Showing category "Art" (Show all posts)

Bendigo

Posted by on Saturday, April 20, 2024, In : Art

Bendy’s Sermon Poem by poem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about Bendigo, the well-known Nottingham bare-knuckle boxer and gangster that went on to convert to Christianity and become a preacher:

You didn’t know of Bendigo! Well, that knocks me out!

Who’s your board school teacher? What’s he been about?

Chock-a-block with fairy-tales full of useless cram,

And never heard o’ Bendigo, the pride of Nottingham!

Bendy’s short for Bendigo. You should see him peel!

Half of him was whalebone, half of...

Ishikawa Goemon

Posted by on Saturday, March 23, 2024, In : Art

Ishikawa Goemon (1558 –1594) was a ninja from Iga in Japan and is seen as a Robin Hood-type figure and legendary Japanese outlaw (who at least probably existed) and is said to have stolen from daimyo, wealthy merchants, and rich temples and given the proceeds to the poor. In 1594, Goemon tried to assassinate the Shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi but when this failed, he was boiled alive. In some versions of the tale, his five-year-old son was also thrown into the cauldron, but he held him above his...
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Lady Archers

Posted by on Saturday, February 3, 2024, In : Art

"In 1787, “several young ladies” who shot with the Royal British Bowmen – the first British sporting society to admit women – were said to have “added to their conquests the hearts of young gentlemen of honour and fortune”, with the society responsible for the marriage of “not a few happy couples”, according to a newspaper report ...The more spectacular archery tournaments were usually held on private grounds of the landed gentry and were seen very much as a wider opportunity ...

Tametomo and the Wolf Pups

Posted by on Sunday, June 25, 2023, In : Art

Tametomo and the Wolf Pups by artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (797–1861).

collections.mfa.org

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Spartacus

Posted by on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, In : Art

A 19th-century illustration of Spartacus.

Press Gang

Posted by on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, In : Art

A 1780 caricature of a press gang operating for the British armed forces.

en.wikipedia.org

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Three Heroes of Three Kingdoms

Posted by on Sunday, January 24, 2021, In : Art

Liu Bei (left), Guan Yu (back) and Zhang Fei (right) in an illustration of the Romance of the three Kingdoms. Three Heroes of Three Kingdoms, silk painting by By Sekkan Sakurai (1715-1790).

Source: wikipedia.org
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General Lee Surrendering to Grant at Appomattox

Posted by on Friday, January 15, 2021, In : Art

General Lee Surrendering to Grant at Appomattox by Alonzo Chappel c. 1870.

Source: npg.si.edu

The Battle of the Colline Gate

Posted by on Friday, January 15, 2021, In : Art

A depiction of The Battle of the Colline Gate (82 BCE), when Lucius Cornelius Sulla entered Rome with his forces for the second time and defeated his enemies, the Marians. After the battle Sulla would declare himself Dictator of the Republic.

Image Source: historyhit.com
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The Death of Brutus

Posted by on Thursday, January 14, 2021, In : Art

Death of the Consul Lucius Junius Brutus in a duel with Aruns by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

After usurping the last king of Rome Tarquinius Superbus (R. 535-510 BCE), Lucius Junius Brutus founded the Roman Republic. Here, his death is depicted at the hands of his cousin Arruns Tarquinius, the second son of the usurped king, when they fought in single combat during the Battle of Silva Arsia and simultaneously speared each other to death.

Image Source: meisterdrucke.uk

Korean Archery 1901

Posted by on Saturday, July 18, 2020, In : Art

The Kings of Rome

Posted by on Monday, April 6, 2020, In : Art

According to Titus Livius there were seven kings of Rome from 625 - 510 BCE. From top to bottom they were; Romulus (R. 753-715 BCE), Numa Pompilius (R. 715-673 BCE), Tullus Hostilius (R. 673-642 BCE), Ancus Marcius (R. 642-616 BCE), Tarquinius Priscus (R. 616-579 BCE), Servius Tullius (R. 578-535 BCE) and Tarquinius Superbus (R. 535-510 BCE).
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Bill Richmond

Posted by on Thursday, April 2, 2020, In : Art

Bill Richmond, the former American slave who fled to Britain and became a bare-knuckle boxer and boxing coach. Depicted above in a hand coloured etching from 1810 and below, stood behind his student Thomas Molineaux in a depiction of his 1811 fight with the champion Tom Cribb.

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Joseon Period Korean Archery

Posted by on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, In : Art

A painting by Kim Hong Do showing a seonbi (an intellectual from the Joseon Dynasty) using a bow and arrow during the 18th century Joseon Period of Korean history.

Source: antiquealive.com

Aristotle Tutoring Alexander the Great

Posted by on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, In : Art

Aristotle Tutoring Alexander the Great, by American Painter Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1904).
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Romulus and Remus

Posted by on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, In : Art

An image depicting two consecutive events taking place on the bank of the Tiber: Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of Rome, are being suckled by a wolf while being discovered by the shepherd Faustulus. Above that, Faustulus is giving the infants to his wife Laurentia as the two go on to adopt the twins. The image was drawn in 1480 by the Master of the White Inscriptions and is currently housed at the British Library.

Source: wikimedia.org
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Chen Wangting

Posted by on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, In : Art

Chen Wangting (1580–1660), seated in this picture, he is often credited with creating Tai Chi Chuan and is the founder of Chen Tai Chi.

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Ashikaga Takauji

Posted by on Friday, August 30, 2019, In : Art

An image of the Ashikaga Shogunate from the fourteenth century, painted by Yoshitsuya c.1850. The image depicts (left to right), Toki Yorito, the shogun Ashikaga Takauji and Akamatsu Goro Noritada.

