Are the Martial Arts Still Under Development?
What is a martial art?
A martial art can be defined as any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means "military." So traditionally, a martial art is a military art. The first things that usually come to mind when discussing modern martial arts are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and weapon fighting. But also horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy can all be described as the field of martial arts. Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art. By martial art usually, it is meant aikido, Arnis, Western Boxing, Capoeria, Chow Gar, Choy la fut, Hapkido, Hsing'I, Hun gar, Jeet Kune Do, Jow gar, Judo, Jujitsu, Karate, Kempo, Kick Boxing, Krav Maga, Kung Fu, Pa Kua, Penjak Silat, Praying Mantis, Savate, Shaolin, Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, White Crane, Wing Chun, Wu Shu and more! As you can see the list is quite long and it is quite amazing how many martial arts systems there are and how many methods of self-defense can be formulated. Often within a martial arts school, it is taught that 'this particular system is the best, and it was created to beat all the others. Of course, every martial artist would have the viewpoint their style is the best because that is the style they have chosen to do, but in reality, what they are saying is 'this is the best style for me as it suits my temperament and I like the teaching environment'.
The Changing of the Arts
Throughout this history and development of the martial arts and all the combat systems of man, our training tools have played a vital part in evolving and perfecting these systems and techniques. All the martial arts have been affected by the role that mechanical devices play whether it be weapons, dojo mats, breaking boards, or even the uniforms we wear - all these paraphernalia identify the martial arts into their systems and style. The main players in shaping our new martial arts would be the traditional wooden dummy, Wing Chun rings, iron palm ointments, and even the system of using forms, called kata, which have developed the martial arts into their current form. Even today modern training tools are common and again the martial arts are under development with new training products such as the Wavemaster, the ‘BOB’ training dummy, the Focus Master. All with one thing in common, to create a well-rounded combat system. Ideally, a martial arts solo training tool should be workable for all and based on sound theory and through constant practice develop into a sound physical application. The ideology and theory would have to take into account all the history of the combat technology of man and give this competition and street application.
The Rapid-Reflex Boxing Bar
In a martial arts or boxing career you can occasionally find yourself with no gym to go to or no one to train with and so out of necessity The Rapid-Reflex Boxing Bar solo training partner was born. The Rapid-Reflex Boxing Bar is a training tool used to develop the entry and trapping skills of any martial arts system. It is designed to test any techniques so to improve the ability to block, trap and control your opponent’s hands and arms. This can be done because the bar moves and reacts like a real opponent. The bar moves and twists just like a real opponent would - so it can spring forward, and it does strike back! The Rapid-Reflex Boxing Bar was designed and developed on the following theories:
1. Safety - You must maintain 100% safety when entering into the opponent's attack range, this means limiting any variables that could occur by covering them. (Methods of entry must be sophisticated yet simple, fast as well as safe!)
2. Attack - You must have the ability to attack at will, with no concern or hesitation. The attack should incorporate total control of the opponent's weapons. (Attacks must be structured to have within them a 100% defense!)
3. Adaptability - Techniques, attacks, and defenses must flow but not necessarily at a constant pace. Adaptability to choose what's next is key! Whatever martial arts you choose just be sure you do look at a few before you decide and enquire with the school what martial arts equipment, they utilize to get the best from your training.
