| All arts are not equal - each offers something | | | | into the training. |
| different. Before looking for a school, you must | | | | Tae Kwon Do: This is a Korean art. Similar to some |
| decide what it is you want for yourself. Is it for | | | | styles of Karate, it is based strikes with the hands |
| physical health and fitness? Self Defense? Mental or | | | | and feet (with an emphasis on kicks). This is another |
| spiritual growth? Just about every art offers at least | | | | art that has become part of the Olympic games, and |
| some of each aspect, but they generally all focus | | | | there are international regulating bodies. As long as |
| more one way or the other. | | | | the school is a member in good standing of the |
| Karate: Karate is a Japanese art, and within it are | | | | federation, you can be fairly sure you will get the |
| dozens of styles. It focuses on strikes with the | | | | proper instruction. Physical fitness and active sparring |
| hands and feet. Throws and take downs may be | | | | are important in this style, and it has a reputation for |
| included, but are generally secondary. The styles vary | | | | developing great flexibility. |
| in their level of contact, and so it is a good idea to | | | | Boxing / Kick Boxing / Muay Thai: Boxing is often |
| find out if the school has sparring classes, and to | | | | overlooked as a martial art, for some reason people |
| observe one. Many karate schools teach a variety of | | | | think that since it is "western" it doesn't qualify. Muay |
| self defense techniques, and most have strong | | | | Thai is a style from Thailand that adds elbow strikes, |
| components of tradition, discipline and physical fitness. | | | | knee strikes and kicks to the punches of western |
| Judo: Judo is a Japanese throwing art, and is one of | | | | boxing. Any of these styles gives a great physical |
| the few martial arts to be included in the Olympic | | | | workout, and fairly intense sparring is common |
| games. Schools teach throws and take downs, pins | | | | among advanced students. These styles, and |
| and submission holds. Although judo can be very | | | | especially Muay Thai have become more popular |
| effective in self defense, most schools don't focus | | | | since the rise of mixed martial arts competitions. |
| on this aspect. Judo uses a very well defined system | | | | Typically MMA competitors will practice one of these |
| of techniques, and is regulated though international | | | | styles in conjunction with Brazilian jiu jitsu or wrestling |
| bodies. Physical fitness, tradition and discipline are | | | | to give them the rounded skill set they need. Before |
| important in judo training. | | | | considering one of these styles, be sure to visit the |
| Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Aikio, Aiki-Jitsu, are all different, | | | | school several times and watch their classes. The |
| but they are bases on Japanese martial arts. Most of | | | | level of intensity varies dramatically from one school |
| these arts teach techniques that are very effective | | | | to another. Recently "cardio kick boxing" has become |
| (sometime even lethal) in self defense applications. | | | | popular. While this is a great work out for the entire |
| Because of the risks of injuries, it is rare that | | | | body, effective fighting techniques are not normally |
| students will spar with each other with high intensity | | | | taught in these sorts of schools. |
| or resistance. The techniques are a mix of joint locks, | | | | MMA: Mixed Martial Arts is a catch all to describe a |
| take downs and strikes. Most schools will emphasize | | | | group of techniques taught specifically for ultimate |
| the mental and spiritual aspects of the arts. Often | | | | style fighting competitions. Usually these will be a mix |
| the physical work out is less intense that in some | | | | of striking and ground fighting systems. It is |
| harder styles, but this varies from school to school. | | | | particularly hard to separate the good schools from |
| Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / Submission Wrestling: These styles | | | | the bad in this style, since there is no international |
| have been made extremely popular by the rise of | | | | federation, set curriculum or ranking system. These |
| the UFC and other mixed martial arts competitions. | | | | schools usually train their fighters for competition, so |
| Brazilian Jiu Jitsu differs from its Japanese counterpart | | | | the best advice is to see how their students are |
| in that techniques are generally practiced against a | | | | doing. These schools will give an extremely hard |
| fully resisting opponent, and most submission | | | | physical work out, with very little or no focus on |
| techniques are applied on the ground. Throws and | | | | metal/spiritual training, and no self defense training. |
| take downs from Judo and wrestling are used to | | | | Tai Chi: Another Chinese art, this often looks like |
| bring the opponent to the ground, where pins, joint | | | | some sort of slow motion martial art. There are 5 |
| locks and chokes can be applied. The main difference | | | | different main styles, and then dozens of other |
| between BJJ and submission wrestling is that the | | | | "mixed" styles as well. Tai Chi is often practiced for |
| practitioners of jiu jitsu are wearing a Gi (uniform) | | | | physical, mental, and spiritual health. Although it is |
| which the opponent may grip. Submission wrestling is | | | | based on fighting techniques, that is generally not the |
| usually practiced in shorts and a t shirt or rash guard, | | | | focus. |
| and grabbing the clothing is prohibited. Many schools | | | | In addition to there, there are hundreds of other |
| will teach both. There is often less emphasis put on | | | | styles, and variations. You may need to visit several |
| the traditional aspect, but the physical work out of | | | | different schools before finding the one that is right |
| very intense. There is a debate about the usefulness | | | | for you. Take advantages of free trials or short term |
| in self defense applications - while the techniques are | | | | memberships to find out if the style and school is |
| extremely effective, being on the ground is a | | | | right for you before signing up for the long term. |
| disadvantage in anything other than a 1 on 1 situation. | | | | Most schools will let you try a few classes first to |
| Kung Fu: This is the generic name given to a variety | | | | find out if you like it. Try to talk with the other |
| of Chinese martial arts. There is huge variation in the | | | | students, and get an idea of how their outlook is |
| schools and styles, and a tremendous amount of | | | | similar to or different than your own. |
| history behind them. Most styles focus on close | | | | Don't get drawn into too many internet discussion |
| range fighting, using short movements along direct | | | | forums - the topic of "which martial art is best" |
| paths, and using positioning and balance to negate | | | | appears on pretty much every bulletin board at least |
| the proponents attacks. If you are considering one | | | | once a week. Of course, most everyone thinks the |
| of these styles, it is helpful to get referrals from | | | | style they practice is best. Remember that what |
| others. Often it is possible to trace back the lineage | | | | matters is how you feel. Find something that makes |
| of the teachers. Most styles provide many | | | | you happy to go to the class each time, and don't |
| techniques for self defense, and often meditation | | | | worry about what anyone else thinks. |
| and other spiritual/mental features are incorporated | | | | |