It’s also important to note that there are as many interpretations of the martial arts styles as there are instructors.  Students also interpret the class differently than other students in the same class, so other people’s opinions are not always the best determiner of what style you should pursue.  While you are trying to find the martial art that’s right for you, it is helpful to also try a few classes to get a feel for the style, instructor and school.

KARATE

History

Karate can be translated as “empty hand” which means that it is a martial art performed without weapons.  While the history of Karate is somewhat vague, its ancient roots have been traced back to China in the 5th century B.C.  The more modern form of Karate began in Okinawa, Japan during the late 1700s.  There was a weapon ban in Okinawa at this time, so people had to come up with system of self defense that used empty hands – they combined aspects of Chinese martial arts with the Te traditional to Okinawa.  By the early 1900s it began spreading throughout Japan.  In 1964, the Federation of Karate Organizations was formed as a means to create some continuity for Karate world-wide. Even so, there are many different styles and variations of Karate today.

Techniques

Karate is a linear martial art.  It uses a wide variety of movements: kicks, punches, blocks, strikes, evasions and throws.  Training focuses on having a strong offense and puts equal importance on the three areas of the art: basics, sparring and forms.

Features

•    People who practice Karate use their hips to generate power.
•    Ranks, values and styles differ from organization to organization.
•    Karate, which can be hard and straight line, is very disciplined and some traditional schools might seem very harsh.

AIKIDO

History

Using the influences of the traditional art of Daito Ryo Aikijo-Jitsu, Japanese fencing, spear fighting and Omotokyo, Moriehie Usehiba developed the martial art of Aikido (“the peaceful art”).  He first used this name for it in 1942.  The basis of this art is to live in a spirit of protection instead of physical domination.  The art of Aikido is ruled by the International Aikido Federation in Tokyo, Japan.

Techniques

Aikido is a circular martial art.  Instead of winning a fight with physical domination, Aikido teaches its participants to control and redirect the negative energy.  This leads to a commitment to both peaceful resolutions of conflict as well as self-improvement through training.  People who practice Aikido learn to use throws and pins as well as how to immobilize their attackers. They don’t use punches and kicks, except as a distraction.  The basis of the art is to learn how to stay out of the line of attack and gain control of the attacker’s balance in order to stop the attacker.

Features

•    Aikido does use weapons: jo (a 4-5 foot long staff), Bokken (a wooden sword) and a Tanto (a wooden knife).
•    Aikido is a non-violent method of self-defense.
•    The quality of the belt ranks is strictly regulated.
•    Aikido lacks many of the kicks and strikes common to other martial arts.

JUDO

History

Dr. Jigro Kano developed Judo after he was enrolled at Tenjin Shinyo ryo School of Ju-Jitsu because he was frustrated with all of the student injuries.  Judo is a gentle martial art that helps its participants strive to perfect themselves and to be a value to society.  Judo, which means “the gentle way”, improves physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

Techniques

Judo uses throwing, grappling, pins, holds, locks and choking.  However, the training focuses on safety – participants need to work towards top conditioning and Judo is always practiced on mats.  Judo participants learn the art through a series of forms that consist of throwing and sparring – there are no strikes in competitive Judo.

Features

•    Judo has a strict set of rules and a clear instructional sequence.
•    Judo rules, training and ranks are fairly standardized throughout the world.
•    Judo helps develop complete body control, fine balance and fast reflexes.
•    Judo uses a lot of grappling, throws, grabbing and ground work. Because of this, it often reminds people of wrestling.

TAEKWONDO

History

While the beginnings of Taekwondo can be traced as far back as 30 B.C., modern Taekwondo began after Korea was liberated in 1945.  Koreans wanted to eradicate all Japanese influence on martial arts, so they began connecting the Korean martial arts schools and styles to create a national sport.  The name Taekwondo (“the way of the hand and foot”) was chosen in 1965.  1973 marks the beginning of the World Taekwondo Federation.  It became a part of the Olympics in 2000.