Source: artsanddesignsjapan.com
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Takauji Ashikaga

Posted by on Monday, December 3, 2018, In : Art

Takauji Ashikaga, shogun of Japan from 1338–1358 who was the first of the Ashikaga shogunate and who ushered in theMuromachi Period (1338-1573) after usurping power from the emperor Go-Daigo.

Source: wikipedia.org

Aztecs With Macuahuitl

Posted by on Thursday, October 25, 2018, In : Art

Drawings from the 16th-century Florentine Codex depicting Aztec warriors. The weapons they are brandishing are macuahuitls, wooden swords that were embedded with obsidian glass that was often as sharp as a modern-day, high-quality steel razor blade.

Source: wikipedia.org

Evolution of Roman Armour

Posted by on Wednesday, September 5, 2018, In : Art

An illustration of the evolution of roman armour, from the third century BCE to the fifth century CE.

Image Source: quora.com

The Battle of Grunwald

Posted by on Monday, September 3, 2018, In : Art

The Battle of Grunwald, fought between Poland-Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights in 1410.

Source: wikipedia.org
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The Battle of Arsuf.

Posted by on Monday, September 3, 2018, In : Art

Richard the Lionheart at the Battle of Arsuf (1191) during the Third Crusade where he defeated Saladin. Painting by Gustave Doré (19th century).

Source: Battle of Arsuf

Knight in Full Armor

Posted by on Friday, March 2, 2018, In : Art

An illustration of a knight sitting on a horse wearing a full suit of armor by P. V. N. Myers in A General History for Colleges and High Schools (1896).

Source: etc.usf.edu

Mongolian Archers

Posted by on Friday, February 16, 2018, In : Art

Illustration from a fourteenth century manuscript depicting Mongolian mounted archers.

Source: wikipedia.org
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The Fleet of Ashikaga Takauji

Posted by on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, In : Art

The Fleet of Ashikaga Takauji Sets Out for War, painted by Utagawa Yoshifuji c.1845.

Source: mfa.org

Edith Garrud - The Arrest

Posted by on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, In : Art

A depiction of Edith Garrud called The Suffragette that Knew Jiu-Jitsu. The Arrest. The cartoon was drawn by Arthur Wallis Mills and Published in the UK in Punch Magazine, 6 June 1910.
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Wrestlers

Posted by on Monday, February 5, 2018, In : Art

Wrestlers by Thomas Eakins (1899)

Source: elogedelart.canalblog.com

Mongol Warriors

Posted by on Thursday, February 1, 2018, In : Art

Mongol warriors battling on horseback while attacking with the short bow.
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Edward - The Black Prince

Posted by on Thursday, January 25, 2018, In : Art

Painting by Julian Russel Story (1888) of Prince Edward, son of King Edward III of England, commonly known as The Black Prince at the battle of Crecy depicted with King John of Bohemia lying dead at his feet.

Source: wikipedia.org
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Minamoto Yoritomo on Horseback Attacking an Enemy

Posted by on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, In : Art

Minamoto Yoritomo (1147 - 1199) depicted on Horseback Attacking an Enemy by artist Taiso Yoshitoshi (1886).

Source: toshidama-japanese-prints.com
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Zhang Sanfeng

Posted by on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, In : Art

Zhang Sanfeng who, according to legend, watched a fight between a crane and a snake. After being impressed by the way the two animals fought, he is aid to have invented a style of fighting called Mien Chuen (Cotton Fist) that would evolve into modern day Tai Chi Chuan.
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Map of the Mongol Empire

Posted by on Saturday, January 23, 2016, In : Art

A map of the Mongol Empire

Source: empires.findthedata.com
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The Crossbow: Medieval and Modern Military and Sporting

Posted by on Monday, January 18, 2016, In : Art

Title: The Crossbow: Medieval and Modern Military and Sporting.

Date: 1840-1845.

Source: Costumes of Mediaeval Christendom.

Information: The kneeling and seated figures in this diagram illustrate how a crossbow is first drawn and then loaded. This is contrasted by the standing figure, who shows how much more rapidly a conventional bow can be fired.

Source: uh.edu
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Garcia Afonso - the King of Kongo

Posted by on Sunday, January 17, 2016, In : Art

Garcia II Nkanga a Lukeni a Nzenze a Ntumba, also known as Garcia Afonso, was the king of Kongo from 1641 to 1661. He is considered by many as Kongo's greatest ever leader for his religious piety and his near expulsion of the Portuguese from Angola.

Via Pinterest
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The joust between the Knight of the Red Rose and the Lord of the Tournament

Posted by on Friday, January 1, 2016, In : Art

The image above was engraved by Thomas Hodgson and depicts a jousting match from the Eglinton Tournament of 1839, a re-enactment of a medieval joust held in Scotland. It was funded and organized by Archibald, Earl of Eglinton whose opponent in the image is Richard Lechemere, the "Knight of the Red Rose".

