The martial arts have many historical records and the expression has its origins in Western culture. Martial arts are, in fact, the skills of fighting and warfare through movement, as well as concepts of ethics and morality.
The name “martial” comes from a Greco-Roman god called Mars, the god of war. In other words, the techniques are based on direct combat between men. Today, this activity is practiced as a form of physical exercise.
The history of the martial art is not very precise, as it dates back many years. However, it is possible to agree on its origins. It's very interesting to know a little more about this activity if you're thinking of practicing it.
The origins of martial arts
The martial arts appeared in prehistoric times, so you can already get an idea of how old they are! Researchers have reported that primitive men used stones, bones, sticks and other utensils to strike their enemies.
What may seem like just a form of defense with no technique involved has been perfected over time into a more solid form of martial arts.
Combat episodes, whether armed or unarmed, did not originate in Ancient Rome or Greece (as most people think), but in the Mesopotamian region.
Over the course of this time, martial arts have been improved and categorized, leading to the emergence of specific types of fighting, such as Taekwondo, Jiu Jitsu, karate, kung fu, among others.
The martial arts as we know them today emerged mainly in China, India and Korea.
What used to be considered just fighting techniques are now part of a sports framework. The Olympics have even included this type of fighting in their competitions.
Martial arts: much more than moves
The principles of martial arts go far beyond teachings about self-defense and attack. Eastern fights are full of teachings, theories and philosophies.
Eastern culture itself is very rich and based on firm values. This is evident in martial arts, where its teachings also include concepts about ethics and morality.
That's why it's such an interesting activity. Unlike conventional gym activities, the martial arts work on mental health directly.
Activities such as weight training and the like are also beneficial for mental health, but in a different way.
So, if you're considering taking martial arts classes, be aware that you'll be learning a lot of things, going beyond self-defense.
What are the main benefits of martial arts?
In addition to learning self-defense and fighting concepts, martial arts bring various health benefits, such as:
- Weight loss - they are very dynamic classes and you can burn a lot of calories
- Muscle toning - the muscles are well worked and muscle toning occurs
- Elasticity - many stretching exercises are performed during training, increasing elasticity
- Balance and motor coordination - two skills that are very well worked on in the martial arts
- Strengthens the heart system, immune system and circulatory system
- Combats diabetes and high cholesterol
- Eases symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress
- Increases mood for everyday life
- Improves night's sleep
- Increases overall quality of life
To find out more about the history and origin of martial arts, search for the Practice Fitness nearest you and book a trial class. The units work with various types of martial arts.