The popular website kwunion.com presented an intersting article by the author Annika Kahn.
I believe that all human beings are martial artists. Some of us have embraced the artist’s way and others are latent with potential. But who were we before we were martial artists?
We could just as easily ask when humans first brushed their teeth. In fact, historians believe we started brushing our teeth approximately 5000 years ago, during the same period certain exercises were being developed to prevent disease. Yoga was in full creation to purify the spirit, and teeth cleaning was becoming a thing. Teeth cleaning and yoga are valuable disciplines. Notably, they demonstrate how our species, diverging from our neanderthal relatives, made an important commitment to care for our physical health.
So who were those early humans and why is this relevant for us now, in the 21st century? Our ancient martial art ancestors had a war to confront. They had a famine. They had lands and clans to protect. There were very real reasons for combat, weapons, self-protection, and self-defense. These male and female ancestors also handed down practices to keep our spirits clean and our minds sharp. Women in combat were just as important as men, if not more, because women guarded the home, often concealing weapons within their clothing. If they had to use them it meant the men in the battleground had not survived. The practice of preparing for battle became an art.
By definition, a Martial Artist is a person who is skilled in a war-like trade, occupation, or in this day and age, hobby.
But we also know that a martial artist has an understanding of etiquette, lineage, discipline, of study. We know and have experienced that to be a martial artist is to understand humility, keep a strong and fluid body and mind, and walk quietly until it’s time to act. We know we must keep a low profile and check our ego at the door. We understand that bowing is an ancient tradition honoring the master and teacher. We know that being a martial artist is a way of life.
We could say that since the first human ancestor arrived, some 5-7 million years ago, our species has had a martial arts template laid out for us. We had to survive. We had to hunt. We had to protect our family. We had to evolve, a process that requires acute attention to internal and external stressors. The development of wisdom teeth took eons and now we are finding baby humans being born without them. Individual discernment contributes to the evolution of our species. If that is not martial arts, I’m not sure what is!
You can find the full article HERE.
