The history of martial arts

The origins of martial arts can be traced back to primitive society.

At that time, humans had begun to use primitive tools such as sticks as weapons to fight against wild beasts, firstly for self-defense, and secondly to hunt for subsistence materials. Later, in order to compete for wealth, people created more powerful weapons. Weapons of lethality.

For example, "The Classic of Mountains and Seas? The Great Wilderness Northern Classic" contains records of "Chi You's campaign to attack the Yellow Emperor."

In this way, through fighting, human beings not only made weapons, but also gradually accumulated skills with certain offensive and defensive fighting significance.

Around 500 AD, Patriarch Bodhidharma of India (now India) founded Buddhism. In the following years, Indian martial arts were also spread to China, forming Shaolin. One faction occupies an important position in the Chinese martial arts world.

During the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the bronze industry developed, with chariot warfare as the main focus, and some bronze weapons appeared, such as spears, spears, halberds, axes, axes, knives, swords, etc.

At the same time, the usage of this type of weapon also appeared, such as chopping, piercing, stabbing, slashing and other techniques.

In order to improve combat effectiveness, a competition format was established at this time.

As stated in "Book of Rites? King System", "Every skill is judged by strength, suitable for all directions, bare legs and arms, decisive shooting and imperialism", which means to compare the level of martial arts.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, iron weapons appeared and infantry and cavalry rose. In order to play a role in infantry and cavalry warfare, long-handled weapons became shorter and short-handled weapons (especially the sword body) became longer. In this way, the content of the weapons It is even more enriched, the combative nature of martial arts is further highlighted, and at the same time, the fitness function of martial arts is also valued.

At this time, the form of martial arts competitions has appeared widely, which further promoted the development of martial arts.

According to "Guanzi's Seven Laws", there was a "Spring and Autumn Competition" every year at that time.

According to "Zhuangzi's Human World" and "Xunzi's Military Review", at that time Martial arts competitions are very skill-based. Boxing techniques include attack, defense, counterattack, feint attack, etc.

In the Qin Dynasty, horn fighting and hand fighting were popular. There were referees, a playing field, and certain costumes during the competition.

The back of a wooden grate unearthed from the Qin Dynasty Tomb in Fenghuang Mountain, Jiangling County, Hubei Province in 1975 depicts the grand scene of a game at that time: there was a curtain streamer in front of the stage, and three upper-body *** on the stage. There are men wearing only shorts, a belt at the waist, and flip-up shoes. Two of them are competing, and one of them has his hands stretched forward as a referee.

In the Han Dynasty, there were sword dance, knife dance, double halberd dance, yue dance, etc.

This all shows that the martial arts in the Han Dynasty had obvious martial arts features, with moves and mostly in the form of routines.

The Han Dynasty was a period of great development of martial arts, and various technical styles had been formed.

For example, "Hanshu. Yiwenzhi" includes 13 companies and 199 articles in the "Military Skills" category, all of which discuss the martial arts of "learning hands and feet, using weapons, and accumulating mechanisms to achieve offensive and defensive victory." monograph.

During the Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, there were frequent wars. The bureaucrats and aristocrats indulged in feasting or pursued the art of immortality. Their influence also penetrated into the lives of all social strata. For example, the sword was regarded as a magical weapon with a mysterious color. , and even replaced swords with wooden swords, and replaced martial arts training with absurd heresies, causing martial arts to stagnate.

During the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties, with the development and prosperity of the feudal social economy, martial arts re-emerged. The Tang Dynasty began to implement the martial arts examination system, and used examination methods to award those with outstanding martial arts with corresponding titles, such as "The Fierce Yin Man" ", "Agile Man", "Technical Man", "Swift Footed Man", there are specific criteria for obtaining each title.

For example, a "fierce Yin warrior" should "have a bow that draws five stones, penetrates five arrows, and has spears, spears, swords and halberds for easy use..." ("Wubei Zhi? Taibai Yin Jing? Selected Scholars Chapter" sixteen").

This system of selecting talents through examinations promoted martial arts training activities in society.

With the development of infantry and cavalry warfare, Ge and halberds were gradually eliminated on the battlefield, and swords were mostly replaced by knives as military technology, but as routine drills, they were still developing.

