Chapter 1.
Mongol Military Skill or the ancient history of National Martial Art Mongol-Zo
Since the ancient times Mongol nation consisted of mighty martial tribes and clans which had military organization, from that time Mongol Military Skill (abbreviation MMS will be used further) or foundation of science based modern martial art Mongol-Zo was laid.
MMS which was later called Martial Art is directly linked to Mongolia’s independence, history and customs. Compared to other countries of the World our lifestyle is different, methods of teaching literacy and education is based on nomadic lifestyle, in other words, in practices centred in and around home. A father taught his son what he learned in the same tradition his ancestors taught and raised him, all the things necessary in life and prepared his ride and weapons, taught how to look after and use them, also personal secret methods and technique which saved his life numerous times. As this tradition was preserved, secrets of Mongol-Zo martial art has not been fully revealed to this day.
Clarification: Post home-schooling training was given in groups led by holders of a title ‘Hero’ who excelled in battles and by their heroic deeds, they taught children classic armed and unarmed combat technique and methods that they possess, regularly made them practice and develop their physique and trained them over and over to become proficient. That is the core of our national well-rounded teaching system.
Great secret of how Mongol nation existed and at one point managed to build the most powerful Empire in the World was embedded in simple things and lifestyle, that is Mongol lifestyle which fully provides scientific basis.
Why the author who was narrating about Martial Art and its history suddenly transformed into this theme? The reason is to make the reader understand that a person who fully understands that all these things are inseparably interconnected and it is one whole thing can become a genuine Martial Art master and expert.
Remark: Our Nation taught our children since the young age to conduct themselves correctly, to respect the elders, taught about the nature and great power within it and its secrets, how to prevent and protect oneself and the their families from natural disasters and harmful enemies, to choose one’s living environment, to recognize edible, medicinal and poisonous plants that grow in the plain view, how to heal illnesses and injuries sustained during battles and at the household and other illnesses. This core knowledge which encompasses all the sciences was taught in full to children at home before they reached adulthood. This tradition is getting lost and fading as the society develops and the world changes, also the understanding about MMS is also drifting away.
Example: Nowadays fathers who possess a tradition to teach their sons to sharpen domestic tools such as knives, scissors and axes are hard to find, it is causing problems for many families of our nation: their knives are blunt when they want to eat meat and prepare and cut food, cannot chop wood with a blunt axe, cannot saw logs as the saw is blunt and a person sawing gets exhausted, chafes a hand when trying to cut the fabric with blunt scissors.
What if the home-schooling tradition got lost in ancient times? It is evident that bluntness of swords, spears and arrowheads which are used to protect themselves may not only harm an individual, but it can cause greater harm too. They would have regretfully lost their lives… hearth would have been destroyed… lineage would have broken…
Therefore, military skill of Mongols, their art of war which was marvelled at and renowned throughout the World was getting lost due to harmful politics implemented by neighbouring countries throughout history which are nowadays came to be called more powerful than our Great Mongol Empire. I am writing to make people realise it.
We are a nation that looks far ahead and also concerned about the future generations… How true is our proverb: It is better to break a bone than to lose one’s honour.
Once Mongol man reached the age of 13, he officially became a warrior and retired from military service at the age of 60. This is an example of how Mongol man’s physical development and growth, also skills and health condition were relatively better compared to nowadays.
Until recently a saying: A man who reached the age of 40 and the male camel which reached the age of 4 was very popular. In that era 60 year old man was at the height of his power, gained life experience and was hardened, but it is regretful that military retirement age of bygone era nowadays indicates the average age.
In those times Mongol Military skill or modern-day Mongol-Zo art was based on 13 different branches of sciences: such as chemistry, physics, medicine, natural science, anatomy and biology.
1. Weapons skill
2. Riding skill
3. Physical skill
These three great branches of skills merged and developed into one core art and as a result Great Mongol Empire strengthened and existed for many centuries.
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