Source: wikipedia.org
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The Lei Tai

Posted by on Saturday, November 28, 2015, In : Art

The lei tai is an elevated fighting arena without railings that dates back in its current form to the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 CE) in Chinese history though older versions date back to the Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BCE). Fighters would take part in matches that were presided over by a referee on the platform and judges on the sides in bouts that were fought bare knuckle or with deadly weapons. Some were to the death, though usually the winner would be determined when someone surrendered, was i...
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Horses and Mules in WWI

Posted by on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, In : Art

A breakdown of how horses and mules were used by the British army during World War One

By the end of World War One, around 50% of the British Army’s horses were in France with the rest being spread across the Balkans, Middle East, Egypt, Italy and the UK. The four main roles mules and horses played during the conflict were; 1. Supply horses and mules which were used to move ammunition, general supplies and ambulances. 2. Riding horses that were ridden by soldiers, sometimes on the front line...
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How to Develop a Powerful Grip

Posted by on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, In : Art

These images are from the book How to Develop a Powerful Grip by Edward Aston, a legendary strongman who was famous in the early twentieth century for performing feats of strength that involved his incredibly powerful grip. The first image on the left, Gripping an Open Door, is used to develop pinch grip strength and the second, Hanging from a Rope, is one of the best exercises there is for improving your grip, according to Aston.

Source: rosstraining.com
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Zhang Sanfeng

Posted by on Saturday, October 17, 2015, In : Art

Zhang Sanfeng of the Wu Tang Taoist School (c.12 - 13 century).

Source: taiji-europa.eu
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Sumo Fight

Posted by on Sunday, October 11, 2015, In : Art

Title: Sumo Fight

Date: 19th Century

Artist: Kunisada Utagawa 1786-1864

Information: Depiction of two sumo wrestlers fighting while samurai warriors look on.

Source: artelino.com
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The Joust of Sol and Luna

Posted by on Monday, September 21, 2015, In : Art

The Joust of Sol and Luna from the Aurora Consurgens an alchemical treatise of the 15th century famous for the rich illustrations that accompany it. It is interesting to note that the emblems on the shields are inverted so that Sol's shield has a lunar (moon) emblem, while Luna's shield carries a solar (sun) design.

Source: yeatsvision.com
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Musashi Goro Sadayo

Posted by on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, In : Art

Title: Clearing Weather at Mt. Shimahiro

Date: c.1850

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Information: This image depicts a 15 year old 10th century samurai by the name of Musashi Gorō Sadayo defending himself against Imperial forces. The fighting came about after his lord, Taira no Masakado, proclaimed himself the new emperor in 939. However the rebellion was ill fated and the pretender and his men were defeated at the Battle of Mt. Shimahiro by troops led by Fujiwara no Hidesato just a few months a...
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Bai Qi Chong Ding

Posted by on Friday, August 7, 2015, In : Art

Title: Bai Qi Chong Ding

Date: Unknown

Artist: Unknown

Information: This woodblock is taken from the Xiuzhen Miyao, a Qigong text with 49 exercises designed to promote a fit and healthy body. The text is of unknown origin but was rediscovered and published with a preface by Wang Zai in 1513. This illustration depicts Bai Qi Chong Ding (One hundred Qi rushing to the top of the head) and is an exercise designed to treat pain throughout the body. To perform the exercise, the patient must sit on a h...
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Ashigaru Using Tanegashia

Posted by on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, In : Art

Title: Ashigaru Using Tanegashia

Date: 1800s

Artist: Unknown

Information: This woodblock print dating from some time in the 19th century depicts a group of c16th century Japanese infantrymen (ashigaru) using matchlock firearms (tanegashia) while taking cover behind their shields (tate).

Source: Firearms of Japan
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Bruce Lee Art Work

Posted by on Thursday, June 11, 2015, In : Art

Kung fu artwork drawn by Bruce Lee

martialartsactionmovies.com
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Samurai Armour & Weaponry

Posted by on Monday, April 6, 2015, In : Art

This lithograph plate from 1888 by Albert Racinet (1825-1893) shows Japanese samurai warriors
with various different types of armour and weaponry.

Source: Wikipedia

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The Cyrus Cylinder

Posted by on Thursday, January 29, 2015, In : Art

The history of human rights is a long one and can be said to have started in 539 BCE when the first king of ancient Persia, Cyrus the Great, defeated the Babylonian army and took the city. Once this task was done, he freed the slaves there and introduced new laws that declared people’s right to equality and to choose their own religion.

These laws were recorded in cuneiform script on a baked-clay cylinder known as the Cyrus Cylinder, a law code that is recognised as the first known charter ...
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An Archer at Hastings

Posted by on Thursday, July 24, 2014, In : Art

In this section of the Bayeux Tapestry, the archer is clearly shown as being shorter than the
English Infantrymen he is fighting alongside at the Battle of Hastings. This is probably done
to illustrate that he has a lower social status than his fellow combatants, a fact also illustrated
by his lack of armour.

amherst.edu
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Schlacht bei Maupertuis 1356

Posted by on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, In : Art

Title: Schlacht bei Maupertuis 1356

Date: c.1400

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: This picture was produced in Germany around 1400 CE from an unknown artist and depicts the Battle of Poitiers. It was the second of three great English victories over the French in the Hundred Years War and was largely won through effective use of the English archers, shown on the left.

