Choosing the Right Martial Art for You

There are a lot of different factors that go into choosing the right martial art to learn. Factors in the decision can range from what is more readily applicable to what is more suitable for your body type. In this article we’re going to discuss some of these factors and how they relate to some of the more popular martial arts.

An interesting trend that you will see in martial arts is the type of movements associated with the height of the people. Let’s take for example Kung Fu in China. Kung Fu is a broad term meaning “time and energy” as they are what developing skill in the martial arts takes. If we look at northern styles of kung fu we tend to see a lot of kicking techniques. This is because the people there were generally taller than in the south. In the south we tend to see much more punching or emphasis in arm movements. It makes sense, a shorter person isn’t going to emphasis kicking techniques, especially if it’s against someone taller than him. We also see this same trend in Korea as well as Japan. So, if you are tall a style with an emphasis on kicking might be more suitable for you than punching. This may not be the case for you but it’s something to consider.

Another thing to consider in choosing a martial art is how long it takes to be able to use the techniques that you learn. Some more modern styles like Brazilian Jiu-jitsu you learn techniques such as chokes and locks that can be applied immediately for self-defense. Another style which is also readily applicable for self-defense is krav maga. This style is used by the Israeli defense forces and is taught to all of the members of the Israeli military. The moves are simple, direct, and effective.

Traditional Martial arts on the other hand can take a much longer time to gain proficiency at. Take Karate for example, on average it takes 6 years or more to get a black belt. Don’t get me wrong, It takes years and years to get a black belt in Brazilian Jujitsu and to complete the various levels of krav maga but the techniques can be applied much earlier. Another example of this could be Tai Chi Chuan. This style is often associated with exercise rather than fighting these days but the name actually means “grand ultimate fist” and was a highly regarded martial art. The problem with it being used for fighting is that the time that it takes to master the movements and to be able to apply them in a fighting context can potentially take decades. However, to develop the skill that tai chi chuan has to offer is certainly worth the effort (provided you are training under a qualified master of course). Other traditional styles such as Wing Chun kung fu are famous for taking less time to develop skill in but it is lacks the readily applicable effectiveness of Brazilian jujitsu or krav maga.

Another thing to take into consideration is how intense of a class you can handle. Some martial arts like Aikido are generally taught at a slower place and don’t involve too much cardiovascular activity. The same goes for some types of kung fu that have less of an emphasis on fighting or competition. On the other hand if you are looking for the intense workout and want to burn off the calories karate or kung fu classes with a lot of sparring might be for you. Also, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, mma, or anything with ground fighting will provide you with a very high level of physical intensity.

There are hundreds if not thousands of different martial arts in existence today. If you’re wondering where to start the best place might be your local phone book. Most classes offer free introductory classes or even free introductory weeks where you can try things out before you commit to any kind of contract. This is a really good opportunity to get the feel of the class and to find out if it’s the right fit for you. The important thing when choosing a martial art is that you at least make the effort to try one out too see if you’re going to like it rather than scouring the internet or magazines to find something that catches your eye. The best way of knowing something is finding out first hand.

Hope that I was able to give you a decent overview of some things to consider in starting martial arts. Be safe and train hard!