Even though the name martial arts derives from the Roman god of war, Mars, today martial arts are largely associated with Asian forms of combat. The martial arts are used for a variety of reasons: balance (literal and figurative), exercise and toning the body, competition and self defense. Although these arts are often admired for the physical skill of those who perform it as they often use only their bodies, many martial arts also involve implements, such as sticks and swords.
A few martial arts you may have heard of are karate, kung fu, jiu jitsu, aikido, judo, sudo and sambo. As previously mentioned, many people regard the martial arts as an Asian only sport or art form, however, it is believed that their roots lie in European traditions. In fact, today there are still many traditions of these types of arts that remain popular throughout Europe, Africa and Latin America.
In general, there are strong ties between the martial arts, cultural traditions and even religions. However, some forms are “developed” by one person or some association.
In the US, the martial arts have become increasingly popular with both young and old. It has been proven to be a very useful tool in helping children achieve better coordination as well as serving as a creative outlet for those with attention deficit disorders as well as other behavioral issues.
There has also been an ever-increasing surge in its use for self defense. Unlike plain old street fighting, martial arts are a demonstration in the movement of chi or energy instead of brawn. Therefore, women have successfully used them to ward off attackers much larger than them simply by understanding how to shift their weight and move themselves out of the path of danger.