Author: Master VU TRINH
People practice martial arts for many different reasons. Some main reasons are self-defense, physical fitness, stress relief, mental calmness, and a martial arts tournament competition. It is my belief, as a martial artist, that people who practice the art should have some understanding of its real meaning and purposes. Hopefully, the following information will briefly explain these two important aspects.
According to some martial arts historical writing experts, Martial means relating to military life. Art is a skill in performance. When the two words are used together, the true meaning of martial arts is a military or war-like fighting skill with or without the use of weapons. The level of skill attained is usually determined by the amount of practice, study, observation, experience, and discipline one has. Other experts may look at martial arts as law enforcement applications, spiritual developments, entertainment, and even sometimes cultural heritage. Regardless, one must learn to develop physical, mental, and spiritual discipline in order to practice the art at a high level.
There are many theories about the origin of martial arts. While some believe that martial arts started in China, others indicate that it started in Japan. However, the most widely believed theory is that it originated in India.
In the year 1000 B.C., a fighting art called Vajramushto was being used in India by a warrior class known as Kshatriya. The art was passed down from generation to generation.
According to martial arts history, the actual martial arts roots originated in India. However, it also indicated that this expensive and elegant sport was only preserved for the rich and high-class people. The sources emphasized that during that period, Buddhism was very popular in India, and most of the second-largest population in the world was Buddhism.
In 540 A.D., an Indian monk named Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, also known as Dot, Mor Tamo, Durama, and Durama Taishi, traveled to China to give lectures on his Buddhism. According to the legend, on his way to China Bodhidharma crossed the mountain of Himalaya with his bare foot. Very often he had to use his martial arts skill to defend himself against roaming bandits, animals, and worst of all, the terrain, and the environment. Bodhidharma was born in the rich Pallava Kingdom as a prince located in South India. His father was King Kanchipuram. However, according to the same sources, Bodhidharma had decided to leave the Pallava Kingdom at an early age to pursue his dream to become a simple monk. Soon after, he sent a message to China, a neighboring country to India, that he would like to travel to this bigger land and population to offer his knowledge of Buddhism. In response to his request, the Chinese Emperor, Wu, traveled to the border of these two counties to welcome him. Due to Bodhidharma’s young age and unimpressive looks, perhaps because of the long, unrested journey, Emperor Wu was very disappointed with him. However, he contained his disappointment and continued to welcome the monk.
The successful completion of the journey brought Bodhidharma to the Huan province of China where he was offered a place to stay in a Shaolin temple. He met many Chinese monks and began to share with them not only his concept of Buddhism but that of martial arts as well.
During this period of time, Bodhidharma demonstrated his meditation skill by combining the spiritual in meditation with the internal physical aspect. He surprised the monks by maintaining himself in an unmoving meditation session for nine years in a small cave located behind this Shaolin temple.
The sharing of the martial arts resulted from Bodhidharma observing the monks quietly sitting all day with their eyes closed, their hands clasped in front of their chest, their legs crossed, and positioned on top of their laps.
"It isn't the good way for them to do so." the Indian monks mumbled.
On the very next day, Bodhidharma told the monks" Meditation is good, the relaxation is wonderful, but it is not good enough."
"So, what do you suggest, Master?" the monks asked.
Bodhidharma took his time and carefully explained to the monks that a strong mind does not function well in a weak body and vice versa. Therefore, one needs to strengthen one's body as well as one's mind. He told them that the best way to do that was to first do various exercises which would stretch their muscles, help the circulation of their blood, and rotate their joints along with lengthy breathing techniques. The second part was to perform a series of moves as if one was defending him/herself against imaginary opponents. The latter is known as kata in Japanese, Hyung in Korean, Kuen in Chinese, Thao in Vietnamese, and form in English. He helped the monks sustain their physical health and taught them exercises eventually referred to as martial arts. The monks were so impressed with Bodhidharma that they learned the exercises and the forms and performed them as part of their religion.
These exercise techniques or martial arts have continued to develop in China. Since China was a huge country with the largest population in the world, they produced a big number of merchants and traveled to many smaller or nearby countries such as Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Korea and brought with them the “art of martial” to practice. There, they share the art with the local people. Although influenced by the Chinese, those countries adopted the principal concepts of martial arts, developed their own martial arts system, and named their art differently.
There are many types or branches of martial arts, each with its unique characteristics and philosophy. Below are a few examples of many other martial arts styles.
