Which Martial Art Is FOR ME PERSONALLY?Posted by Hammer Graves on May 30th, 2021 hose folks old enough will remember trying to find a style club was almost impossible. Many clubs been trained in backstreet gyms and halls, were often just a small group of friends. If you knew someone training already, it was easy to get in, in the event that you didn't, well, it had been virtually impossible. Fast forward to the early 70's. It was at this time that the 'Bruce Lee Phenomenon' hit the West. Enter The Dragon, a significant Hollywood backed film, hit the silver screens. It had been explosive, here was a guy who could do almost magical things, at blistering speeds, and so, as a direct result of that film, so was born the modern age of martial arts in the West. Clubs began to sprout everywhere, people flocked to learn so they could be like Bruce Lee! The truth of this was somewhat harsher! Soon, may realised that to attain even a fraction of Lee's ability required years of painstaking practise! The first martial art to really explode as a result of Lee's film was Karate. With schools already well established in the united kingdom, they capitalised on the phenomenon by appearing out of the back streets and in to the school and church halls etc. Adverts sprang up, and suddenly, you could find a club to train at! Karate is perhaps one of the well known of all the martial arts, with a rich history and tradition spanning centuries. Therefore Karate clubs started to boom, along with other martial art styles, which begun to gain interest from a Western culture suddenly smitten with the lure of Eastern mysticism and legends. Inevitably, this boom faded, people left because it was too hard, that to obtain anywhere was a lifelong commitment, not something achieved in just a matter of weeks or months, but years of hard graft. Therefore, clubs lost members, however, not to the extreme levels they disappeared back to the dingy training halls of earlier years. Many thrived with a reliable upsurge in students, losing others on the way, but retaining sufficient to keep going. Then, much like the Bruce Lee films, along came another Hollywood Blockbuster that has been to push martial arts back into the general public domain...Karate Kid. The film was simple, a young lad being picked on by a band of Karate school bullies, boy results in a Japanese janitor, who just is undoubtedly a master in Karate....Mr Myagi. It had been a wonderfully simplistic film, where, I am certain most of us remember, the young lad, 'Daniel san' was taught the rudimentaries of Karate through washing an automobile! 'Wax on, wax off'.....marvelously clever analogy, from which he learnt everything he needed to do Karate! Of course, it isn't that easy in reality, but here we'd a film, which spawned 2 sequels, that suddenly showed that training was not only hard work, but could possibly be fun as well! And, what this film did that no other film before it had done, it attracted Children to the fighting techinques! It was a classic catalyst in the meteoric rise of fighting techinques clubs around the world, with parents rushing to sign up their kids to learn about this wonderful way of caring for yourself, of learning respect and discipline, and making their children better people for if they finally enter the world as Adults. Karate was the main benefactor of the boom, obviously I guess given the film's title, but the knock on effects were felt right across the various martial art styles. Popularity rose through more films, with stars such as for example Jackie Chan, who, with his unique mixture of undoubted skills and comedy, made Chinese fighting techinques seem fun to learn. And so there we have it, a very brief history of the rise in popularity...But! Here we are in 2008, and despite all the publicity, are you aware which style is which? I hope the following offers you some guidance: Karate - Probably one probably the most recognised. There are various styles, which I won't elaborate too much on here, suffice to state that each does have it's differences, but each also has a lot of the same characteristics, namely a focus on traditional etiquette, discipline and hard work. Karate (meaning Empty Hand) is an extremely traditional martial art, where you'll certainly learn respect for others. The main styles are Shotokan, Wado Ryu, Goju Ryu, and Shitu Ryu, though there are a great many more. Karate has also become just about the most 'bastardised' styles. There are a large number of schools and organisations whose Chief Instructors have studied lots of the styles, and also have combined this knowledge to build up their own systems. These Organisations are suffering from their very own curriculums and grading syllabus. Essentially they're still Karate, and, with the proper club or organisation, become familiar with a good deal about yourself. Taekwondo (or Tae Kwon Do) - This can be a Korean martial art, thousands of years old, but only really becoming popular in the past 20 or 30 years. The present day concept of Taekwondo was developed by General Choi in Korea during the 1950's. Today, there are two styles, ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) and WTF (World Taekwondo Federation). Both teach the same basic ideals. Taekwondo (meaning the way of hand and foot) is, predominantly, a martial art based around kicking techniques. Very spectacular and effective techniques, but those learning Taekwondo may also learn valuable hand techniques, and self-defense. ITF Taekwondo is much nearer to the original idea of General Choi. The WTF style has developed more into a Sport, and is, actually, a recognised Olympic Sport. ITF sparring is semi contact, whereas, if you fancy your chances, the WTF style concentrates on full contact. Judo - Judo means 'The Gentle Way'. It is a very modern art, and, actually, is not really a style, but an activity. Judo is, however, a very effective self-defense art, teaching you how to put locks and holds on an opponent, and how to throw. You can find no kicks or punches in Judo. A well established Olympic sport, it offers an alternative solution to more traditional 'combat' style fighting techinques. Kung Fu - A Chinese style. There are hundreds of styles available, the most famous today being Wing Chun. Bruce Lee was a famous exponent of Kung Fu, but he also studied a lot of it's various styles and developed his own Jeet Kune DO (JKD), a way of fighting that used real life street situations to develop an effective approach to attack and defense. