How To Choose Among Martial Arts

Author: Vikram Kumar

Author: Vikram Kumar

Martial arts are one of humankind's oldest types of sport. Thanks to the wonders of our global age, it's possible to choose among fighting styles that originate from every part of the world. That's why a martial arts guide can be extremely helpful to a beginner in deciding which style to pursue. Experts now estimate there are literally thousands of different styles of martial arts that have developed over centuries all around the world. Some of these styles are practiced solely in their countries of origin, while others have become world-famous, often because they've been highlighted in television and movies. When looking over a martial arts guide, there are some key questions to ask before choosing a sport. Why does a person choose a particular style of martial arts? Is it to learn ways to defend oneself in our increasingly hazardous world? Or are martial arts, particularly those backed by a strong philosophy, a way to gain insight into another culture? Perhaps a beginner is looking for a way to become part of a broader community while gaining physical prowess. Martial arts can be approached from any of these perspectives successfully. As a beginning to a martial arts guide, here are some of the world's more popular styles, along with their countries of origin. It's important to remember that there has been much interaction among practitioners of different martial arts styles, so often a martial art is a combination of methods that were chosen and selected by a sensei (teacher) to create a distinctive approach. Aikido, from Japan, teaches how to move with the force of an attack and redirect the attacker's power, rather that opposing it directly. Often is termed "the way of the open hand," Aikido frequently is taught to law enforcement officers so that they develop skills to subdue suspects without causing physical harm. JuJutsu, also from Japan, is another "soft" martial art sometimes described as "the way of yielding." Also spelled JuJitsu or JiuJitsu, this art was developed by the Japanese warrior class known as samurai. JuJutsu was intended to give samurai a way to defeat armed opponents when the samurai himself was unarmed. It concentrates on joint locks, pins and throws. Karate, another style developed in Japan, is known as "the striking art." This fighting style uses feet, hands and elbows to incapacitate an attacker. Many martial arts movies have incorporated karate so often that it has become almost a generic term for any of the striking martial arts. Kung Fu has become a generic term that refers to many different styles of martial arts that originated in China over many centuries. The late actor David Carradine made the term "Kung Fu" well known through his TV series of the same name. The style used in Carradine's program referred to a method taught by a sect known as the Shaolin. Carradine's kung fu often emphasized the use of "qi" or "ki" (pronounced "chi"), a Chinese word for life force or energy. Styles such as this are called "inner" styles because they stress a philosophy along with physical prowess. Other kung fu styles emphasize strength and cardiovascular fitness and are called "outer" styles. Both inner and outer styles include self-defense, physical and mental health and personal development. These are only a few of the thousands of styles that can be found in a good martial arts guide.About the Author:

Whether your goal is physical fitness or personal improvement, there are many Martial Arts from which to choose. Check out the worldwide Martial Arts Guide at InterMartialArts.

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