I am writing this article on martial arts and skills as an enthusiastic admirer and learner of martial arts. My journey started since grade three when I used to visit a martial arts training centre daily during my vacations where I would be introduced to various forms of Indian and international martial arts and there I chose to learn Silambam .Many people in my native are very enthusiastic towards learning such martial arts like Karate, taekwondo to an extent that in a span of 10 years, many karate and silambam learning centres have been established in my native town and active participation of many tiny tots can be seen today as well and that was what made me admire the essence of martial arts. Through this article, I want to share my ideas and some facts on martial arts of the world as well India and on why it is important to learn some basic self- defense skills.
Karate classes are not just meant for shouting hee..Haa.. hoo. There's something even greater beyond them.The more we grow, the more higher views of life we get to see. But not all we might experience are pleasant. Some might be dangerous too. In present day, self-defence skill is the most crucial skill a child has to learn. And we can also see active participation of children in attending self- defence classes may it be karate or taekwondo. These self defence skills are now being considered as an art- Martial art. These defending skills are required for all age groups, male or female. It is a way of acknowledging oneself about the methods of defence and attack when one is in danger or harm.
Nowadays, schools are also taking proper measures to raise the awareness about the present day scenarios and taking seminars, classes and workshops to teach students some basic defence skills. Of course, we all know how to kick and punch our friends but martial arts do not directly teach you such skills. With rigorous training and practice, one first developed self esteem and confidence. Then self management skills and at last body strengthening. A person to become master in martial arts has to maintain his body, eat proper balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Karate is the most common martial art learned by people. It is an amalgam of Chinese and Japanese martial arts. The World Karate Federation is the world's largest international governing body of Karate. It includes 198 member countries with more than 10 million participants. This shows how much Karate has influenced the world.
Indian martial arts refers to the fighting system of Indian subcontinent. It has various origins from the past. In the south, there is Kalaripayattu, which originated from Kerala and is the oldest martial art of India, there are adimurai and Silambam from Tamil Nadu.
Silambam is a unique martial art mentioned in the Sangam tamil literature.The main tool in Silambam is a bamboo staff.
Similarly in the northern part of India, we have the Gatka from Punjab, Sarit Sarak and Thang Ta from Manipur and Mardani Khel from Maharahstra.
These are just some examples of martial arts from India but the number of traditional Indian martial arts are endless. When one dives into the world of martial arts, it is like entering a magical world of exploring the rich and cultural arts of different places.
These martial arts and self defence skills are essential for every person to live a peaceful and self-dependent life. One feels a great sense of pride of preserving the traditions of martial arts
“Martial arts is like a mountain. You see the top. And you hike and you climb, and you finally reach the peak, and you realize it was a false summit, and in front of you lies an entire new mountain range.” – Robert Owens