Martial arts have been used in the systematic oppression of people and of nations throughout history. But they’ve also been instrumental in the fight against such oppression — a defensive measure for people who had no other recourse.

Traditional Asian martial arts, such as kung fu, judo, karate, and tae kwon do, were all created as systems of self-defense for the oppressed and were all taught primarily as spiritual disciplines. Although these Asian martial arts dominated in the United States and Europe from the 1950s to the end of the twentieth century, ultra-aggressive combat fighting systems from other parts of the world have recently overpowered them, in and outside of the ring, divesting themselves of any spiritual elements and often aligning themselves with the most reactionary forces in society.

Not coincidentally, some of the most aggressive and repressive states today, such as Russia, Israel, Brazil, and the United States, are also the biggest promoters of combat fighting systems and mixed martial arts tournaments.