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Posts Tagged ‘Royal Courts’

 An ancient Japanese contact sport, Sumo wrestling received Imperial patronage and today is still heavily based on 1500 year Shinto religion and ritual.

 Sumo wrestling is not only the oldest of Japan’s various martial arts, it also evolved into the most distinct and ritualistic, to this day still heavily centred around the Shinto religion. When the sport was first introduced 1500 years ago it was performed mostly to ensure good harvests. Sumo’s popularity quickly spread, becoming a more public and widespread event. Matches were usually brutal, the loser often expected to forfeit his life. By the 7th century Sumo had fallen under the protection of the warring Shogunite regime and was largely banned as a public spectacle. Only the samurai, or warrior class, were allowed to practice it as part of their military training. Once peace was finally restored Sumo once again fell under the patronage of the Japanese royal courts and was dubbed the Imperial sport. By the 15th century Sumo wrestling had adopted a set of strict rules and the most talented champions were offered patronage by powerful feudal lords. In the early 1700’s “banzuke” or ranking lists, were established, a system which is still strictly adhered to today.  Read more...

Muay Thai Kick Boxing has been getting increasingly popular now. Besides learning the techniques of this sport one must also be aware of its history as well as its socio-cultural significance.

Muay Thai Kick Boxing is a kind of martial arts whose practice is traditionally found in south east Asian countries, especially in Thailand. It is in fact the national sport of Thailand. Through centuries of its evolution Muay Thai Kick Boxing has taken on various western influences. It has adapted to various other forms of martial arts, kicks and punches seen in western kick boxing. Thus it has grown a difference with the original ancient martial art called Muay Boran. This change has been largely due to the international recognition of this sport. Various cultures have lent bits of their own to Muay Thai Kick Boxing.

Unlike other forms of kick boxing, in which there are usually two or four points of bodily contact between the fighters, Muay Thai Kick Boxing requires more physical involvement of the fighters. Hands, shins, knees and elbows are the points with which a Muay Thai fighter, or a Nak Muay, can hit his opponent. Apart from the usual kicking and punching, Muay Thai also involves tricks of the elbows, elbow chops, neck-wrestling, special punches like jabs, hooks and cobras.  Read more...