swing (boxing)">swing</a> that was delivered seemingly from the floor</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 14px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Drop5.jpg" class="image" title="Drop5.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Drop5.jpg" border="0" height="118" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-counter" title="Cross-counter">Cross-counter</a></i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Drop4.jpg" class="image" title="Drop4.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Drop4.jpg/120px-Drop4.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undercut" title="Undercut">Undercut</a> (Drop)</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Contre_bolo1.jpg" class="image" title="Contre bolo1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Contre_bolo1.jpg/114px-Contre_bolo1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="114" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolo_punch" title="Bolo punch">Bolo punch</a></i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Direct_court2.jpg" class="image" title="Direct court2.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Direct_court2.jpg/113px-Direct_court2.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="113" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Short straight punch</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Special_kickboxing" id="Special_kickboxing"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Special kickboxing</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse" title="Reverse">Reverse</a></b> (Back-fist) and <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spinning_back-fist&action=edit" class="new" title="Spinning back-fist">Spinning back-fist</a></b> - straight punch to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Plexus" title="Solar Plexus">Solar Plexus</a>, usually from the back hand, bending the arm at the elbow and then striking to the side of the head, common in light contact</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Revers1.jpg" class="image" title="Revers1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Revers1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="109" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Back fist</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Kicking_techniques" id="Kicking_techniques"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Kicking techniques</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Common_techniques_2" id="Common_techniques_2"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Common techniques</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Front_Kick" title="Front Kick">Front Kick</a></b> or <i>Push Kick</i> - Striking face on with the heel of the foot</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick#Side_kick" title="Kick">Side Kick</a></b> - Striking with the side or heel of the foot with leg parallel to the ground, can be performed to either the head or body</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-circular_Kick" title="Semi-circular Kick">Semi-circular Kick</a></b> or <i>Forty Five Degree Roundhouse Kick</i></li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundhouse_Kick" title="Roundhouse Kick">Roundhouse Kick</a></b> or <i>Circle Kick</i> - Striking with the front of the foot or the lower shin to the head or the body in a 'chopping' motion</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Direct_pos%C3%A9e-pouss%C3%A9e.jpg" class="image" title="Direct posée-poussée.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Direct_pos%C3%A9e-pouss%C3%A9e.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Front kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Side-kick.jpg" class="image" title="Side-kick.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c3/Side-kick.jpg/120px-Side-kick.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Side kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 14px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Circulaire10.jpg" class="image" title="Circulaire10.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Circulaire10.jpg" border="0" height="117" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Semi-circular kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 21px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Circulaire9.jpg" class="image" title="Circulaire9.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Circulaire9.jpg" border="0" height="104" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Roundhouse kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Other_type" id="Other_type"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Other type</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kick#Hook_Kick" title="Kick">Hook Kick</a></b> - Extending the leg out to the side of the body, and hooking the leg back to strike the head with eiher the heel or sole</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crescent_Kick" title="Crescent Kick">Crescent Kick</a></b> and <i>Forward Crescent Kick</i></li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Kick" title="Axe Kick">Axe Kick</a></b> – is a <i>Stomp Kick</i> or <i>Hammer kick</i>. The Stomp Kick normally travel downward, striking with the side or base heel.</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_Kick" title="Back Kick">Back Kick</a></b> – is delivered with the base heel of the foot.</li><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweeping" title="Sweeping">Sweeping</a></b> – One foot or both feet of an opponent may be swept depending upon their position, balance and strength.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Circulaire7.jpg" class="image" title="Circulaire7.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Circulaire7.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="118" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Hook-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crescent-kick1.jpg" class="image" title="Crescent-kick1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Crescent-kick1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Crescent-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hammer-kick1.jpg" class="image" title="Hammer-kick1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Hammer-kick1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Hammer-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 23px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Balayage_retourn%C3%A9.jpg" class="image" title="Balayage retourné.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Balayage_retourn%C3%A9.jpg" border="0" height="100" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Sweeping (Spinning hook-kick)</i></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Spinning versions of the back, side, hook and axe kicks can also be performed along with jumping versions of all kicks</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Spinning_and_flying" id="Spinning_and_flying"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Spinning and flying</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Spinning hook-kick</li><li>Spinning side-kick</li><li>Spinning back-kick</li><li>Jumping front-kick</li><li>Jumping roundhouse-kick</li><li>Jumping side-kick</li><li>Jumping back-kick</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 14px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Stick-kick4.jpg" class="image" title="Stick-kick4.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Stick-kick4.jpg/120px-Stick-kick4.jpg" border="0" height="118" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Stick-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 17px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Back-kick.jpg" class="image" title="Back-kick.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Back-kick.jpg" border="0" height="112" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Spinning back-kick with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterpunch_%28boxing%29" title="Counterpunch (boxing)">counterpunch</a></i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jumping_side-kick1.jpg" class="image" title="Jumping side-kick1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b1/Jumping_side-kick1.jpg/105px-Jumping_side-kick1.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="105" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Jumping side-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 16px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jump_back.jpg" class="image" title="Jump back.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Jump_back.jpg" border="0" height="113" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Jumping back-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Kneeing_techniques" id="Kneeing_techniques"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Kneeing techniques</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Basic_techniques" id="Basic_techniques"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Basic techniques</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b>Straight Knee Thrust</b> - Long-range knee kick (front heel kick). This knee strike is delivered with the back or reverse foot against an opponent’s stomach, groin, hip or spine an opponent forward by the neck, shoulder or arm</li><li><b>Rising Knee Strike</b> – can be delivered with the front or back foot. It makes an explosive snap upwards to strike an opponent’s face, chin, throat or chest.</li><li><b>Hooking Knee Strike</b> – can be delivered with the front or back foot. It makes a half circle spin and strikes the sides of an opponent</li><li><b>Side Knee Snap Strike</b> – is a highly-deceptive knee technique used in close-range fighting. The knee is lifted o the toes or lifted up, and is snapped to left and right, striking an opponent’s sensitive knee joints, insides of thighs, groin</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Genou_direct.jpg" class="image" title="Genou direct.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Genou_direct.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="112" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Straight knee-thrust</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Genou_remontant3.jpg" class="image" title="Genou remontant3.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Genou_remontant3.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="118" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Rising Knee-strike</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Genou_semi.jpg" class="image" title="Genou semi.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Genou_semi.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Long-range knee-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Genou_direct_saut%C3%A91.jpg" class="image" title="Genou direct sauté1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Genou_direct_saut%C3%A91.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="81" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Jumping knee-kick</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Other_types_2" id="Other_types_2"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h4 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Other types</span></h4><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Jumping Knee Kick or <i>Flying knee kick</i></li><li>Double Knee Kick</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Defense" id="Defense"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Defense</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Slip - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipping" title="Slipping">Slipping</a></b> rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch passes harmlessly next to the head. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip" past. Muhammed Ali was famous for extremely fast and close slips.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_and_weave" title="Bob and weave">Bob and weave</a></b> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbing_%28boxing%29" title="Bobbing (boxing)">bobbing</a></b> moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the inside".</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Parry/Block - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying_%28boxing%29" title="Parrying (boxing)">Parrying</a></b> or <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blocking_%28martial_arts%29" title="Blocking (martial arts)">blocking</a></b> uses the boxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The Cover-Up - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covering" title="Covering">Covering</a> up</b> is the last opportunity to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the guard. To protect the head, the boxer presses both fists against the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing outwards. This type of guard is weak against attacks from below.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Slip1.jpg" class="image" title="Slip1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Slip1.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Slipping</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Slip2.jpg" class="image" title="Slip2.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Slip2.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="108" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Bobbing</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 21px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Blocage1.jpg" class="image" title="Blocage1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/Blocage1.jpg" border="0" height="104" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Blocking (with the arms)</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 16px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Protection_passive1.jpg" class="image" title="Protection passive1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Protection_passive1.jpg" border="0" height="113" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Cover-Up (with the gloves)</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_position#Stand-up_grappling_position" title="Grappling position">Clinch</a> - <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinching" title="Clinching">Clinching</a></b> is a rough form of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">grappling</a> and occurs when the distance between both fighters has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. In this situation, the boxer attempts to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_hold" title="Grappling hold">hold</a> or "tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable to throw hooks or uppercuts. To perform a clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position, the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly dissipated by the referee.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Neutraliser1.jpg" class="image" title="Neutraliser1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Neutraliser1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="104" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Cliching</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 19px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Pas_de_retrait.jpg" class="image" title="Pas de retrait.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Pas_de_retrait.jpg" border="0" height="107" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Footwork</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Retrait2.jpg" class="image" title="Retrait2.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Retrait2.