“The warrior is not someone who fights, because no one has the right to take another’s life. The warrior, for us, is one who sacrifices himself for the good of others.” ~ Sitting Bull.
First Things First
A lot of people who think of martial arts think of the Orient and Karate, Kung Fu, Taekwondo. Or, increasingly, the Filipino martial systems of Kali, Silat and Arnis. Images quickly come pouring into mind of misty mountain peaks and gently winding streams that trickle down into tiny Asian villages at the mere mention of martial arts and from the graceful empty handed strokes of some Wushu master to the glittering clash of machetes in Cebu; Americans have become ever the more fascinated with the ancient, philosophically rich and effective Oriental fighting arts
The Americans however, with their eyes fixed on the east have long overlooked an equally profound, philosophically rich, ancient and effective martial art that had been practiced by the first Peoples of the Americas for thousands of years before the arrival of the first Europeans. Home grown, practiced in obscurity, enacted with deadly precision, the Native Americans had developed their own diverse and effective fighting styles some 10,000 years before Columbus made landfall in Hispaniola.
Harbored deep in Indigenous history, hidden among historical relics, are the tell tale-signs of this proud warrior culture. It is, however, due to this denial of indigenous militaristic prowess that we often think of martial arts as having had no origins outside of the east. And in terms of weapon usage, rarely conjure up images of Native Americans training their own martial heritage or as having their own unique weapons, defensive strategies and martial ways.
Welcome to Native American Warrior Arts (NAWA)
Martial arts are found all around the globe, from Asia, to Europe, Africa, Peru, the Caribbean, and India. All Peoples of the earth have engaged in warfare at a given point in time. Having no exception to this rule the Native Americans of North, Central and South America had their own battle tactics, weapons usage, wrestling and combat techniques. They fought, they killed, they defended themselves and they survived from the jungle thicket of the South, all the way to the coldest and most remote places on earth. They crafted, perfected and trained a warrior culture unique to them; sometimes fighting among each other and later the early colonists who poured across the land from all four directions.
To the Native Americans, structure spelled the difference between life and death. From learning how to hunt, raid and wage war, children were brought up in survival methods from an early age. They mastered themselves, the environment, and their carefully crafted weapons which often held a spiritual significance to the warrior. Knowing how to fight in order to defend oneself and others was the premise of the warrior and self-mastery the premise of survival. That being said the Native Americans for the past 10,000 years have practiced a warrior culture not limited to mere fighting.
Characteristics of NAWA
It is thanks to Master Danny Hoskins that the Native American warrior traditions which have all but been forgotten entirely have finally been revitalized and reintroduced to the modern age. Re-emerging after many years of cultural suppression and presented to the martial community after over twenty-five plus years of research, historical analysis and tribal contributions from elders, dancers and historians from indigenous communities all over the continent, is an all-encompassing and effective system coined NAWA or otherwise Native American Warrior Arts by this renowned martial artist, teacher and historical researcher.
NAWA as a warrior tradition includes the dances, games, hunting strategy, traps, wrestling, history, music and weapons usage of the first peoples of the Americas and includes such weapons as the knife, tomahawk, shield, lance, and various wooden and bone war clubs as distinctly utilized by each indigenous ethnic group. Weaponry can be grouped into five categories:
- Striking Weapons
- Cutting Weapons
- Piercing Weapons
- Defensive Weapons
- Symbolic Weapons.
NAWA, like almost every martial art system, includes weapon applications, empty hand translations, grappling, kicking, striking, take-downs and finishing moves. And, with modern-day applications, is an effective method for self defense today.
It’s lineage can be traced as far back as Niño Cochise in the time of Geronimo and Nana. The bulk of these warrior traditions stem from many rich and diverse tribes in the Americas. Just some of these tribes are the Cheyenne, Cherokee, Blackfeet, Sioux, Omaha, Timucua, Seminole and many others. NAWA is a living and breathing tradition that is growing in popularity and practice. And it’s reshaping the stereotypical image of martial arts and redefining what it means to be a 21st century warrior.