Source
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The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan

Posted by on Monday, June 9, 2014, In : Art

Title: The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan

Artist: Eugene Delacroix

Date: 1826

Information: The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan was inspired by the dramatic climax of the
poem Giaour (1813) by Lord Byron. It depicts the moment when the Greek giaour (meaning Christian
infidel) avenges his lover, who was killed by the Turk Hassan (on the horse to the right).

artic.edu
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Miyamoto Musashi Fights Sasaki Ganryû

Posted by on Friday, June 6, 2014, In : Art

Title: At Ganryûjima in Kyûshû, Miyamoto Musashi Fights Sasaki Ganryû

Date: 1843-47

Artist: Utagawa Yoshitora

Information: Miyamoto Musashi in his duel with Sasaki Ganryu (aka Sasaki Kojiro). In this
woodblock print he is shown using his trademark two sword style of fighting known as Nito Ichi (two swords as one) or Niten Ichi (two heavens as one) though it is more commonly believed that Musashi used a bokken that he fashioned out of a boat oar to defeat Ganryu.

ukiyo-e.org

Westernised Samurai

Posted by on Thursday, June 5, 2014, In : Art

Title: Westernised Samurai

Date: 1866

Artist: Unknown

Information: This picture was published in London News not long before the Meiji Restoration.
It depicts a group of young warriors dressed in western clothes alluding to the fact that many
of the samurai class were in favour of the opening of Japan’s borders to foreign influences.

wikipedia.org

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Siddhartha in a Wrestling Contest

Posted by on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, In : Art

An 8th century Japanese silk print depicting Siddhartha in a wrestling contest prior to becoming the Buddha.

newbuddhist.com

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A Welsh Victory at the National Sporting Club, 31 March 1919

Posted by on Thursday, May 15, 2014, In : Art

Title: A Welsh Victory at the National Sporting Club, 31 March 1919.

Date: 1919.

Artist: William Howard Robinson.

Information: This painting depicts the end of a fight between Welshman Jimmy Wilde (who won the bout on points) and American Joe Lynch. After the fight, the Prince of Wales (who later became Edward VIII) stepped in to the ring to shake the hand of the Welshman. In doing so, he became the first member of the British Royal family to officially enter a boxing ring, giving the sport a ne...
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Ancient Korean Sparring

Posted by on Saturday, April 5, 2014, In : Art

This mural was painted at Kak-Je Tomb in Koguryo, one of the ancient Three Kingdoms of Korea. Produced in the age of San-Sang, the tenth king of the realm who ruled Koguryo from 197–227 CE, it shows combatants sparring in the early Korean martial art Soo Bak-Gi, a precursor to modern taekwondo.

taekwondo.edu.sg
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A Crossbow from the Wubei Zhi

Posted by on Friday, April 4, 2014, In : Art

An illustration of a crossbow from the Wubei Zhi (Treatise on Armament Technology),
a comprehensive Chinese military guide written sometime in the early 17th century.

Source
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Miyamoto Musashi Self Portrait

Posted by on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, In : Art

Title: Miyamoto Musashi

Date: c.1640

Artist: Miyamoto Musashi

Information: Self-portrait of Miyamoto Musashi, who as well as being
considered one of the best samurai warriors of all time, was also an
excellent writer and a renowned artist.

Source
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That 2,000-Yard Stare

Posted by on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, In : Art

That 2,000-Yard Stare by Tom Lea is a painting housed in a U.S. government warehouse that stores artifacts and precious works of arts obtained over the years by the army. The collection includes 16,000 pieces of fine art consisting of of donated and commissioned pieces, much of which were painted by soldiers who experienced their subjects first hand.

Source
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Richard Humphreys the Boxer

Posted by on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, In : Art

Title: Richard Humphreys, the Boxer

Date: 1787

Artist: John Hoppner

Information: This painting of 18th century bare knuckle fighter Richard Humphreys was probably commissioned by his manager and promoter, Wilson Braddyll, to promote his upcoming fight against Daniel Mendoza. The artist had prior knowledge of boxing so managed to get a good likeness of an early boxer taking a defensive stance; the picture is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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The Black Prince

Posted by on Thursday, December 19, 2013, In : Art

The Black Prince is one of the most celebrated knights of medieval history, remembered as a warrior who exemplified the chivalric code of honour. Born Edward of Woodstock, he was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault and had a string of titles to his name including;

•    The First Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter
•    The Prince of Wales
•    The Duke of Cornwall
•    The Prince of Aquitaine

The Black Prince, a nickname he received as a result of...

The Battle Between the Gods and the Titans

Posted by on Thursday, December 19, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Battle Between the Gods and the Titans

Date: 1600

Artist: Joachim Wtewael

Information: According to Greek mythology, the world was once run by a group of deities known as the Titans. Their leader, Cronus, had eaten most of his offspring in a bid to prevent their prophesised rebellion however his youngest son, Zeus, escaped this fate. After freeing his siblings from their father’s stomach, they moved to Mount Olympus from which they waged war on the Titans.

Read more on the Battl...
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The Defeat of Benkei on Gojo Bridge

Posted by on Saturday, November 9, 2013, In : Art

Title: Combat and Defeat of Benkei on Gojo Bridge

Date: c.1830

Artist: Hiroshige

Information: A woodcut print of samurai legend Yoshitsune Minamoto (jumping on the right) attacking the warrior monk Benkei. The holy man had vowed to collect 1000 swords by dispossessing them from their owners in a series of duals. When he met up with the 15 year old Yoshitsune, he needed just one more for his collection but would soon realize that he had met his match. After being defeated but the young samura...
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Akiyama Yoshitoki

Posted by on Friday, November 8, 2013, In : Art

Akiyama Yoshitoki, a physician from Nagasaki was instrumental in the development of the Yoshin School of jujitsu in the 17th century. After studying medicine in China, he learned hakuda, a fighting style that mainly consists of striking and kicking techniques and applied his knowledge to his jujitsu. This allowed him to develop hundreds of ways to subdue an opponent, and to be able to revive those he rendered unconscious or heal those he had caused injury to.
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Techniques from Tenjin-Shinyo Jujitsu

Posted by on Saturday, November 2, 2013, In : Art

Techniques from the Tenjin-Shinyo School of jujitsu, founded by Matayemon Iso in the 17th century.
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Minamoto Yoshitsune Training with Tengu Demons

