What was the first martial art designed by mankind?
962307
the earliest i'd reckon is "clubbing" used by the earliest of men who fought and defended themselves from each other, and wild animals with thick sticks, or clubs. those who became skilled with clubs were designated hunters of the tribe when food was aplenty (later as warriors, when tribe wars began, for want of preferred territories, hunting grounds, etc.).\n\nwhy, even cain killed abel with a blow to the head using a club..
761390
That really depends on which martial arts. Fencing, kenjutsu, chinese weapon martial art, kendo, etc. they are all different from each other. It's really difficult to name them all. Furthermore, each martial art created afew defensive stance as well.
527744
well duh. Wrestling: breaking ones neck. Kung fu: Dim mak. etc etc...every martial arts has lethal techniques. Why do you think they're called martial? Mars..roman god of war...
1145651
That depends on what you want out of it. They are all different. They all have strengths and weaknesses. I teach and train in Karate but that's because it's right for me, not necessarily for you. Here are some brief descriptions of the major arts.\n\nKarate - linear punching and kicking (similar to boxing and kickboxing)\nJudo - ground work, grappling, locks and throws\nTai-chi - slow beautiful movements used for exercises\nTae-kwon-do - A lot of kicking (and shouting)\nAikido - Circular movements with locks, holds and throws (non aggressive)\nKung-Fu - Chinese art that is very flashy and great for tournaments.\n\nThe best thing to do is to find an art for you, go to different Dojo's and watch classes. Most Dojo's will let you take a free class. Find whats best for you and work hard. Later you can add another art that compliments your first one.
840224
Bruce Lee actually explained it pretty well in relatively simple terms: think of Karate as an iron bar, think of Kung-Fu as an iron chain.\n\nBoth are very powerful, but emphasize different aspects (philosophies, reasonings, not necessarily movements) to fighting.\n\nTangibly, I would say it has been my experience in Korean systems at the beginning of my martial arts training, we practiced hard on blocking and then counter-attacking. Since my Chinese systems training, emphasis has been placed more so on evading while attacking simultaneously.
918438
lol you have to remember that he was probably the first guy who actually trained the way he did.\n\nOk nowadays there are lots of people who go to extremes like Bruce but back then he stood out a mile through sheer hard work and skill.\n\nOh and I suppose Judos good in some ways like grappling and so on but your missing the point.\n\nThere is no one martial art that is the best as you seem to think.\n\nCross Training is the future dear boy
331972
There really are no "Woman Only" styles of kung-fu. There are a few styles that are geared more towards woman, such as certain styles of Snake Fist, and some schools will only teach these arts to woman, but that is not because the system is for woman only, but because the teacher feels that most men do not have the fluidity of movement or the subtle grace needed to make the forms look graceful. There are also a few Fan forms and bare hand forms that are performed in Wushu tournaments by woman only, but men do learn these forms, they just do not perform them. Again, because the form requires certain feminine attributes. \n\nAs for fratown03s assessment of Wing Chu, he is correct that is was founded by a woman. However, to set the records right, the founder was a Shaolin Nun named  Ng Mui who taught the art to a young girl named Yim Wing-Chun. In time, Ng Mui named the style after her pupil, Wing Chun. \n\nStill, there have been MANY male Wing Chun practitioners. Among the more well known in Martial arts circles are: Yip Man, Leung Ting, William Cheung, Ip Chun, Bruce Lee and Randy Tay. It is most certainly NOT a woman's only martial art. \n\nI hope this helps.
810921
chi sao sticky hands a training exercise used to develop sensitivity in the art of wing chun
258118
There are a variety of martial arts forms/systems out there.\nI think you should re-evaluate your reasons for wanting to learn them, your question seems to focus more on feminine movement, whereas the arts are geared more toward pugilism.\nI do not mean to imply that they will not teach you the attributes you have listed, simply that you may feel more comfortable focusing on something else to provide these elements without the effort involved to attain your goals.\nMartial arts have been around for as long as humans have.\nThere are literally hundreds of different branches/styles/systems out there.\nGenerally speaking the arts can be classified as either "hard" or "soft" styles. This refers to the arts methodology and instruction parameters. Hard styles usually involve a more direct forceful approach in there applications. Softer styles are more about learning to redirect/redistribute a particuler "energy" that is being focused, either with or without damage to your opponent. Hard styles often result in injury in their more direct approach.\nTai chi is an excellent soft art that focuses more on the movement and energy associated within a particuler technique as well as fine tuning your mind/body "fortress".\nIf you prefer something that is not geared specifically at the martial arts, maybe you should try something along the lines of dancing/aerobics. There are some really great programs out there for this purpose.\nOne thing to consider is the group factor. You would probably be more apt to "keep up" with the regimen if you had others to "compete" with. Often a solitary workout will lead to isolation and dis-interest in the activity.\nI would personally think that a Modern Dance class would be great to express yourself in and gain all the attributes you are looking for.
500981
I take two styles Wing Chung Kune and the Chin Na grappling system. Wing Chung is great for fighing it is mean to maim or kill the attacker. Chin Na is not a martial art it is a system. Both Chin Na and Wing Chung Kune are taught at both the nothern and souther Shaolin temples. I also like the older styles such as from the Hung Gar family (Tiger Crain is an example). I agree with what you said about the circular motion in Kung Fu i belive that Karate is far to ridged and do not belive it would hold up well against an experience Kung Fu practioner.
