What is a Martial Art?
A Martial Art can be defined as a system of techniques, physical and mental
exercises developed as an effective means for self-defense and offense,
both unarmed and with the use of weapons.
The origin and history of Martial Arts is a controversial issue. We can
see signs of Martial Arts in Greek, Egyptian, African, Japanese, Chinese,
Thai, as well as other cultures. There is a clear trail leading from the
Southern China-regions up to Korea, Okinawa and Japan. The details before
that, and the exact details of that transfer, are greatly debated by historians
and Martial Artists.
How do I choose a style?
There are many major systems of the martial arts. Some styles favor grappling
others prefer to kick. Some use weapons and some focus on the martial sports
such as kickboxing.
The process of choosing a style is a process of elimination. It starts with
the vast universe of different styles and sub-styles that exist in the martial
arts. That universe is narrowed to the schools and styles you have access
to in your area. When you are comparing schools by style, it’s important
to understand that what style a school teaches is totally different than
how the school teaches that style.
The only style that really matters is the teaching style of the instructor.
You can have two schools that teach the same system but one connects and
motivates you much better than the other. His or her teaching style is the
style you are really choosing.
How can I motivate my child to continue?
Staying with a goal without quitting is an integral skill that has to
be instilled by the parent. This is the very foundation of goalsetting
and achievement. Quitting is the very foundation of under-performance
and failure. The world is full of great starters. Teach your child that
its the ability to set goals and see them through to their completion
that's most important. When you've been attending with the child and know
exactly what's been happening in class, you can help re-motivate the child
into getting to class by reminding them of how much they enjoy the last
class and that they can look forward to seeing their friends in class.
Why Should I Choose Martial Arts Training Over Other forms of Exercise?
When trying to get in shape, people are faced with choosing from hundreds
of class options, from step aerobics to water exercise classes. What makes
martial arts training better than a typical gym exercise class? Why should
someone interested in fitness look at training in martial arts?
Can I Train In Martial Arts If I Am Pregnant?
If you are currently pregnant, congratulations! If you are a martial artist,
you might be wondering what being pregnant means for your training. Don't
worry! Find out more about training in the martial arts while expecting
a child.
What is the best martial arts style?
A common question from beginning martial artists is "What is the
best style?". This short article is intended to get past all the
misinformation and explains what really is the "best martial arts
style".
CAN I DO IT WITH MY FAMILY?
Absolutely! Many students have found this to be the perfect family activity.
Both parent and child can attend their individual class and/or attend
class together when Family class is offered. This gives you the opportunity
to work directly with your child to create a special bonding experience.
What is a dojo?
Dojo is essentially a school. Do means way, jo means learn, so dojo means
the place where we go to learn the way. This is a Japanese word. The Korean
word is Dojang.
What are hard techniques?
Hard techniques are techniques that tend to meet force with stronger,
more efficient force. Such techniques include blocks and strikes (e.g.
punches and kicks). Hard techniques tend to be more linear. Small martial
artists can produce more force than the typical untrained large person
because their techniques are much more efficient.
What are soft techniques?
Soft techniques are techniques that tend to sidestep or redirect force.
Such techniques include parries, grappling techniques, joint locks, and
throws. These techniques tend to be more circular as they are taking the
force that comes towards the defender and redirecting it. Throws are considered
soft techniques because the defender does not actually strike the attacker
-- the ground does. However, it is often true that the ground can hit
you much harder than most people. An old saying goes, ``It's not the fall
that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end.''
What is a hard style and is a soft style? How are they different?
Hard styles are those collections of martial arts techniques which tend
to concentrate on the hard techniques. Examples of this are Karate, Tae
Kwon Do, Thai Kickboxing (Muay Thai), and Boxing. Soft styles are those
collections of martial arts techniques which tend to concentrate on the
soft techniques. Examples of this are Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Aiki Jujitsu,
and its derivatives (Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Hapkido). Of course, these
definitions are general. In fact, there is no martial art which is purely
comprised of only hard techniques or only soft techniques. Quite often
as the student progresses in a hard style, they will learn more soft techniques.
