There's something beautiful in Southeast Asian martial arts and how it's mostly untainted by notions of "honor", "finesse", and strict specific requirements for weapons or form, traits medieval era trads and katana weebs all uphold in their ideal fighting style and code

SEA martial arts stay relevant in the practical realm - self-defense experts, SOF operators, etc - cos they are taught on the principles of lethality. When your life is in immediate danger & have no choice but to fight, only thing that matters is defending yourself, nothing else

This is a stark contrast from how trads romanticize fencing and HEMA because muh knights in armor dueling with swords. Or weebs pretending they're le epic anime MC so they often overrate the Japanese swordsman

There is a very pragmatic appeal to SEA martial arts- in Muay Thai you are being taught to use 8 limbs of your body, taking advantage of how sharp knees and elbows are. In Eskrima, you are imbued with a way to use pretty much anything as a weapon - can be a crude bolo, or a stick

There is also an aesthetic appeal to SEA martial arts - it is the perfect marriage of savagery and technique. There is no need for big fuck off bastard swords to show how primal these styles can be, but also no need for fucking around for a counter opportunity to show finesse

Oh you bet your ass SEA martial arts have been around for ages too. Eskrima/Kali for instance, has continually evolved from its earliest forms first seen by foreign colonizers in the 1500s, practiced by local villagers then and also now

Now let me go back to the pragmatic appeal - as proven by SOF units around the world, SEA martial arts work seamlessly with the kit of the modern warrior - carbine, sidearm, blade, bare hands. Take away the guns, what do you have? The same goal of neutralizing the threat QUICKLY

Even if I'm sheltered city boi who has never been into a fight, I cannot stress this point enough: real life fights are unpredictable and messy. Risk of being hurt is very high, so what's the best way to get out of the situation? Neutralize threat QUICKLY, don't fuck around

What is one of the guiding principles of most SEA styles of fighting? Don't let your opponent feel comfortable, get in his face be the first to strike.

What is the one point always emphasized by self-defense and SOF hand-to-hand combat? Neutralize threat QUICKLY

Do you see where I'm getting at, with why SEA martial arts are more than just a cultural touchstone? More than just tradition passed down from one generation to the next?

If you do, thank you for coming to my TED Talk on why swords are gay, machetes are cool, and guns are epic.

If you don't, it's alright. You're free to remain as the uncultured swine that you are right now.