IIMA-Sumo

SUMO

Sumo, as a martial art, dates back to the early 8th century in Japan where it was originally part of religious ceremonies. It was was then later introduced to ceremonies held by the Imperial Court.

Sumo is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. Two competitors push and pull each other within a circle of 4.5 meters in diameter. The first person to leave the ring or touch the ground with any part of the body except the sole of the feet, loses the bout.

The Japanese consider sumo a modern Japanese martial art even though the sport has a history spanning many centuries. The sumo tradition is very ancient and includes many of those ritual elements

Historically, it is of note that Jujutsu is actually an offshoot of Sumo wrestling.

Originally, Sumo contained elements of boxing and wrestling. Rules were gradually introduced over time which transformed it to resemble the Sumo wrestling that we know today.

It is practiced professionally in Japan as a sport. A sumo wrestler leads a highly regimented way of life. Professional sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal "sumo training stables" known in Japanese as heya where all aspects of their daily lives from meals to manner of dress are dictated by strict tradition.

Sumo is now the national sport of Japan and immensely popular. It is also unique to Japan but but wrestlers of other nationalities also may participate. Sumo wrestlers enjoy a very high regard in the Japanese society.

IIMA-Tae Kwon Do

TAE KWON DO

Tae Kwon Do, also commonly spelled taekwondo, is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way," "method," or "art." Thus, "tae kwon do" may be loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the way of kicking and punching." It incorporates the abrupt linear movements of karate and the flowing, circular patterns of kung fu with Korean kicking techniques.

Formally, there are two main styles of tae kwon do. One comes from the Kukkiwon, which is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation. The other comes from the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). There is also a more recent form called Songham Taekwondo or the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) and other variations of it such as STF (Songham Taekwondo Federation) and WTTU (World Traditional Taekwondo Union).

Traditional tae kwon do typically refers to the martial art as it was established in the 1950s and 1960s by Gneral Choi Hong Hi. Considered the father of tae kwon do, Choi's traditional tae kwon do includes names and symbolism of the traditional patterns often referring to elements of Korean history. Sport tae kwon do has evolved in the decades since then and has a somewhat different focus, especially in terms of its emphasis on speed and competition, such as in Olympic sparring. Whereas traditional tae kwon do tends to emphasize power and self-defense. The two are not mutually exclusive, and the distinctions between them are often blurred.

Although there are technical differences between the two main styles and among the various organizations, tae kwon do generally emphasizes kicks thrown from a mobile stance, utilizing the leg's greater reach and power as compared to the arm. The greatest difference between various styles, is generally accepted to be the differing styles and rules of sport and competition. Tae kwon do training generally includes a system of blocks, kicks, punches, and open-handed strikes and may also include various take-downs or sweeps, throws, and joint locks. Some tae kwon do instructors also incorporate the use of pressure points as well as grabbing self-defense techniques borrowed from other martial arts, such as Hapkido and Judo.

Kicking is heavily stressed as one of the primary characteristics of tae kwon do. Tae kwon do kicking techniques are divided into direct and circular attacks. It is also famous for its devastating flying kicks. Most commonly, kicks are delivered from the back stance with the body’s weight distributed mostly on the back leg. Unlike Okinawan and Japanese karate systems, tae kwon do advocates a broader array of kicks, many of which are aimed at head level, considered relatively rare in other martial arts.

In 1955, General Choi submitted the name tae kwon do to a conference of chung do kwan masters to unite the fighting styles art under one name. The name was accepted and was officially recognized as the national martial art of Korea. He later moved to Montreal and emphasized tae kwon do for the self defense aspects.

However, another fraction of tae kwon do practitioners organized the World Taekwondo Federation in 1973 and focused on the sport aspect of the art.

Today, tae kwon do is the world's most popular martial art, in terms of the number of practitioners, an also an Olympic sport. It is also used by the South Korean military as part of its training.

IIMA-Tai Chi Chuan

TAI CHI CHUAN

Tai chi chuan, "supreme ultimate fist", is a Chinese martial art often practiced for health reasons. often referred to simply as "tai chi", it is a northern style of Chinese kung-fu, it cultivates chi as the power and force behind the techniques it employs. Tai chi is characterized by a series of long flowing movements and forms performed in an almost slow yet methodical manner.

Tai chi chuan is generally classified as a form of traditional Chinese martial arts of the Neijia (soft or internal) branch. It is considered a soft style martial art — an art applied with internal power — to distinguish its theory and application from that of the hard martial art styles.

Since the first widespread promotion of tai chi's health benefits in the early 20th century, it has developed a worldwide following among people with little or no interest in martial training for its benefit to health. Most westerners who practice tai chi have considered its martial aspects as minor in comparison with its beneficial effects on health and spirit.

However, tai chi possesses a large array of strikes, pushes, blocks, kicks, evasive techniques and circular throws, locks, and twists. When applied as such, it proves to be a powerful form of self-defense.