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="113" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Pulling away</i></p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Guards" id="Guards"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Guards</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are three main defensive positions (guards or styles) used in boxing. Within each style, there is considerable variation among fighters, as some fighters may have their guard higher for more head protection while others have their guard lower to provide better protection against body punches. Many fighters vary their defensive style throughout a bout in order to adapt to the situation of the moment, choosing the position best suited to protect them.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Garde_basse2.jpg" class="image" title="Garde basse2.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Garde_basse2.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="106" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Low guard</p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Garde_mixte1.jpg" class="image" title="Garde mixte1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Garde_mixte1.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="105" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Mixed guard</p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Garde_rentr%C3%A9e1.jpg" class="image" title="Garde rentrée1.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Garde_rentr%C3%A9e1.jpg" border="0" height="119" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Peek-a-boo</p> <p><br /></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Governing_Bodies" id="Governing_Bodies"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickboxing">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kickboxing</a></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-16825166291657205402007-12-02T13:30:00.000+07:002008-01-22T02:52:17.455+07:00Sambo<div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 0.9em; font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FIAS.gif" class="image" title="FIAS.gif"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/FIAS.gif" border="0" height="155" width="150" /></a><br /><small><b>International Federation of Amateur Sambo</b></small></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="font-size: larger; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /></th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Samboleglockcropped.jpg" class="image" title="Samboleglockcropped.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/29/Samboleglockcropped.jpg/200px-Samboleglockcropped.jpg" border="0" height="150" width="200" /></a><br /><small>Execution of Sambo leg lock</small></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Also known as</b></td> <td>Sombo</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Focus</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">Grappling</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Country of origin</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Russia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Russia"><img alt="Flag of Russia" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Creator</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viktor_Spiridonov&action=edit" class="new" title="Viktor Spiridonov">Viktor Spiridonov</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vasili_Oshchepkov&action=edit" class="new" title="Vasili Oshchepkov">Vasili Oshchepkov</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anatoly_Kharlampiev&action=edit" class="new" title="Anatoly Kharlampiev">Anatoly Kharlampiev</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Olympic Sport</b></td> <td>1980 trial, 2010 trial</td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><b>Sambo</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">самбо</span>) -- (also called <b>Sombo</b> in the US and sometimes written in all-caps) is a modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art" title="Martial art">martial art</a>, combat sport and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense" title="Self-defense">self-defense</a> system developed in the former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union">Soviet Union</a>, and recognized as an official sport by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USSR_All-Union_Sports_Committee&action=edit" class="new" title="USSR All-Union Sports Committee">USSR All-Union Sports Committee</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938" title="1938">1938</a>, presented by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anatoly_Kharlampiev&action=edit" class="new" title="Anatoly Kharlampiev">Anatoly Kharlampiev</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The word Sambo is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym" title="Acronym">acronym</a> of <span lang="ru"><b>САМ</b>озащита <b>Б</b>ез <b>О</b>ружия (<i><b>SAM</b>ozashchita <b>B</b>ez <b>O</b>ruzhiya</i>)</span> meaning "self-defense without a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon" title="Weapon">weapon</a>" in Russian. Sambo has its roots in Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">Judo</a> and traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_wrestling" title="Folk wrestling">folk styles</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" title="Wrestling">wrestling</a> such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koch_%28wrestling_style%29&action=edit" class="new" title="Koch (wrestling style)">Koch</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_%28country%29" title="Georgia (country)">Georgian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chidaoba&action=edit" class="new" title="Chidaoba">Chidaoba</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova" title="Moldova">Moldovan</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tr%C3%AEnt%C7%8E&action=edit" class="new" title="Trîntǎ">Trîntǎ</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan">Uzbek</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurash" title="Kurash">Kurash</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia" title="Mongolia">Mongolian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_wrestling" title="Mongolian wrestling">Khapsagay</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijani</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gulesh&action=edit" class="new" title="Gulesh">Gulesh</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1980, Sambo was a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia. However, due to boycotts, it failed to bring sufficient numbers for continued inclusion as a participatory game.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There is no single, universally recognized founder of Sambo. However, Anatoly Kharlampiev is often officially recognized as the founder of Sport Sambo. Two other primary founders of Sambo were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vasili_Oshchepkov&action=edit" class="new" title="Vasili Oshchepkov">Vasili Oshchepkov</a> (who died during the political purges of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937" title="1937">1937</a> for refusing to deny his education in Judo under its founder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_Jigoro" title="Kano Jigoro">Kano Jigoro</a>), and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viktor_Spiridonov&action=edit" class="new" title="Viktor Spiridonov">Viktor Spiridonov</a> (who originally developed Sambo as a soft, aikido-like system after he was maimed during the first world war<sup id="_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_%28martial_art%29#_note-1" title=""></a></sup>).</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody><tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Styles of Sambo</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Although it was originally a single system, there are now five generally recognized styles of Sambo:</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><b>Sport Sambo</b> (Borba Sambo) is stylistically similar to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_wrestling" title="Amateur wrestling">amateur wrestling</a> or Judo. The competition is similar to Judo, but with some differences in rules, protocol, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform" title="Uniform">uniform</a>. For example, in contrast with Judo, Sambo allows all types of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg_lock" title="Leg lock">leg locks</a>, while not allowing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold" title="Chokehold">chokeholds</a>.</li><li><b>Self-defense Sambo</b>, which is similar to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikijutsu" title="Aikijutsu">Aikijutsu</a>, jujutsu or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido" title="Aikido">Aikido</a>, and is based on self-defense application, such as defending against attacks by both armed and unarmed attackers. Many practitioners consider Self-Defense Sambo as part of Combat Sambo and not a system unto itself.</li><li><b>Combat Sambo</b> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a>: <span lang="ru">Боевое Самбо</span>, Boyevoye Sambo). Utilized and developed for the military, this is arguably the root of Sambo as it is now known, and includes practice with weapons and disarming techniques. Competition in combat sambo resembles older forms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judo</a> and modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial arts</a>, including extensive forms of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_%28attack%29" title="Strike (attack)">striking</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">grappling</a>. The first FIAS World Sambo Championships were held in 2001.</li><li><b>Special Sambo</b> - developed for Army Special Forces and Rapid Reaction Police (Militsija) teams and other law enforcement formations. The "Special Sambo" version differ from team to team due to different tasks and aims, however the base of any special system developed in that field is of course Sambo. The term "Special Sambo" is a relatively new term which refers to specialized versions of combat sambo.</li><li><b>Freestyle Sambo</b> - Uniquely American Set of competitive sambo rules created by the American Sambo Association (ASA) in 2004. These rules differ from traditional sport sambo in that they allow choke holds and other submissions from combat sambo that are not permitted in sport sambo. Freestyle Sambo, like all sambo, focuses on throwing skill and fast ground work. No strikes are permitted in Freestyle Sambo. The ASA created this rule set in order to encourage non-sambo practitioners from judo and jujutsu to participate in sambo events.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Uniform_and_Ranking" id="Uniform_and_Ranking"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Uniform and Ranking</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table class="wikitable" style="float: right; text-align: left; font-family: arial; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"> <tbody><tr> <td><b>Sambo Rating Rank</b></td> <td><b>Equivalent Competitive Achievement</b></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Third-Class Sportsman</td> <td>city champion</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Second-Class Sportsman</td> <td>state champion</td> </tr> <tr> <td>First-Class Sportsman</td> <td>regional champion</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Candidate for Master of Sports</td> <td>nationally ranked player</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Master of Sports</td> <td>national champion</td> </tr> <tr> <td>International Master of Sports</td> <td>international champion</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Distinguished Master of Sports</td> <td>international champion with <p>valuable contributions to the sport</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">A Sambo practitioner normally wears either a red or a blue jacket <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurtka" title="Kurtka">kurtka</a>, a belt and shorts of the same color, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sambovki&action=edit" class="new" title="Sambovki">sambovki</a> (Sambo shoes). The Sambo uniform does not reflect rank or competitive rating. Sport rules require an athlete to have both red and blue sets to visually distinguish competitiors on the mat.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In Russia, a competitive rating system is used rather than belt colors like [judo] and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiujitsu" title="Jiujitsu">jiujitsu</a> to demonstrate rank, though some schools around the world now institute belt colors as well. The rating system is called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Sports_Classification_System_of_the_USSR" title="Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR">Unified Sports Classification System of the USSR</a> with the highest athletic distinction known as the <b>Distinguished Masters of Sport</b> in Sambo.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Examination requirements vary depending on the age group, and can vary from country to country. The examination itself includes competitive accomplishment as well as technical demonstration of knowledge. Higher level exams must be supervised by independent judges from a national Sambo association. For a rating to be recognised it must be registered with the national Sambo organization.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="History_of_Sambo" id="History_of_Sambo"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">History of Sambo</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sambo1973.jpg" class="image" title="Cover of a book about Sambo released in 1973."><img alt="Cover of a book about Sambo released in 1973." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/67/Sambo1973.jpg/180px-Sambo1973.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="283" width="180" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sambo1973.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Cover of a book about Sambo released in 1973.</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The founders of Sambo deliberately sifted through all of the world’s martial arts available to them to augment their military’s hand-to-hand combat system. One of these men, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vasili_Oschepkov&action=edit" class="new" title="Vasili Oschepkov">Vasili Oschepkov</a>, taught <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judo</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate" title="Karate">karate</a> to elite <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army" title="Red Army">Red Army</a> forces at the Central Red Army House. He had earned his nidan (second degree black belt out of then five) from judo’s founder, Kano Jigoro, and used some of Kano's philosophy in formulating the early development of the new Russian art.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Sambo was in part born of native Russian and other regional styles of grappling and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combatives" title="Combatives">combative</a> wrestling, bolstered with the most useful and adaptable concepts and techniques from the rest of the world.