Mexico’s Killing Fields
Did aztec warriors train martial arts? If so, what was/were they called?
"Calpolli
The calpolli (from Nahuatl calpōlli meaning "big house") was a political unit composed of several interrelated family groups. The exact nature of the calpolli is not completely understood and it has been variously described as a kind of clan, a town, a ward, a parish or an agriculture based cooperative.[7]. In Nahuatl another word for calpolli was tlaxilacalli - "a partition of houses"."
The calpolli was centered around the local chief (calpōleh), to whom its members were normally related and he provided the calpolli members with lands for cultivation (calpōllālli) or with access to non-agricultural occupations in exchange for tribute and loyalty. [8]
The calpolli also ran a temple where the adoration of the deity of the calpolli was performed and a school called the Telpochcalli where young men were trained, mostly in martial arts. In some Aztec citystates calpollis were specialised in a trade, which was practiced by all of its members, and these calpollis functioned something like a medieval trade guild. This was the case in Otompan[9] and in Texcoco and Tlatelolco.[10] Other calpollis were composed of immigrant groups from other areas of Mesoamerica who settled together in a tightly knit community when they arrived in their new home city - for example there is evidence that Tenochtitlan had calpollis composed of Otomis, Mixtecs and Tlapanecs.[11]
It is not known if the Aztecs had some martial art of their own that warriors practiced, but it is certain that they trained extensively in the military arts. Their military style was less ritualized than their neighbors and this business-like approach to warfare allowed them to conquer other tribes easily.
Military matters are described as "martial arts" but in this context did not mean unarmed combat as it does today, but general military training.
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February 4th, 2010
Posted by admin in texcoco |
It is not known if the Aztecs had some martial art of their own that warriors practiced, but it is certain that they trained extensively in the military arts. Their military style was less ritualized than their neighbors and this business-like approach to warfare allowed them to conquer other tribes easily.
Military matters are described as "martial arts" but in this context did not mean unarmed combat as it does today, but general military training.
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