Non-governmental martial arts training organizations appeared in the Song Dynasty. Records include "Jinbiao Society" (crossbow shooting), "Yinglue Society" (stick making), "Jiaodai Society" (sumo wrestling), etc.

These societies made do with simple things and "made their own head-wrapped bladeless spears, bamboo sticks, wooden bows and knives, mugwort arrows and other martial arts skills" ("History of the Song Dynasty" Volume 191).

In the city, according to "Twelve Capital Victories in Dongting", martial arts performances were held in the streets and alleys, which was very lively.

The martial arts performed include cornering, punching, kicking, using sticks, wielding sticks, dancing with knives and spears, dancing with swords, shooting bullets, shooting crossbows, etc. The sparring is called "beating the bag", and there is "gun "Playing cards against each other", "Sword against cards", etc. At this time, collective projects also developed rapidly. For example, in Volume 7 of "Tokyo Menghualu": ??"Two people danced together as if they were stabbing each other... Every five or seven appeared on the stage. Yes, or using guns against cards, swords against cards, etc.

"However, the confrontational offensive and defensive techniques gradually declined due to the influence of the "main tranquility" advocated by Neo-Confucianists in the Song Dynasty.

The rulers of the Yuan Dynasty prohibited citizens from gathering "...more than twenty people to hunt" (Volume 3 of "Yuan Dian Zhang", "Hunger and Poverty Relief"). Even private possession of weapons among the people was a crime.

Martial arts are often taught in secret family heirlooms at the risk of their lives.

The Ming Dynasty was a period of great development in martial arts. Different styles of technical schools emerged, and boxing techniques and equipment were developed. In particular, the past martial arts training experience was theoretically summarized. Representative works include " "New Book of Ji Xiao", "Wu Pian", "Remaining Skills of Farming", etc.

These works record to varying degrees the schools, evolutions, movement names, characteristics, movement methods and technical theories of boxing and equipment, etc. Some of them also include chants and movement illustrations, providing a basis for future generations to study martial arts. important basis.

The rulers of the Qing Dynasty banned martial arts training, and martial arts were taught among the people in the form of secret societies such as "she" and "guan". Among them, the famous boxing types such as Tai Chi, Bagua Zhang, Xingyi Quan, and Baji Boxing, Piguaquan, etc. were mostly formed in the Qing Dynasty.

During the Republic of China, various forms of boxing clubs existed in society, which played a positive role in the spread and development of martial arts.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, martial arts was inherited, organized and improved as an excellent national heritage. Martial arts associations at all levels were established. The state set up specialized agencies to carry out martial arts sports and listed martial arts as a national heritage. It is an official competition event.

In 1953, the 1st National National Sports Performance Competition was held, followed by many national martial arts competitions or performance conferences.

In order to promote the popularization and improvement of martial arts, the national organization has created and compiled routines for competitions, compiled elementary routines and simplified Tai Chi required for mass martial arts activities, published martial arts books and wall charts, and shot martial arts videos and recordings. elephant.

In order to explore the value of martial arts exercise, relevant physiological measurements and research were also organized to make it gradually scientific.

In addition, various sports colleges and sports departments have successively established martial arts classes and martial arts professional classes. Universities, middle schools and primary schools have also included martial arts as a physical education teaching content. Youth amateur sports schools have also established martial arts classes, and various local martial arts associations have established martial arts classes. Various forms of martial arts coaching stations, including the North and South Martial Arts Academy of Songshan Shaolin Temple, attract a large number of martial arts enthusiasts to practice martial arts and heal their illnesses.

Classification of martial arts

Classification of martial arts is divided by region, by mountains and rivers, by surname or family name, and by technical characteristics.

Modern martial arts are generally divided into 5 categories according to their content; Regular martial arts exercise can effectively enhance physical fitness.

Various boxing and kicking techniques in martial arts require high explosive power and flexibility, especially the large range of motion of each joint, which has a good exercise effect on muscles and ligaments. Martial arts includes a variety of twisting exercises. Body movements such as turning, pitching, retracting and folding require "hands to eyes", "hands and eyes to follow each other", "walking with each other, body with steps", and have high requirements for coordination; the whole set of movements is often It consists of dozens of movements and is completed within a certain period of time, so it can fully develop various organ systems in the body.

Practicing soft, slow and light boxing techniques, such as Tai Chi, emphasizes guiding the movements with the mind, combined with even and deep breathing, which can circulate blood throughout the body. It is suitable for patients with chronic diseases to continue to exercise as a medical treatment, and has the effect of More obvious curative effect.