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">As the buffer between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" title="Europe">Europe</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia">Asia</a>, Russia had more than ample opportunity to evaluate the martial skills of various invaders. Earlier Russians had experienced threats from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings" title="Vikings">Vikings</a> in the west and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatars" title="Tatars">Tatars</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan" title="Genghis Khan">Genghis Khan</a>’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Horde" title="Golden Horde">Golden Horde</a> from Mongolia in the east. The regional, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_combat_systems" title="Native combat systems">native combat systems</a> included in Sambo’s genesis are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvan" title="Tuvan">Tuvan</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuresh" title="Khuresh">Khuresh</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakuts" title="Yakuts">Yakuts</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khapsagai&action=edit" class="new" title="Khapsagai">khapsagai</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuvash" title="Chuvash">Chuvash</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akatuy" title="Akatuy">akatuy</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_people" title="Georgian people">Georgian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chidaoba&action=edit" class="new" title="Chidaoba">chidaoba</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavian" title="Moldavian">Moldavian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trinta&action=edit" class="new" title="Trinta">trinta</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians" title="Armenians">Armenian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kokh&action=edit" class="new" title="Kokh">kokh</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbeks" title="Uzbeks">Uzbek</a> Kurash to name a few.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The foreign influences included various styles of European <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" title="Wrestling">Wrestling</a> styles, Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu" title="Jujutsu">jujutsu</a>, and other martial arts of the day plus the classical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_sports" title="Olympic sports">Olympic sports</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a>, Greco-Roman and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_wrestling" title="Freestyle wrestling">freestyle wrestling</a>. Sambo even derived <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lunging&action=edit" class="new" title="Lunging">lunging</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrying" title="Parrying">parrying</a> techniques from Italian scherma <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing" title="Fencing">fencing</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Sambo’s early development stemmed from the independent efforts of Oschepkov and another Russian, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Victor_Spiridonov&action=edit" class="new" title="Victor Spiridonov">Victor Spiridonov</a>, to integrate the techniques of judo into native wrestling styles. Spiridonov's background involved indigenous styles of Russian martial art. His "soft-style" was based on the fact that he received a bayonet wound during the Russo-Japanese war which left his left arm lame. Both Oschepkov and Spiridonov hoped that the Russian styles could be improved by an infusion of the techniques distilled from jujutsu by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_Jigoro" title="Kano Jigoro">Kano Jigoro</a> into his new style of jacket wrestling. Contrary to common lore, Oschepkov and Spiridonov did not cooperate on the development of their hand-to-hand systems. Rather, their independent notions of Hand-to-hand combat merged through cross training between students and formulative efforts by their students and military staff. While Oschepkov and Spiridonov did have occasion to collaborate, their efforts were not completely united.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918" title="1918">1918</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin" title="Lenin">Lenin</a> created <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vseobuch&action=edit" class="new" title="Vseobuch">Vseobuch</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vseobshchee_voennoye_obuchienie&action=edit" class="new" title="Vseobshchee voennoye obuchienie">Vseobshchee voennoye obuchienie</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=General_Military_Training&action=edit" class="new" title="General Military Training">General Military Training</a>) under the leadership of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=N.I._Podovoyskiy&action=edit" class="new" title="N.I. Podovoyskiy">N.I. Podovoyskiy</a> to train the Red Army. The task of developing and organizing Russian military hand-to-hand combat training fell to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K._Voroshilov" title="K. Voroshilov">K. Voroshilov</a>, who in turn, created the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NKVD" title="NKVD">NKVD</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_training" title="Physical training">physical training</a> center, “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamo_%28sports_society%29" title="Dynamo (sports society)">Dinamo</a>.”</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Spiridonov was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_veteran&action=edit" class="new" title="Combat veteran">combat veteran</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, and one of the first wrestling and self-defense instructors hired for Dinamo. His background included Greco-Roman wrestling, Free style wrestling, many Slavic wrestling styles, and Japanese JiuJitsu. As a “combatives investigator” for Dinamo, he traveled to Mongolia and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China" title="China">China</a> to observe their native fighting styles.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1923, Oschepkov and Spiridinov collaborated (independently) with a team of other experts on a grant from the Soviet government to improve the Red Army’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand-to-hand_combat" title="Hand-to-hand combat">hand-to-hand combat</a> system. Spiridonov had envisioned integrating all of the world’s fighting systems into one comprehensive style that could adapt to any threat. Oschepkov had observed Kano’s distillation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tenjin_Shin%E2%80%99yo_Ryu&action=edit" class="new" title="Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu">Tenjin Shin’yo Ryu</a> jujutsu and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kito_Ryu" title="Kito Ryu">Kito Ryu</a> jujutsu into judo, and he had developed the insight required to evaluate and integrate combative techniques into a new system. Their development team was supplemented by Anatoly Kharlampiev and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I.V._Vasiliev&action=edit" class="new" title="I.V. Vasiliev">I.V. Vasiliev</a> who also traveled the globe to study the native fighting arts of the world. Ten years in the making, their catalogue of techniques was instrumental in formulating the early framework of the art to be eventually referred to as Sambo. Here, Oschepkov and Spiridonov’s improvements in Russian wrestling slipped into the military’s hand-to-hand-combat system.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Kharlampiev is often called the father of Sambo. This may be largely semantics since only he had the longevity and political connections to remain with the art while the new system was named “Sambo”. However, Kharlampiev's political maneuvering is single-handedly responsible for the USSR Committee of Sport accepting Sambo as the official combat sport of the Soviet Union in 1938 - decidedly the "birth" of Sambo. So, more accurately, Kharlampiev could be considered the father of "sport" Sambo.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Spiridonov was the first to actually begin referring to the new system as one of the “S” variations cited above. He eventually developed a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_%28martial_arts%29" title="Hard and soft (martial arts)">softer</a>, more “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido" title="Aikido">aikido</a>-like” system called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Samoz&action=edit" class="new" title="Samoz">Samoz</a> that could be used by smaller, weaker practitioners or even wounded soldiers and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_agent" title="Secret agent">secret agents</a>. Spiridonov’s inspiration to develop Samoz stemmed from his injury that he suffered that greatly restricted his ability to practice Sambo or wrestling. Refined versions of Sambo are still used today or fused with specific Sambo applications to meet the needs of Russian commandos today.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Each technique for Sambo was carefully dissected and considered for its merits, and if found acceptable in unarmed combat, refined to reach Sambo’s ultimate goal: stop an armed or unarmed adversary in the least time possible. Thus, the best techniques of jujutsu and its cousin, Judo, entered the Sambo repertoire. When the techniques were perfected, they were woven into Sambo applications for personal self-defense, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police" title="Police">police</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowd_control" title="Crowd control">crowd control</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_guards" title="Border guards">border guards</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_police" title="Secret police">secret police</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyguards" title="Bodyguards">dignitary protection</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatric_hospital" title="Psychiatric hospital">psychiatric hospital</a> staff, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military" title="Military">military</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commando" title="Commando">commandos</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Today" id="Today"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Today</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">According to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Associated_Wrestling_Styles" title="International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles">International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles</a> (FILA), <b>Sambo</b> is one of the four main forms of amateur competitive wrestling practiced internationally today. FILA accepted Sambo as the 3rd style of international wrestling in 1968 until the Sambo community formed its own organization Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS) in 1985. In 1993, FIAS split into two organizations. Both organizations used the same name and logo. The two groups were often referred to as FIAS "East" (under Russian Control) and FIAS "West" (under US and Western European Control). This split mirrored the last days of cold war politics of the time as well as the recent break-up of the Soviet Union. In 2005, FILA reached an agreement with FIAS "West" and reassumed sanctioning over sport sambo.<sup id="_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_%28martial_art%29#_note-3" title=""></a></sup> At present FILA sanctions international competition in the style as does FIAS (formerly FIAS "East"). Both organizations conduct separate world championships and other international events. However, only FIAS sanctions and conducts Combat Sambo competition.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Sambo_practitioners" id="Sambo_practitioners"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Sambo practitioners</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:C0381-Kstovo-SAMBO-Academy-.jpg" class="image" title=""The World Sambo Academy" in Kstovo, the venue of many Sambo competitions"><img alt=""The World Sambo Academy" in Kstovo, the venue of many Sambo competitions" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/C0381-Kstovo-SAMBO-Academy-.jpg/180px-C0381-Kstovo-SAMBO-Academy-.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="135" width="180" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:C0381-Kstovo-SAMBO-Academy-.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> "The World Sambo Academy" in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kstovo" title="Kstovo">Kstovo</a>, the venue of many Sambo competitions</div> </div> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrei_Arlovski" title="Andrei Arlovski">Andrei Arlovski</a> former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC" title="UFC">UFC</a> heavyweight champion. He was also the Junior World Sambo Champion.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lance_Campbell&action=edit" class="new" title="Lance Campbell">Lance Campbell</a> Sport Sombo World Champion. One of only eight grapplers selected to compete in the Ultimate Submission Showdown.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedor_Emelianenko" title="Fedor Emelianenko">Fedor Emelianenko</a>, World Combat Sambo Champion and Russian Combat Sambo Champion. He is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound mixed martial arts fighter and is the current heavyweight champion in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRIDE" title="PRIDE">PRIDE Fighting Championships</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksander_Emelianenko" title="Aleksander Emelianenko">Aleksander Emelianenko</a>, Fedor's brother, is a two-time Russian national <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo" title="Sambo">Sambo</a> champion, and two-time world Sambo champion in the absolute divisions.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Chico_Hernandez" title="James Chico Hernandez">James Chico Hernandez</a>, The First Sambo Champion to be featured on a box of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheaties" title="Wheaties">Wheaties</a> Energy Crunch. He is a World Cup Vice-Champion, US National Sambo Champion and British Sambo medallist.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Sonnon" title="Scott Sonnon">Scott Sonnon</a>, Distinguished <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Sports" title="Master of Sports">Master of Sports</a> in Sambo, nominated as the "Pioneer of American Sambo", World Sambo Games Vice-Champion, USA Grand National and Pan-American Sambo Champion, and USA National Sambo Team Coach. Sonnon specializes in no-gi Sambo for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial arts</a> competition.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleg_Taktarov" title="Oleg Taktarov">Oleg Taktarov</a> UFC 6 Champion, UFC '95 Ultimate Ultimate Tournament finalist, and actor.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Yakimov" title="Igor Yakimov">Igor Yakimov</a>, world Judo champion, as well a world sport sambo champion and a medallist at the Combat Sambo world championships.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Kharitonov" title="Sergei Kharitonov">Sergei Kharitonov</a> a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRIDE_Fighting_Championship" title="PRIDE Fighting Championship">PRIDE Fighting Championship</a> competitor</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ansar_Chalangov&action=edit" class="new" title="Ansar Chalangov">Ansar Chalangov</a>, a mixed martial arts competitor who has appeared in two fights in UFC's welterweight division.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megumi_Fujii" title="Megumi Fujii">Megumi Fujii</a>, a Currently undefeated female MMA fighter. She is known as the 'Princess of Sambo'.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Fictional_practitioners" id="Fictional_practitioners"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Fictional practitioners</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The fictional character <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mary" title="Blue Mary">Blue Mary</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_of_Fighters" title="King of Fighters">King of Fighters</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_video_game_franchises" title="List of video game franchises">video game series</a> uses a stylized version of Sambo.