The most popular martial arts1 today originated in Asia, especially in China. Some Chinese fighting styles were invented more than 3,000 years ago. Many martial arts were invented because people needed to defend themselves or protect others. Nowadays, people learn martial arts as a way of keeping fit or as a competitive sport, but they are still very useful for self-defence.
Martial arts are often referred to as either soft or hard. These terms imply a way of dealing with your opponent’s force. Soft martial arts, such as tai chi, teach you to use your opponent’s own force to defend yourself. Soft styles use fluid movements and timing to avoid, deflect and redirect their opponent’s attacks. These martial arts are soft for the defender but not for the attacker! On the other hand, hard styles, such as kung fu, teach you to defend yourself using force. Techniques involve blocking, posturing and powerful punching2 and kicking. Hard martial arts techniques are more effective if you are more skilful, more powerful and faster than your opponent.
Perhaps one of the best known Japanese martial arts today is karate. But did you know that its roots are derived from Fujian Province? In the 14th century, a community of Chinese migrants from Fujian settled in what was then the kingdom of Okinawa. The Chinese migrants used to gather in a park to enjoy cultural activities—one of which was kung fu. This soon caught the attention of local youths, who started leaning kung fu from their Chinese neighbours.
In fact, Chinese influence in martial arts was not limited to kung fu. The very first Korean military training manual3 was based on a Chinese version, During the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16th century, the Korean army needed an effective way to train a large number of troops4. They adopted a training methodology5 from a Chinese military manual called Ji Xiao Xin Shu6, written by the famed Chinese general, Qi Jiguang, who had himself defeated Japanese pirates7.
NOTES
1. martial arts 武术 2. punch v. 用拳猛打 3. manual n. 使用手册
4. troop n. 军队 5. methodology n. 方法 6. Ji Xiao Xin Shu 《纪效新书》
7. pirate n. 海盗
GENERAL UNDERSTANDING
Read the text. Answer the questions.
【小题1】What are the two main reasons why people learn martial arts?
【小题2】What are soft martial arts? What are hard martial arts?