JUDO:
In 1882, the Kodokan School of Judo had founded by Dr. Gigoro Kano (1860-1938). He was born in a small seaside town named Mikage in Japan. In 1871, his whole family moved to Tokyo. At the age of seventy-eight, Master Kano died of pneumonia on a Japanese ship, S. S. Hikawa. Judo means gentle way. Judo is derived from Jujutsu. It has been famous for using the opponents ' momentums to uproot and throw them to the ground. In May 1882, he combined the best elements of each jujutsu style into a new school. He was only 21 years old at the time. This was the birth of modern judo. The principle of Judo is maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Another effort of Judo is to combine the power between body and mind resulting in using holds and leverage to unbalance the opponents. Master Jigoro's dream of the "internationalization of judo" came true at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
According to Judo experts, Judo consists of three basic categories: throwing, grappling, and striking. Other Judo experts added that the three main principles of Judo while facing their opponents are: enter, uproot, and execute. This concept seems to fit in with Nage-waza or throwing techniques of Judo, which are Kuzushi (making the opponents off balance. Tzushi (situate into the throw, and Kake (execute the throw). Master Kano’s teachings focused on the principles of maximum efficiency, minimum effort, and mutual welfare and benefit in order to demonstrate the idea of softness defeating hardness.
AIKIDO:
Aikido is a Japanese martial art that was founded by Master Morihei Ueshiba (1883 -1969). In the beginning, Aikido was first named “aikibudo”. Later on, Master Ueshiba changed the name to “ Aikinomichi”. In 1942, he finally decided on the name “Aikido”. The principle of Aikido is characterized by using the concept of circular movements to dislocate the opponent's joints by using their arms or wrist locks. Indeed, Aikido effectively utilizes joint locks, throws, strikes, and pins to neutralize an attacker. Through circular movement and advantageous position, techniques redirect the force of aggression to harmonize with the encounter. Paradoxically, Aikido is a nonviolent martial art. The Aikido practitioners commit fully to each martial encounter and seek to neutralize conflict. In this way, Aikido promotes peace through us out into the world.
Aikido has three meanings: Ai, Ki, and Do. Ai means to combine, Ki means internal power, and Do is the way. In other words, Aikido means the way of unifying (with) life energy or "the way of harmonious spirit". Basically, the principles of Aikido principles are entering, breathing control, and turning movements in order to redirect the opponent's attack momentum. Those principles are designed and systemized into the throws and joint locks techniques. It’s also said that Master Ueshiba's goal was to establish art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also preventing their attackers from serious injury. Actually, Aikido is a 100% defensive martial art. The "attacking techniques" taught in Aikido are only for the purpose of defending against attackers instead of the purpose of injuring an opponent.
SHOTOKAN:
Shotokan was found by Mates Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and his son Gigo Funakoshi (1906–1945). Master Funakoshi also was a poet. His pen name was “Shoto” which is the sounds and movement of the pine straw while blowing in the wind.
Mates Gichin Funakoshi graduated from Takashoku University in 1937. He learned karate from two highly respected Okinawan masters of the art, Yasutsune (Anko) Itosu and Yasutsune (Anko) Azato. He traveled to Peking to study Chinese. While there, he studied various styles of Chinese fighting systems. Basically, Shotokan consists of three principles: Kihon (fundamentals), Kata (form), and Kumite (sparring). Purposely, Shotokan emphasized self-defense derived from stances, strikes, forms, and sparring techniques. Shotokan, as a result, is a hard martial arts style. Students of the Japanese Karate-Do dojo live by Master Funakoshi’s five precepts called Dojo Kun. Dojo Kun (Principles of the Karate school) Seek perfection of character Be faithful Endeavor Respect others Refrain from violent behavior. Traditionally, each Karate training session begins and ends with a brief meditation.
Regarding the name of the style Shotokan. In Japanese, “kan” means home. Master Funakoshi had never named his martial arts style. Through their love and respect, his students created a wooden Shotokan” sign and placed it above the entrance of the dojo where Master Funakoshi taught.
CUONG NHU:
Cuong Nhu is a Vietnamese martial arts style. Cuong means hard, and Nhu means soft in Vietnamese. Cuong Nhu was founded in 1965 by Professor Ngo Dong ( -2000) in Hue, Vietnam. In 1971, Grand Master Dong traveled to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in entomology at the University of Florida.Master Dong earned his doctorate in three years and returned to Vietnam in 1974. Cuong Nhu was brought to the United States by Dr. Dong himself while attending his Ph.D. program at the University of Florida. Before the fall of Saigon, Dr. Ngo Dong had been appointed as the President of Quang Da Community College, located in central Vietnam. In 1975, Dr. Ngo Dong was imprisoned (under house-arrested) by the new communist government due to his serving under the former regime of South Vietnam. He escaped from prison, and later, Dr. Ngo Dong escaped from Viet Nam to the U.S. in 1977 by boat. He resettled his life in America, taught at the University of Florida, and immediately resumed his leadership in Cuong Nhu Martial Arts in the U. S. Cuong Nhu’s techniques have derived from seven styles of Martial Arts, Shotokan Karate, Aikido, Judo, Wing Chung, Tai Chi, Vovinam, and Boxing.