Tai chi training first and foremost involves learning solo routines, known as forms. While the image of tai chi chuan in popular culture is typified by exceedingly slow movement, many tai chi styles (including the three most popular, Yang, Wu and Chen) have secondary forms of a faster pace. Some traditional schools of tai chi teach partner exercises known as pushing hands, and martial applications of the postures of the form.

Today, tai chi has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of tai chi trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu/Hao, Wu and Sun, each named after the Chinese family from which it originated.

Tai chi classes have become popular everywhere as a low stress training, especially for seniors. As a result of this popularity, there has been some divergence between those who say they practice tai chi primarily for self-defense, those who practice it for its aesthetic appeal, and those who are more interested in its benefits to physical and mental health.

IIMA-Tang Soo Do

TANG SOO DO

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various styles of martial arts. However, the term Tang Soo Do has evolved in the western world to currently describe a form of Karate that is distinctly Korean, but is different than both Taekwondo and Soo Bahk Do.

"The way of the Chinese hand" is relatively modern and a composite style, being 60 percent Soo Bahk Do, 30 percent northern Chinese, and 10 percent southern Chinese. Tang Soo Do is both a hard and soft style, deriving its hardness in part from Soo Bahk and its soft flowing movements from the northern Chinese systems.

Prior to the unification of the initial schools (or kwans) of Tang Soo Do in Korea under the Korea Taekwondo Association, the arts were known as Tang Soo Do, Kong Soo Do, or Kwon Bup. Despite the effort, the kwans continued to teach their individual styles and stopped using the various names when they unified under the name Taekwondo (and temporarily Tae Soo Do).

The Moo Duk Kwan, being loyal to Kee, pulled out of the unification and remained independent, continuing to use the name 'Tang Soo Do'. Some Moo Duk Kwan members followed Hwang's senior student, Chong Soo Hong, to become members of a unified Taekwondo.

The late Hwang Kee officially changed the name of the art of the Moo Duk Kwan style to Soo Bahk Do as early as 1957, shortly after his discovery of Korea's indigenous open hand fighting style of Subak. This change was officially registered, and the Moo Duk Kwan refiled with the Korean Ministry of Education on June 30, 1960. The organization was officially reincorporated as the "Korean Soo Bahk Do Association, Moo Duk Kwan."

Tang Soo Do incorporates many fluid "soft" movements reminiscent of certain traditional Chinese martial arts and kicking techniques rooted in Korean taekkyeon. Other modern Tang Soo Do systems teach what is essentially Korean Karate in an early organized form. The World Tang Soo Do Association and the International Tang Soo Do federation, for instance, teach systems of Tang Soo Do that existed before the Taekwondo "merger" and before the development of modern Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. These versions of Tang Soo Do are heavily influenced by Korean culture and also appear related to Okinawan Karate.

Tang Soo Do continues to expand and flourish under numerous federations and organizations. It can be argued that Tang Soo Do is one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the United States. Yet due to political in-fighting and splintering, Tang Soo Do is not as unified as Tae Kwon Do.

Tang Soo Do's most famous practitioner is Chuck Norris who preferred it during his fighting career. Norris helped to pioneer this art and in the process became one of the world's most famous martial artists.

IIMA-Vale Tudo

VALE TUDO

Vale tudo, Portuguese for "anything goes," or literally "everything is allowed," describes a Brazilian martial arts discipline. With competitions in unarmed combat having minimal rules, it is sometimes considered a combat sport. It is also taught as a means of self defence and a way of entering the ring in Full Contact. Great emphasis is placed on physical training and technique.

Vale Tudo takes the most effective combat techniques from styles such as Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Sambo,Wrestling and Western Boxing.

The term vale tudo was first associated with booth fighting done in Brazilian circuses during the 1920's. However, this term did not enter popular use until 1959-1960, when it was used to describe the style-versus-style bouts featured in a Rio television show called Heróis do Ringue (Ring-Heroes). The matchmakers and hosts of the show included members of the Gracie family, and the participants were all legitimate practitioners of their respective styles.

After 1960, vale tudo would remain an underground sub-culture, with most of the fights taking place in martial arts dojos or small gymnasiums.

Rorion Gracie of the famous Gracie family would eventually emigrate to the United States and introduce vale tudo to a new market when he helped to found the UFC in 1993. The enormous success of the UFC created a vale tudo explosion around the world, specifically in Japan, as well as a resurgence and newfound popularity back in Brazil. The state of Sao Paulo prohibited vale tudo fights from being a sanctioned sport. As promotions went into decline, they have not promoted a show since 2002. However, vale tudo events still take place in great number around Brazil.

Newer promotions that have gained athletic sanctioning in the United States give rise to critics who have argued that vale tudo shows should all adopt the much safer mixed martial arts rules. However, supporters of vale tudo counter that the sanctioned mixed martial arts style that developed in the United States are now too vastly different from true vale tudo. They further suggest that it should be treated as an entirely different sport, just as kickboxing, which is sanctioned in United States due to its safer rules and is considered different from Muay Thai, for example.

