Tebillant

Tafekka Tebillant (Tamashek: ⵜⴰⴼⴻⴾⴾⴰ ⵜⴻⴱⵉⵍⵍⴰⵏⵜ, "Body Fighting") or simply Tebillant, also known as Charnean Boxing is the collective term for a family of indigenous martial arts native to Charnea. There are dozens of styles (Elwy Selmed) and many corresponding schools (Tamikrest) which may focus on weapons, striking, grappling, take-downs, throws or any combination thereof, and may vary between stand-up and ground fighting. Tebillant is generally recognized to be of Tamashek origin but has diversified significantly through its adoption by other groups since its ancient beginnings and branched out in many local variants and styles and is now practiced across Charnea by peoples of various ethnic origins as well as internationally around the world. Many styles of Tebillant are practiced as combat sports which are broadly popular in Charnea and are considered the national pastime. Professional Tebillant is governed by the Elchakem Tebillant league which is sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Charnea. Tebillant has also been used for fitness, military training and for meditation or spiritual purposes and has a variety of ancient and modern Charnean philosophies attached to its practice, varying from school to school. A practitioner of Tebillant is called an Analmad (plural: Inalmadan) meaning "Student".

Etymology

The Tamashek term Tafekka Tebillant emphasizes the use of the whole body, as many variant styles may focus on or exclusively use the arms, legs or feet or use different combinations of techniques and forms, therefore the general practice of Tebillant utilizes the entire body including metaphorical extensions of the body in the form of traditional weapons. Styles of Tebillant that use exclusively the hands or the feet (Aral Tebillant and Ader Tebillant respectively) are usually referred to by their specific names so as not to imply the use of other parts of the body forbidden to be used in those specific styles.

History

Origins

The legendary origins of Tebillant fighting are often traced back to the deified Kaharna, as it is often taught in Kaharnist schools of Tebillant that the art was first taught by the ancient Amazigh queen to her first daughter, Anaksu, as a means of defending herself against overly aggressive suitors. Over the course of its development among the classical Tamashek, Tebillant was generally divided into armed and unarmed styles as only nobles of the tribe could carry any form of weapon besides a knife, spear or bow, which were considered tools for hunting and herding. Therefore, commonly practiced Tebillant amongst the tribes were generally unarmed or integrating only the use of knives and simple clubs into their techniques. In later times, the noble monopoly on weaponry would be relaxed and the wide variety of rare and exclusive weapon-based styles that had been practiced by the warrior nobility became integrated into the common schools of Tebillant and would soon be widespread across the peoples of the Zahra desert. Tebillant would later undergo an explosion of diversification and local evolution when its Tamashek practitioners came into contact with Djerma, Yerwa and Beri people. Warriors of these nations would fight against and besides the Tamashek in various conflicts around the early middle ages and beyond, and would often be exposed to the practice of Tebillant which was used as a training tool by the Empire of Charnea, and would subsequently develop their own styles through variation of the established techniques and integration of pre-existing local fighting styles with Tebillant. This process would give rise to the broadly diverse and regional family of martial arts styles that make up the modern practices of Tafekka Tebillant.

Tebillant Renaissance

During the reunification of Charnea in the early 19th century, Tebillant rose in prominence as part of several initiatives to consolidate and establish a united and coherent basis of culture across the multi-cultural confederation. As an article of shared culture which could be found across all of the previously warring nations that had since been added to the confederation, Tebillant schools would become sanctioned by various national and local governments and would rise in general popularity as a result. In particular, Tebillant would replace the previously practiced blood sport of the Empire of Charnea as a national sport in the confederation. In 1822, the Elchakem Tebillant was established and began holding regular competitions featuring fighters of all ethnic groups and religious affiliations within Charnea. Tebillant training was also implemented as part of the partial standardization of the fighting forces belonging to the early Inter-Charnean Army and is still used as part of the fitness and close quarters combat portions of ICA training in the modern day, where it has been incorporated alongside other martial arts and general self defense systems from around the world. This Tebillant renaissance is part of the wider Pan-Charnean cultural revival of the 19th century and solidified native martial arts as an integral part of Charnean cultural and artistic identity.