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Dragunov" title="Sergei Dragunov">Sergei Dragunov</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekken_5:_Dark_Resurrection" title="Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection">Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection</a> uses the military version of Sambo.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayman" title="Bayman">Bayman</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_%28Dead_or_Alive%29" title="Leon (Dead or Alive)">Leon</a> of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_or_Alive_%28video_game_series%29" title="Dead or Alive (video game series)">Dead or Alive</a></i> game series both use Combat Sambo.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrax" title="Cyrax">Cyrax</a> uses Sambo in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortal_Kombat:_Deadly_Alliance" title="Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance">Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance</a>.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zangief" title="Zangief">Zangief</a> uses a variation of Sambo and integrates it into Pro Wrestling.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kozlov" title="Vladimir Kozlov">Vladimir Kozlov</a> has recently been seen on WWE TV, and has been introduced as the current World Sambo champion. This is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayfabe" title="Kayfabe">kayfabe</a> and not truthful.</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Lost#Mikhail_Bakunin" title="Characters of Lost">Mikhail Bakunin</a> of the TV Series <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_%28TV_series%29" title="Lost (TV series)">Lost</a></i> appears to use Sambo, probably due to his military training before joining the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHARMA_Initiative" title="DHARMA Initiative">DHARMA Initiative</a>.</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Celebrity_practitioners" id="Celebrity_practitioners"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Celebrity practitioners</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin" title="Vladimir Putin">Vladimir Putin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Russian_Federation" title="President of the Russian Federation">President of the Russian Federation</a> is Master of Sports in both Sambo and Judo.</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_%28martial_art%29">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambo_(martial_art)</a><br /></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-6589130412754653312007-12-02T13:08:00.000+07:002008-01-22T02:50:31.344+07:00Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu<table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content"><tbody><tr><td class="ambox-text"><small><i></i></small><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><b>Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu</b> (<b>BJJ</b>) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_art" title="Martial art">martial art</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_sport" title="Combat sport">combat sport</a> that focuses on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">grappling</a> and especially <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_fighting" title="Ground fighting">ground fighting</a> with the goal of gaining a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_position" title="Grappling position">dominant position</a> and using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint-locks" title="Joint-locks">joint-locks</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold" title="Chokehold">chokeholds</a> to force an opponent to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_hold#Submission_hold" title="Grappling hold">submit</a>. The art was based on early 20th century Kodokan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">Judo</a>, which was itself then a recently-developed system (founded in 1882), based on multiple schools (or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryu" title="Ryu">Ryu</a>) of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japanese</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu" title="Jujutsu">Jujutsu</a>. </div><p face="arial" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">It promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsugi" title="Jujutsugi">gi</a> and no-gi) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">mixed martial arts</a> (MMA) competition. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparring" title="Sparring">Sparring</a> (commonly referred to as 'rolling') and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 0.9em; font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="font-size: larger; background-color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br /></th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Half_guard_in_Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu.jpg" class="image" title="Half guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c4/Half_guard_in_Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu.jpg/300px-Half_guard_in_Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu.jpg" border="0" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /><small>Two practitioners in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_guard" title="Half guard">half guard</a> position</small></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Also known as</b></td> <td>BJJ, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ), Machado Jiu-Jitsu (RCJ)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Focus</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling" title="Grappling">Grappling</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Country of origin</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Brazil.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Brazil"><img alt="Flag of Brazil" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Creator</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda" title="Mitsuyo Maeda">Mitsuyo Maeda</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie" title="Carlos Gracie">Carlos Gracie</a> & <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helio_Gracie" title="Helio Gracie">Helio Gracie</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Parenthood</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodokan_Judo" title="Kodokan Judo">Kodokan Judo</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Famous practitioners</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickson_Gracie" title="Rickson Gracie">Rickson Gracie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Jacques_Machado" title="Jean Jacques Machado">Jean Jacques Machado</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie" title="Royce Gracie">Royce Gracie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royler_Gracie" title="Royler Gracie">Royler Gracie</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_de_la_Riva_Goded" title="Ricardo de la Riva Goded">De La Riva</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Rodrigo_Nogueira" title="Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira">Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.J._Penn" title="B.J. Penn">B.J. Penn</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Bravo" title="Eddie Bravo">Eddie Bravo</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Olympic Sport</b></td> <td>No</td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="toclimit-3"> <table style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody><tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">History</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Beginnings" id="Beginnings"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Beginnings</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The art began with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsuyo_Maeda" title="Mitsuyo Maeda">Mitsuyo Maeda</a> (aka Conde Koma, or Count Combat in English), a Japanese expert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judoka</a> and member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodokan" title="Kodokan">Kodokan</a>. Maeda was one of five of the Kodokan's top groundwork experts that Kano sent overseas to spread his Judo to the world. Maeda left Japan in 1904 and visited a number of countries giving "jiu-do" demonstrations and accepting challenges from wrestlers, boxers, savate fighters and various other martial artists before eventually arriving in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a> on November 14, 1914.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Since its inception, judo was separated from jujutsu in its goals, philosophy, and training regime. Although there was great rivalry among jujutsu teachers, this was more than just Kano Jigoro's ambition to clearly individualize his art. To Kano, judo wasn't solely a martial art: it was also a sport, a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people, and, ultimately, a way (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao" title="Tao">Tao</a>) of life.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="The_Name" id="The_Name"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">The Name</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">When Maeda left Japan, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">Judo</a> was also known as <i>Kano Jiu-Jitsu</i> and, even more generically, simply as <i>Jiu-Jitsu</i>. Teachers of both arts didn't try too hard to make the distinction clear. For example, Tsunejiro Tomita himself co-authored a book called <i>Judo: The Modern School of Jiu-Jitsu</i> in around 1906. Outside Japan, however, this distinction wasn't even hinted. Both arts, jujutsu and judo, were practically unknown. To the extent that they were known, they were considered the same thing. The distinction between a <i>jutsu</i> and a <i>do</i> is subtle, and is still <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budo#Conclusion" title="Budo">used somewhat arbitrarily</a> to this day. Thus, when Maeda and Satake arrived in Brazil, every newspaper announced <i>jiu-jitsu</i> despite both men being Kodokan Judoka.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The Japanese government itself did not officially mandate until 1925 that the correct name for the martial art taught in the Japanese public schools should be "judo" rather than "jujutsu". In Brazil, the art is still called "Jiu-Jitsu". When the Gracies went to the United States to spread their art, the system became known as "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" and "Gracie Jiu-Jitsu."</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">"Jiu-Jitsu" was also the original spelling of the art in the West and that is why this style retains the original (although technically incorrect) spelling. Other common spellings are Jujitsu, Ju-Jitsu, Ju jitsu and Jujutsu - the last being correct in accordance with modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanization_of_Japanese" title="Romanization of Japanese">romanization</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The art is sometimes referred to as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (GJJ), but this name is trademarked by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorion_Gracie" title="Rorion Gracie">Rorion Gracie</a> and specifically refers to the style taught by him and his selected teachers. Other members of the Gracie family often call their style by personalized names, such as Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu or Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and similarly, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Machado_brothers&action=edit" class="new" title="Machado brothers">Machado brothers</a> call their style Machado Jiu-Jitsu (MJJ). While each style and its instructors have their own unique aspects, they are all basic variations of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Development" id="Development"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Development</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Maeda met an influential <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businessman" title="Businessman">businessman</a> named Gastão Gracie who helped him get established. In 1917, his son <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie" title="Carlos Gracie">Carlos Gracie</a>, still a 14 year-old boy, watched a demonstration by Maeda at the <i>Teatro da Paz</i> and decided to learn jiu-jitsu. Maeda accepted Carlos as a student, and Carlos went on to become a great exponent of the art and ultimately, with his younger brother <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9lio_Gracie" title="Hélio Gracie">Hélio Gracie</a> became the founder of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1921, Gastão Gracie and his family moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro" title="Rio de Janeiro">Rio de Janeiro</a>. Carlos, then 17 years old, passed Maeda's teachings on to his brothers Osvaldo, Gastão and Jorge. Hélio was too young and sick at that time to learn the art, and due to medical imposition was prohibited to take part in the training sessions. Despite that, Hélio learned jiu-jitsu by watching his brothers. He eventually overcame his health problems and is now considered by many as the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (though others, such as Carlson Gracie, have pointed to Carlos as the founder of the art).</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Hélio competed in several submission judo competitions which mostly ended in a draw. One defeat (in 1951) came by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiko_Kimura" title="Masahiko Kimura">Masahiko Kimura</a>, whose surname the Gracies gave to the arm lock used to defeat Hélio.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_family" title="Gracie family">Gracie family</a> continued to develop the system throughout the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century" title="20th century">20th century</a>, often fighting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vale_tudo" title="Vale tudo">vale tudo</a> matches (precursors to modern <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMA" title="MMA">MMA</a>), during which it increased its focus on ground fighting and refined its techniques.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Spread" id="Spread"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Spread</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu came to international prominence in the martial arts community in the 1990s, when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royce_Gracie" title="Royce Gracie">Royce Gracie</a> won the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_1" title="UFC 1">first</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_2" title="UFC 2">second</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_4" title="UFC 4">fourth</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship" title="Ultimate Fighting Championship">Ultimate Fighting Championships</a>, which at the time were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-elimination_tournament" title="Single-elimination tournament">single elimination</a> martial arts tournaments. Royce fought against often much-larger opponents who were practicing other styles, including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" title="Boxing">boxing</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot-fighting" title="Shoot-fighting">shoot-fighting</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate" title="Karate">karate</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judo</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tae_kwon_do" title="Tae kwon do">tae kwon do</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrestling" title="Wrestling">wrestling</a>. It has since become a staple art for many <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts" title="Mixed martial arts">MMA</a> fighters and is largely credited for bringing wide-spread attention to the importance of ground fighting. Sport BJJ tournaments continue to grow in popularity worldwide and have given rise to no-gi <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submission_grappling" title="Submission grappling">submission grappling</a> tournaments, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADCC_Submission_Wrestling_World_Championship" title="ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship">ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Comparisons_with_Other_Jujutsu_Derivatives" id="Comparisons_with_Other_Jujutsu_Derivatives"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Comparisons with Other Jujutsu Derivatives</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Combat_Strategy" id="Combat_Strategy"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Combat Strategy</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Renzo Gracie wrote in his book <i>Mastering Jujitsu</i>: "The classical jujutsu of old Japan appeared to have no common strategy to guide a combatant over the course of a fight. Indeed, this was one of Kano's most fundamental and perceptive criticisms of the classical program." Maeda not only taught the art of judo to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Gracie" title="Carlos Gracie">Carlos Gracie</a>, but also taught a particular philosophy about the nature of combat developed by Kano, and further refined by Maeda based on his world-wide travels competing against fighters skilled in a wide variety of martial arts.