Martial Art Orientation

Every organization or activity has its own orientation. It could be more than one, although the organization/activity is only one. For example; a hospital could be profit-oriented, but it could be charity-oriented on the other side.

So does Martial Art. It has a few orientation, depending on its nature or its user's willing. Following explanation is three orientation of Martial Art:

1. Defensive Orientation

Remembering Buddhism atmosphere and influence in martial art history, some martial arts have defensive orientation. Only using techniques to defend ourselves in emergency situation. Not using them to show up capability. Humility and succumbing attitude are priority. Examples of martial arts which have defensive orientation are Shaolin Kung Fu and Pencak Silat.

2. Offensive Orientation

In the development, martial art experts did not only consider defence, but also offense. The advantage of offense is to disable opponent before he does it. This principle is used in fighting big bodied opponent or multiple opponents. Examples of martial arts which have offensive orientation are Karate and Tae Kwon Do.

3. Eliminating Orientation

In ancient time martial art was also used by fighters for military activities. Do not be surprised to hear existance of elimination-oriented martial art. An example of martial arts which have eliminating orientation is Ninjutsu.

These are three orientation of Martial Art in author's opinion. Hopefully this information will be useful to Martial Lovers.

Disarming a Rifle Man by Krav Maga Art

Above video is a demonstration of disarming rifle by Krav Maga, the Israeli Military Martial Art.

Enjoy it. It is shown for information and entertainment purposes. If you want to learn it seriously, please learn with a trusted military trainer.

Unarmed Tactics: Fighting Single Armed Opponent

This form of fighting is very technical and heavy. So, it is relatively difficult to explain with words. I encourage you to practice with a trusted trainer intensively to defeat an armed opponent.

Weapon can be divided by 3 categories: firearm, sharp weapon and blunt weapon. We will discuss here the sharp weapon and blunt weapon. Firearm is part of job of police and soldier.
 

Principally you should get closer to defeat such opponent. If  it is not possible to seize enemy's wrist, you simply dodge first from a blow / puncture. Once you get an opportunity, seize the wrist holding the weapon.

Now you have two choices. First, you can apply on break-joint technique to break the opponent's hand to get his weapon dropped. Secondly, you can slam your opponent first. When the opponent falls down, you disarm him.

Basically this is not the only principle. Many principles have been developed by martial art experts. But this is easiest principle to understand for novice practitioners.

If you want to see a demonstration of disarming armed opponent, please visit youtube.com and in the search box fill in "Disarming a knife" or "Disarming techniques". Then press enter or click search. You will be presented with a lot of videos to watch. It may be useful to give you an idea how to fight an armed opponent.

Again, please practice intensively with a trusted trainer to prepare fighting against an armed enemy.

Karate: The Most Popular Martial Art

Who doesn't know Karate? A brave martial art. Almost entire populations in this world know it, a martial art from Japan.

Karate consists of two words, "Kara" and "Te". Kara means empty, Te means hand. So literally we could understand Karate as art of empty hand. Or in English term, we could interpret it as "unarmed art of fighting".

Karate is name of the martial art. Karateka is people who learn Karate. Karate-do is karateka way of life.

I am not a Karate expert, so we will not discuss the principles of Karate. It is better to discuss about its history.

In seventeenth century, Japanese conquered Okinawa. They banned all weapons of inhabitants, even farm devices must be stored in Government Ware Houses. The Okinawan people responded it by developing unarmed method of fighting to high level. They called it "Te", meaning Hand.

Local Chinese Immigrants contributed some of their ways of fighting, Chuan Fa. In this modern age, we call it Kung Fu.

After a long time, the name of "Te" changed into "Karate".

In 1922, an Okinawan Karate Man, Gichin Funakoshi, began to teach Karate in Japan. It became established in universities of Japan successfully. From this moment, Karate began its modern age.

It is short history about Karate's beginning. The beginning of Most Popular Martial Art.

Pencak Silat: An Indonesian Martial Art

Pencak Silat is one of Indonesian Martial Arts. Its origin is unknown historically. No historical evidence found about this matter.

Suroso Orakas (1977:8), a Pencak Silat Fighter, guessed its basic was brought by Chinese merchants from fifth century to tenth century. In the time, Strait of Malacca had been a central traffic of sea trade between China, India, and Nusantara (ancient name of Indonesia). This mercantile, religion, and cultural relationship was on top in 670s, Golden Era of Sriwijaya Kingdom. Sriwijaya was a famous Buddhism education center. Probably in this age Nusantara People learned martial basic from their trade partner, Chinese merchants.

In fifteenth century, Pencak Silat Teaching taken over by every "Kiai" in "Pondok Pesantren". Kiai is Islamic Priest, Pondok Pesantren is Islamic Traditional Education Center.

After long process which took centuries, finally Pencak Silat found its own personality like we all know now.

Buddhism Influence can be seen in Pencak Silat Philosophy. It teaches not to be the first attacker. Fighter who strikes first blow will lose the fight.

This is prediction of history of Pencak Silat. If you are interested in learning it seriously, please visit Padepokan Pencak Silat, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta, Indonesia. Or you can join Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antar Bangsa (Persilat), if it exists in your country.

Reference:

Orakas, Suroso, Bela Diri Praktis Pencak Silat, Karya Anda, Surabaya, 1977.

Ninja: Principle of Stealth Fighter

Ninja, faceless men, expert fighters in infiltration and assassination, were not fiction but did in fact exist. They were Japanese Secret Assassin in ancient Japan from sixth century to beginning of seventeenth century.

Ninja way of life, named "Ninjutsu", taught an assumption that people can not attack whom they can not see. This made ninja developing infiltration and stealth techniques.

This principle could be applied in fight by three ways.

First, you can attack an opponent from his back silently when he has not detected you already. This is what the so called "Stealth Technique". It is most popular technique used by ninja in ancient time.

Second, when you have been fighting an opponent whom has detected you already, you can still move to his back. It requires leg agility, special technique, and intensive training.

Third, you can distract opponent's vision then attack him. For example, you can pretend you are grasping something, then pretend to throw it to his eyes. Although you throw nothing, he will still turn his face or cover his face in instinctive reaction to protect his eyes. This moment permits you to attack him.

In ancient time, ninja used the third application by throwing smoke bomb. As the smoke filled the air and opponent could not see clearly, ninja would attack his opponent. It was also possible the ninja would throw shuriken (ninja thrown weapon) first. While opponent was being hit or trying to avoid it, ninja would attack opponent with his main weapon, ninja blade.

These are application of Stealth Principle which was developed by Ninja, Stealth Fighter.

Bruce Lee: New Paradigm of Martial Art

Bruce Lee was a very famous Hollywood Actor. He was also a great Kung Fu Fighter. It is a pity he passed away unnaturally.

For the Western World, Bruce Lee introduced a new thing. It is how to use leg as a weapon in the fight. Before they know him, Western people always fight only with their hands.

For Eastern World, Bruce Lee introduced a new style in Kung Fu, Non Style Kung Fu. Before his appearance, Kung Fu Fighters always tied to a style. For example Snake Syle, Dragon Style, Tiger Style, and so on. He tought a form of fighting untied to style, but only concentrated on fighting techniques. For Kung Fu World, this is a new paradigm. One thing never exists before.


This is story of change done by Bruce Lee in Martial Art World. Hopefully, we could get benefit from his teaching.