Mik'abe

Mik’ab’e, (Mutli: "మిఖభె", “Path of the Empty Fist”), is a style of stand-up, Full contact karate, It is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training, taking both from Tsurushimese and Mutulese mentality. It’s focused on “pragmatic combat scenarios” to defeat an opponent as quickly as possible. It has mottos and hymns, two of the most famous being “Hun Ch’om, Hun K’i”, “One Hit, One Victory”, and it’s slightly altered form of “Hun Ch’om, Hun Kamay” “One Hit, One Death”, which are both use to differentiate various sub-styles in the martial art. A practioner of Mik'abe is called a Mik'ab Tz'oyom (మిఖ ఝొయొమొ) or "Empty Handed Fighter".

Etymology

“Mik’ab’e” is a direct translation of the Tsurushimese word of "Karate". While it was at first used only to refer to Kahei’s barehanded martial arts, during the 19th century and the opening of “Mik’ab’e” schools in the Mutul proper by Kahei masters of the art, it developed its own traditions and approach to fighting and battle, to the point it is now considered its own martial art.

Today, when speaking of the broader family of “Karate”, the Mutuleses speak of the “Te Family” of martial arts.

Practice

Mik'abe, like other martial arts, is understood in the Mutul as a set of physical but also spiritual and religious activities. It's training hall, the B'enal (భెనల) are recognized by law in the Divine Kingdom to be religious places. Any place can become a B'enal if it has been properly sanctified and Mik'ab masters are considered to be first and foremost religious teachers.

Like Karate, training is commonly divided into three parts: the Fundamentals, the Forms, and Sparring.

Fundamentals

The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of every Mik'ab'e schools' curriculum. Their mastery is considered essential to all advanced techniques and includes the practice of correct body form and breathing, as well as basic stances, punches, kicks, blocks, and thrusts. It's also during the practice of these Fundamentals that the Mik'ab Tz'oyom foster the correct spirit and attitude and enter the Martial White Path. Most Mik'ab'e masters will refuse to go further in a disciple's training if they consider he hasn't reached absolute mastery of the Fundamentals. Even so, their practice continue all thourough a Mik'ab Tz'oyom life, generally once per training session.

Forms

These are patterns or movements practiced alone or in pairs. They are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. These are not literal depiction of a mock fight but as a display of transition and flow from one posture and movement to another, teaching the student proper form and position, and encouraging them to visualise different scenarios for the use of each motion and technique. It is common for students testing to repeat every kata they have learned but at an improved level of quality.

To attain a formal rank as Disciple, an Initiate must demonstrate competent performance of specific required forms.

Sparring

Long derided, sparring has made its apparition in Mik'ab'e formations since the second half of the 20th century. It possess several variants, but the prefered method is through free sparring in armour, to allow for full power techniques. If the goal is only to train proper forms, no-armour no-contact is preferred. Either ways, bouts are generally stopped only by referee judgement, the referee being either the teacher or a more experienced Disciple. Sparring is reserved only to recognized Disciples who've showed their mastery of the Fundamentals and the Forms, and taken their Blood Oath. Novices and Initiates are not allowed in the ritual spaces dedicated for sparring.

Conditioning

Mik'ab'e training was designed to develop ambidextrous physical strength, stamina, muscle coordination, speed, and posture using simple devices made out of wood or stones. Such devices include mallets, jars filled with sand, and weighted clothings.

Philosophy

Mik'ab Tz'oyom worship Chan Chinte’, the divinized aspect of Gisu Tominakoshi (Mutli name: Iso Tominakochi,ఇసఒ తొమినకొచి). He is said to be the author of a number of mantras recorded by his first disciples, who each became the founders of their own B'enal. Example include the statements of a Tz'oyom's goals: "Empty Hands and Clear Mind. To reach Perfect Conciousness is to turn Chaos into Void. Once there is only Emptyness, everything becomes visible."