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The book details Maeda's theory as arguing that physical combat could be broken down into distinct phases, such as the striking phase, the grappling phase, the standing phase, etc. Thus, it was a smart fighter's task to keep the fight located in the phase of combat that best suited his own strengths.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Renzo Gracie stated that this was a fundamental influence on the Gracie approach to combat. These strategies were further perfected over time by the Gracies and others, and became prominent in contemporary MMA.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Free_Sparring" id="Free_Sparring"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Free Sparring</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Like Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu encourages free <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparring" title="Sparring">sparring</a> against a live, resisting opponent. Practitioners therefore have the opportunity to test their skills and develop them under realistic conditions, while minimizing the risk of injury.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Ground_Fighting" id="Ground_Fighting"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Ground Fighting</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The most important factor that differentiates Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from modern Kodokan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo" title="Judo">judo</a>, as well as most schools of Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu" title="Jujutsu">jujutsu</a>, is that BJJ places much more emphasis on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_fighting" title="Ground fighting">ground fighting</a>. This has led to BJJ's great strengths on the ground, and also for its relative weakness in standing techniques. There is an increasing amount of cross-training between the two sports.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Influences" id="Influences"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Influences</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">It is sometimes stated that Maeda was a practitioner of traditional Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu" title="Jujutsu">jujutsu</a>. However, Maeda never trained in traditional jujutsu. He trained in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo" title="Sumo">sumo</a> as a teenager, and after that his first studies in jujutsu were as a student of Kano's Kodokan Judo, and he was promoted to 7th dan in judo the day before he died in 1941.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Hélio Gracie himself had already risen to the rank of 6th dan in judo by the time of his fight against Kimura in 1951.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Divergence_from_Kodokan_Judo" id="Divergence_from_Kodokan_Judo"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Divergence from Kodokan Judo</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Various changes over the years - some designed to make judo more interesting as a spectator sport for Olympic audiences, and some designed to make judo a safer sport - have greatly de-emphasised the groundwork aspects of judo, and reduced the range of joint locks allowed, though these non-sport aspects have been preserved in judo, and are practiced to varying extents in different judo schools.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu did not follow later changes in international judo rules, giving it a distinct identity as a martial art, while still being recognizable as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judo#Styles" title="Judo">sub-style of judo</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Other factors that have contributed towards the stylistic divergence of BJJ from Kodokan judo include the Gracies' desire to create a national martial art, the influence of Brazilian culture, and the Gracies' emphasis on full-contact fighting and self-defense.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">While BJJ allows all the techniques of judo to take the fight to the ground (i.e. both judo's scoring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_%28grappling%29" title="Throw (grappling)">throws</a> as well as judo's so-called 'skillful takedowns' like the flying armbar), BJJ differs in that it also allows a competitor to drag his opponent to the ground, and also to drop to the ground himself (as long he has first taken a grip.) Early Kodokan Judo allowed all those methods too, without even having the requirement to take a grip.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">BJJ is also strongly differentiated by its greater emphasis on groundwork, with its absence of most of the rules of Judo that lead to the competitors having to recommence in a standing position. The greater time dedicated to training on the ground has led to BJJ's enhancement of judo's groundwork, though many of the allegedly new techniques have actually been pre-existing judo tehcniques. This has been the result both of incorrect assumptions by BJJ practitioners that the techniques they learned in BJJ classes originated in BJJ, and also due to some instances of BJJ practitioners genuinely rediscovering techniques that they did not know already existed in judo, such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogoplata" title="Gogoplata">Gogoplata</a>. BJJ's different rules set and point scoring mechanisms are designed to give BJJ an arguably more practical emphasis.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Differences_between_BJJ_styles" id="Differences_between_BJJ_styles"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Differences between BJJ styles</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Today, the main differences between the BJJ styles is between traditional Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's emphasis on self-defense, and Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's orientation towards point competition. There is a large commonality of techniques between the two. Also, there is a wide variety of ideals in training in different schools in terms of the utilization of technique versus how much to attempt to overpower an opponent.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Style_of_fighting" id="Style_of_fighting"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Style of fighting</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_fighting" title="Ground fighting">ground fighting</a> techniques and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappling_hold#Submission_hold" title="Grappling hold">submission holds</a> involving <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint-locks" title="Joint-locks">joint-locks</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold" title="Chokehold">chokeholds</a> also found in numerous other arts with or without ground fighting emphasis. The premise is that most of the advantage of a larger, stronger opponent comes from superior reach and more powerful strikes, both of which are somewhat negated when grappling on the ground.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">BJJ permits a wide variety of techniques to take the fight to the ground after taking a grip. Once the opponent is on the ground, a number of maneuvers (and counter-maneuvers) are available to manipulate the opponent into a suitable position for the application of a submission technique. Achieving a dominant position on the ground is one of the hallmarks of the BJJ style, and includes effective use of the guard position to defend oneself from bottom, and passing the guard to dominate from top position with side control, mount, and back mount positions. This system of maneuvering and manipulation can be likened to a form of kinetic chess when utilized by two experienced practitioners. A submission hold is the equivalent of checkmate.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Types_of_Submission" id="Types_of_Submission"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Types of Submission</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The majority of submission holds can be grouped into two broad categories: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_lock" title="Joint lock">joint locks</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold" title="Chokehold">chokes</a>. Joint locks typically involve isolating an opponent's limb and creating a lever with the body position which will force the joint to move past its normal range of motion, generally referred to as hyperextension.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Air chokes are less efficient than strangles and may result in damage to the opponent's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrate_trachea" title="Vertebrate trachea">trachea</a>, sometimes even resulting in death. By contrast, blood chokes (strangulations) cut the flow of blood to the opponent's brain, causing a rapid loss of consciousness without damaging any internal structures. Being "choked-out" in this way is relatively safe as long as the choke is released soon enough after unconsciousness, letting blood back into the brain before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoxia_%28medical%29" title="Hypoxia (medical)">oxygen deprivation</a> damage begins. However, it should not be practiced unsupervised.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The prevalence of the more dangerous "air" chokes has led to the banning of choke holds from some United States police departments. Because of the negative legal connotations of the words "choke" and "strangulation", it is advisable to use the term "lateral vascular restraint" when describing a blood choke used in a self-defense situation.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Training_Methods" id="Training_Methods"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Training Methods</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's focus on submissions without the use of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strike_%28attack%29" title="Strike (attack)">strikes</a> while training allows practitioners to practice at full speed and with full power, resembling the effort used in a real competition. Training methods include technique drills in which techniques are practiced against a non-resisting partner; isolation sparring where only a certain technique or sets of techniques are used against full resistance; and full sparring in which each opponent tries to submit their opponent using any legal technique. Physical conditioning is also an important part of training at many clubs.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Grading" id="Grading"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Grading</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The standards for grading and belt promotions vary between schools, but the widely accepted measures of a person's skill and rank in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are:</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The amount of technical knowledge they can demonstrate, and</li><li>Their performance in sparring and competition.</li></ol><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Technical knowledge is judged by the number of techniques a person can perform, and the level of skill with which he performs them in sparring and competition. This allows for smaller and older practitioners to be recognized for their knowledge though they may not be the strongest fighters in the school. It is a distinctly individual sport, and practitioners are encouraged to adapt the techniques to make them work for their body type, strategic preferences, and level of athleticism. The ultimate criterion is the ability to execute the techniques successfully, rather than strict stylistic compliance.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Competitions play an important role in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gradings, as they allow an instructor to compare the level of his students against those of the same rank from other schools. A belt promotion may be given after success in a competition, particularly at the lower belt levels. A promotion might also be awarded when a person can submit most people in his school of the same rank, e.g. a white belt who consistently submits most other white belts in sparring and is starting to catch blue belts.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The high level of competition between schools - and its importance for belt promotion - is also considered to be one of the key factors preventing instructors from lowering standards or allowing people to buy their way up the belts. Instructors may also take the personality of the person and their behavior outside of class into account, and may refuse to promote someone if they exhibit antisocial or destructive tendencies. It is by these and other criteria that most instructors promote their students. Some schools may also have formal testing which might include oral or written exams.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Some schools use a stripe system for each belt level, indicating progress through that belt.