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I saw a you tube video with Steve Mohammed insisting all martial arts were STOLEN from Africa, (IIRC he said "The Black Man")by the Chinese.
Here is the thing, words mean things, Martialfrom Dictionary.com)–adjective 1. inclined or disposed to war; warlike: The ancient Romans were a martial people. 2. of, suitable for, or associated with war or the armed forces: martial music. 3. characteristic of or befitting a warrior: a martial stride.
you mean africans invented war, & the chinese stole it from them?
for shame, both of them.
jf
*Cue flute music*It is true though, the Shaolin monks even time traveled back and taught martial arts to the Greek, Egyptians and other cultures. I'm pretty sure Kwai Chang Kane even jumped through time a few times.
The first martial art was the use of elephant tusks or *** bones by the cave men who then drew about it. I know, because I watch Geico commercials!! In fact, I have studied Shaolin for 20 of my 32 years and yes it does predate many martial arts. But, martial arts have been around in various forms since the time man first had to defend against both animals and himself! More fascinating to me, and I started this awhile back in another thread, is the myriad ways both swords and sword fighting developed differently depending upon environment, culture, etc.
This is a specious argument, like trying to decide who was the first to run naked in the woods. I know, many of you would assert Adam and Eve, but I know that was not true....LOL!
Again, I'm at work and I'm talking martial arts with some coworkers, and one of them says,
"You know all martial arts come from Shaolin. They were doing it first, and then the monks spread it across the world."
Of course, this guy trained Shaolin Kung Fu, and he's just parroting what his instructor told him. It isn't his fault, but it's still annoying.
Now, we all know that this statement holds some truth, for some martial arts. But the simple statement that "all martial arts come from Shaolin" simply isn't completely true.
But I'm not looking for a fight, so I just nodded my head and changed the subject.
After all, we all know all martial arts really came from aliens.
-Rob
I just smile at these types.
If the continue or will not let it drop, I ask them if they are religious. If yes, then I ask them if Able was upset with the martial art that Cain learned and used on him? If not religious I just ask them if the first humans were all pacifists or maybe they learned to fight to defend themselves or to win the most food or ..., .
Then I smile and walk away.
Also, it completely ignores the existence of pankration, boxing, savate, silat, kali and phukyu (the irishh martial art -- mostly headbutting your friends and vomiting on them while drunk).
"All martial arts come from Shaolin" only works if you only count Kung Fu, Karate and Tae Kwon Do branches, and even then it is rather sketchy.
Everyone knows that all martial arts are descended from Sinanju.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinanju_(martial_art)
Clearly mere imitators...Are you sure it was Sinanju? I thought it was the Fist of the North Star... lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokuto_Shinken
What came first the chicken or Shaolin ? Or was it the Shaolin then the egg ? I get confused every time i try to figure it out. To be honest who cares. I train in Shaolin Kung Fu and it doesn't matter to me that Pankration, Boxing, Wrestling, Silat, or many other styles came first. WHo cares ? I am just happy and priveledged enough to be able to train in it.
I guess its human nature/insecurity to want to have bragging rights about being first. As I stated earlier maybe it was Chuck Norris who time travelled back in time and taught Buddha how to throw a insane roundhouse kick and thats how it started ? yeah < i like that theory the best of all. Time to post some BS You Tube video footage of it happening and then it will become gospel !!! YAY !!
In fairness, what (reasonably substantial but not at the level of others here) research I've done supports the claim somewhat.
There's lots of folks who believe that the arm of fighting styles most westerners think of a 'martial arts' (i.e., karate, tae kwon do and kung fu) evolved from the shaolin temple.
Of course, the story goes that they got it from India -- so nobody gets bragging rights.