Today, East Asian martial arts such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kungfu and Judo are known and practiced worldwide. There is a misconception among many Westerners that East Asians and Southeast Asians 'invented' martial arts. The truth is that, in any society where combative situations occur - pretty much most of the world - people have found it necessary to develop martial arts. The arts of self-defense know no borders or cultures.
The Euopean/Euro-Am fascination with East Asia and East Asian martial arts has spawned white-male-oriented Asian fetishist movies such as "Iron and Silk", "The Last Samurai", "The Hunted", where a Euro male immerses himself in 'Oriental culture' by mastering the native martial arts, beating the natives on their own turf, and bedding yellow women along the way. Many white males have journeyed to the Far East to live out their exotic-erotic fantasies.
As a martial artist in an East Asian style, I find this sort of fascination cheapening to the art and to the culture from which it came - a sort of exotic shopping trip. Fortunately, all the white males I train closely with lack Asian fetish and while they respect the culture of origin of their chosen martial art and dutifully study the history and background of the art, their interest is strictly practical. They have no special interest in 'Oriental' clothing, food, or women. Occasionally, I encounter a few 'bad apples' from other studios, whose fascination with Oriental women undermine the dignity of the dojo.
I always had an interest in learning about non-East Asian martial arts, even if I do not have the opportunity to formally train in these systems. I think it is about time East Asian martial arts share the limelight with martial arts from the rest of the world, so I have collected some links about traditional martial arts which are lesser known in East Asia and the West. These are by no means the only martial arts practiced in these cultures. In many cultures, modern arts (not listed here) have developed from the synthesis of traditional native forms and foreign influences such as the East Asian arts.
T.J.
Africa
Senegalese Wrestling (Laamb)
This is a millenia-old wrestling sport practiced across ethnic groups. Formal competitions are still popular today.
Links:
Senegalese Traditional Wrestling
TRADITIONAL WRESTLING: LAAMB
Further Reading
| These books are not specifically dedicated to Laamb; they mention the art in a larger context of world or regional martial arts. | |
Nguni stick fighting
Among the Zulu (a subgroup of the Nguni), boys are traditionally trained to stick fight from age 3. Their training takes place far from their villages. At age 15 or 16, a boy will pick his own set of sticks. Many Zulu men in urban areas still carry 2 sticks with them.
Links:
Zulu Children
UMLANDO WEMIDLALO EMASENDULO ENINGIZIMU AFRIKA
Further Reading
Nuba martial arts
The Nuba people of the Sudan have been practising organized martial arts for at least 3000 years.
Links:
Nuba stick fighting
Nuba wrestling
Further Reading
| | Not all of these books are specifically dedicated to the Nuba martial arts. In some, the Nuba arts are mentioned as part of a larger history of martial arts. | | |
The Americas
Kalenda (Trinidad)
Kalenda is a stickfighting art of African descent originating with Afro-Trinidadians.
Links:
TRINIDAD'S KALINDA STICKFIGHTS
Further Reading
| | | These books are not specifically dedicated to Kalenda, which is mentioned in the context of a larger history of martial arts. |
El Juego del Garrote (Venezuela)
El Juego del Garrote (The Garrote Game) is a Venezuelan martial arts system which involves the machete, the stick and knife fencing.. The garrote is a stick that is heavier at the striking end than at the handle end. The discipline of El Juego del Garrote is also known under other names, such as Garrote Larense, Garrote Tocuyano, Pelea de Palos and Esgrima de Palos.
The origins of el Juego del Garrote are unknown, though references to it exist throughout Venezuelan culture.
The combat system was passed from generation to generation and its practice and teachings held secretly. The master stick fighter (Maestro Jugador) revealed his skill just at the moment of the fight, never before, since it was to the Maestro Jugador's advantage if his opponent underestimated him in a life-and-death duel. The Maestro Garrotero Mercedes Pérez used to say of el Juego del Garrote: "it is like a companion who could give us help in any moment of life; it is like a handkerchief that you put in your pocket and take it out whenever you need it".
Links:
www.garrotelarense.org
Further Reading
| Although this general martial arts book is not specifically dedicated to El Juego del Garrote, it mentions the art on page 341. |
Karive (Venezuela)
Combat Karive comprises of ancient methods of fighting learned from indigenous people in the Amazon, the Andes and the Caribbean.
Links:
BBC: Venezuelans aim to kick crime out
Danmye/Ladja (Martinique)
Danmye is a martial art believed to be derived from West African wrestling. It involves both seizing and striking moves.
Links:
The danmyé in Martinique
Further Reading
| | These books are NOT specifically dedicated to Danmye or Ladja, which may only be briefly mentioned in the context of other subject matter. | | |
South Asia
Kalari Payattu (India)
Kalari Payattu is an ancient temple-based martial art practised in Kerala, India.
Links:
Discover India: Kalari Payattu
Discover Kerala: Kalari Payattu
Further Reading
| These books are NOT specifically dedicated to Kalari Payattu, which may only be briefly mentioned in the context of other subject matter. | | |
Austronesia
Austronesia refers to the area inhabited by the Austronesian peoples, spanning Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. They are linguistically related, and some of their martial arts share similar traits.
Whare tu taua (Maori)
Whare tu taua refers to the institution of traditional Maori war arts. One of more its widely-practised aspects is the weapons system of Mau Rakau. Mau Rakau training involves the use of the Taiaha (a spear/staff) and it is taught to boys in traditional settings.
Links:
Maramara Totara, the London branch of Te Whare Tu Taua o Aotearoa, the National School of Ancient Maori Weaponry
Maori weapons slideshow
Further Reading
| These books are NOT specifically dedicated to Maori martial arts, which may only be briefly mentioned in the context of other subject matter. | |
Lua (Hawaiian)
Lua involves the study of wrestling, gymnastics, joint manipulations, and weaponry.
Links:
History of Lua
LUA: A Fighting Chance
Further Reading
More Austronesian Martial Arts
Filipino, Indonesian and Malaysian arts Links
Further Reading
Europe
Systema (Russia)
The Systema as said to have been practised by the Cossacks as early as thousand years ago.
Links:
The History of Russian Martial Art
Russian Martial Art: The System
Further Reading
Savate (France)
Also known as "streetkicking", Savate originated as self-defense among the 'lower classes'.
Links:
Bridgeman Savate - The History
Kickboxing.com - history of Savate
Further Reading
More European Martial Arts
Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts
A Short Introduction to Historical European Martial Arts
Further Reading
As one can see, there is nothing exotic or foreign about martial arts. People all over the world have been involved in warfare since antiquity and responded accordingly by developing fighting arts. Learning about other cultures is great, but sometimes we don't have to look much further than our own traditions to find what we seek.