269949
That's an interesting question.\n\nSeeing as this is in "homework help" I won't give you the answer, but pose another question: which came first - human beings' ethics or society's laws?\n\n(Typical darn philosophy teacher, anwering a question with a question! :-) )
1059247
I've got 32 years experience in a southern Chinese style of kung fu - (a five family system of Tsoi-Li-Ho-Fut-Hung ga) and hold a Master's rank.  This is a fighting style, not show or artsy style of kung fu.\n\nAs you said, there are hundreds of Chinese styles and some are mere showiness, with little, if any, actual fighting prowess.  However, there are also many which are devastating fighting arts.  They are brutal, direct, and deadly.  It depends on the style as well as the teacher and the student.  The best fighting art in the world is useless if the teacher can't teach it or the student refuses to do what is necessary to make the art effective -  i.e, train, work correctly, and not namby-pamby about as if the name of the art itself was like some magical talisman which protects against all comers.\n\nI have seen some outstanding Northern Shaolin style fighters! and I do NOT use the term fighter loosely.  These people were world class fighters by anyone's definition, anywhere.  I've also seen some who were so caught up in useless idiocies that all an actual fighter could do was to laugh at their sheer lunacy.\n\nThe sad thing is that many schools, not only Chinese, but Japanese, Korean, Thai, etc., in the country have degenerated into sort of McDojo's - run to get as many people thru as quickly as possible with as little skill as could possibly be imparted.\n\nThere are also some absolutely top FIGHTING schools in almost all of the arts (I'm not one who believes all styles are equally worthwhile - some are simply for show or sport ) but I am one who firmly believes that if someone in a good fighting style doesn't train well, doesn't take it seriously, doesn't fight full out when it's necessary - then that someone will be creamed by someone who's trained in an inferior art, but who took it very seriously.\n\nSo to try to answer you question a bit more directly - I think kung fu (again remembering that we're talking about hundreds of styles when we use this term) can be one of the most effective fighting arts on the planet.  It can also be one of the biggest jokes, depending on which art and which student we're discussing.  \n\nIf you are looking at any particular art for yourself, the best thing to do is to visit the school  Don't make your decision based on one day.  Visit a few times.  See how the people interact with the instructor and with each other.  If they don't even seem like they like each other or are obnoxiously cocky - run, don't walk, to the exit.  Are you required to sign a contract or do they go month to month and want you there because you want to learn?  (Both have their advocates, I'm a definite no-contract kind of guy).  Do they charge you to test? Or is the testing part of what they do because they are supposed to help you learn?  All of these are things you should find out and evaluate for yourself.\n\nIf you want a fighting art for self defense, find out how much time is actually put into that.  How much into form work.  How much into weapons skill.  If you are looking for competition, then find a school which specializes in that - not necessarily stuff that's actually effective on the street - but stuff that wows the judge and the audience.  So, basically, find what you want and go with it.
896197
The so called fact are that almost all cultures were suppose to have created the ultimated Sword but that was all based on the material that they had to work with. Also based in truth and facts the ultimate sword was suppose to have been a creation of the iron age and many good swords were created in that time period. And when mankind literally stumbled on to how to created steel then once again out comes the ultimate sword. So in truth across time and history the ultimate sword was created many times over and over again.. I do hope that this does answers your question fully.
1129525
O.K. This question comes up about every couple of days.\nMy standing answer is that there is no one martial art that encompasses everything. The best thing to do is to learn two different arts and use them together. Pick two that have opposite movements and yet compliment each other like...\nKarate - Linear aggressive attacks using your own body movements for power. (punching and kicking)\nAikido - Circular non aggressive movements which use your opponents momentum as the power base. (Throws and locks)
833023
The word you're looking for is "Yamakasi." It's not a martial art, although it is an art.\n\nThe Yamakasi are a group who practice what's called "the art of movement." (It's probably better known as free running, I believe.) Their art is similar to parkour, although both diverged several years ago. The Yamakasi focus on getting around (or on, or through, or under, etc.) physical obstacles in an urban environment in a way that's aesthetically pleasing and flippin' awesome to watch.\n\nWhat's the difference? Parkour is maybe a sport, definitely a physical discipline. Its goal is for its practicioners to get past physical obstacles as quickly and efficiently as possible. Yamakasi's art of movement focuses more on tricking, aesthetics, and freedom to choose a physical path, in contrast to parkour's emphasis on a linear route.
184612
The first known design for a robot was made by Leonardo da Vince in 1495, but there it is not known wether Leonardo himself ever attempted to make the robot. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo%27s_robot)\n\nThe first known robot construction was made by Jacques (de) Vaucanson in 1738. It is named The Flute Player. Later, he created The Tambourine Player and The Digesting Duck. It is \nreported that his original robots are all destroyed by now. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Vaucanson
1160474
Tai chi is more spiritually oriented, which would attract those looking for a more artful style.\nFans, as a weapon, would have to sought out independently from dojo to dojo.  I've been to dojos that taught the same style, but trained only in a certain school or arena of weapon.