Drumming: The Sound of the Warrior

Among all other musical instruments, the drum has held the most important role throughout the history of mankind.  Being the easiest and most basic form of musical instrumentation, percussion instruments have been a cornerstone in human culture since prehistoric times.  A percussion instrument can be any instrument which produces sound by being struck. This can be anything from a log and a stick or two rocks to rattles, chimes, bells and drums.

A drum, which is more specifically called a membranophone, usually consists of hollow portion with an animal skin or other membranous material stretched across the top.  Striking the taught animal skin produced a resonating sound when vibrated through the hallow portion.  The repetitive striking of the drum in a rhythmic pattern produces an almost hypnotic effect on the listener.  It is for this reason that shaman, medicine men, priests and monks have often used drumming to accompany spiritual or religious activities.

The tradition of drumming to aid in spiritual cultivation can be observed in the Religious Temples of China, Tibet, Korea and Japan as well as in many western Religious Traditions.  The use of drumming by Native American Tribes is well known. In these traditions drumming can be used for healing, meditation, blessings and warrior preparation.  It is interesting to note that beat induction, the ability to make sounds in reoccurring intervals as to create a rhythmic pattern, may be unique to humans.  No other animals are known to be able to make distinguishable rhythmic-beats.

The use of drums in military settings is also well known throughout history.  Most Americans imagining a battle from the Civil War and immediately bring to mind the rolling snap of the military snare drum as the troops march on.  The tradition of the War Drum, however, seems to be ancient. The Dundhubi or Indian War Drum is mentioned several times in the Rig Veda, one of India’s earliest religious writings.  It describes the Arya Army charging in to battle to the furious beating of the Dundhubi-War Drums.  Dating back to 1500 BCE or before, this is thought to be the first mention of War Drumming in written history.

This tradition of drumming is seen in both Chinese and Japanese military history in the form of the Tài Gǔ or Taiko drum.  Meaning Great Drum, Taiko drums are large, round, deep sounding drums that would keep the pace of marching troop, call out orders and announcements and increase the moral and energy level in the soldiers themselves.  It has been noted in Chinese military writings that drumming for the soldiers in battle increased the chances of victory. 

The Drum is connected to the Way of the Warrior, both throughout history and within the primitive regions of the human psyche.  The beating of the War-Drums invigorated the Warriors for battle, and so too can they charge the Martial Artist for practice.  It is for these reasons that I like to playing drumming music for my Kempo students.  Whereas it can be boring practicing repetitive routines in total silence and somewhat distracting to working out to pop or rock music, Chinese, Japanese and Native American Drumming music can help increase focus, spark Warrior Spirit and allow the students to maintain a Traditional Warrior or Bushi state of mind.