During the past decade, martial
arts have gained popularity, and could even be considered "main stream".
However, the uninitiated don't necessarily know the difference between
"sport martial arts" and "traditional martial arts". This is especially
true in the United States. Traditional martial arts have been in
practiced ever since the beginning of history. Unlike "sport martial
arts", traditional martial arts are concerned with the entire person:
body, mind and spirit. Furthermore, traditional martial arts contain
within them important elements of the rich cultures from which they have
evolved. Sport martial arts have their place, and serve their purpose.
However, traditional martial arts provide a unique and precious form of
physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual training for their
dedicated practitioners.
It is our goal to further the
growth of traditional martial arts in this country, while providing a
platform from which communication and cooperation can develop among the
variety of schools, styles and cultures that make up the "traditional
martial arts".
This web site is both informative
and functional. The National Commission of Traditional Martial Arts is
an association and accrediting body for those practitioners and
instructors (and Masters) of traditional martial arts. Not all
instructors have the benefit of a living master, or in some cases, even
a recognized or structured accreditation. This makes it difficult for
the general public to distinguish between quality instructors and those
that are less qualified. For anything to grow, it must develop momentum
and cooperation. It is my wish that the NCTMA will evolve into an
organization that has a measurable, positive and lasting impact on the
traditional martial arts in this country.
Over the coming weeks and months,
numerous features will be added to this web site, including an online
directory of traditional martial arts information sources. Please
bookmark us and check back often. And as always, we welcome your
comments.
Respectfully,
Grand Master Edward Song, Ph.D