Posted by on Monday, October 28, 2013, In : Art

Image: Minamoto Yoshitsune training with tengu demons

Date: 1852

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Infomation: The great twelfth-century warrior Minamoto Yoshitsune
training with tengu demons, the keepers of the secrets of the martial arts.
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Archer XI

Posted by on Friday, September 20, 2013, In : Art

This small-scale model is of the Archer XI of the west pediment of the Temple of Aphaia (c. 505–500 BCE), which is dedicated to a Greek goddess of the same name and was worshipped almost exclusively on the island of Aegina in the Saronic Gulf.
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Grappling Samurai Warriors

Posted by on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, In : Art

An old illustration of two samurai warriors engaged in hand to hand combat on the battle field. The grappling
moves being displayed are an example of fighting techniques that come from an early form of jujitsu.
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The Alexander Mosaic

Posted by on Wednesday, September 4, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Alexander Mosaic

Date: c. 100 BCE

Artist: Unknown

This mosaic was found in the House of the Faun in Pompeii and depicts a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great (left) and Darius III of Persia (in the chariot to the right). Alexander’s, upper body and head are still visible and on his breast plate is a picture of Medusa. Darius is believed to be desperately trying to flee the battle and his extended arm may suggest he had just thrown a javelin. The Alexander mosaic is t...
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The Siege of Dapur

Posted by on Tuesday, August 20, 2013, In : Art

Ramesses II's attacking the Cheta people with his composite bow at the Siege of Dapur (1269 BCE).
The image was copied from a mural in Ramesses II's temple in Thebes.
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Jujutsu by Toyokuni Utagawa

Posted by on Tuesday, August 13, 2013, In : Art

Title: Jujutsu

Date: c.1815

Artist: Toyokuni Utagawa (Also referred to as Toyokuni I)

Information: This woodblock print by renowned artist Toyokuni Utagawa depicts an expert in Jujutsu fending off multiple attackers. Utagawa was one of the leading artists that came out of the famous Utagawa school of Japanese woodblock art, and is credited with making the school famous in the 19th century.

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Madame Collie of Rome Fencing at Angelo’s Academy

Posted by on Friday, August 9, 2013, In : Art

Title: Madame Collie of Rome fencing at Angelo’s academy

Date: 1816

Artist: Thomas Rowlandson

Infomation: Henry Angelo was the most famous fencer and teacher of swordsmanship in England during the 18th century. This picture depicts his fencing school, situated in Bond St in London, when it was visited by Madame Collie of Rome.

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The Close of the Battle - Tom Cribb vs. Tom Molineaux

Posted by on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Close of the Battle or The Champion Triumphant

Date: 19th Century

Artist: Unknown (published by Walker and Knight)

Information: This hand coloured etching depicts the second of two epic battles between the champion Tom Cribb (who won both fights) and Tom Molineaux, a former slave and the first American challenger to the title.

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Wrestling Match

Posted by on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, In : Art

Title: Wrestling Match

Date: c.1649

Artist: Michiel Sweerts (1618–1664)

Information: 17th century oil painting depicting a wrestling contest.

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Apollo and Artemis

Posted by on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, In : Art

Title: Apollo and Artemis

Date: c.470 BCE

Artist: Briseis Painter (real name unknown, this Athenian artist is known for his
particular style of decoration on pottery).

Information: The artwork on this Attic red-figure cup features Apollo, the Greek god
of archery and his twin sister Artemis, the goddess of wild places and hunting.
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Shaolin Masters Zhanju and Shi Zhanluo

Posted by on Saturday, July 20, 2013, In : Art

A wall mural dating from the early 19th century depicting Shaolin Masters Zhanju and Shi Zhanluo teaching
the monks weapon and empty-hand fighting techniques.
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Bare Knuckle Boxing Champs

Posted by on Thursday, July 18, 2013, In : Art

This poster from 1864 (three years prior to the introduction of the Queensbury Rules) depicts three of the last four bare knuckle boxing champions who were among campaigners trying to organise an official World Championship. From left to right they are; Tom Sayers (champion 1858 – 1860), Jem Mace (champion 1861 – 1862 & 1866 – 1871) and Tom King (champion 1862 – 1863).
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The Great Battle of Kurikaradani

Posted by on Thursday, July 18, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Great Battle of Kurikaradani between Kiso Yoshinaka and the Taira General Tomonori in 1183.

Artist: Yoshiiku (1833 - 1904)

Date: 1857

Information: This Japanese woodblock print depicts the scene of the slaughter of Taira forces at the hands of the Minamoto Clan during the Battle of Kurikara. The victorious side launched a surprise attack and ambushed their opponents after forcing them into a closed off valley by guiding at them a heard of stampeding oxen with flaming touches atta...
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Pak Mei

Posted by on Monday, July 15, 2013, In : Art

Pak Mei (also known as Bai Mei and meaning White Eyebrows), founder of the Pak Mei style of Kung Fu.
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Mzilikazi

Posted by on Monday, July 8, 2013, In : Art

Mzilikazi, meaning "The Great Road" (c. 1790 - 1868), was a king from South Africa who is famous for leading a massive tribe known as the Khumalo on an 800 km long journey from Zululand to Matabeleland (now SW Zimbabwe), where he founded the Matabele kingdom. Formally a lieutenant of the great Zulu king Shaka, he rebelled in 1823 and formed his own tribe. Along the way he conquered many other tribes, assimilating the survivors into citizens of his own kingdom showing him to be both a great ge...
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The Death of Sasaki Kojiro

