History





The quest for effective self-defense reaches into the far recesses of time, as far into history as humans have been on earth. Historians agree the beginnings of the civilized world and the future of science, art, literature and medicine existed in their infancy in ancient Mesopotamia, nestled between the Tigris and Europhrates rivers. The location contributed to the area's abundance of resources. The threat of flood provoked the community to adapt and thrive.

Modern society has evidence of the first recorded writing, the creation of the wheel, and specimens of advanced weaponry from Mesopotamia, to which modern day Persia was greatly related. Archeology and history consistently point to Mesopotamia as offering the greatest contributions to the ancient world.

Mesopotamia was profoundly affected by the waves of invaders ethnically, linguistically, religiously and culturally. The Persians, Greeks, Aramaeans and pre-Islamic Arabs all had a hand in the evolution of Mesopotamian society." (Georges Roux p. 423 ) However, each culture added flavor to the facets of ancient civilization.

Due to the constant flood of invaders the people of the ancient Middle East were always working to develop ways to protect personal property, family and land. Weapons, though effective, weren't often accessible to the common people of this area, who were mostly responsible for their own welfare. The hands and body were the most reliable sources of protection. Thus empty hand martial practice was adapted for use of individual citizens. The Middle Eastern culture is not renowned for the martial practices of the ancient world, however each culture of the region boasts a collection of effective martial arts.

Weapons played a great role in the adaptation of martial arts. An example of ancient weaponry used in modern martial practices is the sickle-sword, which was created by the Sumerians around 2500 B.C. (* see internet and photos) The present day version of the weapon is the famous broadsword. Additionally, this region contributed one of the most devastating weapons of the ancient world. A spin-off of the sickle-sword, the bronze socket axe had a narrowing point offering lethal blows capable of piercing bronze plate armor.

"History illustrates the contributions of various area cultures to the development of martial weapons in this region of the world. The Hittites were fierce and inventive warriors. They were the first to extract iron from ore. From this new metal they made weapons that were much stronger than the bronze and copper ones used by everyone else." (Jacob M. Fellure p. 21) The Hittite's changed the arsenal of the ancient world. Sword fighting places the sickle sword in the hands of an individual with martial combat training, a lethal combination of skill and weaponry.

"The Hittite civilization was destroyed in 1200 B.C. The contributions the Hittites made is priceless, for the discoveries bled into the Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian empires. At some point, probably around 1200 B.C. Assyria acquired the skill of iron working, probably from a Hittite fleeing his conquered nation." (Jacob M. Fellure p. 29)

"The Median Empire was great, though lacking in organization. The oversight allowed for the Persians to grow in strength and in 560 B.C. claim the empire for themselves." Twenty-one years later Persia invaded and won Babylon. (Jacob M. Fellure p. 34) History dictates at this point Persia was the dominant force in the ancient Middle East.

Documentation illustrates the resourcefulness of the Persians when they chose to set aflame their arrows (now made of the stronger iron). "Athens was captured by flaming hemp arrows in 480B.C. when the Persians invaded Greece." "In the first recorded use of fire projectiles on Greek soil, the Persians shot fiery arrows to burn down the wooden barricades. (Adrienne Mayor p. 209) The Persians invaded Athens relying upon the use of martial arts, referred to as Nabard.

Centuries of refinement went into the perfection of martial combat, though the evolution of the practice continues even in modern times. This was most evident during the trek of the Indian Bodhidharma to China.

The lapse in history detailing the evolution of martial practices is stalled at this point in time. In China, the monks were guarding their newly acquired fighting techniques. The martial art practitioners of the Middle East were participating in the collection and liquidation of empires. With little time to talk and teach, the methods of martial arts were being instructed in frenzied preparation for defense.

With the dissolution of each nation the conquerors laid waste to the information and habits of the people. The only effective mode of record keeping was through oral tradition, and even this was not wholly reliable. However, proof exists of martial art's infancy developing to maturity in the region of the Middle East. The modern martial arts have sparked a growth of interest in its traditions and history.

Because the martial arts were introduced to the world through the Far East, world perception is of that area being responsible for the creation of martial arts. However one important fact in the history is the traveler through which the Chinese monks received information on the martial arts. The Indian monk entered China from his native land by circa 520-590 A.D. Upon reviewing our historical timeline it is historically notable the techniques of martial combat were developed and used effectively long before the 500's A.D. Roman gladiators were making use of martial practices in the arena prior to China's conception of martial arts.

The martial arts were born in the cradle of civilization among some of the greatest contributions to mankind. Practitioners of martial arts would be interested to know the origins of the techniques and practices available today. It would be a disservice to the evolution of martial practices for the Middle Eastern predecessors to not be acknowledged for the valuable contributions made from every point in history. The Middle East is rich in martial practices and concepts, some of which are being developed and refined in the twenty-first century. Modern Israel began to develop the National System of Defensive Tactics known as Krav Ma Ga just prior to 1948. The Persians have a notable fighting practice known as Nabard, an exotic art of combat. Nabard evolved into a folk dance and teaching method in modern society. Comparable to Capoeira of Brazil, Nabard broke into two sects, one being performance oriented while the other is for fighting purposes.

Another notable and influencial Persian sport Varzesh-e Pahlavani (Persian varzeš-e pahlavane ) meaning the "Sport of the Heroes", also known as Varzesh-e Bastani (Persian varzeš-e bastni) meaning the "Sport of the Ancients", is a traditional discipline of gymnastics and wrestling of Iran, which was originally an academy of physical training for military purposes.
Varzesh-e Pahlavani combines elements of the pre-Islamic Iranian culture with the spirituality of Sufism. Participants are expected to be pure, truthful, and good tempered and strong in body. The principles of unpretentiousness are exemplified by a verse recited at many meetings: "Learn modesty, if you desire knowledge.
The main part of a Varzesh-e Pahlavani session is dedicated to gymnastics or calisthenics, notably using a pair of wooden Indian clubs (mil) and metal shields (sang), and bow-shaped iron weights ('kaman). The exercises also involve acrobatics like Sufi whirling and juggling. The sessions end with submission wrestling known as the Koshti Pahlavani.
Though similar to Varzesh-e Pahlavani in body and strength conditioning techniques as well as Zoroastrianism in principles and philosophy, T.O.A.S. Nabard - The Persian Art of Combat, is designed as a war strategy and based on multifaceted concepts and interchangeable techniques.

The martial arts have varied roots, all of which are intertwined in one another. One practice of martial art will evolve as the methods begin to include principals from other systems. The fact the martial arts are growing in our modern times exhibits the need for self-defense as well as the potential for self-actualization and balance possible through the study of martial arts. As the Israeli government was able to develop and refine martial practices from varied backgrounds, T.O.A.S. Nabard is a forerunner in the advancement and refinement of martial arts. With roots in the native Nabard, T.O.A.S. Nabard grows from the potential of its Persian roots into a modern and effective fighting system.

Nabard was the traditional Persian martial practice. The application of Nabard as a communication of martial tactics evolved through the society's needs and cultural changes into an expression of traditional martial customs. However, the expressions of fighting skills and practices are clearly expressed in the movements. Nabard is still exhibited in an expression of fighting dance performed in suburbs throughout Persia. By applying the principals of Nabard to a strategy of survival Grandmaster Safakhoo designed a Persian martial art system known as T.O.A.S Nabard, the art of combat.