The Bullet--2008 February Newsletter

The BULLETT

Official Newsletter of the Order of Combat for 30 years

FEBRUARY 2008

Reading about the Martial Arts, and studying Martial Arts History help develop “Depth” and enhance your ability to see into the basics of things, and understand how things may have come about.  Often, you have to read between the lines.

For instance the Japanese tend to claim Karate as their own development, yet the true history of Karate recognizes that Master Gishin Funakoshi, an Okinawan Master of “Te”, or “Okinawa Te”, the “Hand of Okinawa” actually adapted Okinawa Te into the art of “Kara Te”, the “Empty Hand”.  This term combined to make “Karate” or “Karate Do”, the “

Different Asian countries claim to be the origin of modern martial arts, but history shows that an organized art called “Pankratia” was a part of the Greek Olympic Games at the dawn of Western civilization, and such organized training took place in Southern European/Mediterranean areas.

Chinese tradition has it that an individual named “Dharma” or “DhaRuma” entered China from the area of India, having traveled by himself over terrain that was known as a “badlands”, full of outlaws, renegades, and cannibalistic tribes that killed anyone that crossed their territory.  When asked how he managed to get through, Dharma shrugged, and said “I just do what I must do”.  When the Chinese observed him beginning each morning with exercises, they attempted to join him and keep up with his strenuous routines, and found they were quickly exhausted.  This was supposedly the beginnings of Kung Fu training.  Did this individual actually exist?  If he did, did he come from India?  Who taught him?  Where did that knowledge come from?

We here in America, are the last continent to be developed by modern peoples that had their own civilizations.  As such, we have inherited the Martial Arts from the East, and from the West.  Both civilizations have centuries of history of training for warfare. 

The Knights of Europe meet the Samurai of Asia here on the American continent.  The advanced practitioners of Tang Soo Do, Karate and Kung Fu meet the Masters of the two handed Claymore, the grapplers and wrestlers of England, Wales and Scotland.  We benefit from all these arts and traditions of all the different cultures of the world.

America is where it all has come together.  Take the time to read, look at videos, and study a little, in whatever way suits you best.  You will find that Martial Arts is one of the  most intriguing subjects in the world.  Warriors and fighters are part of the history of our world, and are an inspiration throughout the ages in all cultures.

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