Martial arts, the ancient form of combat involving attacking, fighting and defensive techniques, has evolved significantly over time. Today we find a huge variety of styles, techniques and practices, each with its own history. When we look at Australia in particular, the journey is fascinating! Let’s take a look at the transformation from the ancient origins to the modern version we view as the sport.
A Look at the Roots
The origins of martial arts can be traced back to prehistoric times when humans used these combat techniques to hunt for food or as a strategy of self-defence. However, the first documented evidence of martial arts dates back to Ancient Egypt (around 2000 BCE) as pictures of humans fighting with sticks and wrestling each other were found in tomb paintings.
Some of the earliest martial arts practices are Kung Fu, Jujutsu, and Kalaripayattu. These originated from Asian countries and while they flourished in these regions, their influence reached Australia in the late 1800s, due to the early waves of immigration.
Development of Styles
After the initial culture exchange came the development of different styles and techniques, a notable one for Australia was the Zen Do Kai, which was founded in 1970 by Bob Jones. With the original intent for those working in the security industry, surprisingly the style became popular and established itself as a well-known self-defence mechanism for the modern world. This hybrid form combines both martial arts with traditional karate, boxing, Judo, and even Muay Thai, and is known for its direct, no-nonsense approach. This street-effective technique has not only expanded in Australia but also in other countries across the world.
Standardisation
As previously discussed, the roots of martial arts were informal and aided survival. At that point in time, they were passed between families through traditions or lineages. As time went on and the techniques became popular, schools began to organise training and martial arts standards came into place. The establishment of martial arts schools led to the certifying of instructors, and training programmes for students, which allowed certain training methods to be put into practice as well as introducing new ways of measuring the student’s progress.
Martial arts become serious and consistent. To measure the development of martial arts they began using ranking systems which typically included tests or exams. They then focused on monitoring it which meant martial arts became documented. This aided the practising for students but also helped preserve the traditions. Nowadays, Australia has numerous martial arts academies and the annual population estimate for adults participating is around 250,000, to put this into perspective – that’s 1.2% of the adult population.
Sportification
Not long after the standardisation of martial arts, came the sportification. The traditional martial art survival aid became a competitive sport characterised by rules and formats. Nowadays, some martial arts are in the Olympics. To be specific, there are six official martial arts sports in the Olympics, these are:
- Karate
- Judo
- Greco Roman Wrestling
- Freestyle wrestling
- Taekwondo
- Boxing
It was in 2000 in Sydney that Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport. The first ever Australian Olympic gold medal was claimed by Lauren Burns, a woman who competed in the under 49 kilogram class.
Integration of Technology
It is clear martial arts has come a long way from its original hunting purpose, it has advanced recently due to technology. One notable example which is changing the game when it comes to practice is the interactive trainer. This allows high-intensity Muay Thai workouts and allows individuals to train without an instructor. The machine works with strike pads and accelerometers that provide feedback on accuracy, power, timing and strike counts. The metrics can be used to track progress and find areas of improvement. We will likely see more of these in Australia both in homes and martial arts schools.
Martial Art in other realms
In line with the relentless march of technology, martial arts has found itself integrated with other niches. One prime example is in the realm of gaming, where video games frequently draw upon street fighting and martial arts combat while sports games transport players to virtual arenas of competition. Even within the realm of casino gaming, martial arts themes play a key role in the design and themes of slot games. Many platforms offer insights into this world of casinos in Australia, providing in-depth reviews of casino bonus no deposit and other options. Furthermore, it’s likely in the future we will see virtual reality combined with martial arts, providing another level of entertainment, or even for training purposes.
Looking back at the evolution of Martial Arts reveals a remarkable transformation. The once survival skills are now an official Olympic sport or a game genre enjoyed by many. And as those who participate in martial arts will know, the self-defence approach has shifted to more of a self-improvement practice.
