What Martial Arts Style Should I Choose?

In order to get the most benefit from the martial arts, you need to choose the style that best fits your goals. Because there are so many great martial arts to choose from, finding the right one can be a daunting decision.

The first thing to consider when choosing a martial art is what you expect to gain from your time in class. Are you trying to learn self-defense, or are you joining a martial arts school for aerobic exercise purposes? If you are looking at the martial arts as a way to increase your fighting abilities, what type of strikes, throws, or defensive techniques do you want to learn? Let’s take a look at some of the more popular martial arts to help you get an idea of which style is best for you.

Taekwondo (Tae Kwon Do) is a Korean martial art that has been steadily increasing in popularity over the last 60 years. Traditional taekwondo was originally developed in the 1950’s by the South Korean military but another style has emerged in sport taekwondo. In most taekwondo schools, they teach aspects of both sport and traditional taekwondo. This fantastic martial art is best known for its incredible kicks, flashy weapons demonstrations, and intense sparring competitions. It tends to be one of the most popular styles to enroll your children in as well.

Karate was originally developed in Okinawa, Japan and is best known for its punches, kicks, chops, and joint locks. Over the years, many different styles of Karate have been developed in countries throughout the world. Some of the most popular styles of Karate include Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, and Kempo. This is a great martial art to study if you are looking to learn self-defense techniques and strong combat training.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial arts style that focuses primarily on grappling and ground fighting. This system of fighting has been around since the early 20th century, but didn’t become popular until the early 1990’s when BJJ expert Royce Gracie won the first Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC). Since then, Brazilian jiu-jitsu has become one of the most popular martial arts and many of its ground submission techniques have been incorporated into martial arts classes throughout the world.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art which focuses on redirecting your attackers force to use it against them. This style is very popular with individuals seeking a less aggressive martial art. In addition to its incredible joint locks and fluid throws, Aikido is known for its deep philosophies and spiritual influences.

Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art known for its unique animal styles, internal energy development, and amazing Chinese weapon techniques. Over the years, Kung Fu has gained an enormous following because of its presence on television and film. This is a great martial art to study if you are looking for solid self-defense techniques, spiritual and philosophical enlightenment, and cardiovascular fitness.

Judo is a Japanese martial art known for its powerful throws and grappling techniques. It is similar to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but gives much more emphasis to holds and takedowns. While strikes are part of Judo, they are rarely used in practice and never in competition. This is an excellent art to study, but can be intimidating to people who are uncomfortable being thrown to the ground.

Hopefully this brief glance into some of the martial arts has helped you with your decision. My best advice would be to visit a few schools in your area teaching different styles and watch some classes. Once you decide on a school, don’t be afraid to switch styles if your interests change down the road. Most martial artists learn numerous styles to gain as much knowledge as they can. If you ever have any questions about the martial arts, please feel free to contact our customer service team. We love the martial arts and really enjoy discussing them with our customers.