World Martial Arts Day & Other Important Dates
Posted: December 19, 2023
Here at Ellis Academy of Self Defence, we’re very much a part of the wider martial arts community. As such, we consider it important to acknowledge and celebrate awareness days, such as World Martial Arts Day and other important dates in the martial arts calendar.
When Is World Martial Arts Day?
World Martial Arts Day is celebrated on the 27th of November every year. This date is significant among the martial arts community because it’s the late, great Bruce Lee’s birthday.
Bruce Lee was a martial artist, actor and an icon of popular culture. Lee was a Hong Kong American born in San Francisco in 1940 and he died in 1973. Despite his premature death, his career in Hollywood bridged the gap between East and West, bringing martial arts to the big screen and mainstream for the first time. Bruce Lee is widely considered to be one of the most influential martial artists of all time so it seems only fitting that World Martial Arts Day is celebrated on his birthday.
What Is Celebrated on World Martial Arts Day?
There are over 180 different styles of martial arts and they are all celebrated on World Martial Arts Day.
This includes the most well-known martial arts, such as Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Judo, Krav Maga, and MMA, as well as lesser-known martial arts styles, such as Bartitsu, Muay Thai, and Aikido.
Different martial arts styles have different techniques and though the aim is always to defeat an opponent, how you achieve this differs depending on which martial art you are practicing. Some martial arts use weapons, others include hand-to-hand combat. In some, the focus is on throwing your opponent to the ground, whereas others use grappling techniques.
One thing that all martial arts have in common is that they are based on theory, and will have customs and traditions associated with them. Martial arts training always involves a mental (or spiritual) component, as well as the physical teachings and techniques.
Why Do We Celebrate World Martial Arts Day?
Martial arts date all the way back to 3697 BC, making them of great cultural and historical significance. They remain widely relevant and popular today, not only as a way to preserve the cultural heritage of their founding nations but also as a form of physical and mental self-improvement and entertainment.
We believe that learning a martial art is one of the most rewarding things you can do and that it can be literally life-changing. Training in a martial art such as jiu jitsu takes you on a physical, mental and spiritual journey of self-improvement, of which learning self-defence techniques is just one aspect.
There are many benefits to learning a martial art. Including:
- Improved physical fitness
- Improved mental health
- Improved discipline and focus
- Improved confidence and self-esteem
- Improved stamina and resilience
- Improved coordination
- Increased energy levels
- Increased flexibility
- Lower stress levels
- New friendships
- And of course, learning self-defence!
So, as you can see, there are lots of reasons to celebrate martial arts and what they bring to our lives.
Other Important Dates in the Martial Arts Calendar
World Martial Arts Day isn’t the only key date in the martial arts calendar.
Some martial arts also have their own specific celebration days, for example, World Karate Day is held on June 17th, World Mixed Martial Arts Day is on the 8th of April, and International Taekwondo Day is celebrated on the 4th of September each year.
There are also martial arts tournaments and competitions held worldwide throughout the year. In addition, martial arts are becoming an increasing presence at the Olympics, with Karate being the latest martial art to be included as of 2020.
Significant Dates in the Gracie Family History
Here at Ellis Academy of Self Defence, we practice the Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu style of martial arts.
This method of martial arts is rooted in the teachings of a Japanese jiu-jitsu instructor called Esai Maeda who moved to Brazil in the early 1900s, passing his teachings on to Hélio Gracie, born in 1913. Together with his brothers, Hélio Gracie founded and developed the self-defence martial art system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, also known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).
Hélio passed his teachings onto his sons, including Royce Gracie, who was awarded his black belt by his father at the age of 17 in 1984.
In November of 2003, Royce Gracie was the first fighter to be inducted into the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Hall of Fame. A decade later, in 2013, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the World MMA Awards.
Royce Gracie recently celebrated his birthday, turning 57 on the 12th of December 2023 and though he has now retired from fighting, he continues his family's legacy through the Royce Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy.
Thinking of Taking up Martial Arts?
If you’re thinking of taking up a martial art and would like to learn more about our jiu jitsu classes for adults and children, and the many benefits they can offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also call us on 01737761999.
Alternatively, to find out about our martial arts classes, and what we offer, head on over to our blog where you’ll find many answers to frequently asked questions.