Indian martial arts?

[Bas de Groot]

Hi everyone,

I'm an avid student of martial arts, I currently practice european martial arts, systema and ninpo taijutsu. And have a great interest in martial arts of different cultures around the world (not the martial sports, but the old arts meant for survival).

I've heard rumors that among indians cultures there are still armed/unarmed close-combat fighting arts alive and practised to this day. I came across some texts on the internet mentioning that the blackfoot indians were respected as great fighters. So I'm trying my luck here.

Does anyone have any information on this subject that they're willing to share? Or perhaps someone can point me in the right direction?

[vance hawkins]

howdy Bas,

Ever since I saw this posted in was wondering whether or not to reply.

All American Indian males were trained to be warriors a long time ago, but no more. Seriously, I think somebody's been pullin' your leg.

The most important thing is just use common sense I guess, think things through carefully before you act them out.

Hand to hand warfare was mostly with a one & a half or two foot long stick with a rock firmly tied to one end, called a war club. The object was to bash the other guys brains in before he bashed in yours.

Training for endurance, long time without food, long distance running, knowin' where the sun , moon and stars are as points of reference so you don't walk in circles -- measurin the aprox. angle the star/sun/moon hits the axis created by your 2 shoulder blades, knowin how that angle will change over time as that sun/moon/star moves. High tolerance for pain. Stealth to sneak up of foes, using dogs to negate that advantage, knowing the direction of the wind to negate the advantage of dogs, knowing your enemy would do that so you take extra precautions upwind (ie -- an extra guard, or placing something in the trail that direction that is noisy when stepped on that will alert the guard and/or dogs). . . and being able to get away in one piece, followin' tracks and hiding your tracks, knowing how the other guy was liable to try and hide his tracks . . .

But all this is just common knowledge used by those usin' common sense, usin' the same common sense that God also gave to pigs and donkeys . . . I imagine hunting societies did the same things all over the world, including the world of Europeans, a long time ago.

vance