About Master Danny Hoskins
Born of English and Native American descent, Danny Hoskins began his martial arts journey at just four years old. He has over 35 years experience training, researching and teaching Martial Arts worldwide, training alongside the giants of martial arts. Among his credits, Master Hoskins founded the Young Warrior MMA JuJitsu Self-Defense System. He has also lead numerous seminars all over the country and world hosted by prestigious martial arts schools. Besides having students and instructors worldwide, he also has NAWA study groups as far away as Europe and South America.
Furthermore, Danny Hoskins is a black belt and instructor ranked in Shorinji ryu Jujitsu, Serrada Escrima, Modern Arnis, Esgrima Criolla, Chulukua Ryu, Irish Stick Fighting of the Antrim Tradition, Catch Wrestling under the great Bill Wicks, and is Master Level 4 rank in Combat Glima under Grandmaster Lars Magnar Enoksen. Additionally, in the ring he is a golden glove boxing champion. Danny Hoskins a loving father, husband and grandfather at home in Missouri, USA.
Find Out More About NAWA
Everyday, people are discovering NAWA to get in touch with history and their cultural roots while learning effective combat techniques. Danny Hoskins has accomplished a lot in making distance learning courses available. He’s done this by providing in-person testing options, video content, ranking opportunities, and one-on-one question and answer exchanges. If you are interested in learning, hosting a seminar at your school/dojo and or ranking up in Native American Warrior Arts please contact Danny Hoskins through Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Hoskins5.
To find out more about warfare in North America before European Influence, check out Bethany Dillon’s book War-Torn: A Look at Warfare In North America Before European Influence at https://www.amazon.com/War-Torn-Warfare-America-European-Influence/dp/1983472182/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1546468656&sr=8-2&keywords=war-torn+by+bethany+dillon
Let’s Hear from You
Do you have any experiences with Native American fighting styles? Or even other non-Asian styles? Let me know in the comments below!
All images © 2019 Danny Hoskins.
- Martial Journal Spotlight: Timoti Pahi - April 28, 2020
- Martial Journal Spotlight: Jorge Emilio Prina - September 20, 2019
- The Dangers and Myths of Hollywood Martial Arts - July 22, 2019
Well written and summarized Bethany!! I have also been studying with Master Hoskins for about 3 years. Most of that was the distance course, but I’ve also had the pleasure to train with him in person several different times. NAWA is a complete martial art and Danny Hoskins a superior martial artist and researcher. Proud to be part of his lineage.
I got chills reading this article!! Very good!!
excellent article, all nations have a martial art with its own characteristics, nawa is amazing!
a great work by Danny Hoskins, as a teacher and broadcaster
I’m so glad this is being preserved, reinvented… whatever. I’m a huge admirer of many parts of Native American culture. Wrote a book with a chapter dedicated to their overlooked flexible weapons in it.
There are connections between mikmaq blackfoot naskapi abeneki and magans (zoroastrians parsi romani buddahist and the orient )
the races have ties to knighthoods and samarui also vikings . there were zoroastrian knights and manichean knights . early christianity (came from early variations of buddahism and hinduism or islam) forced them into being christians but they continued making the best of their situation during westernization.
some martial arts traditions that we use today came from those influences i.e budo aikido knights templar . we had those teachings way before the masons came up with masonry and their own interpretations of academics. before the boy scouts and indian status we had our elders our self government tribal system of government. we had knightoods magus samauri we also had influences in native americans i.e . warriors and teachings of dojos the 7 sacred teachings of native americans are similar to the 7 sacred virtues of budishu
For more information on knights templar / zoroastrian knights and mikmaq coonnections to samauri and portsmouth peace treaty contact the japan amarican society in new hampshire or contact osmtj knights templar in new hampshire or zoroastrian assn.
also contact budo dojos or aikido associations
Descendants of warrior cultures see martial arts a bit different i think. I would not be alive if my ancestors hadn’t mastered their arts. Hate always burns itself ot, but love cqrrys on. The old Warriors of all Indigenous lived their families and land and fought from that foundation.
Awesome article sister.
Nga mihi to brother Danny.
Timoti