KARATE

Karate is a Japanese martial art whose physical aspects seek the development
of defensive and counter attacking body movements. The themes of traditional karate
training are fighting and self-defense, though its mental and moral aspects target the
overall improvement of the individual. This is facilitated by the discipline and persistent
effort required in training. If karate had to be described in only one sentence, then the
most suitable one may arguably be "You never attack first in karate." This is a maxim
of Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), the Okinawan who brought karate to Japan in 1922,
and who is accepted as the father of modern karate.
The word karate is a combination of two kanji (Chinese characters): kara,
meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate means "empty hand." Adding the
suffix "-dō" (pronounced "daw"), meaning "the way/path," karate-dō, implies karate as a
total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional karate-
dō, one is supposed to compete and strive to excel against him/herself.
Today there are four main styles of karate in Japan: Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-
ryu, and Wado-ryu. Shotokan, though never described as a style by Gichin Funakoshi,
it has been nevertheless considered as his. Actually Shotokan was the name of his
dōjo, chosen after the pen name used by Funakoshi to sign poems written in his youth.
Shotokan Karate is characterized by powerful linear techniques and deep strong
stances. It is the style taught at the Tulane Karate Club.
Like the word karate, Shotokan is also composed of two different kanji: Shoto,
meaning "pine breeze" and kan, meaning "the place", thus Shotokan means the place
of shoto.

"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and

body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be
devoted utterly to the cause of justice." Shotokan founder Gichin Funakosh
JUDO
Judo is a tremendous and dynamic combat sport that demands both physical
prowess and great mental discipline. From a standing position, it involves techniques
that allow you to lift and throw your opponents onto their backs. On the ground, it
includes techniques that allow you to pin your opponents down to the ground, control
them, and apply various chokeholds or joint locks until submission.

Judo is a rigorous and demanding physical activity. The practice of judo

techniques helps people develop basic and fundamental physical fitness in a number of
ways, such as the development of strength, flexibility, agility, speed, dynamic and static
balance, explosive power, and endurance. The practice of active attack and defense
helps develop reaction time, coordination, and overall physical self-confidence. Judo
students become physically bigger, stronger, and faster through their practice of judo.

Not only does judo produce tremendous gains in overall physical and athletic
ability; judo students learn the specific skills and techniques of judo. They learn a variety
of techniques in order to throw their opponents to the ground with force, speed, and
control. While judo students are often exposed to many of these types of throwing
techniques in their judo careers, they usually master only a handful, and a handful is
generally all that is needed to be successful in contemporary judo competitions.

Judo students also learn the fundamental principles and the dynamics of
subduing their opponents on the ground through the application of pinning and
submission techniques. Their prowess both on the ground and on their feet, combined
with the considerable basic physical fitness gained from daily judo practice, affords judo
students with a considerable repertoire of techniques, skills, knowledge, and abilities.
These, in turn, allow them to be excellent athletes, with a sound physical base of
fundamental skills, and formidable and imposing opponents in competition.

JIUJITSU

Is a grappling-based martial art whose central theme is the skill of controlling a

resisting opponent in ways that force him to submit due to the fact that control is
generally easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the technique of Jiu-
Jitsu is centered round the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling
for dominant control positions from where the opponent can be rendered harmless. To
control and overcome greater size, strength and aggression with lesser size and
strength is the keynote of the sport. This is done by utilizing superior leverage, grip and
position upon your opponent. Students of the sport gain a deep understanding of the
workings and limits of the human body.
WRESTLING

Wrestling, sport practiced in various styles by two competitors, involving forcing

an opponent to touch the ground with some part of the body other than his feet; forcing
him into a certain position, usually supine (on his back); or holding him in that position
for a minimum length of time. Wrestling is conducted in various styles with contestants
upright or on the ground (or mat). The three basic types of wrestling contest are the belt-
and-jacket, catch-hold, and loose styles, all of which appear to have originated in
antiquity. Belt-and-jacket styles of wrestling are those in which the clothing of the
wrestlers provides the principal means of taking a grip on the opponent. In many cases
this is no more than a special belt worn by both wrestlers, while in others a special
belted jacket and special trousers are worn. Catch-hold styles require the contestants to
take a prescribed hold before the contest begins; often this grip must be maintained
throughout the struggle. Loose styles of wrestling, which are used in modern
international competition, commence with the wrestlers separated and free to seize any
grip that they choose except such as are explicitly forbidden (e.g., taking hold of an
opponent’s clothing or using a life-threatening grip, such as a stranglehold).

Wrestling can also be classified in terms of what is required to win. These

categories can be graded on an ascending scale of violence as follows: break-stance
sports are those that require forcing the opponent to relinquish a certain posture or
position; toppling requires that the standing opponent be forced to touch the ground with
some part of his body other than his feet; touch-fall wrestling requires that the opponent
be forced into a certain position, usually supine, for a brief instant; pin-fall wrestling
requires that the opponent be held in such a position for a measurable length of time;
and submission wrestling requires the opponent to vocally or visually signal defeat by
his own choice.