Techniques

Taekwondo consists of four disciplines including patterns, sparring, self-defense and a break test.  Taekwondo is primarily a kicking art and there is a large emphasis on sport.  People who train Taekwondo need to combine philosophy, mental and physical discipline and ability to their training.

Features

•    Taekwondo is recognizable by its high kicks.
•    Taekwondo black belts exams require a break test.
•    Taekwondo training can include the use of vital points to attack an enemy.
•    Taekwondo schools are often kid- and sport- oriented.
•    Taekwondo students often are expected to compete in many tournaments.

T’AI CHI

History

The development of T’ai Chi (translated as “the supreme ultimate”) is credited to Chang San-feng, but Wang Chung-yueh and Chiang Fa elaborated on the original art.  They took San-feng’s 13 postures and devised continuous sequences that linked them together.  T’ai Chi used to be a greatly defensive art – even deadly.  So much so, that the families who knew it guarded it fiercely.  Now, T’ai Chi is less violent and is used to get rid of more figurative enemies such as stress and fatigue.

Techniques

People who practice T’ai Chi may use weapons, but the underlying theory is that the art is used to unify the mind, body and spirit.  It is often now used to guide negative energy away from oneself.  There are two ways to practice T’ai Chi.  The long form can take 30 minutes or more while the short form can take less than 10 minutes.  The forms focus on continuous movement that leads to relaxation and solid stances.  In T’ai Chi, each arm is used to protect half of the body and the hands never reach past the toes.  T’ai Chi can be done alone (forms) or with a partner (self-defense training).

Features

•    T’ai Chi teaches awareness of balance and what affects it in oneself and in others.
•    T’ai Chi has five major styles, but there are always new ones developing.
•    The basis of T’ai Chi’s self defense is to meet force and stick with it until can be redirected instead of resisting it.
•    T’ai Chi focuses on slow movements, so people who like vigorous exercise often find this martial art to be boring and slow.

KUNG FU

History

Kung Fu (translated as “skill and effort”) actually refers to over 200 styles of martial arts (most of which stem from Chinese martial arts).  Kung fu can be traced back to the shoalin temples where the monks used it for health and spiritual developments as well as a method of self defense.  During the early 1900s, Kung Fu, also called Wu Shu, spread throughout China when fighting arts became very popular.  In the 1960s and ‘70s Kung Fu’s popularity grew due to the Bruce Lee movies.

Techniques

Kung Fu is central to the Chinese culture and is used both for physical wellness and artistic expressions.   Within the many different styles of Kung Fu, there are variations from hard and linear to soft and circular in technique.  Some use weapons (including the common sword, saber, spear and cudgel) and others do not.  The seemingly common thread through them all, however, is to teach the students to respect the teacher and other Kung Fu styles.  Kung Fu also requires (as well as builds) mental strength in addition to physical strength to be successfully practiced.  Kung Fu students also often practice some techniques individually and others with groups.  In many schools, beginning training starts with what is called the Southern Fist style.  It involves footwork, kicks and hand combat techniques.

Features

•    Kung Fu refers to the hundreds of different styles of martial arts in China.
•    People who practice Kung Fu learn many different fighting techniques including fist fighting, weapon fighting, routines and combats.
•    Many Kung Fu styles use similar principals such as, proper diet, and breathing, concentration and meditation exercises.
•    Some Kung Fu styles use weapons while others do not.
•    Kung Fu training improves physical conditioning through strengthening of the joints and increases speed and reactions.
•    Kung Fu’s major difference over other martial arts is that it not only focuses on outer, physical power, but also involves training the mind and inner power through breathing exercises and meditation.