Posted by on Friday, June 28, 2013, In : Art

Title: Sasaki kojiro

Date: c. 1815

Artist: Ashihiro Harukawa

Infomation: This painting depicts the Kabuki actor Ohtani Tomoemon, playing the role of samurai warrior Sasaki Kojiro who meet his end in his famous ill-fated duel with Miyamoto Musashi on Ganryu Island. Kojiro was everything a samurai warrior was expected to be and followed the local Bushido code to the letter. However he was infuriated by his opponent’s lack of respect when Musashi turned up late, was dressed like a tramp and f...
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Legends of T'ai Chi Ch'uan - Chang Sanfeng

Posted by on Sunday, June 9, 2013, In : Art

This image depicts the moment of inspiration for the invention of the art of Tai Chi Chuan, at least according to some sources. Chang Sanfeng is thought to have watched a fight between a snake and a bird in the 15th century and got the idea to build a style of fighting around his extensive knowledge of Taoist philosophy and internal energy.
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The Bruiser Bruis'D

Posted by on Thursday, June 6, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Bruiser Bruis'D, Or, the Knowing-Ones Taken-In

Date: 1750

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: Engraving of the fight between John 'Jack' Broughton and Jack Slack. Broughton was an instrumental influence on the early boxing scene after introducing the first rules aimed at providing some safety measures for fighters. In contrast Slack, after winning this fight and become the champ, went on to become the first known person to fix prize fights; he is also credited with inventing the rabbit pu...
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Seppuku

Posted by on Sunday, June 2, 2013, In : Art

Title: Seppuku
Date: 1867
Artist: J. M. W. Silver
Info: Illustration from "Sketches of Japanese Manners and Customs", which were reproduced copies of
native Japanese art done by using a method known as Chromolithography and published in London.

Illustration of James Figg - First Boxing Champion

Posted by on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, In : Art

An illustration of James Figg, the first champion in modern pugilism history and an influential ambassador to the sport. His reign lasted from 1719 – 1730 when he retired undefeated after just under 300 fights. As a former fencer, he was able to bring new types of movement and technique to the art of boxing and after he quit the ring, he set up the world’s first boxing school to teach others.
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Shaolin Mural

Posted by on Saturday, May 25, 2013, In : Art

A mural found at the Shaolin Temple in the province Henan, China that is believed to be around 500 years old.
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San Salvador

Posted by on Friday, May 24, 2013, In : Art

Title: San Salvador

Date: 1835

Artist: Johann Moritz Rugendas

Infomation: Illustration by German artist Johann Moritz Rugendas, inspired by his time on an expedition to Brazil.

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Mestre Besouro Manganga

Posted by on Thursday, May 23, 2013, In : Art

An old sketch of Mestre Besouro Manganga fighting against a group of Brazilian police.
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Koshiate

Posted by on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, In : Art

Title: koshiate
Date: 1735
Artist: Hayakawa Kyuukei
Info: This woodblock from the Edo period depicts a series of Japanese samurai swords on their koshiate
(Sword Hangers) and is from a Japanese book on samurai armour called Tanki Yoriaku: Hi Ko Ben
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The Boxing Boys

Posted by on Saturday, May 18, 2013, In : Art

Title: The Boxing Boys

Date: c. 1600 B.C.E.

Artist: Unknown

Date: c. 1600 B.C.E.

Infomation: This fresco from Thera (modern-day Santorini in Greece) depicts two Minoan
boys engaged in boxing and is the earliest image depicting the use of boxing gloves.
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Moko Shurai Ekotoba

Posted by on Friday, May 10, 2013, In : Art

Title: Moko Shurai Ekotoba

Artist: Unknown

Date: c 1293

Infomation: This picture depicts the samurai facing Mongol arrows and bombs and is from a set of near contemporary illustrations known collectively as the Moko Shurai Ekotoba. They were commissioned by the samurai warrior Takezaki Suenaga to record for prosperity his heroic deeds during the Mongol Invasions of Japan, which consisted of two failed attempts to conquer the country in the second half of the 13th century.

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Goro Nyudo Masamune (c.1264 – 1343 CE)

Posted by on Saturday, May 4, 2013, In : Art

Title: Masamune

Date: Unknown

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: This old image is of Gorō Nyūdō Masamune (c.1264 – 1343 CE), widely considered to
be the best sword smith that ever lived. He lived during the Kamakura Period and is said to
have made swords that had the perfect balance between strength and flexibility.

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Entellus vs. Dares

Posted by on Saturday, May 4, 2013, In : Art

Title: L'Énéide

Date: c.1927 (?)

Infomation: Painting depicting the famous boxing contest between Entellus and Dares, as described in Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid, written sometime between 29 and 19 BCE. The older Sicilian champion Entellus went on to win the fight against his younger opponent from Troy, which is said to have taken place in games held by Aeneas in Sicily.
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Capoeira Painting by Augustus Earle

Posted by on Sunday, April 28, 2013, In : Art

Title: Negros Fighting

Date: c1824

Artist: Augustus Earle

Infomation: This painting is an early rendition of an illegal capoeira fight in Rio de Janeiro.
It was painted by English born artist Augustus Earle during his three year spell in Brazil in the 1820s.