Likewise, as the student progresses in a soft style, they will learn more
hard techniques. (This is the general theory. In modern times, as most
of us need day jobs, martial artists often don't get to the fusion of
hard and soft techniques.)
What is Karate?
Karate is a hard style that was distilled in Okinawa from Chinese fighting
styles. Originally called ``te'', for hand, it was later called kara-te
for ``Chinese hand''. In later years, the Japanese modified this definition
to mean ``Empty hand''. As Okinawa was occupied by the Japanese at the
time of Karate's introduction to Okinawa, it was a primary self defense
style for the unarmed population. The Japanese in general sneered at the
art, preferring Judo. A challenge match between a young Japanese police
officer and Judo practitioner against the leading Okinawan Karate teacher
of the day, Chojun Miyagi (No -- not the guy from ``Karate Kid!'') lead
to the Japanese accepting Karate. The 75 year old Miyagi dropped his youthful
opponent with one punch to the solar plexus. The man who brought Karate
to the Japanese mainland was Gichin Funakoshi. He founded a version called
Shotokan which is widely practiced today.
What is Aiki Jujitsu?
Jujitsu (literally ``the gentle fighting art'') is an empty handed extension
of the sword fighting art of the Japanese Samuarai. The actual ancient
art is called Aiki Jujitsu. This involves joint locks, throws, strikes,
blocks, and chokes. Aiki Jujitsu went through some changes in the late
1800s and early 1900s. Jigoro Kano removed many of the dangerous techniques
to create Judo (``the gentle way''). This allowed students to practice
full speed against resisting opponents, but with far fewer injuries that
happened when Jujitsu was practiced at full speed. About the same time,
Morehei Uyeshiba took a different set of techniques out to create Aikido.
(A jitsu is a fighting style. A do is a way.) About the same time, a Korean
named Yong Suhl Choi combined Jujitsu techniques with the kicks and punches
so prevalent in Korean martial arts to create Hapkido. (Hapkido is the
Korean pronunciation of the Kanji that in Japanese is pronounced Aikido.)
What is Zen Budokai?
Zen Budokai is an integrated, multidisciplinary martial arts system created
by Duke Moore that integrates techniques from Judo, Aiki JuJitsu, several
systems of Karate (Shorin-ji, Shotokan, and Kyokushin primarily) and Aikido
with techniques from boxing and wrestling. Throwing, restraint, blocking,
and counter-striking methods are borrowed from each of these styles and
are integrated in the Zen Budokai system. The names are all over the map
-- many of them being in Japanese and many in English. Zen Budokai is
the self defense system that we learn in our dojo. The system name is
symbolic of things that Duke Moore considers important. Budokai is literally
``martial way society''.
What is Zen?
This is a tough question because if you ask it to 100 people who practice
Zen, you will probably get 100 different answers. Even asking the same
person twice will probably yield different answers. Roughly put, Zen can
be defined as the mental discipline that allows you to act freely when
you have to. Originally part of the Eastern philosophy this has been popularized
by martial artists and athletes in the Western world. The phrase, ``Just
do it,'' was not created by some advertising agency -- it was lifted from
a book on Zen. The study of martial arts is often associated with Zen
because the martial arts give you the mental discipline to act freely
when you have to in a self defense situation. It is the constant practice
that can make a martial artist's reactions to danger almost automatic.
This ability to act, without wasting time on a conscious thought process,
is the essence of Zen and what it is like to ``Just do it.''
What is the difference between how a black belt and a white belt does
a technique?
There is no instantaneous transformation from white belt to black belt.
Many of the techniques used at black belt levels are simply combinations
of techniques learned at white belt level. The differences are in how
well the technique is executed and in what combinations they are performed.
As you rise through the ranks you tend to get more efficient in your techniques.
The hips, legs, arms and torso all move much more in synchrony when executing
techniques. So the same techniques that might have a 70% chance of defeating
an attacker when executed by a Yellow Belt may have a 95% chance of success
for a Black Belt. Plus, the higher you go the more options you have for
responding to a given attack. Many of the throws at a new level are extensions
of throws at previous levels. At each new level (through second degree
black belt), new techniques are added at each level as well as new combinations
of old techniques.
Get the Secret Training Methods of Your Intrest
