To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill. — Sun Tzu, The Art of War
A lot has been said about martial arts. There’s a lot punching, kicking, and wrestling involved all considered as systems and tools of brutal force. This notion or preconceptions about the martial arts were developed, in a large measure, due to films and movies that depicted the combative arts as a means of inflicting violence. But in reality, the true aim of martial arts is quite exactly the opposite. At the core of every fighting philosophy are the values of valor, chivalry, nobility, self-control, and self-sacrifice. This art form is not just about fighting, combat, or self-defense. Martial arts philosophy stresses that people should live in peace and harmony. It also emphasizes respect for self and others, compassion, and a high regard for physical and moral excellence. In its purest form, the martial arts is practiced to achieve strength and enlightenment of the mind, body, and spirit.
For thousands of years, different people from different cultures have practiced and propagated...