| I'm often asked the question "Which is better, Karate | | | | to personal preference. |
| or Taekwondo?"; "Which is stronger, Judo or Kung | | | | Let me give you some concrete examples of what I |
| Fu?"; or more direct questions such as "Could you | | | | mean by this answer. Firstly consider a 250-pound |
| beat a Mixed Martial artist in a fight?" | | | | muscular, well proportioned man being pitted against |
| Thanks to the current popularity of the UFC | | | | a 150-pound toned guy of equal technical ability in a |
| (Ultimate Fighting Championship) we are seeing a | | | | wrestling match. There is no doubt in my mind that |
| showcase of different styles being pitted against one | | | | the bigger guy will win 9 times out of 10 because of |
| another. However my answer to all of these | | | | his sheer size and strength. There is a lot of skill |
| questions has to do with the many different paths | | | | involved in wrestling and that is why I said they have |
| that are available in the martial arts, and the one | | | | the same technical ability. But wrestling generally |
| common destination. | | | | favors the bigger fighter. |
| Before I elaborate on what that actually means let | | | | So let's put these same fighters in a Karate |
| me first give you a situation. You are standing | | | | tournament where the goal is not to pin your |
| outside your local shopping mall and you want to get | | | | opponent into submission but to score points through |
| home. How many ways could you do it? Well you | | | | quick, powerful and focused techniques. The small |
| would normally drive, either in your car or someone | | | | guy now doesn't have to worry about being |
| else's but you could also take the bus, ride a bike, | | | | smothered, he just has to worry about whether he |
| walk or even hitchhike. Which way is best? | | | | is fast enough to get in and out of the big man's |
| Of course most of you will tell me to drive. It's | | | | guard and score the point. The chances for each |
| quicker, you don't have to pay for a bus, you have | | | | fighter winning are a little more even in this match. |
| control of your trip and you don't have to use much | | | | Now let's make the small guy a ju-jitsu expert who |
| energy. But are any of the other methods any less | | | | understands wrist locks, arm locks and pressure |
| valid? You still reach your objective, and that is to | | | | points and let's make the big guy a lumbering yet |
| get home. Granted it takes longer but maybe you | | | | strong oaf. I would almost guarantee that the ju-jitsu |
| learn something along the way that could be valuable | | | | guy would win this fight in spite of the seeming size |
| for the rest of your life; or maybe you just have a | | | | disadvantage. |
| miserable journey and wish you had driven! | | | | I hope that you've understood what I'm trying to |
| Different martial arts are very similar to that. Some | | | | say in this brief article. The point I'm making is that |
| of them are like riding your bike. You get some | | | | the question of whether one art is better than |
| exercise without straining yourself too much, but it | | | | another does not depend on the art itself, but rather |
| takes a little bit longer than you wanted to get to | | | | on the person who is studying that art. If the art is |
| your destination, others are like walking the whole | | | | suited to the practitioner, then the martial artist will |
| way - it takes hours to get there but you see all | | | | ultimately become very skillful and very accomplished. |
| kinds of sights on the way and learn a lot. However, | | | | On the other hand, if the martial artist can't kick, yet |
| you have to decide whether the time it took was | | | | chooses Taekwondo as his style he will have a very |
| worth the effort. Then finally you have the quick | | | | hard time! |
| option to get in your car and drive in order to get | | | | So which martial art is the best? In the end it simply |
| there quickly. Some martial arts offer you this too | | | | depends on you and what your specific skills and |
| but you have to ask yourself if you were even | | | | talents are! It would probably be better to ask which |
| looking at and enjoying the sights along the way, | | | | martial art would suit you best, and how can you find |
| much less learning something. | | | | this information? I can help you here by offering to |
| So which is better, Karate or Taekwondo? Which is | | | | help you by offering the additional information in my |
| stronger, Judo or Kung Fu? I have an answer and | | | | FREE Report "Beginners Guide to Karate". You will |
| here it is! | | | | find out how to download it at |
| No one martial art is better than another, yet at the | | | | Good luck and best wishes on your journey in karate. |
| same time all martial arts have something that is | | | | I hope you take me up on this offer and save |
| better than the others, and ultimately the choice one | | | | yourself a lot of wasted time and effort in choosing |
| makes as to which martial art to study comes down | | | | the right martial art. |