The History Of Martial Arts In Renaissance Europe - Essay Example

Introduction The traces of martial arts within Europe have been discovered in Greek antiquity related with Ancient Olympics. The popular sport boxing was included in the series of Olympic events before 688 BC. The descriptive research of the Greek antiques has referred to the strong possibility of the martial arts practices in Minoan age i.e. 2nd millennium BC. The evidences gathered further associated the practices of martial arts with the Classical period. The martial art is old sports, and several evidences suggest the strong possibility towards the origination of this sport of self-defence from Europe, or regions. The gathered evidences are either in the form of scriptures of paintings. It is important to mention the event of Gladiator, this event occurred in 260 BC in Rome. The gathered evidences depict the wrestling techniques which were practiced during old ages, and with specific tools for self-defence and offend were designed and used. As per historic record, the groups practiced special martial arts during crucial combats. The pictorial display of historic combats have indicated the compilation of drafts i.e. Bayeux Tapestry and Morgan Bible, which has exclusively listed the details of technique necessary for combat alongside the design of the tools. As per European history, a specific manual has been discovered which depicts the learning of martial arts, "extant dedicated martial arts manual is the MS I.33 (ca. 1300), detailing sword and buckler combat". The book has mentioned that during high and late middle ages, common martial arts included jousting, fencing system. It was unfolded that during the period of late Middle Ages, different books on martial arts and fighting i.e. Fechubucher were compiled, regarded as "instructional treatises" (Mangan, 2001). The history of affiliation between the Europe and martial arts is significant and bonded. The literal meaning of Martial means the arts of Mars, which Mars is the reference to the Roman god of battle. It is therefore justifiable to link the history of martial arts with Ancient Greece. The literature of martial arts has been gathered and compiled by the European historians, have originated from the tradition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Europe, the compilation is in the form of treatise which included details of the combat techniques. The Europe has history of political and local struggle against injustice and mutiny, therefore on several accounts the mention of martial arts have been observed, which in actual was intended to communicate the fundamentals of defence to the forces and public (Jane, 1995). The contemporary martial arts have its origination from the tradition of Mediaeval and Renaissance Europe. Several schools have been identified which have identified specified nature of practices relevant to martial arts, out of these some schools have been categorised as Italian, Spanish, German and English style; however some schools have focused upon weapons combat, mainly related to sword. The important institute linked to the promulgation and promotion of martial arts inside Europe includes the Academy of European Swordsmanship, this school has researched upon traditional swordsmanship. The book has given the details of the classified information relevant to this specific practice of martial arts includes strikes, locks and breaks, throws, wrestling, and disarms. The nature of these martial arts is limited to weapon and self combat, however the nature of martial arts practiced during Renaissance focused much upon hand-to-hand combat. The martial arts practices which originated during period of Renaissance have transformed into boxing and fencing. The core values of the martial arts related to the European period of Renaissance focused primarily upon defensive and combat techniques, specially "learning to defend against knives, empty hand, ground fighting, pole weapons and swords" (Mangan, 2001). Discussion There growing misconception among the public is regarded the origination of martial arts, this art has been generally linked with Chinese. It is important to therefore clarify that martial arts has originated from Europe. It has been realised that defence and combat practices which evolved from Europe were real form of martial arts, however these combat techniques were given different terms, therefore were regarded different from martial arts. The martial arts are specialised subject based upon techniques necessary for defence and combat purposes, which specific reference to the unarmed techniques. The European combat technique called fencing included elaboration of armed and unarmed techniques; this has explicitly proven the origination and existence of martial arts from Europe. The book has verified that the development and extension of martial arts occurred during Renaissance. The book titled martial arts in Renaissance Europe has provided different accounts of instances where martial arts was practiced in the form of swordsmanship. The period from 13th century to 17th century has been vital in terms of development and exploration of martial arts. During the Period of Renaissance, information regarding the combat movement was established through systems of notation. The martial arts was undertaken as subject during this period, concept of martial teaching was evolved, and the literary works for the education of future students were compiled. The history of weapons developed during Renaissance is descriptive, the usage and application of swords and rapiers was common. The specific mentioned of the team which worked upon the development of the martial arts techniques during this period has been classified, the team members included Andre Pauernfeindt, Hector Mair, Paulus Kal, Antonio Manciolino, Pietro Monte, Francesco Altoni, Frederico Ghisliero, and Pedro Heredia. The team worked upon the methods of notation and use of geometry within fighting texts. During Renaissance, the concept of wrestling and grappling was developed; later the concept of mounted combat was introduced. The use of dagger during this period has been confirmed. The comprehensive research was conducted on swordsmanship during this period. The traces of martial arts have been identified in European military, artistic, social, and cultural history. The European martial culture developed during Renaissance, this emphasized much upon "technical learning and printed knowledge in every art and science" (Sydney, 2000). It is known the martial arts practiced during Renaissance have "greater intellectual, philosophical, and scientific elements of European civilizations" (Sydney, 2000). The book has confirmed that Renaissance swordsmanship were "primitive and untutored". During this period, the warriors relied upon cutting and thrusting, and developed different forms of swords and many established styles for combat. The book has explained the development of combat techniques regarding personal violence; the