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table class="wikitable" style="float: right; text-align: left; font-family: arial; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"> <caption>Adult belt colors (16 and over)</caption> <tbody><tr> <td>White</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_white_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo white belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Judo_white_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_white_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Blue</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_blue_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo blue belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Judo_blue_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_blue_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Purple</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_purple_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo purple belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Judo_purple_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_purple_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Brown</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_brown_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo brown belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Judo_brown_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_brown_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Black</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_black_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo black belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d7/Judo_black_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_black_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Red</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_red_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo red belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Judo_red_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_red_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><table class="wikitable" style="float: right; text-align: left; font-family: arial; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"> <caption>Children belt colors (15 and under)</caption> <tbody><tr> <td>White</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_white_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo white belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Judo_white_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_white_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Yellow</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_yellow_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo yellow belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Judo_yellow_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_yellow_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Orange</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_orange_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo orange belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Judo_orange_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_orange_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Green</td> <td style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Judo_green_belt.PNG" class="image" title="Judo green belt.PNG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Judo_green_belt.PNG/75px-Judo_green_belt.PNG" border="0" height="29" width="75" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Some schools use slightly different belt systems, such as having more colored belts before blue belt, but the above are the only widely accepted ranks as they are the standards for tournaments. There are minimum age requirements for belt promotions. Blue belts are never awarded to anyone under the age of 16. For promotion to black belt the minimum age is 19 years old according to the main regulating body of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu" title="International Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu">International Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Stripes may be awarded to any rank below <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_belt_%28martial_arts%29" title="Black belt (martial arts)">black belt</a>, but like the belts themselves, they tend to be given at the instructor's discretion, and may be in recognition of accomplishments like noticeable improvement or tournament victories. However, not all schools award stripes, or award them consistently, so the number of stripes a person has is not necessarily a good measure of their accomplishments or time in training. When they are used, it is standard for a student to receive four stripes before being promoted to the next rank.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Black belts can receive degrees, up to 9th degree, for as long as they train or teach the art. At 8<sup>th</sup> degree, the black belt is replaced by an alternately red and black belt. At 9<sup>th</sup> & 10<sup>th</sup> degree, the belt becomes solid red. Only the founding Gracie Brothers Helio, Carlos & his brothers will ever have the 10<sup>th</sup> degree red belt. The Gracie family members who are 9<sup>th</sup> degrees belt holders are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlson_Gracie" title="Carlson Gracie">Carlson Gracie</a>, Reylson Gracie, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorion_Gracie" title="Rorion Gracie">Rorion Gracie</a>.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">BJJ differs in some aspects from other martial arts in the criteria for grade promotion, which is almost exclusively based on practical expertise in <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randori" title="Randori">randori</a></i> (free sparring, or rolling) and championship results. Its expected, although not always the case, that any BJJ black belt is extremely proficient in every applied aspect of BJJ and also perform well in competition. Less emphasis is given to theoretical and background knowledge. Rarely is any formal test undertaken for the grading, which is based mainly in observation at every-day practice sessions. By contrast, in Judo, practical knowledge and expertise in shiai (competition) and/or randori alone would not normally give an athlete the black-belt grade, as knowledge of technique names and Kata demonstration are necessary (the exception is promotion by Batsugun.)</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There is a vast difference in how often belt progression takes place, and the requirements for the progression. More traditional schools and especially Gracie-affiliated schools believe that black belt cannot be achieved in under 8 to 10 years, while some schools allow students to achieve black belt more quickly.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Graduation" id="Graduation"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Graduation</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">A common custom on graduation is <i>running the gauntlet</i>. The graduand is hit on their bare back with belts—once by each of their fellow practitioners—as they walk or run past. This custom is said to have originated in Brazil.</p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Black-Belt_World_Champions" id="Black-Belt_World_Champions"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">Black-Belt World Champions</span></h2><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="2007_IBJJF_Mundials_.28World_Championship.29"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">2007 IBJJF Mundials (World Championship)</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Openweight: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gracie" title="Roger Gracie">Roger Gracie</a></li><li>+97 kg: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafael_Lovato%2C_Jr.&action=edit" class="new" title="Rafael Lovato, Jr.">Rafael Lovato, Jr.</a></li><li>-97 kg: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gracie" title="Roger Gracie">Roger Gracie</a></li><li>-91 kg: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexandre_Ribeiro&action=edit" class="new" title="Alexandre Ribeiro">Alexandre Ribeiro</a></li><li>-85 kg: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Romulo_Barral&action=edit" class="new" title="Romulo Barral">Romulo Barral</a></li><li>-79 kg: Lucas Leite</li><li>-73 kg: Lucas Lepri</li><li>-67 kg: Rubens Charles</li><li>-61 kg: Robson Moura</li><li>-55 kg: Bruno Malfacine</li></ul><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="2005_CBJJO_Copa_Do_Mundo_.28World_Cup.29"></a></p><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">2005 CBJJO Copa Do Mundo (World Cup)</span></h3><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>Openweight (-75 kg): Rodrigo Antônio</li><li>Openweight (+75 kg): Alexandre Ribeiro</li><li>+97 kg: Leonardo Leite</li><li>-97 kg: Alexandre Ribeiro</li><li>-91 kg: Robert Drysdale</li><li>-85 kg: Demian Maia</li><li>-79 kg: Gustavo Campos</li><li>-73 kg: Leonardo Santos</li><li>-67 kg: Rubens Charles</li><li>-61 kg: Ricardo Vieira</li><li>-55 kg: Gabriel Moraes</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Taken from: </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu</a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">See also </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://worldmma.blogspot.com/2007/11/gracie-family.html">Gracie Family</a></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-9329683307271965132007-12-02T12:55:00.000+07:002008-01-22T02:47:52.994+07:00Kendo<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table class="infobox" style="width: 23em; font-size: 0.9em; font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><br /></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-size:larger;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> 剣道</span></div></th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendo.JPG" class="image" title="Kendo.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/Kendo.JPG/200px-Kendo.JPG" border="0" height="249" width="200" /></a><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Focus</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaponry" title="Weaponry">Weaponry</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Hardness</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-contact" title="Semi-contact">Semi-contact</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Country of origin</b></td> <td><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Japan.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Japan"><img alt="Flag of Japan" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Creator</b></td> <td>Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato (長沼 四郎左衛門 国郷), attributed</td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Parenthood</b></td> <td><i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenjutsu" title="Kenjutsu">Kenjutsu</a></i></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Olympic Sport</b></td> <td>No</td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Kendo</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">剣道</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">kendō</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, or "<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E9%81%93" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:道">way</a> of the <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%89%A3" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:剣">sword</a>", is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_martial_art" title="Japanese martial art">Japanese martial art</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fencing" title="Fencing">fencing</a>. Kendo developed from traditional techniques of Japanese <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordsmanship" title="Swordsmanship">swordsmanship</a> known as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenjutsu" title="Kenjutsu">kenjutsu</a></i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts" title="Martial arts">martial arts</a> values with sporting-like physical elements.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Practitioners of kendo are called <i>kendōka</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">剣道家</span><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, meaning "one who practices kendo", or <i>kenshi</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">剣士</span><span class="t_nihongo_norom" style="display: none;"><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji"><i>kenshi</i></span></i></span><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, meaning "swordsman".</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Kendo is practised wearing traditionally styled clothing and protective armour (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C5%8Dgu" title="Bōgu">bōgu</a></i>), using one or two bamboo swords (<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinai" title="Shinai">shinai</a></i>) as weapons. Kendo may be seen as a Japanese style of fencing. The movements in kendo are different from European fencing because the design of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword" title="Sword">sword</a> is different, as is the way it is used. Kendo training is quite noisy in comparison to other martial arts or sports. This is because <i>kendōka</i> use a shout, or <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai" title="Kiai">kiai</a></i>, to express their spirit, and when a strike or cut is performed, the front foot contacts the floor in a motion similar to stamping.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are estimates that about eight million people world-wide practice kendo with approximately seven million in Japan. However, the "Kodansha Meibo" (a directory of high-ranking members published by the All Japan Kendo Federation) states that as of January 2003, there are 1.3 million registered kendo practitioners in Japan. In Korea, there are about 500,000 practitioners of kendo (known as kumdo in Korea) as of 2005, according to the Korean Kumdo Association.<sup class="noprint Template-Fact"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources since November 2007" style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></sup></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Kendo is one of the modern Japanese <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud%C5%8D" title="Budō">budō</a></i> and embodies the essence of Japanese fighting arts.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><table style="font-family: arial; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="toc" class="toc" summary="Contents"> <tbody><tr> <td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="mw-headline">The concept and purpose of kendo</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 1975 the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Japan_Kendo_Federation" title="All Japan Kendo Federation">All Japan Kendo Federation</a> (AJKF) developed then published <i>The Concept and Purpose of Kendo</i>.<sup id="_ref-0" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo#_note-0" title=""></a></sup></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="The_concept_of_kendo" id="The_concept_of_kendo"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">The concept of kendo</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Kendo</i> is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katana" title="Katana">Katana</a></i> (sword).</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="The_purpose_of_kendo" id="The_purpose_of_kendo"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h3 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">The purpose of kendo</span></h3><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><dl style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><dd> <dl><dd>To mold the mind and body.</dd><dd>To cultivate a vigorous spirit,</dd><dd>And through correct and rigid training,</dd><dd>To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo.</dd><dd>To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor.</dd><dd>To associate with others with sincerity.</dd><dd>And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.</dd></dl> </dd></dl><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><dl style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><dd> <dl><dd>This will make one be able:</dd><dd>To love his/her country and society.</dd><dd>To contribute to the development of culture</dd><dd>And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.<br /></dd></dl> </dd></dl><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Equipment_and_clothing" id="Equipment_and_clothing"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Equipment and clothing</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> <center style="font-family: arial;"> <table class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 22px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bogu.jpg" class="image" title="Bogu.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Bogu.jpg/120px-Bogu.jpg" border="0" height="101" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Bōgu</i> set.