THAI BOXING

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, the most favorite martial arts of the Thai has been in
existence for almost as long as the Thai themselves. Muay Thai is best known in the
global community, especially among martial arts and boxing enthusiasts, for its various
types of blows, and its coordinated utilization of all hard parts of the body with
effectiveness and agility. Blows common to Muay Thai are forward and backward elbow
strikes, knee strikes, swing and reversing kicks, and foot jabbing. Muay Thai is different
from Western boxing in the diversity of offensive and defensive blows, thus making the
art more taxing and challenging to the boxer. Moreover, cultural and psychological
elements are added to Muay Thai, as the boxer has to perform a traditional “paying
respect to the teachers” ritual or Wai Khru ceremony, complete with rousing Thai music
accompaniment. Watching Thai boxing is, then, an entry into the psychological world of
the Thai where values such as respect for elders, love of grace, bravery, creativity and
adaptability are encapsulated in one short event.This whole mix of a unique form of
martial arts and cultural elements is what makes for the fascination with Muay Thai and
explains its popularity worldwide.

Muay Thai matches today areorganized on a regular basis at the many boxing
stadiums in Bangkok and provincial cities. A regular ring that one expects to see at an
international boxing event is used as the venue. The Nak Muay Thai (Thai boxer) wears
regular boxing gloves yet fights barefooted.

At the start of the match, a Wai Khru ceremony must be performed, whereby the
boxers enter the ring wearing a ceremonial rattan headband. An ensemble plays
background music for this ceremony, with rousing levels and accelerating tempi
throughout the fight.

Typically, the musical instrumentsused are a Javanese reed-pipe, a pair of low-

toned and high-toned two-faced drums and a pair of finger cymbals. The music
accompanying the actual fight is quicker in tempo, and the tempo can even be variable.
In moments of excitement during the match, the music becomes more frenetic, and
when fighters are not going on the offensive aggressively enough, it can be paced
quicker to urge them on. Thus, the music is functional as well as providing appropriate
atmosphere. The two boxers perform the Wai Khru ritual simultaneously with
concentration and solemnity. Variations in the Wai Khru styles are possible, and it is not
uncommon for boxers to murmur incantations to invoke respected spirits of the ring for
protection against serious injuries that could arise from the fight. The purpose is also to
stir up excitement and anticipation on the part of the spectators who may appraise the
contestants by their performance of the ritual. On completion of the ritual, boxers return
to their respective corners to have their ceremonial headbands removed and receive
last-minute instructions from their trainers. Then, boxers go into action to the sound of
rousing music and fight, at most, five three-minute rounds alternating with two-minute
rest periods. Fists, knees, feet, hands and elbows may be used, but any form of
wrestling, judo or throwing is forbidden. Contestants wear gloves and boxing trunks and
fight barefooted. Their kicks can deliver a knock-out blow. The elbows are wielded like
hammers, giving a rain of hard blows to the side of the body, or head. Knees are used
to jab viciously in the stomach, solar plexus, and ribs of the opponent. Opponents may
hit any part of the body except for the groin which is not considered a valid target.
Points are scored for every blow on an opponent. If a contestant violates a rule, points
are deducted from his score. The match may end with a winner by a physical or
technical knockout or the referee’s decision; or it may be declared a draw.
KUNG FU

The term Kung Fu refers to the martial arts of China. Kung Fu originated in a
place called the Shaolin Temple, where monks practiced Kung Fu for health and self-
defense during their quest for enlightenment.

The first Shaolin temple was a Buddhist monastery built in 377 A.D. in the Henan
province of China. In 527 A.D. a Buddhist prince, Bodhidharma, or Da Mo in Chinese,
traveled to the temple for religious teaching, but found the monks weak and in poor
health. To find a way to give the monks strength and vitality, Da Mo locked himself in a
room for nine years of meditation. His resulting work, Yi Jin Jing, a series of exercises
which developed strength, vitality, and internal energy, is considered the original
Shaolin martial art.

Historically, Kung Fu in China was an integral part in the education of scholars and the
leaders of government. The Chinese people placed great value in the practice of Kung
Fu because they felt it taught respect, patience, humility, and morality.

Many Americans believe that Kung Fu is a term which describes a single martial art,
much like Taekwondo, Judo, or Aikido. In reality, Kung Fu is a general term which
includes hundreds of styles of Chinese martial arts. Some examples of Kung Fu styles
are Long Fist, Eagle Claw, and Taiji Quan.

Another misconception is that Kung Fu is a "soft" style compared with Karate or other
"hard" styles. This is not so: each Kung Fu style contains both hard and soft techniques.
Also, many people believe that Kung Fu is an external style and Taiji Quan is an internal
style. While most Kung Fu styles emphasize external development, all styles of Kung Fu
contain both internal and external components.
 FUNDAMENTAL
OF
MARIAL ARTS

SUBMITTED BY:

John Jelord C. Brioso

SUBMITTED TO:

Benjamin L. Custodio