Styles

Solagh

Also known as "Triangle Style", Solagh is a pacifist form of Tebillant developed by the Kaharnist scholar Agag Amekadau as a union of his nonviolent principles with the practice of Tebillant not only for mediation but for self defense as well. Solagh emphasizes minimization of harm and focuses on overall soft techniques such as throws, joint locks and other grappling techniques, while avoiding the common striking techniques of other forms of Tebillant. It is called the Trinagle Style because of its three central principles, which are Focus, Breathing and Turning. Focus describes precise movements, especially knowledge of pressure points and joints, as well as the concept of oneness and presence in place. Breathing control is related to the flow of energy within the body, which is associated with the Kaharnist idea of the soul or Iman and spiritual energy which courses inside and outside of the body. Turning is central as the main movement of Solagh style which facilitates evading or redirecting attacks and the implementation of grabs and throws which allow opponents to be defeated or subdued without using aggressive strikes.

Alamom

Alamom, or "Running Wrestling", is a style of Tebillant integrating many musical elements and is commonly practiced for fitness and as a form of dance. It emphasizes swinging, rocking and rolling movements that require a practitioner to be in constant motion and never stand still. Cartwheels, flips and highly acrobatic striking techniques such as butterfly kicks are used in Alamom. This art became known as running wrestling because of its practice as a form of partner dance where two practitioners would hold one another in various grabbling grips while preforming the difficult maneuvers of Alamom, a practice originally used as a training method intended to force students to preform the already complicated maneuvers in tandem with another and while partially restrained by a grapple, which was believed to better synchronize the motions of an Alamom practitioner with a potential opponent or dance partner.

Etammed Aduten

The Etammed Aduten ("Eight Winds") style is one of the most common and popular styles of Tebillant as it is the primary variation practiced in professional Tebillant fighting, the national sport of Charnea. Its name derives from the eight parts of the body used in this style - the fists, the elbows, the knees and the shins - which are collectively referred to as the Eight Winds. Etammed Aduten is based on striking and clinching techniques which focus on knockouts, generally considered a form of kickboxing. The attritional nature of the Etammed Aduten style lends itself to longer, more theatrical fights and is generally compatible with professional fighting rulesets and a live spectator or TV broadcast format.

Ammat Imadlan

Ammat Imadlan, meaning "Dead Sands" in Tamashek, focuses on the practice of traditional weapon disciplines and is generally practiced as a preserved historical martial art and for ceremonial purposes. Armaments used in Ammat Imadlan include sabers, scimitars, single and double-edged straight-bladed swords, dual swords, daggers such as the traditional sheru and tellak, polearms, javelins and various types of blunt weapon including shields. Ammat Imadlan was once considered part of the "Noble Arts" and was considered a secret practice reserved only for the warrior aristocracy, but would later in Charnean history become widely taught as a standard fighting system to all warriors of the Empire of Charnea which would ingrain its practice across the many nations of Charnea and remain utilized as the standard martial style until the advent of gunpowder weapons. Today, Ammat Imadlan sparring is practiced in professional Tebillant and is taught primarily as a part of Charnean cultural heritage and history rather than for practical self defense or spiritual purposes.

Emetreg Tueddi

The "Broken Chain" style is commonly practiced among its originators within the Ikelan, a Tamashek speaking nation within the Charnean Confederation. It was created during the 18th century slave rebellions wherein the Ikelan slaves used this style of Tebillant to train and militarize their communities to do battle and repel attempts to recapture or otherwise subjugate them. As a consequence of its history, Broken Chain emphasizes an individualist philosophy and self reliance practices through its study. Initially focusing on unarmed techniques favorable to enslaved laborers, it would eventually incorporate many weapon techniques as it was gradually adopted as a broadly martial style of Tebillant. It is still used by the defense forces of Charnean Ikelan communities and by some corresponding elements of the ICA, and is often taught as a common style for civilian self defense as it is considered a relatively simple and well balanced interpretation of the often complicated and esoteric arts of Tebillant. Modern Broken Chain features a broad array of simple and practical unarmed techniques, as well as armed techniques using weapons that could reasonably be carried on one's person and in public.