subject was reviewed and followed by emperors, kings, and princes and their subjects. The involvement and contribution of the martial arts during Renaissance was of the extent that usage of lethal weapons was considered to be normal practice, irrespective of the social hierarchy. During Renaissance, different forms of swords were invented, and all these swords had specialised application, therefore these were never handled in similar way, " there were many different masters, and - however much they travelled about to gain experience, copied each other, or developed similar solutions to similar questions, they each had their own ideas about how to do things; the history of fencing is a good deal less straightforward than was at one time supposed" (Brown, 2002). The book has however condemned the role of the previous historians, these historians failed to conduct comprehensive research of this subject, and therefore the history of European martial arts has been left unexplored, the book has complained that historians have tended neither to understand what they did nor why they did it; "the few who have attempted to deal with medieval and renaissance fighting masters have shied away from the brutality of the truth", they have not merely concentrated their attention almost exclusively on swordsmanship but have, even with that "limited sphere, singled out only those elements which can be related to the evolution of modern fencing and it obsession with the thrust" (Sydney, 2000). During Renaissance, the martial arts was taught to every person of the society, the intent of this practice was to make the person capable of self-defence to avoid any physical violence during peace and war. During this period, trainings on every weapon were conducted, and every unarmed combat trick was communicated to the masses. The contemporary historians have confirmed that "the masters taught everything that pertained to physical violence in times of peace and of war. They dealt with every weapon and with every trick of unarmed combat; the business of the master of arms was to prepare his pupils for all eventualities"(Brown, 2002). During this period of European political, social and cultural supremacy, the practices of duel and brawl were common and formal, therefore the teachings of the fighting techniques concentrated upon the combat at battlefield, and difficult skills were taught to the specific group. The development of rapier occurred during this period, "used to denigrate the medieval masters and, indeed, most swordsmanship" (Sydney, 2000). The history of European martial arts is yet to be compiled, several blanks have been identified which have to be completed. The traces of martial arts have depleted in the European region, not because of harm and violence, rather due to the absence of the institutes and forum which shall transpire the essence of European martial arts to the population. The art of swordsmanship has diluted, the event is still the part of Olympics, and however the fervour and enthusiasm of the European population towards such events has lost its momentum. The historians should therefore explore and communicate the adventure of the European community towards martial arts in non-adverse manner. Conclusion It is important to specify that contemporary scholars have refuted the retrieved nomenclature of bladed weapons irrespective of their "native tongue; the polyglot nature of fencing literature has complicated the matters", therefore limited access to the information relevant to the application of the swords for fighting, and curatorial was possible. The contemporary historians have lamented the role of the historians, for their failure to conceive the development of the martial arts during Renaissance, "another weakness of fencing historiography is the underlying assumption that swordsmanship somehow evolved throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, that it advanced on a regular, direct path from primitive concentration on cutting with the edge to thrusting with the point, via an experimental combination of both modes" (Sydney, 2000). It has been confirmed that mystery towards historio-graphical curiosity remains unresolved; the historians have tried to explore the modes of combat and are in the process of achieving results. The contemporary historians have lamented their predecessors, "unfortunately the historians of fencing were at their most active a century ago when they confined themselves principally to tracing the evolution of swordsmanship towards a wholly notional ideal", this ideal was constituted by their own practice; in different cases, swordplay has been regarded as the only part of the many activities which constituted the martial arts of the Renaissance (Sydney, 2000). The retrieved information about the martial arts practices are limited, meticulous research has been undertaken by arm sand armour experts, "the centre of interest has inevitably been more with artefacts than activities" (Sydney, 2000). It is known fact that no martial arts school exists, which shall bridge the gap between the past and present of combat techniques, therefore "old fencing historians are more pragmatic in their approach to physical action than the armour specialists, and have tended to base their reconstruction upon a limited number of primary sources" (Sydney, 2000). It is important to therefore realise that growing interest of the community and public towards martial arts of renaissance and medieval Europe, shall experience embarrassment upon the realization of the fact that no school exists to learn the martial arts. The importance of the learning institutes can therefore not be ignored or avoided. The cultural traces of the martial arts within Europe shall be preserved and developed, and based upon retrieved information further research and advancement shall be sought to ensure the continuity of this ancient and defensive art. The martial arts of Renaissance focused upon the development of techniques i.e. "left hand parrying, wrestling throws, ruthless battering about the head, stabbings, wards, and a total commitment to death and destruction", the traces of such elements are evident in the contemporary form of martial and fighting sports, and "similar practices were still being taught long after they are conventionally supposed to have vanished from the sophisticated swordsman's repertory" (Sydney, 2000). The Europe-based martial arts has been therefore successful in the translation of the European social and defensive aptitude, however its perseverance is possible through establishment of schools, which shall be icon of European martial arts. References 1. Sydney Anglo. The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe. Yale University Press. 2000. pp. 123-178. 2. Brown, Terry Brown. English Martial Arts. Anglo-Saxon Books. 2002. pp. 134-145. 3. Jane Coxley. Martial Arts. Heinemann. 1995. pp. 34-42. 4. J. A. Mangan. Europe, Sport, World: Shaping Global Societies. Routledge. 2001. pp. 213-265. Read More