It’s a common misconception that martial arts have always been a sport that promotes good exercise and lets people fight. Martial arts were not created by farmers or carpenters. It was not developed so that the average person could feel better about themselves. Rather, it is the product of blood and angst, serving as a means of survival in times of war. There was a man who would kill fully grown bulls with his bare hands as a demonstration of how lethal martial arts could be. Martial Arts and war should be studied together to understand the true role of martial arts. Styles such as Krav Maga, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), and Kali are important fighting tools that were created from warfare but utilize the most fundamental techniques seen in many forms of fighting today.
The way wars are fought nowadays obviously favors ranged combat. Over the years, the use of hand-to-hand combat in war has changed but not diminished completely. Likewise, the role of melee weapons has changed drastically over time. Many martial arts practiced by the public are still used in modern warfare as well.
Many militaries have their own martial arts styles that they rely on. Krav Maga is the martial art of the Israelis and is heavily utilized in law enforcement. It was created by a distinguished mixed martial artist named Imi Lichtenfeld shortly after the 1930s as a response to the fighting that occurred during the riots in Czechoslovakia. Through loss of life and bloodshed, Imi discovered that his experiences as a professional fighter did not prepare him for the brutalities of riots on the streets. Punching and kicking were not enough for real combat. He found himself in Palestine, refining the harsh nature of what he had learned into an art form. Here, he worked closely with the Israeli army to create Krav Maga and teach future special forces how to disarm enemies, target vulnerable areas like the throat, and utilize variations in attacks similar to those seen in MMA. This development created military tactics that focused on being the aggressor in battle, and when it came to hand-to-hand combat, brutal tactics prevailed over mere striking.
The use of Krav Maga is exemplified in combat today as a means of subduing hostile civilians in war and on the streets. It is employed in modern warfare because it prepares individuals for the use of firearms during hand-to-hand combat. Krav Maga grappling methods are often used during police arrests and in situations involving armed civilians due to their ability to disarm and incapacitate a person. One of the most lethal martial arts of all time is the Filipino art of Kali. During the Battle of Yultong in the Korean War, the Chinese and North Koreans attempted to overpower the UN militaries comprising the Turks, Puerto Ricans, Americans, and Filipinos. The Puerto Rican line of defense was pushed back, and the Turks fled. Nine hundred Filipinos stood against 15,000 Chinese and Korean fighters. As they closed in from all angles, the Filipino army still prevailed. The commander gave the order to “Fix Bayonets,” and the rest is history. The art’s guerrilla-style tactics are extremely effective in more than just the jungles of the Philippines; they have been utilized since World War I by many different armies. The U.S. Army and Spetsnaz use Kali as their primary hand-to-hand fighting tool because it has been used against them so effectively in the past. Kali is known for its weapon system, focusing primarily on bamboo sticks. While its main focus is on using and disarming weapons, it is also employed for open-hand combat, grappling, and joint locks. It relies heavily on fluidity and employs a lot of spinning motions. Practitioners spar to emphasize different ranges and switch to various weapons during combat. As a warrior claimed more lives using Kali, they would keep using shorter and shorter blades, with some found blades no longer than a finger.
The Marines have adapted their system of martial arts that encompasses ranged warfare, MMA, war strategy, and close-quarters weapon fighting. The MCMAP program is organized into three aspects: mental, character, and physical discipline. The purpose of the system is not to turn soldiers into proficient close-quarters fighters but to prepare them for warfare. It focuses on practicality and builds upon many ancient martial arts systems, such as Kenpo and Jiu-Jitsu. It teaches the histories of the armies that have won wars with these systems while integrating the basics of punching, kicking, grappling, and blocking to cover the most foundational concepts learned in martial arts. It incorporates blocking techniques from arts such as Kenpo, which has been traced back to its origin among the samurai. The techniques utilize both linear and circular movements, similar to how a samurai would swing his sword. These motions serve multiple purposes, including covering a large area to anticipate any angle of attack. They are also designed to be an aggressive form of defense that knocks an opponent’s attacks aside to set up one’s own. This is completely different from a basic guard often seen in boxing. These motions are designed to work even more effectively with a weapon in hand, as they can be used for both attack and defense. The MCMAP system also emphasizes the use of judo throws because Marines must know how to throw their weight around with heavy gear; if they do not, they will be easily knocked off balance. This knowledge also applies to maneuvering strategically in battle.
In the present day, there is little place for hand-to-hand combat in warfare; however, it remains an extremely important component of a soldier’s training. It helps them become agile, strong, and precise while also developing mental fortitude. The art of Kali teaches soldiers to look for alternative weapons amid combat. This is a practical skill for gunfights and one that requires prior practice. Many systems apply ancient blocking techniques to modern guns for close-quarter combat, including the MCMAP system. Breakfalls and disarming tactics are essential components of a soldier’s martial arts training. The role of hand-to-hand combat has primarily shifted to clearing buildings and handling prisoners. While hand-to-hand combat is rare, combat with melee weapons is more commonly utilized in guerrilla tactics and close-quarter scenarios.
The evolution of weaponry in war has significantly influenced the way melee weapons are used today. World War I marked a shift from battles being won with melee weapons like bayonets to battles being controlled with technological advances such as tanks. However, surprise attacks on trenches during the night often led to battles of attrition fought with clubs, knives, and various other melee weapons. In modern times, people are no longer accustomed to fighting with melee weapons as they do not wear armor to protect themselves. This shift has a notable psychological effect on melee weapons in modern warfare. When people are charged at by a bladed weapon, the flight response is overwhelming, and they will undoubtedly flee to avoid being injured rather than engage in a blade-to-blade confrontation. This is the more common scenario for melee weapon use in war today. The typical melee weapons used now are bayonets and knives, primarily for stealth and close-quarter combat, while clubs and batons are used for control and crowd dispersal. Another significant change in combat is how soldiers are commanded to avoid melee situations when attacking an area. The only time one would strategically utilize melee weapon tactics is in guerrilla warfare. In such instances, soldiers are outgunned, and knowledge of their environment becomes their most effective weapon. One versatile blade called the kukri is particularly useful not only for being deadly but also for its multifunctionality. Its curvature makes it excellent for cutting anything, and it is still used by Gurkha armies to this day. There have been many instances where Gurkhas have defeated armies equipped with far superior weaponry. Nowadays, knives in the military are often used for practical purposes such as cutting through vegetation or prying objects open.
There is no doubt that war is chaos, which is why martial arts is essential for bringing order to that chaos. There is a saying that while weapons always change, war never does. Ultimately, war is inevitable, and the best way to prepare for it is to have battle-tested contingencies. Martial arts have always been about preventing war through these contingencies, and that has not changed. Whether it’s a fight with a random individual in a parking lot or being in the middle of a warzone, the principles taught in martial arts guide us through combat. Martial arts systems may seem useless in warfare, but they form the foundation of every war, including modern ones. Every warrior needs to possess the same battle-hardened spirit they have throughout timeless traditions. Warfare training is extremely important, and martial arts have always been the backbone of building the mental fortitude needed for fighting. It teaches how to deal with chaos by placing individuals in situations where they must overcome the uncomfortable sensations brought on by fighting or exercising. By putting ourselves in chaotic or uncomfortable situations, we learn a lot about composing ourselves and remaining objective. We adopt a mindset that will help us be our best selves.
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