History of the Martial Arts for Demonstration
The following narration was designed as a script for dramatization
of the history of the Martial Arts used at one of our Graduations.
This will describe a brief overall view of the historical
events. (Demonstrations marked in Italics can be changed
or substituted for others.)
Introduction of Black Belts and Black Belt
Candidates and Demonstration.
As far back as 3000 B.C., fighting arts were
used in China.
I. Tao Mo (or Bodhiharma) traveled
to China from India (500 A.D.) Known as a "man and
beard with walking staff," he walked upon group of
young monks meditating at the famous Shaolin Temple. Seeing
the students falling asleep, he taught them exercises to
make them stronger and healthier in order to help them stay
awake during meditation. These were known as the 18 movements
of Tao Mo.
Several hundred years later, the "5 animals
frolic" was invented by Pai Yu Feng. He copied movements
of the Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake and Dragon. (The Tiger,
Leopard and Crane styles will be demonstrated along with
the bunkai.) Many masters specialized in one system but
each Shaolin monk learned principles of each before specializing
in his own style.
Also taught at the Temple besides boxing was
the art of weaponry. This may in fact be due to many military
types taking refuge in the Temple. One very famous tool/weapon
was the long staff. (Now performing...Shaolin Long Staff)
The most famous of all the Chinese weapons was the Chinese
broadsword. Almost all the foot soldiers at the time were
trained in its use and they felt they could get very proficient
in only 90 days. (Performing.. Plum Blossom Sabre.)
Of course the learning of several different
animal styles developed into systems of their own. (Now
performing Shaolin Kei Chi.) This is a 5 animal form combining
principles from all 5 systems.
Not only did systems develop by combining
principles from several systems within the Shaolin Temple
but masters, once they left the temple, would combine their
experiences to develop their own systems. Wang Long was
such a master. Watching a preying mantis and a katydid doing
battle one day while resting under a tree, Master Long developed
the Tong Long or Preying Mantis system of Gang Fu. (Demonstration
of 18 Old Monk Mantis.) It is known for its speed, power
and fierceness. Feared throughout Chinese some of the best
fighters around, the mantis system is a total system teaching
weaponry as well as empty hand forms. During its height,
the Shaolin Temple boasted of over 5000 fighting monks.
Many times they went to the aid of their country to help
defend it against enemies both foreign and domestic. In
_____ year at the suggestion of a paranoid staff, the emperor
destroyed the Shaolin Temple fearing that if the monks turned
against him they could overthrow the government. All but
18 monks died that day which later fell to only 5 after
their wounds succumbed them. These are known as the five
ancestors of the Shaolin Temple style. These masters split
up and went underground teaching the Shaolin style in secret.
II. Shaolin Kempo arrives on Okinawa.
(Back setting of palm trees, and Shun Castle.)
Wonsu lands in Tomari Village. (One Kempo
master dressed in Chinese clothes - villagers in Okinawan
clothes.) Discuss how they helped him and in turn, he taught
them his secret Shaolin techniques. Included were the techniques
of Dim Mak or Kyosho pressure point strikes, angles of attack
and strategies of dealing with conflict. American Black
Belt Association is one of the few schools in the USA teaching
these authentic principles as taught in the Shaolin Temple
and on Okinawa today. (Demonstrate Wonsu and bunkai.)
Another famous Okinawan of the time was Bushi
Sokan Matsumura. Seisan means 13 postures and represents
the favorite 13 fighting postures of Bushi Matsumura. Matsumura
had learned Shaolin Kempo from Sakugawa and had also traveled
to China to study this Chinese art on the mainland. (Demonstrate
Seisan and bunkai.)
Being that the possession of weapons were
outlawed on Okinawa by the conquering Japanese samurai,
this increased the need to study this China-hand art. At
this time there were 3 major styles developed based on their
location: Tomari-te, Shun-te, and Naha-te. The Chinese and
Okinawan instructors formed alliances teaching each other
and showing knowledge thus creating a new style of boxing:
Kara-Te. Kara stood for China and Te was the Okinawan art.
The style took on a more developed approach with an emphasis
on conditioning the hands and feet in order to be able to
smash through the shields and body armor of the samurai
warrior on the Island. During this time the legendary karate
man was developed. Outlawed by the ruling Japanese, karate
was practiced in secret late at night in remote areas and
was passed down from teacher to disciple, from father to
son. The importance of Kata as a learning tool was emphasized
at this time. Through proper training these warriors were
able to defeat armed samurai warriors. (Demonstrate breaking
techniques.) Disclaimer for children and professional people
for safety:not necessary for practice of karate.
Another art developed at this time was called
Kobudo. Kobudo was the development of weapontry from simple
farm tools. Six major weapons include the tonfa! nunchaku,
sai, kama,eku and the bo. (Demonstrate Kobudo.)
In the 1920's the Okinawan art of karate went
to Japan. Master Funakoshi was the first to take this art
to the mainland and his particular style is known today
as Shoto Kan: Shoto was his nickname and Kan means school
or club. Funakoshi was a very radical instructor for his
time. He changed the names of the katas, changed the movements
and removed most of the Okinawan fighting principles from
the katas. He taught his art to school children for physical
fitness, mental awareness, and not for combat purposes:
after all, the Japanese warriors had long been known as
some of the greatest fighters in the world. Others came
to Japan and taught their Okinawan styles on the mainland.
Four major Japanese styles are practiced today and are recognized
by the World Karate Federation for the purpose of sport
competition. These are Wado, Goju, Shito and Shotokan. Competition
today lies in the area of empty hand kata (forms) and kobudo
(weapons) for individual and team events, as well as kumite
(sparring) including both 1 point matches and 3 point matches
for individual and team events.
(Demonstrate WKF Kata -- empty hand, weapons,
3-person team kata, 3-person weapon kata. Also demonstrate
rules of sport karate principles of zanshin, atemi, timing,
etc.)
American Black Belt Association today practices
the old and the new. Included in our curriculum is the Filipino
art of Arnis. Arnis, having its roots in Shaolin Kempo,
teaches the art of stick fighting, empty hand techniques
and even bladed weapons. (Arnis demonstration)
Today our emphasis is on self-confidence,
self-esteem, physical fitness but we also are concerned
with self-defense even today. We develop self-defense skill
today in a variety of ways.
Demonstration:
1. One step sparring (designed to teach the
student to react to a sudden punching or kicking attack.)
2. Grabbing arts (to teach the student to
be able to defend himself against peoples that grab and
hold to attack.)
3. Weapons (to free the mind not to panic
if attacked by a weapon. Even demonstrate weapon against
weapon.)