The discussion of which martial art style to take is too extensive for this article.  So what I will say here is that there are differences in the various styles of martial arts which may result in some being more suitable for certain individuals compared to others.  Do some research on the different styles and do visit the classes of different studios that teach different martial arts if possible.  But more important is each individual school’s approach to teaching their martial arts.  Many martial arts schools teach only techniques and forms (set routines) that are specific to a traditional style.  These schools follow the ways that the original founders of each martial art style developed and they have continued with minimal variance over the years.  Other studios like to borrow techniques from a variety of martial art disciplines and integrate a mix into their programs.  Some schools are non-traditional and adopt a more open free style system which incorporates traditional martial art techniques with gymnastics and open choreography of forms.  There are many clubs that do both traditional and open styles.  Each school will claim that their martial art style and method of teaching is superior to others.  Prospective students must not take these claims too seriously and choose an approach that would be best suited for them on an individual basis.

Many advertisements for martial arts schools push the backgrounds of their higher ranking instructors as a way to attract students.  It is important to realize that the more degrees (or dans) a particular black belt has don’t always mean that the individual is a better instructor.  This is the same with instructors who have very successful competition records.  There is no correlation to the number of world championship titles won with how good an instructor is.  The term ’master’ should also be taken with caution.  A master doesn’t always make an excellent instructor.  The teaching style of different instructors can vary.  Some use the old Asian masters’ approach where discipline is strictly enforced much like in the military.  While general discipline is actually a good attribute to learn from martial arts training, some of the old ways of teaching, particularly reprimanding students vocally or physically for incorrect techniques may be considered a bit harsh for  today’s society.  This is why it is important to watch classes of prospective martial arts schools you are interested in. You want to see the teaching style of an instructor to determine if it’s a style that would be compatible with you or not.  Ask questions after instructors have finished teaching.  If you have the gut feeling that certain instructors will not be right for you, move on to find another club. Most legitimate schools will allow prospective students to witness or even try out a class for free before joining.

Related to teaching styles, some instructors emphasize safety more than others.  The use of protective equipment and certain rules while sparring are factors.  In addition to asking instructors, also ask other students about injury rates and their general feedback about the classes (ideally when they are outside of their schools).  Another point on the students is that some schools attract a certain type of student profile.  Observe the other students and decide whether these are people you would like to train with.

Some schools are very much into competition with active encouragement of students to participate in tournaments.  In fact, some schools even make this a requirement in order to advance through the different levels.  Other schools have been known to restrict competition only within a particular circuit.  For example, many tae know do clubs only participate in tournaments that are strictly Olympic style tae kwon do and never go to events that are open to all martial arts styles.  There are schools in the complete opposite end where they do not believe in competition at all and pretty well keep to themselves without any interaction with other martial arts clubs.  Many Chinese kung fu clubs do not compete and some styles of martial arts such as aikido do not offer any competitive outlet.  Many martial arts schools choose to have a relaxed position towards competition where they leave it up to individual students to choose whether they want to participate in tournaments or not.  Some schools have special competition teams where additional training is available for those students who wish to compete.  So as a prospective student, you should consider what involvement you would like in competition if any.  If you know that you never want to compete, you should not get locked into a school that requires tournament competition.  If you have a desire for competition, don’t join a studio that shuns competition.

Some martial arts schools teach in community centers, school gyms and even church basements.  Some have bare bones studios with outdated equipment.  Some schools have the latest martial arts and fitness equipment with sparkling clean change rooms and facilities.  All of these will factor into the membership fee of each school.  You have to determine what you are willing to pay for and what type of environment you will feel comfortable training in.

Many schools require annual contracts while some are on a month to month basis.  There could be initiation fees.  There could also be testing or grading fees for advancement.  All of these extra costs will add up.  Ask what happens if you have to freeze your membership due to extended illness or injury.

If one doesn’t really know whether martial arts is an activity for them in the long run, the option of taking short term courses such as those offered by community centers may be a viable alternative to making a full commitment to a dedicated martial arts club with its own studio space.  But do be aware that although martial arts can be very enjoyable from the first day you put on a karate uniform, it is a long term activity and one must have patience in order to benefit the most from martial arts.  Fortunately, there are many options in the form of different martial art styles and schools to choose from in the market today.  Just make sure that you do some preliminary research before committing to any particular club.