Kapu Ku?ialua; Ku?ialua; or just Lua; is an ancient Hawaiian martial art based on bone breaking, joint locks, throws, pressure point manipulation, strikes, usage of various weapons, battlefield strategy, open ocean warfare as well as the usage of introduced firearms from the Europeans.
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History
Origin and ancient use
A caste system and various martial arts were introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by Tahitian colonists, who arrived in the 1300s. The Koa warrior group are credited by Black Belt magazine as the creators of the martial art of Ku?ialua.
The name "Ku?ialua" literally means "two hits". That name was subsequently given to the god of this martial art. Only those associated with the ali?i (nobility), such as professional warriors, guardsmen, and members of the royal families, were generally taught Ku?ialua. During times of warfare, the maka??inana (commoners) were also instructed in the basic movements and functions of the martial art. The old warriors of this art would coat themselves with a thin layer of coconut oil and remove all of their body hair in order to be able to slip away and avoid being grappled in battle. The word for Lua masters, ??lohe, literally means "hairless".
The Koa helped Kamehameha the Great unify the islands in 1810. Lua was only to be practiced by the king's honor guards, and others were forbidden to learn it. The word "kapu," meaning "forbidden", is a part of the old name.
Modern times
While living on O?ahu, Kamehameha established three Lua schools (called p? ku?ialua) to help prevent extinction of this art. One was instructed by H?h?kea, another by N?makaimi, and another by N?pua?uki and his assistants. This last, probably the most prominent one, taught 24 boys, including Kek?an?o?a and John Papa ???? of Kamehameha's court.
Some of the techniques used in lua were incorporated into danzan-ry? karate, which was developed in Hilo by Henry Okazaki in the 1920s.
Introducing the sport to America in 1963, Õlohe Solomon Kaihewalu brought the sport public in the 1960s, a controversial act, as previously the martial art had not been taught to outsiders.
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Style specifics
The style of the martial art is based on bone breaking, joint locks, throws, pressure point manipulation, strikes, usage of various weapons, battlefield strategy, open ocean warfare as well as the usage of introduced firearms from the Europeans.
The modern form of this art has been adjusted to suit modern times; however, the traditional spirit of the art remains intact. Weapons used by natives of the Hawaiian Islands may have been focused on primarily in the art at one time, as it is said the fighter who loses his weapons should then resort to the hand-to-hand stylings of Ku?ialua.
Training methods
Training methods include spear catching, training in the surf, and focus of "mana" or life force. This energy is described much like chi or ki in Chinese or Japanese martial arts. Exercises are used to focus this energy much like the exercise of chi kung.
Weapons
- Hoe - Canoe paddle
- Hoe Leiomano - Paddle, shark tooth weapon
- Ihe - Short spear with barbed edges or straight point (up to 9 ft or 2.7 m staff)
- Ka?ane - Garrote (strangling cord)
- Ko?oko?o - Staffs (long and short)
- Ko?oko?o Loa (6 ft or 1.8 m staff)
- Ko?oko?o P?kole (4 ft or 1.2 m staff)
- Ku?eku?e Lima Leioman? - Knuckle duster weapon
- Leioman? - Shark tooth weapon
- Ma?a - Sling
- Maka P?hoa - Double-edge (eye) dagger
- Newa - Short (small) club
- Pahi - Knife
- P?hoa - Single-edge dagger
- P?hoa Ko?oko?o - Cane double-edge dagger
Modern references
- Lua, a mobile messaging software for business, (not to be confused with Lua, a scripting language) takes its name from the ancient martial art.
- Lua was featured in the Hawaii Five-O 2010 reboot third season, episode 16 "Kekao (The Warrior)"
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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