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The Mongol Invasion

Posted by on Saturday, April 27, 2013, In : Art

Title: Mongols Invasion

Date: 1847

Artist: Kikuchi Yoosai

Infomation: This Ink and water colours on paper depicts the destruction of the Mongol fleet in a typhoon that prevented them conquering Japan. This happened not once but twice, prompting the Japanese to believe it to be a Devine Wind or kamikaze.
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Traditional Fighting in Africa - Engolo

Posted by on Saturday, April 27, 2013, In : Art

Drawings by Neves e Sousa, 1965

Engolo or NGolo (strength / power) is a ritualistic form of combat performed at various traditional ceremonies by several ethnic groups around the Cunene River in Southern Angola. Engolo consists of kicks, dodges, and leg sweeps, with particular emphasis on inverted positions, i.e. with one or more hands rooted to the ground. Many of the moves are reminiscent of capoeira fighting techniques and the African system may well have been one of the influences on the B...
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Bodhidharma on an Elephant

Posted by on Monday, April 8, 2013, In : Art

Image: Bodhidharma on an Elephant
Date: c.17th Century
Artist: Yiran
Info: This picture on a silk hanging scroll depicts Bodhidharma, the
Indian monk who is credited by many as being the founder of Shaolin Kung Fu.

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Legends of Fencing - Henri de St. Didier

Posted by on Monday, April 8, 2013, In : Art

Henri de St. Didier was a fencing legend who came from France and was very influencial in the 16th century. In 1573 he became the first master of his country to write a treaties on fencing and acknowledged that the Italian style was the best. The main lessons he gave to the fencing world was how to counter-attack effectively and instruction on disarming an opponent.

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Retiarius vs. Secutor

Posted by Andrew Griffiths on Friday, March 22, 2013, In : Art

Artist: Unknown
Date: Second – third century CE
Info: In this mosaic from the villa at Nennig, Germany, a retiarius gladiator, who fought with a net and a three pronged trident, stabs at his opponent who is a secutor gladiator, whose weapon of choice was usually a short sword or a gladius.

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Jack Broughton - The Father of English Boxing

Posted by on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, In : Art

Title: Jack Broughton

Artist: Francis Hayman (1708 – 1776)

Infomation: This is an illustration of John ‘Jack’ Broughton, commonly thought of as the
‘Father of English Boxing’. He was champion from 1729 – 1750 and was the first
to add a set of widely accepted rules to the sport, which included stopping when
an opponent was knocked to the floor and using gloves, though only for training
purposes.

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Bodhidharma Scroll

Posted by on Sunday, March 3, 2013, In : Art

Title: Bodhidharma

Artist: Hakuin Ekaku (1685 to 1768)

Infomation: This calligraphy scroll is Japanase in origin and reads;
“Zen points directly to the human heart, see into your nature and become Buddha”.

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Legends of Fencing - Giacomo di Grassi

Posted by on Sunday, March 3, 2013, In : Art

Giacomo di Grassi was an Italian master from the 16th century who had a great influence on the development of fencing right up to the modern day. He is often credited with inventing the modern parry and through his best known work, ‘His True Arte of Defence’, taught fighters from his day to think more about defence than had previously been the norm.

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Tsukahara Bokuden

Posted by on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, In : Art

Tsukahara Bokuden (1489 - 1571)
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Legends of Fencing – George Silver

Posted by on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, In : Art

George Silver was a late 16th, early 17th century English teacher of defence who wrote two major works, "Paradoxes of Defence" and "Brief Instructions on my Paradoxes of Defence", in which he promoted the use of small-swords and staves in favour of the rapier, a weapon which he strongly criticised. He believed that the rapier was dangerous, and was concerned with the number of duels that were happening in his time and worried that too many arguments were being settle that way. According to Si...
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Legends of T'ai Chi Ch'uan - Wu Quanyou

Posted by on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, In : Art

Wu Quanyou (1834–1902), or Wu Ch'uan-yu as he was also known was a t’ai chi ch’uan master from China. He taught many great exponents of the art including his son, Wu Chien-ch'uan who created the Wudang style of t'ai chi ch'uan, and Maozhai who was the creator of the Northern Wu Style Wang. Wu Quanyou is believed to have had great abilities; in particular he excelled in skills that involved neutralizing hard external energy and developing the flow of soft internal energy (chi).

More leg...
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Manduca da Praia Gang Fight

Posted by on Saturday, December 8, 2012, In : Art

An engraving featuring Manduca da Praia and a group of capoeira fighters.

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Shaolin Wall Mural

Posted by on Saturday, December 8, 2012, In : Art

A mural painting from a wall in the Shaolin Temple in the Chinese province of Henan, (c.early 1800s).
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Legends of Fencing - Camillo Agrippa

Posted by on Friday, December 7, 2012, In : Art

A diagram from Agrippa's Treatise - See more

Camillo Agrippa is a legend of fencing who is widely considered to be one of the greatest fencing theorists of all time. He invented the four positions of fencing, (prime, seconde, tierce, and quarte) and suggested that the sword should be held in front of the body rather than behind. Through the use of common sense and geometric theory, Agrippa’s work, Treatise on the Science of Arms with Philosophical Dialogue (1553), changed the art of fencing ...
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Tsukahara Bokuden and his No Sword School

Posted by on Friday, December 7, 2012, In : Art

Picture: Bokuden's No sword school
Date: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Info: The painting depicts a tale about the legendary samurai warrior Tsukahara Bokuden,
and how he defeated a young warrior with guile alone. He agreed to fight on an island then
abandoned the warrior there, telling him; “Here is my No Sword School!”

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Tomoe Gozen - Female Samurai Warrior

Posted by on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, In : Art

Title: Tomoe Gozen

Artist: Kikuchi Yōsai (1781-1878)

Infomation: Tomoe Gozen was one of Japan’s few famous female warriors who fought
alongside her master, Yoshinaka Minamoto, in the Gempei War (1180 – 1185).