Professor Ngo Dong’s son, Quynh Ngo, took over the leadership in Cuong Nhu from his father. Unfortunately, Grandmaster Quynh passed away on September 1, 2021, from complications of Covid-19. As of today (June/2022), Cuong Nhu is led by Grandmaster John Burn, a 9th-degree Black Belt who also served as the head instructor of his own Cuong Nhu Martial Arts school in California. Currently, many Cuong Nhu schools have been established throughout the U.S. and all over the world
VOVINAM:
In 1938, Vovinam was founded by Grand Master Nguyen Loc (1912 – 1960) in Vietnam. The word Vovinam is a combination between “Vo” and “Vinam”. The first term "Vo" means martial arts in Vietnamese, and the following "Vinam" is an abbreviation of Vietnam. Together, Vovinam stands for Vietnamese Martial Arts. Like many other types of Martial Arts such as Judo or Karate in Japan, Vovinam was inserted into the education system in Vietnam in 1966. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Vovinam was prohibited in Vietnam. However, in 1978, the new government of South Vietnam reconsidered and allowed the citizens to again practice Vovinam.
Regarding the principal characteristics of Vovinam, the style is based on the concept of Zing and Zang or the functionality between Cuong and Nhu which uses external strength when the circumstances are applicable and adopted the yielding or deflecting as needed to achieve the best results. Indeed, the late founder of Vovinam, Master Nguyen Loc utilized the principle of “Hard Soft Co-development” as the basic foundation and essence of Vovinam Viet Vo Dao.
The belt-ranking system of Vovinam consists of 5 colors. It starts with light Blue as the color of the sky or their uniforms, then changes to dark Blue, which represents the color of the deep ocean. The following Vovinam belt-colors systems are Yellow and Red. Yellow is the color of Vietnamese skin and Red stands for the color of blood. According to the several highest-ranking staff of Vovinam, there were only two people in Vovinam that had earned the White colored Belt, Grand Master/founder Nguyen Loc and later, his successor Grand Master Le Sang. There are thousands of people around the world, who currently, practice Vovinam every day.
TAEKWONDO:
General Choi Hong Hi (1918-2002) formed the International Taekwondo Federation in 1966. Speaking of Taekwondo, many martial arts practitioners claim that the name of the style would tell you the meaning or purpose of the style of martial arts. For instance, Karate-do means the ways of using your hands or Taekwondo means the ways of using your feet and fists, etc... Indeed, in Korean, “tae” means “feet”, “kwon” means “fist” and of course, “do” means “the ways”. As a result, the meaning of Taekwondo is the way of using your hands and legs or your feet and fists. Those Taekwondo experts also emphasized that the principle of Taekwondo are peacefulness, calmness, and readiness. Compared to the martial styles in the world, Taekwondo is unique and was Korea's national martial arts style.
According to the history of TaeKwon do martial arts, the term Taekwondo was born in 1957. It was derived from “Taek Kyon” which was the original name of Korea’s martial arts. It was said that the Korean martial art of Taekwondo can be traced back all the way to 50 B.C. It was also mentioned that the reason for the revised name “Taekwondo” is the similarity not only in writing but also in pronunciations between the two, Taek Kyon and Taekwondo; Especially the additional word “do” commonly used by the majority of the others martial arts styles such as Judo, Karate-do, Aikido, etc.
Once again, the Korean Taekwondo Association decided to rename their martial arts organization to World Taekwondo Federation in 1973 and initially internationalize Taekwondo. The Korean government had produced and encouraged many of their Taekwondo experts to open Taekwondo schools all over the world.
Although Bodhidharma was born in India to a wealthy family, he was little known there, and very seldom Bodhidharma had been praised by his motherland, India. Instead, the sacrificed and unselfish monk was very popular among the Chinese. His lectures on Buddhism have been almost daily spreading out on the broadcast system or on the billboards that were posted just about everywhere on the streets to encourage the Chinese to join the religion he mentioned Buddhism.
They even suggested that those famous statements from Bodhidharma such as “People who don’t see their nature and imagine they can practice thoughtlessness all the time are liars and fools” or “In order to see fish, you must watch the water” etc. should be included in the Chinese educational system.
Sources: Research/Some of the pictures & information were derived from the internet.
A note from the author:
This article has been written based on the research, the author’s knowledge, and sometimes, the provided information from the internet. Please disregard any details that might be considered “disagreeable” to the readers. The purpose of this article is just humbly express the author’s concepts. For more information about the author, please go to https://bamboodojoflorida.wixsite.com/bamboodojo.
Master Vu Trinh had trained in several martial arts styles in Vietnam. He is a 6th-degree Black Belt in Cuong Nhu. Master Vu Trinh received his training under the founder of Cuong Nhu, Professor Ngo Dong, and a couple of other high-ranking Maters of Cuong Nhu. Below are several pictures of Master Vu Trinh during his training or demonstrations.
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