IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL
The exact history of the martial arts is unknown but what is certain is that man has from his earliest times engaged in armed and unarmed combat. The methods that the earliest warriors used formed the basis of many systemized traditions of those martial arts that are still practised today. Over a period of many hundreds and sometimes thousands of year’s one martial art gave rise to the practise of various derivative forms. This was a worldwide trend and not something unique to the Asian cultures as is popularly thought. Early Muslim civilization was no different as the first Muslims practised the combative methods of their time and geographic location. Later as Islam spread to places like China, Muslims practised the local martial arts as well as developing their own unique styles and traditions such ‘Ali’s stick’, a stick fighting art named after Sayyidina Ali R.A and ‘Tan Tui’ meaning Springing or Snapping Legs’ which is based entirely on the letters of the Arabic alphabet.
On the physical level the various arts offer the practitioner the benefits of increased fitness and self defence training. While mentally the practice can become a source of stress relief and a way of learning to enhance focus and concentration. Spiritually the arts can offer the trainee a sense of balance and harmony and even purpose in life.
Islam is the ultimate Way of life and the practice of the martial arts brings the inner Jihad to a practical level where we can strive towards the perfection of character that Islam demands of us in a balanced way that is in keeping with the limits set by Allah S.W.T in the Qur’an and as exemplified by Muhammed S.A.W in his Sunnah.
Just as Islam offers man a direct experience of life through its various obligatory acts such as Salaah, Hajj and Sawm. The martial arts highlight the lessons of those experiences and can offer Muslims an opportunity to expand those lessons to everyday life.
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