Read article - Tomoe Gozen – Female Samurai Warrior

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Daruma (Bodhidharma)

Posted by on Friday, November 2, 2012, In : Art

Title: Daruma (Bodhidharma)

Date: 14th Century

Artist: Unknown (Inscription by Issan Ichinei)

Infomation: This ink painting from the Kamakura Era depicts
Bodhidharma, the founder, according to legend, of Asian martial arts.

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John Graham Chambers

Posted by on Thursday, November 1, 2012, In : Art

Title: Illustration of John Graham Chambers
Date: 1883
Info: John Graham Chambers (1843 – 1883) was an all-around sportsman from Wales who excelled in several disciplines including rowing, walking, cycling, wrestling and athletics. However his major contribution was to devise the rules for boxing, known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.

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Capoeira Drawings by Kalixto

Posted by on Sunday, October 21, 2012, In : Art

Title: Capoeira Drawings
Artist: Kalixto Cordeiro
Date: c.1906
Info: A series of drawings that depict a couple of well-dressed Capoeira fighters in battle.
Note the use of the ‘navalha’ (barber’s razor) in the centre picture, a weapon synonymous
with the ‘o malandro’ (criminal/bad boy)
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Emperor Akbar Training His War Elephant

Posted by on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, In : Art

Title: Emperor Akbar tames an elephant

Date: c.1609

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: The 16th century Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great is shown training a war elephant.
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Tomoe Gozen

Posted by on Thursday, September 13, 2012, In : Art

Title: Tomoe Gozen

Date: 1899

Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912)

Infomation: This painting depicts the legendary female warrior Tomoe Gozen at the Battle of Awazu
in 1184. So the story goes, she killed one of the warriors shown with her, Uchida Ieyoshi, and
escaped capture from the other, Hatakeyama Shigetada.
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Taekwondo History Legends – Lee Duk Mu

Posted by on Thursday, September 13, 2012, In : Art

During the Yi dynasty (1392 – 1910), interest in learning martial arts in Korea faded considerably, partly as a result of a growing emphasis on classical learning on subjects such as music, art, literature and poetry, as opposed to physical pursuits that were favoured in earlier periods.

By 1790, the martial art forms that would later develop into Taekwondo were at risk of dying out so in a bid to retain their knowledge, King Chong Jo ordered Lee Duk Mu, one of his generals and a martial ...
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Capoeira Slaves About to be Whipped

Posted by on Saturday, September 1, 2012, In : Art

Name: Negroes Going to be Whipped
Artist: Frederico Guilherme Briggs
Year: c.1832
Info: This print by the young Brazilian artist was one of a set that depicted common people. Here, one of the unfortunate men that are being lead off to be whipped is carrying a sign that says Capoeira.

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Yoritomo Minamoto

Posted by on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, In : Art

Yoritomo Minamoto (1147 - 1199) , after he defeated the ruling Taira Clan and
ushered in the Kamakura period and the rule of the Minamoto Shogunate.
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Taekwondo History Legends – Chin Heung and the HwaRang

Posted by on Saturday, August 25, 2012, In : Art

One of the earliest influences on taekwondo history and philosophy was the twenty-fourth King of Silla, Chin Heung. He organised a special fighting unit for his army who were well trained, elite warriors known as the HwaRang who were prolific with weapons as well as an unarmed combat system called SooBak.

They became taekwondo history legends because their whole lives were dedicated to protecting their realm. They were also taught spiritual matters and they were expected to live by an honou...

War Elephants

Posted by on Wednesday, August 22, 2012, In : Art

Title: The Battle of Zama

Date: c.1890

Artist: Henri-Paul Motte (1846–1922)

Infomation: The war elephants of Hannibal’s Carthaginian army fighting
against the Roman infantry at the Battle of Zama in 202 BC
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Yim Wing Chun

Posted by on Thursday, August 16, 2012, In : Art

Title: Yim Wing Chun

Date: Unknown

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: Yim Wing Chun training on a wooden dummy

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Muay Thai Boxing Legends - The Tiger King

Posted by on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, In : Art

King Prachao Sua, A.K.A The Tiger King (1662 – 1709) loved Muay Thai so much that he would often sneak off in disguise and enter tournaments. He is remembered for his bravery in the ring and fought many notable fighters from nearby villages who, had they known who he really was, would have never have fought him. The Tiger King helped popularize Thai Boxing amongst his subjects and formally made it a part of the army’s training. He influenced the fighting styles, equipment and the martial ...
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Ainu Hunters

Posted by on Sunday, August 12, 2012, In : Art

Title: Ainu Hunters

Date: 19th Century

Artist: Unknown

Infomation: The clothes, weapons and characteristic thick beards
of the Ainu went largely unchanged for much of the history of Japan.
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The Dance of War

Posted by on Monday, July 30, 2012, In : Art

Title: Capoeira or the Dance of War

Date: c1823

Artist: Johann Moritz Rugendas (1802 - 1858)

Capoeira Home
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Prince Yamato

Posted by on Sunday, July 29, 2012, In : Art

Title: Yamato Takeru Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892)

Date: 1886

Infomation:This is a woodblock print on paper of Prince Yamato Takeru dressed as a maidservant, preparing to kill the Kumaso leaders. Yamato is held up as an ideal samurai and as an example for others who followed him.

Samurai History
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Musashi vs. Bokuden

Posted by on Saturday, July 28, 2012, In : Art

Title: Musashi vs. Bokuden

Date: Between 1868 – 1892

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Information: This woodblock print depicts a fictional fight or training session between legendary samurai warriors Tsukahara Bokuden (1489 - 1571) and Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645)

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