Welcome to Cyclopaedia 30: Martial Arts. Cyclopaedia is a monthly article on the InnRoads Ministries website. My introduction to the martial arts was watching David Carradine on Kung Fu. This calm master of mind and body could also defend himself with just his hands and feet, no guns like I had seen in westerns or other action shows. Then I saw Captain Kirk karate chopping and double foot kicking his way across the galaxy. Such an odd introduction to an ancient physical art form and culture. Later I watched movies with Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris and took a few lessons in Taekwondo at a Boy Scout Event. While in high school, I was introduced to Hong Kong Action and Wuxia films and was hooked. Martial arts run the gamut of silly hand-to-hand combat used in movies and tv to entire philosophies of the mind and body which impact the culture around them. So put on your gi and tighten your belt, it is time for everyone to be Kung Fu fighting!
If you have questions about this article or topics you would like me to consider researching for future Cyclopaedia articles, please leave a comment below.
Overview
Martial Arts are the traditions, practices, cultures, and rules of various physical and melee combat systems in the world utilized for mental and spiritual development along with self-defense, law enforcement, and military fighting.
Some of the oldest codified martial arts come from China over 4000 years ago. Most historians agree that modern martial arts are a blend of early Chinese and Indian martial arts. The most common martial philosophies and strategies being developed between 300 and 500 BC.
Today, martial arts run the gamut from casual classes taught at local health clubs, to self-defense courses taught in colleges, to competitive martial arts in area dojos, to military training, to life-long monastic study.
Cinema, gaming, and fiction writers have grabbed onto the popularity of martial arts and the culture surrounding them. Whether it is soldiers defending themselves in brutal hand-to-hand combat or warriors fighting to prove who is the best in the world, martial arts proves to be a prime focus on many stories. You will find martial art experts and those in training in all genres from young adult, to post-apocalyptic, to action, to comedy, to war, to superheroes.
Besides the action of martial arts, we are fascinated by the culture, history and philosophy. From the wise old sage to the young one in training, we are fascinated to see what mind and body in perfect harmony can accomplish.
What we are NOT covering
Martial Arts cover a lot of fighting styles and cultures, some of which are genres of their own. Thus, we will leave these topics for future articles.
- Boxing
- Gladiators
- Ninjas
- Samurai
- Swordplay
- Wrestling
Following are sources of information pertaining to Martial Arts to assist prospective game masters, game designers, writers, and storytellers in knowing where to start their research.
ARTICLES
Injuries in martial arts: a comparison of five styles.
By MN Zetaruk; MA Viola´n; D Zurakowski; LJ Micheli
Source: British journal of sports medicine, 2005 Jan; 39(1): 29-33
Practicing Martial Arts Versus Studying Martial Arts
By Peter Lorge
Source: The International Journal of the History of Sport, v33 n9 (20160612): 904-914
BOOKS
The Anatomy of Martial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to the Muscles Used for Each Strike, Kick, and Throw
By Link, Norman and Chou, Lily
The Art of Peace: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido
By Ueshiba, Morihei and Stevens, John
The Book of Five Rings
By Musashi, Miyamoto
A Brief History of the Martial Arts: East Asian Fighting Styles, from Kung Fu to Ninjutsu
By Clements, Jonathan
Bruce Lee’s Fighting Method
By Lee, Bruce
Capoeira: The History of an Afro-Brazilian Martial Art
By Assunção, Matthias Röhrig
Chinese Martial Arts: From Antiquity to the Twenty-First Century
By Lorge, Peter A.
Fight Like a Physicist: The Incredible Science Behind Martial Arts
By Thalken, Jason
The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game
By Sheridan, Sam
An Illustrated History of Martial Arts In America: 1900 to Present
By Farkas, Emil
Karate The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting: The Classic Work on Traditional Japanese Karate
By Nishiyama, Hidetaka and Brown, Richard
Krav Maga: Disrupt, Damage, Destroy, Disengage: Practical Solutions to Real World Challenges
By Fisher, Adam
Krav Maga: Use of the Human Body as a Weapon: Philosophy and Application of Hand to Hand Fighting Training System
By Zviram, Boaz
The Legend of the Condor Heroes
By Jin Yong
Living the Martial Arts Way
By Morgan, Forrest E.
The Man Who Never Missed
By Petty, Steve
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program: The Complete Combat System
By United States Marine Corps
Virgin Film: Martial Arts
By Rance, PTJ
Martial Arts: Behind the Myths!: (The Martial Arts and Self Defense Secrets You NEED to Know!)