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - This can be the fastest growing martial art style nowadays. Japanese Judo and Ju Jitsu masters exported their fighting techinques to Brazil round the 1940's and 50's, where it quickly gained popularity. A Brazilian family, the Gracies, took this knowledge and developed it into one of the most effective ground fighting systems known today. Although much like Judo and Ju Jitsu, the Brazilian art concentrates a lot more on getting your opponent into a submission by locks, holds and chokes. It is, to many, a more realistic method for the street, where rules do not exist. karate on zoom MMA - Not just a martial art therefore. MMA means 'Mixed Martial Arts'. It's origins are again Brazil, where it really is known as Vale Tudo. Today, MMA, or perhaps you'll know it better as 'cage fighting' is a huge sport, dominated by the UFC, Pride and Cage Rage. It has, for most, become an alternative solution to boxing. MMA is really a 'no holds barred' sport, whereby opponents can punch, kick, elbow, knee and wrestle one another into submission, or, get a knockout. Very explosive, and definitely not for the faint hearted! Those in MMA will have also trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, along with Karate, Taekwondo or other style style, hence the word Mixed Martial Arts. Kickboxing - Probably the second largest participant club sport on earth. Developed by the Americans instead of Boxing, Kickboxing is, because the name suggests, a Boxing sport, but you are also allowed to kick. Training is hard but rewarding. Along with traditional boxing techniques (jabs, hooks, crosses, ducking and weaving etc), you will also learn a variety of kicks, most of which are based on Taekwondo in style. Actually, many Taekwondo clubs will also run their own Kickboxing clubs, as the two styles compliment one another extremely well. Choi Kwang Do - Another Korean art, this concentrates mostly on the practical side of 'what works in reality'. Kicks, generally, are not above the waist, and you will learn a number of hand techniques, all designed to work 'on the street'. Tai Chi - Another Chinese art. Often thought of as an 'old people's' style. Whilst it really lends itself well to the older generation, in my personal opinion, it should not be overlooked. It teaches meditation and relaxation, but also it teaches you to target your inner energy, or Chi, very effectively. In some ways, it is sad that, due to the modern age, there are also some excellent, but increasingly forgotten fighting techinques worth investigating. Aikido and Hapkido (Japanese and Korean respectively) have grown to be victims of the increase in popularity of the more explosive martial arts. These are predominantly self defense systems, but incredibly effective. In the event that you aren't sure, watch a few of Steve Segal's early films. Segal is a world recognised master of Aikido, it is one of the single most reliable martial arts for self-defense, but, sadly, it receives little publicity nowadays. It's principles are the teaching of making use of your opponents own momentum for your own gain, it also teaches pressure points and restraints. Even if you study one of the most popular styles, Aikido or Hapkido are worth considering as another martial art. Today, choosing which style you want to do is in fact much easier than you think. A great many clubs will offer you a first lesson free, so benefit from that fact, and go and try as many as you can. In this manner, you can find out which suits you best. I will give a couple of words of caution!! 1. Do not be tempted to join up to a membership or any payment anticipate your first lesson, and even in the first 3 or 4 4 lessons. Make sure it is right for you first! 2. Avoid buying any uniform for exactly the same period. Otherwise, in the event that you decide it's not for you, you will have wasted your cash. 3. Go along and watch several classes first, before actually trying. Most clubs enables you to watch. You will get a different perspective on the class teachings in this manner. 4. Talk to other members, or even the Instructors. Nobody will actually asking questions. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of clubs are not thinking about just taking your money and then see you leave. They need you longterm, because they genuinely want to educate you on and see you develop. There are, unfortunately, plenty of organisations out there who'll happily take your cash. The 'McDojo' because they are derogatorily described by our American friends are out there, waiting for the unsuspecting student or parent. These will attempt the hard sell, some even go cold canvassing onto the streets! Avoid being easily tempted by promises of a Black Belt in a couple weeks or months, it simply doesn't happen this way. So, how long will it take to get a Black Belt? Well, on average, you should allow a minimum of 3 years, which is based upon many hard work, and regular weekly training, at least twice weekly! And remember also, a Black Belt will not mean you are an expert! On the contrary, getting your Black Belt is merely comparable to completing your apprenticeship of learning...Once you get your Black Belt, the true learning starts, it is your doorway to an abundance of knowledge and experience that awaits you on the other hand. Too many people look at attempting to grade every 3 months, that is fine. But, it is not how quick you obtain your Black Belt that counts, it really is EARNING your Black Belt that will make it most satisfying. Learning to defend yourself, among others, is only one aspect of Martial Arts, but Martial Arts isn't about learning violence. It really is, and remains, the most effective methods of fitness in the World. It will teach you confidence, respect, both for yourself and others, become familiar with discipline and above all, become familiar with how to become a respected and well rounded individual.Like it? Share it! More by this author |