| Martial arts are now practiced throughout the world. | | | | emphasize self-improvement, whereas |
| About 100 million people participate in the martial arts | | | | non-traditionalists emphasize self-defense. When |
| as a means of self-defense, physical fitness, mental | | | | instructing their students, traditionalists focus on |
| tranquility, and competition. There are about 200 | | | | three priorities, in the following order: spiritual |
| distinct martial arts, and within each one are specific | | | | development, discipline, and aesthetic form. |
| schools called styles or systems. These styles | | | | Nontraditional instruction accents combat, discipline, |
| number in the thousands. | | | | and spiritual development. Both schools of thought |
| Despite the array of martial arts and styles, most of | | | | offer advantages to students, encouraging the |
| them share common techniques, and so they can be | | | | cultivation of such traits as self-confidence, which can |
| organized into broad categories that facilitate | | | | then be successfully carried over and applied to |
| understanding. The primary way of classifying martial | | | | everyday life. |
| arts is by the basic physical technique they use: | | | | Newer forms of martial arts such as Bazilian Jiu Jitsu |
| striking or grappling. | | | | (BJJ) and Muay Thai are also gaining tremendous |
| The striking technique, technically referred to as | | | | popularity for its health and lifestyle benefits. BJJ |
| percussive, uses blows with the hands, elbows, feet, | | | | promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person |
| knees, and head. Such popular martial arts as karate, | | | | can successfully defend himself against a bigger, |
| kung fu, and tae kwon do fall under this category. | | | | stronger assailant using leverage and proper |
| Grappling arts, on the other hand, primarily employ | | | | technique; most notably, by applying joint-locks and |
| throwing, locking, and wrestling techniques. These | | | | chokeholds to defeat the other person. Jiu Jitsu can |
| arts seek to neutralize aggressive action by gaining | | | | be trained for sport grappling tournaments (gi and |
| control over an adversary without necessarily striking | | | | no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or |
| the person. The most popular grappling arts are | | | | self-defense. |
| jujutsu, judo, and aikido. | | | | Martial sports like kickboxing are also very popular. |
| Judo (Japanese for 'gentle way') is an art of | | | | Kickboxing is the main martial arts spectator sport |
| self-defense developed from jujutsu in 1882 by | | | | because of its extensive international television |
| Japanese educator Kano Jigoro. Like jujutsu, judo is a | | | | coverage. The sport was first developed in Thailand |
| method of turning an opponent's force to one's own | | | | hundreds of years ago, but in the 1970s it was |
| advantage through grappling and throwing skills. | | | | adopted by Americans, who helped make it popular |
| Instead of directly opposing the opponent’s | | | | all over the world. Kickboxing techniques involve the |
| strength, the goal is to yield to him or her, which will | | | | hand techniques of Western boxing and the kicking |
| unbalance the opponent. This makes it easier to | | | | techniques of the Eastern martial arts. Contestants |
| complete a throw. | | | | wear gloves and footpads. |
| The martial arts can also be divided into those that | | | | Evolution Martial Arts, a studio that teaches men, |
| prohibit weapons and those that require them. In | | | | women, and kids of Tampa and Carrollwood focuses |
| judo, for example, competitors use only their bodies, | | | | on training Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to its students |
| but in many styles of kung fu, weapons represent an | | | | for self-defense and self-improvement. Their |
| essential part of the basic training. Common weapons | | | | school’s main disciples are Barzilan Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), |
| used in martial arts include swords, staffs, and spears | | | | Gracia Jiu Jitsu, karate, judo, kickboxing, and |
| made of wood or metal. Firearms are never used. | | | | wrestling. |
| Martial arts can also be divided by function and | | | | The studio also provides afterschool pick up |
| philosophy into traditional and nontraditional, according | | | | programs for kids, which means helping them finish |
| to the way they are taught. Traditional teachers | | | | homework and then train, straight from school. |