</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 30px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Shinai.jpg" class="image" title="Shinai.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Shinai.jpg/120px-Shinai.jpg" border="0" height="85" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>A <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinai" title="Shinai">shinai</a></i>.</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendo_uniform_parts.png" class="image" title="Kendo uniform parts.png"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Kendo_uniform_parts.png/100px-Kendo_uniform_parts.png" border="0" height="120" width="100" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Armour and clothing components</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Kendo</i> is practiced using a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinai" title="Shinai">shinai</a></i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">竹刀</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">しない</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>.<sup id="_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo#_note-1" title=""></a></sup> One, or more rarely two <i>shinai</i>, are used. The <i>shinai</i> is the practice "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword" title="Sword">sword</a>" and is made up of four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo" title="Bamboo">bamboo</a> staves, which are held together by leather fittings. <i>Kendoka</i> also use <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokken" title="Bokken">bokken</a>/bokuto</i> (wooden swords) to practice more formal, set forms known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_%28martial_arts%29" title="Kata (martial arts)"><i>kata</i></a>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Protective armour <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogu" title="Bogu">bōgu</a></i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">防具</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">ぼうぐ</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, is worn to protect specified target areas on the head, arms and body. The head is protected by the helmet-like <i>men</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">面</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">めん</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, the forearms and hand by gauntlets called <i>kote</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">小手</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">こて</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>, and the body by the <i>dō</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">胴</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">どう</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span> and <i>tare</i> <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">垂れ</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">たれ</span></i><span class="t_nihongo_help"><sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Japanese" title="Help:Japanese"><span class="t_nihongo_icon" style="padding: 0pt 0.1em; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-decoration: none;font-size:80;" ></span></a></sup></span>)</span>. The clothing worn under the <i>bogu</i> comprises a jacket, or <i>kendogi</i>/<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keikogi" title="Keikogi">keikogi</a></i> and a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakama" title="Hakama">hakama</a></i>, which is a trouser-like garment with wide legs.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="History" id="History"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">History</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Since the earliest <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai" title="Samurai">samurai</a></i> government in Japan, during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakura_period" title="Kamakura period">Kamakura period</a> (1185-1233), sword fencing, together with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_riding" title="Horse riding">horse riding</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABd%C5%8D" title="Kyūdō">archery</a>, were the main martial pursuits of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military" title="Military">military</a> clans. In this period <i>kendo</i> developed under the strong influence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Buddhism" title="Zen Buddhism">Zen Buddhism</a>. The <i>samurai</i> could equate the disregard for his own life in the heat of battle, which was considered necessary for victory in individual combat, to the Buddhist concept of the illusory nature of the distinction between life and death.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 222px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FENCING_AT_AN_AGRICULTURAL_SCHOOL.jpg" class="image" title="Kendō at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920"><img alt="Kendō at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/FENCING_AT_AN_AGRICULTURAL_SCHOOL.jpg/220px-FENCING_AT_AN_AGRICULTURAL_SCHOOL.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="150" width="220" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FENCING_AT_AN_AGRICULTURAL_SCHOOL.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Kendō at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920</div> </div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Those swordsmen established schools of <i>kendo</i> training which continued for centuries, and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The names of the schools reflect the essence of the originator’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_%28concept%29" title="Enlightenment (concept)">enlightenment</a>. Thus the Ittō-ryū (Single sword school) indicates the founder’s illumination that all possible cuts with the sword emanate from and are contained in one original essential cut. The Mutō (swordless school) expresses the comprehension of the originator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaoka_Tesshu" title="Yamaoka Tesshu">Yamaoka Tesshu</a>, that "There is no sword outside the mind". The 'Munen Musō-ryū’ (No Intent, no preconception) similarly expresses the understanding that the essence of <i>kendo</i> transcends the reflective thought process. The formal <i>kendo</i> exercises known as <i>kata</i>, were developed several centuries ago and are still studied today.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The introduction of bamboo practice swords (<i>shinai</i>) and armour (<i>bogu</i>) to <i>kendo</i> training is attributed to Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato (長沼 四郎左衛門 国郷, 1688–1767).<sup id="_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo#_note-3" title=""></a></sup> This is believed to be the foundation of modern <i>kendo</i>. <i>Kendo</i> began to make its modern appearance during the late 18th century. Use of the <i>shinai</i> and armour (<i>bogu</i>) made possible the full force delivery of strikes and thrusts without inflicting injury on the opponent. These advances, along with practice formats, set the foundations of modern <i>kendo</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Concepts such as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushin_%28Martial_Arts%29" title="Mushin (Martial Arts)">mushin</a></i>, or "empty mind" as professed by exponents of Zen, are an essential attainment for high level <i>kendo</i>. <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fudoshin" title="Fudoshin">Fudoshin</a></i>, or "unmoving mind", is a conceptual attribute of the deity <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acala" title="Acala">Fudo Myo-O</a>, one of the five "Kings of Light" of Shingon Buddhism. <i>Fudoshin</i>, implies that the <i>kendoka</i> cannot be led astray by delusions of anger, doubt, fear, or surprise arising from the opponent’s actions. Thus today it is possible to embark on a similar quest for spiritual enlightenment as followed by the <i>samurai</i> of old.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dai_Nippon_Butoku_Kai" title="Dai Nippon Butoku Kai">Dai Nippon Butoku Kai</a></i> was established in 1895 to solidify, promote, and standardise all martial disciplines and systems in Japan. The DNBK changed the name of <i>Gekiken</i> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABjitai" title="Kyūjitai">Kyūjitai</a>: 擊劍; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjitai" title="Shinjitai">Shinjitai</a>: 撃剣, "hitting sword") to <i>kendo</i> in 1920.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Modern_practice" id="Modern_practice"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Modern practice</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Kendo</i> is ideally practiced in a purpose-built <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dj%C5%8D" title="Dōjō">dōjō</a></i>, though standard sports halls and other venues are often used instead. An appropriate venue has a clean and well-sprung wooden floor, suitable for the distinctive stamping footwork used by the bare-footed practitioners.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In modern <i>kendo</i>, there are strikes (or cuts) and thrusts. Strikes are allowed only to be made on specified target areas, or <i>datotsu-bui</i> on the wrists, head or body, all of which are protected by <i>bogu</i>. The targets are <i>men</i> (top of the head), <i>sayu-men</i> or <i>yoko-men</i> (upper left and right side of the head), the right <i>kote</i>, or wrist at any time, the left <i>kote</i> when it is in a raised position (such as <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Ddan-no-kamae" title="Jōdan-no-kamae">jōdan-no-kamae</a></i> also known as <i>jōdan</i>) and the left or right side of the <i>dō</i> or torso. Thrusts are only allowed to the throat (<i>tsuki</i>). However, since an incorrectly performed thrust could injure the neck, thrusting techniques in free practice and competition are often restricted to senior <i>dan</i> graded <i>kendoka</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <center style="font-family: arial;"> <table class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wikikendo3.JPG" class="image" title="Wikikendo3.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a7/Wikikendo3.JPG/120px-Wikikendo3.JPG" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Kendoka perform <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonkyo&action=edit" class="new" title="Sonkyo">sonkyo</a></i> before combat.</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendo_EM_2005_-_taiatari.jpg" class="image" title="Kendo EM 2005 - taiatari.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Kendo_EM_2005_-_taiatari.jpg/111px-Kendo_EM_2005_-_taiatari.jpg" border="0" height="120" width="111" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Two kendoka in <i>tsuba zeriai</i>.</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendo_target_areas.png" class="image" title="Kendo target areas.png"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Kendo_target_areas.png/92px-Kendo_target_areas.png" border="0" height="120" width="92" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Kendo</i> target points, or <i>datotsu-bui</i>.</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 35px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendo_EM_2005_-_nito.jpg" class="image" title="Kendo EM 2005 - nito.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Kendo_EM_2005_-_nito.jpg/120px-Kendo_EM_2005_-_nito.jpg" border="0" height="75" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p>Two kendoka, one (left) is playing in <i>nitō</i> (two sword style) and the other (right) is playing in <i>ittō</i> (one sword style).</p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Once a <i>kendoka</i> begins to practice in <i>bogu</i>, a practice session may include any or all of the following types of practice.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li><i>Kiri-kaeshi</i>: successively striking the left and right <i>men</i>, practice centering, distance, and correct technique, while building spirit and stamina.</li><li><i>Waza-geiko</i>: <i>waza</i> or technique practice in which the student learns to use the many techniques of Kendo with a receiving partner.</li><li><i>Kakari-geiko</i>: short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness, the ability to attack no matter what has come before, as well as building spirit and stamina.</li><li><i>Ji-geiko</i>: undirected practice where the <i>kendoka</i> has a chance to try all that has been learnt, against an opponent.</li><li><i>Gokaku-geiko</i>: practice between two kendoist of similar skill level.</li><li><i>Hikitate-geiko</i>: practice where a senior <i>kendoka</i> guides a junior through practice.</li><li><i>Shiai-geiko</i>: competition practice which may also be judged.</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Competition" id="Competition"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Competition</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In <i>shiai</i>, or competition, a point is only awarded when the attack is made firmly and properly to a target point with <i>ki-ken-tai-ichi</i>, or spirit, sword and body as one. This means that for an attack to be successful, the <i>shinai</i> must strike the specified target, the contact by the <i>shinai</i> must happen simultaneously with the attacker's front foot contacting with floor and the <i>kendoka</i> must vocalise an expression of <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiai" title="Kiai">kiai</a></i> that displays good spirit. Additionally, the top third of the <i>shinai</i> must make contact with the target and direction of movement (<i>hasuji</i>) by the <i>shinai</i> must also be correct. Finally, <i>zanshin</i>, or continuation of awareness, must be present and shown before, during and after the strike, then the player must be ready to attack again.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In a tournament, there are usually three referees, or <i>shinpan</i>. Each holds a red flag and a white flag in opposite hands. To signal a point, the <i>shinpan</i> raise the flag corresponding to the colour of the ribbon worn by the scoring competitor. Generally, at least two <i>shinpan</i> must agree, for a point to be awarded. The match continues until a pronouncement of the point that has been scored.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The first competitor to score two points wins the match. If the time limit is reached and only one competitor has a point, that competitor wins.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In the case of a tie, there are several options:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><li>The match may be declared a draw.</li><li>The match may be extended (<i>encho</i>), and the first competitor to score a point wins.</li><li>The winner may be chosen by a decision made by the <i>shinpan</i>, or <i>hantei</i>, in which the three referees vote for their choice. This is done simultaneously, by show of flags.</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> <center style="font-family: arial;"> <table class="gallery" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendomen.jpg" class="image" title="Kendomen.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Kendomen.jpg/120px-Kendomen.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Men</i></p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendokote.jpg" class="image" title="Kendokote.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Kendokote.jpg/120px-Kendokote.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Kote</i></p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendodo.jpg" class="image" title="Kendodo.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Kendodo.jpg/120px-Kendodo.