Martial arts has many different sides to it. On one hand, you have the most obvious, purely physical side to it. And let’s face it, the physical component of the art is probably the initial draw for almost everyone. However, for most of us, that would not be enough to keep us coming back night after night, spending large amounts of time, energy, and well… money, on this activity. That’s where the other sides of martial arts kick in.
For many people, just having a social group is enough to maintain them. For some, it is the deep introspective aspects that present themselves in the art (I hesitate to use the word spiritual). However, I’m a nerd at heart. For me, there is also the academic side of martial arts. It wasn’t until well into my martial journey that I discovered the word “hoplology” and what it means. If you want a more academic side to your martial arts, then read on fellow nerd, and I’ll illuminate a new way to appreciate the art that you already practice.
Definition and Origin of Hoplology
Hoplology was first coined by Sir Richard Burton, a 19th Century adventurer who wrote about his exploits. He fancied himself a sword master and even wrote a book entitled The Book of the Sword. Much of which has been updated with more culturally and technologically correct information, or debunked in general. In the book, however, he derived a new word “hoplology” from the name of the ancient Greek soldiers “Hoplites”. He used this word to describe an academic study of a peoples’ fighting methods. It gained a little traction at the time but was forgotten in the annals of history.
Until it was taken up again by martial arts historian Major Donn F. Draeger. Mr. Draeger, who was by all reports a phenomenal martial artist himself in several disciplines, started writing on the subject of martial arts histories. He went so far as to start the IHS, the International Hoplology Society.
It has taken on a little larger meaning today, as it refers to the science of human combative behavior and performance. This can be broken down into three separate, though related endeavors.
Technological Hoplology: The physical technology of weapons, armor, and other physical tools of combat.
Behavioral Hoplology: The psychological and physiological aspects that affect combat, and its after-effects.
Functional Hoplology: The structure, development, and organization of combative systems and their relationship to the application of fighting and weapons.
This is not a very recognized subject matter, and in fact, martial arts, in general, is not dealt with very well by either cultural anthropologists or historians. I think this is a great disservice to the martial arts and their rich and fascinating histories. The method and manner of combat say just as much about a people as does a piece of pottery or the music they produce.
Though they never directly called themselves a hoplological publication, starting in 1992 the Journal of Asian Martial Arts published academic, peer-reviewed articles on all three of the categories of hoplology as they related to Asian martial arts. Unfortunately, the Journal stopped publishing in 2012. If you are still interested in the subject, they do have a website, which warehouses the articles, and Via Media is publishing compilation books that gather articles on a specific subject.
Example: Knife Fighting/Techniques
Whenever I discuss how a culture and technology impact martial arts I use the example of knife combat. In many traditional Japanese martial arts, there are knife (tanto in Japanese) techniques, as well as knife disarming techniques. Silat, a martial art from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, also has a lot of knife and knife defense techniques. However, as a generalization, most of the Japanese techniques are slow but powerful stabs, or thrusts, while Silat techniques are generally fast and slashing. If two equally skilled practitioners were put together with knives “in a fight,” I would put money on the Silat guy (or girl). That’s because we’re taking the art out of its cultural context.
Traditional Japanese martial arts come from battlefield techniques where samurai wore armor. Slashes would not likely do any damage, and attempting them would most likely get you killed. However, in the tropical lands of the origin of Silat, where few clothes, let alone armor was worn, quick slashes would attain victory. A HEMA practitioner once told me that the Renaissance martial arts with knives have the same problem. Most of their attacks are deep thrusts to get through the stiff, heavy cotton clothing worn at that time. This is an example of how we suffer from cultural bias by thinking about how we live today, where we wear relatively thin t-shirts, and slashes would be effective against us. By looking at the culture that originated the art, we learn more about the art itself.
Is Hoplology Important?
In my personal opinion, in order to call yourself a martial artist, you have to have more than a passing knowledge of your art. Not only in terms of physical performance, but in all aspects of the art, whatever art you may practice. This will include something of the history, culture, and time it originated. Basically, the hoplology of Taekwondo, or the hoplology of Aikido, or whatever it is you study. Most martial arts originate in a foreign (for us Westerners) culture with a foreign philosophical basis. Even some of the more modern arts like Jeet Kun Do or Krav Maga have a specific time and culture of origin. In the end, does it directly help your combative skills? No. Does it help you understand the “why” of your art? Yes. For me, it also enriches and makes my martial arts more enjoyable. See if it helps you too.
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