By Pierce, Phil
Muay Thai: A Living Legacy
By Junlakan, Lesley D. and Prayukvong, Pitsaporn “Kat”
Musashi
By Yoshikawa, Eiji
Questions to a Zen Master: Practical and Spiritual Answers from the Great Japanese Master
By Deshimaru, Taisen
Shibumi
By Trevanian
Tao of Jeet Kune Do
By Lee, Bruce
The Theory and Practice of Historical Martial Arts
By Windsor, Guy
Tiger (The Five Ancestors, Book 1)
By Stone, Jeff
The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master
By Funakoshi, Gichin and Teramoto, John
The Ultimate Guide to Martial Arts Movies of the 1970’s: 500+ Films Loaded with Action, Weapons & Warriors
By Reid, Craig D.
Zen in the Martial Arts
By Hyams, Joe
GAMES
AD&D Oriental Adventures – RPG
Age of Wushu – Video Game
Brawl – Tabletop Game
Bushido Blade – Video Game
CapCom Street Fighter Deck-Building Game – Tabletop Game
Double Dragon – Video Game
Dojo Kun – Tabletop Game
Exalted – RPG
Fatal Fury – Video Game
Feng Shui 2 – RPG
GURPS Martial Arts – RPG
Hero System: The Ultimate Martial Artists – RPG
Hong Kong Action Theater! – RPG
The King of Fighters – Tabletop Game
Kung Fu 2100 – Tabletop Game
Kung Fu Fighting – Tabletop Game
Kung Fu Panda: The Board Game – Tabletop Game
Martial Arts: The Card Game – Tabletop Game
Mortal Kombat – Video Game
Munckin Fu – Tabletop Game
Ninjas and Superspies – RPG
Sleeping Dogs – Video Game
Soul Calibur – Video Game
Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game – RPG
Street Fighter – Video Game
Street Fighter: The Miniatures Game – Tabletop Game
Tekken – Video Game
UFC Undisputed – Video Game
Universal Fighting System: Street Fighter – Tabletop Game
Virtua Fighter – Video Game
Way of the Fighter – Tabletop Game
Yomi – Tabletop Game
CINEMA
A Force of One
Avatar: The Last Airbender – Cartoon
Big Trouble in Little China
Bloodsport
Brotherhood of the Wolf
Chocolate
Cobra Kai – TV
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Dragon Ball Z – Anime
Enter the Dragon
Equilibrium
Fist of Legend
Hard to Kill
Hero
Hong Kong Phooey – Cartoon
Ip Man
Iron Monkey
Jackie Chan Adventures – Cartoon
The Karate Kid
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Kickboxer
Kung Fu – TV
Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Pow! Enter the Fist
The Last Airbender – Anime
The Last Dragon
The Legend of the Drunken Master
Martial Law – TV
The Matrix
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers – TV
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat: Conquest – TV
Naruto – Cartoon
Once Upon a Time in China
Ong-Bak
Police Story
Romeo Must Die
Rumble in the Bronx
Rush Hour
Shanghai Noon
Shaolin Soccer
Sidekicks
Street Fighter
Supercop
The Transporter
Undisputed
Way of the Dragon
LOCATIONS
Aikikai Hombu Dojo
https://www.guillaumeerard.com/aikido/articles/the-traveling-aikidoka-s-guide-to-practice-at-the-aikikai-hombu-dojo
Bruce Lee’s Grave Site
http://www.lakeviewcemeteryassociation.com/lees.php
International Martial Arts Festival
http://www.internationalmartialartsfestival.com/
Kodokan Judo Institute
http://kodokanjudoinstitute.org/
Martial Arts History Museum
http://martialartsmuseum.com/
PEOPLE
David Carradine
Jackie Chan
Gichin Funakoshi
Royce Gracie
Sammo Hung
Jijoro Kano
Bruce Lee
Jet Li
Yip Man
Chojun Miyagi
Chuck Norris
Mas Oyama
Ronda Rousey
Steven Seagal
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Donnie Yen
Michelle Yeoh
Zhang Ziyi
I hope you find these resources informative and inspiring for your adventures, storytelling, or game design.
Stay Creative!
T.R. Knight
( If you would like to save this list of resources as a convenient PDF for later reference, you can find that HERE )
WHO IS T.R. KNIGHT?
He is a freelance editor, proofreader, and writer in the game industry. He is also a Husband and Caregiver to his wife Angie, Father of Twins Emily and Rachel, Gardner and Hobby Chef, and Director of Academic Technology and User Services at Taylor University. You can learn more about T.R. at his blog http://www.thomasrknight.com.