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Dō</i></p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> <td> <div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 28px 0pt; width: 150px;"> <div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendotsuki.jpg" class="image" title="Kendotsuki.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b0/Kendotsuki.jpg/120px-Kendotsuki.jpg" border="0" height="90" width="120" /></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <p><i>Tsuki</i></p> <p><!-- Pre-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Post-expand include size: 0/2048000 bytes Template argument size: 0/2048000 bytes </p> <ol><li>ifexist count: 0/2000 </li></ol> <p>--></p> </div> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </center> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Grades" id="Grades"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Grades</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Technical achievement in <i>kendo</i> is measured by advancement in grade, rank or level. The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyu" title="Kyu">kyu</a></i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_rank" title="Dan rank">dan</a></i> grading system is used to assess the level of one's skill in kendo. The dan levels are from <i>sho-dan</i> (1) to <i>ju-dan</i> (10). There are usually 6 grades below <i>sho-dan</i> known as <i>kyu</i>. The <i>kyu</i> numbering is in reverse order with <i>ikkyu</i> (1) being the grade immediately below <i>sho-dan</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In the AJKF the grades of <i>kyu-dan</i> (9) and <i>ju-dan</i> (10) are no longer awarded. However, FIK grading rules allow national <i>kendo</i> organisations to establish a special committee to consider the award of those grades.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are no visible differences between <i>kendo</i> grades; beginners may dress the same as higher-ranking <i>yudansha</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">All candidates for examination face a panel of examiners. A larger, more qualified panel is usually assembled to assess the higher <i>dan</i> grades.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Kendo</i> examinations typically consist of a demonstration of the applicants skill and for some <i>dan</i> grades, also a written exam. The <i>hachi-dan</i> (8 dan) <i>kendo</i> exam is extremely difficult, with a reported pass rate of less than 1 percent.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Kata" id="Kata"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Kata</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">There are 10 <i>nihon kendo kata</i> (Japanese <i>kendo</i> forms). These are performed with wooden swords (bokken/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokuto" title="Bokuto">bokuto</a>), the <i>kata</i> include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking, and have useful practical application in general <i>kendo</i>. Occasionally, real swords or swords with a blunt edge, called <i>kata-yo</i> or <i>habiki</i>, may be used for a display of <i>kata</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 182px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wikikendo2.JPG" class="image" title="Nihon Kendo Kata"><img alt="Nihon Kendo Kata" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/Wikikendo2.JPG/180px-Wikikendo2.JPG" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="135" width="180" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wikikendo2.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> Nihon Kendo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kata_%28martial_arts%29" title="Kata (martial arts)">Kata</a></div> </div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Kata</i> 1–7 are performed with both partners using a <i>daitō</i> or <i>tachi</i> (long sword) style bokutoh of around 102 cm. <i>Kata</i> 8–10 are performed with one partner using a <i>daitō</i> and the other using a <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodachi" title="Kodachi">kodachi</a></i> or <i>shoto</i> (short sword), style <i>bokutoh</i> of around 55cm. During <i>kata</i> practice, the participants take the roles of either <i>uchidachi</i> (teacher) or <i>shidachi</i> (student). The <i>uchidachi</i> makes the first move or attack in each <i>kata</i>. As this is a teaching role, the <i>uchidachi</i> is always the 'losing' side, thus allowing the <i>shidachi</i> or student to learn and gain confidence.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><i>Nihon kendo kata</i> were drawn from representative <i>kenjutsu</i> schools and tend to be quite deep and advanced. In some areas the regular training curriculum does not include <i>nihon kendo kata</i>.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">In 2003, the introduction of <i>Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho</i>, a set of basic exercises using a bokuto, attempted to bridge this gap. This form of practice, is intended primarily for <i>kendoka</i> up to <i>ni-dan</i> (2), but is very useful for all <i>kendo</i> students.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><a name="Outside_Japan" id="Outside_Japan"></a></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span class="editsection"></span><span class="mw-headline">Outside Japan</span></h2><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;" class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width: 252px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendoka%2C_Torino.jpg" class="image" title="Kendoka at the 2006 World Fencing Championships in Turin, Italy."><img alt="Kendoka at the 2006 World Fencing Championships in Turin, Italy." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Kendoka%2C_Torino.jpg/250px-Kendoka%2C_Torino.jpg" class="thumbimage" border="0" height="167" width="250" /></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify" style="float: right;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kendoka%2C_Torino.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"><br /></a></div> <i>Kendoka</i> at the 2006 World Fencing Championships in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turin" title="Turin">Turin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a>.</div> </div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Kendo_Federation" title="International Kendo Federation">International Kendo Federation</a> (FIK) was established in 1970 and in December 2006 admitted their 47th national or regional federation as an affiliate. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Kendo_Championship" title="World Kendo Championship">World Kendo Championships</a> have been held every three years since 1970.</p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;">Taken from: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo</a><br /></p>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-9857540255048717542007-12-02T12:36:00.001+07:002008-01-22T02:46:47.090+07:00Steven Seagal in Aikido Demo<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:arial;">You might be know Steven Seagal. Yes, he is a famous action movie star from Hollywood. He is also an expert Aikido practitioner. And, tell me if I wrong, he was the first American who held 9th degree black belt in Aikido. Well, if you are interesting to watch his video when he participated in a Aikido demo (embukai) in Tokyo eleven years ago, just click </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8819318248272301944&q=aikido&total=13117&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1">here</a><span style="font-family:arial;">. For your information, in that year, Seagal had already held his 7th degree black belt.</span></div>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5606737574959480894.post-64096715667958398012007-11-29T15:32:00.001+07:002008-01-22T02:44:42.328+07:00Aikido<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ImlQtPt7i98/R057GlIiB0I/AAAAAAAAAAU/kHm98Zy85Mw/s1600-h/aikido.htm"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 241px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ImlQtPt7i98/R057GlIiB0I/AAAAAAAAAAU/kHm98Zy85Mw/s320/aikido.htm" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138179577853642562" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The Japanese word Aikido (合気道) consists of three characters, which are 合 (<i>ai</i>: unity, harmony), 気 (<i>ki</i>: spirit, life energy, fundamental force of the universe), and 道 (<i>dō</i>: way, path). The term <i>aiki</i> was mastered for the purpose of killing. However, in Aikido, one seeks to neutralize an aggressor without causing harm or injury. The founder of Aikido declared, "To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace." A number of Aikido practitioners interpret Aikido metaphorically, seeing parallels between Aikido techniques and other methods for conflict resolution by harmonizing with the fundamental of the universe. So, Aikido can be translated as "the way of unity with the fundamental force of the universe". Refers to the martial arts principle or tactic of blending with an attacker's movements for the purpose of controlling their actions with minimal effort. One applies by understanding the rhythm and intent of the attacker to find the optimal position and timing to apply a counter-technique.<br /></span></div><div style="font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aikido is not just an ordinary martial art, it is a true Budo (martial way). It has evolved in the historic tradition of Japanese warrior arts. It must be understood that studies in earnest Budo is more than a science of tactics and self-defense, it is a discipline for perfecting the spirit. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (植芝<span lang="JA"> </span>盛平<span lang="JA"> </span><i>Ueshiba Morihei</i>, 14 December 1883-26 April 1969). He is known to thousands Aikidoka (Aikido practitioner) throughout the world as O-Sensei (Great Teacher). Even as a young man, Morihei Ueshiba was an extraordinary martial artist. He was a master of the sword, the staff, the spear, as well as the art of jujutsu. But he also had a strong spiritual drive, and brooded over the futility of a path based on victory over others. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Leading a life of austerity and rigorous training, Morihei struggled with this dilemma. He delved deeply into the study of religion, especially Shinto (<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s native religion of nature worship). The dilemma was resolved in a moment of profound awakening. Transformed by his spiritual insights, Morihei transmuted his technical mastery of traditional martial arts into a new form of martial art. The art of Aikido was one that was fundamentally different from those that preceded it. It was also one of refinement and astonishing power. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"The secret of Aikido," he wrote, "is to harmonize with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself." </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Morihei maintained that Budo is a work of love, a path to overcome discord in ourselves and bring peace to the world, "To make the heart of the universe one's own heart." He taught that true awareness is not grasped by intellect alone. "This is not mere theory," he said. "You must practice it."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Dynamics Of Aikido</b></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The essence of all Aikido technique is the use of total body movements to create spherical motion around a stable, energized center. Even when a technique appears to be using only one part of the body, close observation reveals the Aikidoka movements are, in fact, total body movements. Properly executed, some techniques are spectacular, sending an opponent flying thorough the air. Others are small, deft movements that immobilize the aggressor. Both results are achieved through precise use of leverage, inertia, gravity, and the action of centrifugal and centripetal forces. Ultimately, it is the energy of the attack itself which brings down the attacker.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Aikido Training</b></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The final aim of Budo is personal transformation. Its goal is the creation of integrated human beings who are able to bring the totality of their wisdom and capabilities in order to resolve a problem. Yet philosophical discussion is rare in the dojo (training hall). The focus is highly practical. Constant repetition to master the fundamentals of movement, timing and breathing is the fundamental requirement. Students train themselves to capture the opponent's action and redirect it with techniques of martial efficiency and power. At the same time, they become aware of the tendency to overreact to opposition, and learn to remain "centered" under all conditions. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Most practice is done with a partner. Each works at his or her own level of ability, alternating as <i>uke</i> (the attacker), and <i>nage</i> (the one who receives the attack). Both roles are stressed as each contributes skills that enhance overall sensitivity and control. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Increased stamina, flexibility, and muscle development occur naturally as a result of training, but the techniques themselves do not depend on strength for effectiveness. Since Aikido's movements and techniques arise from the most efficient utilization of the entire being, great power can be developed by the practitioner, regardless of physical strength. Aikido practice encompasses a broad range of training styles, and allows people to train based on their individual stage of development. As a result, Aikido can be practiced by men, women and children of all ages.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Centering</b></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Aikidoka develops a relaxed posture in which the weight of the body is directed towards its physiologic center in the lower abdomen. Gravity is no longer a force to be overcome. Rather it serves to support and stabilize posture. As a result, ordinary movement assumes an appearance of grace and economy. The effects of centering are mental as well as physical. In addition vitality increases, the senses are sharpened, and one is less affected by the irritations and annoyances of daily living. This state is referred to in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> as having <i>hara</i>, or strong <i>ki</i>. It is a manifestation of the inner quality which aids the student of Aikido to develop to his or her fullest potential in every area of life.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Ki</b></span> </p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The study of <i>ki </i>is a critical component of Aikido and its study defies categorization as either "physical" or "mental" training, as it encompasses both. The original <i>kanji</i> for <i>ki</i> was 氣. It symbolize representation of a lid covering a pot full of rice, the "nourishing vapors" contained within are <i>ki</i>. Ki is most often understood as unified physical and mental intention, however it is often found in traditional martial arts related with "life energy". Gozo Shioda's Yoshinkan Aikido, considered one of the 'hard styles', largely follows Morihei's teachings from before World War II, which still much influence of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, and surmises that the secret to <i>ki</i> lies in timing and the application of the whole body's strength to a single point. In later years, Morihei's application of <i>ki</i> in Aikido took on a softer, more gentle feel. This was his Takemusu Aiki and many of his later students teach about <i>ki</i> from this perspective. Koichi Tohei's Ki Society centers almost exclusively around the study of the empirical experience of <i>ki</i> with students ranked separately in Aikido techniques and <i>ki</i> development.</span></p>Donnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04598087408229262757noreply@blogger.com0