Confrontational Sanshou, Push Hands, Wushu Short Soldier, Wushu Long Soldier and other competitive events are intense and can not only enhance physical fitness, but also cultivate excellent characters such as bravery, wit and agility.

Martial arts concept

Martial arts concept is what people know.

Basic basis for studying martial arts.

In the long historical process, the concept of martial arts has been expressed differently in different periods. Its connotation and extension have developed and changed with the development of social history and the development of martial arts itself.

Historically, there are many names belonging to the martial arts category. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was called "martial arts" (soldier skills); the term "martial arts" appeared in the Han Dynasty and was continued to be used until the end of the Ming Dynasty: In the early Qing Dynasty, the word "martial arts" was borrowed from "Yanguan Martial Arts" in the "Selected Works of Literature" of the Southern Dynasties (generally referring to the military at that time); in the Republic of China, it was called "guoshu"; after the founding of New China, the term "martial arts" was still used.

With the changes in history, the gradual demise of cold weapons, the production of special martial arts equipment and the emergence of a large number of boxing routines, the formulation of confrontational events and martial arts competition rules, martial arts has evolved into a sports event. one.

The physicalization of martial arts has caused great changes in its content, form and training methods, and the concepts that reflect the essential attributes of things are also constantly changing.

As it develops today, the basic definition of martial arts can be summarized as follows: Wushu is a traditional Chinese sport that focuses on martial arts as its main content and focuses on both internal and external training in the form of routines and fighting.

Let’s understand martial arts based on this definition.

First of all, martial arts is a traditional Chinese attack technique.

It is based on kicking, hitting, throwing, grabbing, hitting, stabbing and other martial arts movements as the main content, and expresses the ability of offensive and defensive fighting through body movements with bare hands or with the help of equipment.

Whether it is a confrontational fighting sport or a momentum-building routine sport, the traditional Chinese challenge method is the core of Chinese chess technology.

As far as human social life is concerned, martial arts cannot be unique to China.

Comparing martial arts from around the world, martial arts is not only richer in martial arts methods (such as fast throwing, grappling, etc.).

In terms of movement forms, there are both routines and Sanshou, both combined and separated. This development model is also completely different from other martial arts in the world.

The training method focuses on both internal and external training, and the training style requires both physical and spiritual skills, which all reflect the movement characteristics of traditional Chinese martial arts.

Secondly, martial arts is a sport, which is obviously different from practical martial arts techniques that can cause injury and disability.

Although routine sports include a wealth of martial arts methods, their purpose is to improve businessmen’s physical fitness and offensive and defensive capabilities through drills, and compete in skills and skills. The technical requirements are somewhat different from practical techniques. The difference is that although the skills of Sanshou are closer to practical skills, they are also limited to competitive sports due to competition rules.

In short, it boils down to one point: martial arts has a clear sports attribute. Sports are the main social philosophy, traditional Chinese medicine, ethics, military science, aesthetics, qigong and other traditional cultural thoughts and cultural concepts of today's martial arts. Paying attention to both internal and external cultivation, such as the holistic view, the view of changes in yin and yang, the theory of form and spirit, the theory of qi, the theory of movement and stillness, the theory of hardness and softness, etc., gradually formed a martial arts cultural system with unique national features.

It has rich connotations and profound implications. It not only has the unique characteristics of human sports to strengthen the body, but also has the unique philosophical, scientific and artistic qualities of Eastern civilization. It embodies in a more concentrated way The crystallization of the wisdom of the Chinese people in the field of sports.

It reflects the glory of the national culture of the East from one side.

Therefore, in a broad sense, martial arts is not only a sport, but also a national sport and a precious cultural heritage accumulated by the Chinese people over a long period of time.

[Edit this paragraph] Characteristics of martial arts

1.

Integrating martial arts into sports:

Martial arts was originally used as a military training method and was closely connected with ancient military struggles. Its martial arts characteristics are obvious.

In practical terms, its purpose is to kill and restrain the opponent. It often uses the most effective martial arts methods to force the opponent to lose the ability to resist.

These martial arts are still used in the military and public security today.