IIMA-Wing Chun

WING CHUN

Wing Chun, meaning "Eternal Spring", is a Chinese martial art that specializes in close-range combat. It is a southern style of Chinese kung-fu, the most influential Chinese martial art in modern times. Wing chun emphasizes self-defense reduced to its most rudimentary level, which includes simultaneous attack and defense with multiple straight-line strikes at extremely close range.

Wing Chun aims to deflect rather than to meet force in combat. It uses a "centerline" theory that is based around attacking vital targets along a central line of the body. Two weapons are taught, the dragon pole and butterfly knives. Every punch, strike, and kick in the system is designed to serve as a defense. Every block, deflection, and evasion is also designed to double as an attack. Rapid hand techniques combined with low kicks fit aggressive and constant forward pressure. Partner exercises called Chi Sao allow two partners to practice various arm exercises together for better reflexes and response to attacks. Students are also taught to control, or "trapping," an opponent's limbs whenever possible.

Wing Chun was developed when several grandmasters of the Shaolin temple systemized specific parts of the Chinese martial arts. Their effort was intended to form a martial art that was practical and faster to learn than the other styles in order to defend themselves from the professional soldiers of the Manchu Dynasty who were highly skilled in martial arts and the fighting tactics of the Shaolin Temple. Whenever they were sent into an area of Shaolin activity to enforce the Manchu will, they quickly put a halt to the rebellious monks.

The Shaolin monks realized that they could not rapidly train a young rebel to match the fighting skills of the Manchu soldiers. The temple elders met and developed a martial art which required a much shorter period of time to learn. They renamed the martial arts hall where they trained as Wing Chun Hall, or Forever Springtime Hall, which expressed their hopes for a renaissance in Shaolin martial arts instruction as well as for a more effective weapon in their struggle against the Manchus.

However, before the new fighting art could be completely developed, a Shaolin traitor tipped off the government. Manchu soldiers destroyed the temple and most of the residents. The few survivors fled throughout China including a nun named Ng Mui who had been one of the temple elders. She hid herself at a nunnery and spent her time there finalizing the movements of the new fighting art. She decided to call the art "wing chun" after the training hall in which she and the other elders had convened and trained.

Ng Mui taught the new art to a young girl nearby. Shortly before Ng Mui's death, she named her student Yim Wing Chun since the girl had been entrusted with the art's future. For the next 200 years, wing chun remained a private kung-fu system, taught only to family and friends, until 1952 in Hong Kong when grandmaster Yip Man first offered commercial instruction.

90% of the Wing Chun schools in the world today can be traced to the teachings of Yip Man and his students.

IIMA-Martial Arts

MARTIAL ARTS

The term "martial arts" may be defined as the art of combat that combines systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat utilizing various fighting techniques. These arts may be offensive for combat or defensive for self-defense. They may further be practices for personal, spiritual, health, sport, or other reasons. Many martial arts are linked to beliefs such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, etc. While others adhere to a strict way of honor.

There are many different styles of martial arts practiced throughout the world. Generally, they are categorized as traditional, sport, and weapons-based martial arts. They can additionally be broadly grouped into striking, grappling, or weaponry. Each art can vary widely but most martial arts though have similar objectives: defeat the opponent and defend from physical threat.

The origin of the term martial arts refers to the art of warfare (from Mars, the god of war). In modern vernacular, the term martial arts often refers to the Asian fighting styles. Much of this is due to the popular martial arts films originating out of countries like China and Japan. However, Europe is home to many extensive systems of martial arts. A mix of origins is found in styles like Capoeira, which African slaves developed in Brazil.

While each style has unique components that make it different from other forms, a common characteristic is the systematization of fighting techniques. Methods of training typically include sparring (simulated combat) and katas (formal sets or routines of techniques).

Most forms of martial arts begin with a white belt rank and proceed to the level of black. Most systems use between six to ten belt rank colors.

Typical to most forms of martial arts, a student or practitioner's level is often marked by the color of his or her belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a high degree of competence. In addition, there are levels of black belts known as "dan" grades. In some forms of the arts, very senior grades have belts of a different color.

A common misconception, achieving a black belt has not been an ancient tradition. In fact it dates back to the 19th century. The systematic use of denoting rank with belt color was first used by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo. He awarded the first black belts to denote a senior rank in the 1880s. Shortly after the turn into the 20th century, an expanded colored belt system was created. Other martial arts later adopted the custom and helped create a formalized rank structure.

One common idea concerning the tradition of the black belts claims that the belt ranking system grew from a practitioner's belt eventually turning from white to black due to the years of sweat, dirt, and blood.

In the James Bond movie "Goldfinger", a key character once said, "Have you ever heard of Karate? No? Well that man is one of the three in the world who have achieved the black belt in Karate." The implication was that a black belt was a rare distinction.

Martial arts have since exploded worldwide and the black belt is recognized as the standard for a way to describe an expert in martial arts.