MARTIAL ARTS RITUALS AND TRADITIONS
Over the years, the martial arts have developed traditions of their own as well as picking up those of the cultures they developed in. There are many martial arts from several countries and each art has many styles.
BOWING:
People outside of the martial arts often misunderstand bowing. In the Orient, bowing is a sign of respectful greeting -- not a sign of submission or worship. To bow to another person is to indicate that you trust him enough to willingly take your eyes off of him. In the West, we shake hands. This grew out of the battlefield practice of clasping the enemy’s sword-drawing hand during negotiations to insure that he could not draw his sword. Today it is used as a greeting.
Bowing to instructors and fellow students is a sign of respectful greeting.
Bowing when entering the Dojo is a good reminder that the ego is left outside.
Bowing before and after sparring shows that your intentions are mutual training and support; you are friends working together.
UNIFORMS
The first martial arts uniforms were nothing more than the common street clothes of the people of China, Korea, Okinawa and Japan. In the late 1800’s, Dr. Jigaro Kano invented the sport of Judo and invented a reinforced Jacket for Judoka to wear so the students’ throwing techniques would not tear their clothes off. This uniform became modified over the years until we have variety available today.
BELTS, RANKS and PROMOTION
Many people, including martial artists, are confused about belts and their colors. For many centuries, the belt did not signify rank. Again, it was Dr. Kano, the founder of Judo, who introduced the use of different belt colors to denote ranks. He did this to make it easy to identify different ranks for competition. Different systems use different colors. Most Chinese martial arts don’t use belts but use sashes instead. In Japanese martial arts, the belt was used to keep the jacket closed and was white. With years of practice, the belt would become soiled and stained and would eventually turn black. The colors used in the Korean martial arts are based on the colored robes worn by the different classes of royalty in the ancient Kingdom of Silla.
After two to three months, you should be ready for your first rank promotion. What does it mean to go up in rank? Does it mean that you have perfected a certain amount of knowledge or skills? No. Rank promotion means that you have an adequate grasp of certain knowledge and skills needed to begin learning the next level. Not to see if you have perfected your previous knowledge.
After three to five years of continuous study, the average student will normally earn his Black Belt.
FORMS, PATTERNS or KATA
These are a prearranged series of movements designed to help students practice their techniques alone and to help standardize techniques among schools. Practicing patterns helps teach the student to focus his attention and to perfect his movements. In Wing Chun forms are practiced unarmed, with weapons or using a wooden dummy.
SPARRING
There are many types of sparring ranging from pre-arranged “one-steps" to full-contact fighting. In all cases the opponent is the same -- your own lack of knowledge and skill. In the martial arts, we do not spar with the intention of trying to win, or “beat" our opponent, we spar to improve our own techniques and to learn of and destroy our own limitations.
VIOLENCE
The Martial arts techniques taught can cause horrific damage when misused. For this reason, as instructors we are selective about who we accept as students and some techniques will only be taught to more advanced students who have demonstrated over time their self discipline and character. The martial arts are intended to teach self-defense, self-control and self-confidence. It is hoped that as a student learns of his potential for destruction, he will also learn of his need for control and discipline. REMEMBER: THERE IS NO HONOR IN DEFEATING A MUCH-WEAKER OPPONENT; YOUR REAL OPPONENT IS YOUR OWN LACK OF SELF-CONTROL.
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