As a sport, martial arts technically still has the characteristics of offensive and defensive martial arts. Instead, martial arts is integrated into fighting and routine movements. Fighting sports embody the characteristics of offensive and defensive fighting in martial arts. Technically, they are basically the same as practical martial arts. It is consistent, but from a sports perspective, he is restricted by the rules of the competition and has the principle of not harming the opponent.

For example, in Sanshou, some traditional practical methods of finding strikes in martial arts are restricted, and the striking parts and protective gear are strictly stipulated. The equipment used in short-hand combat has also been changed accordingly. Push hands, on the other hand, compete competitively under special technical regulations.

Therefore, it can be said that the fighting sport of martial arts has strong offensive and defensive skills, but it is different from practical skills.

Routine movement is a unique form of Chinese martial arts, and many movements have technical specifications.

The range of motion and other aspects have changed from the original martial arts movements, but the action method still retains the characteristics of martial arts.

Even though some movements that may not necessarily have offensive and defensive significance are interspersed due to the need for continuity and training skills, as far as the entire set of techniques is concerned, the main movements are still kicking, hitting, throwing, and grabbing. , striking, and stabbing are the main techniques, which are the technical core of the routine.

Its offensive and defensive martial arts characteristics are expressed through one move and one move. Bringing together hundreds of schools, its martial arts methods are extremely rich, in the hands.

Technical methods that should not be used in short-term combat are still reflected in routine sports.

2.

A national style that integrates both inside and outside, with both form and spirit:

It not only pays attention to physical norms, but also seeks to convey spiritual meaning.

The holistic view of the integration of inside and outside is a major feature of Chinese martial arts.

The so-called internal refers to the activities of the heart, mind, mind and other mental activities and the general movement of Qi; the so-called external refers to the physical activities such as hands, eyes, body and steps.

Inside and outside, form and spirit are interconnected and unified whole.

For example, Wuqin Cao is a wonderful skill that imitates five animals: tiger, deer, bear, ape, and bird. Its essence is: "Move externally and be still internally, seek stillness in movement, and have both movement and stillness." There is hardness and softness, a combination of hardness and softness, training inside and outside, and training both inside and outside." The famous scholar Shen Baofeng summarized the Five Animal Exercises with twenty words: "Five Animal Exercises for fitness, tigers, deers, bears, apes and birds, possessing both form and spirit, long and You will never grow old if you practice.”

The characteristics of martial arts “integration of inside and outside, body and spirit” are mainly reflected through martial arts techniques and throwing techniques.

"Training the essence, energy and spirit internally, and training the muscles, bones and skin externally" is the practice principle of various schools of the Bei family. For example, Jiquan advocates the integration of body and mind, requiring "the heart to move the qi, and the qi to move the body."

Xingyiquan emphasizes "three internal integrations and three external integrations." Shaolin Quan also requires the cultivation of essence, strength, energy, bones, and spirit both internally and externally.

In addition, martial arts routines technically require that the inner spirit, energy, and spirit be closely integrated with the external body movements, so that they can be integrated into one breath, so that "the heart beats, the form follows," "the form breaks the connection with the mind," and the momentum breaks the connection with the air.

Use the eight methods of "hands, eyes, body, steps, spirit, energy and strength" to train the mind and body.

This feature reflects the long-term historical evolution of Chinese martial arts as a cultural form. Zhongbei was penetrated and influenced by ancient Chinese philosophy, medicine, aesthetics, etc., and formed a unique national style of practice methods and sports forms.

3.

Wide adaptability:

The practice forms and content of martial arts are rich and diverse, including competitive and confrontational Sanshou, Push Hands, and Short Soldiers, as well as various boxing techniques and equipment suitable for practice Sparring, and various training methods adapted to it.

Different boxing types and equipment have different movement structures, technical requirements, sports styles and amounts of exercise, which are adapted to the needs of people of different ages, genders and physical constitutions. People can choose according to their own conditions and interests. At the same time, it has low requirements for the venue and equipment. It is commonly known as the "place of boxing and lying cows". Practitioners can change the practice content and methods according to the size of the venue, even if there is no equipment for a while. Practice ginseng and kung fu with bare hands.

Generally speaking, there are very few restrictions on time and season.

Compared with many sports, it has wider adaptability. Wushu has been declining among the people for a long time. This feature is not unrelated. Using this feature can provide modern mass sports. Activities provide convenience and further socialize martial arts