Selecting The Best Martial Arts Discipline

By Owen Jones


Martial Arts are more popular in the Developed world than ever before, but which one should you choose to study, if that is what you have resolved to do? There have always been masters of the traditional, ancient, martial arts have set up their own styles.

Aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are instances of this, but now it appears as if more sensei are trying to set up their own disciplines than ever. Look at Bruce Lee's own particular style and Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

This makes it even more difficult than ever to decide on which martial art to study or indeed, whether to train in the enormously well-liked sport of Mixed Martial Arts, which is really contested by fighters who have studied a number of martial arts.

There have been competitions to discover which is the best martial art for well over a hundred years but the panel of judges is still out. Some times one discipline wins and other times a different one does.

Maybe it relies on the ability of the fighter rather than the sport itself. Muhammad Ali with boxing won the championship known as Kings of the Square Ring in around 1980.

Maybe the first thing to do is enquire of yourself why you would like to learn a martial art in the first place. All fighting styles will teach self-defence, self-confidence and self-discipline and they will all allow you the chance never to get bullied in unarmed combat again whether it is in school, in a bar or on the street.

You ought to also scrutinize your self and your body sort. Some combative arts are extremely athletic. Look at the jumps and high kicks in Tae Kwon Do, while other styles are a little more laid back like Jiu Jitsu and Judo, because they teach you to utilize your opponent's momentum to win an advantage.

Karate and Kung Fu need fast reflexes. Bruce Lee could stand three feet from a person who had a coin on his open hand; raise his hand from his side, take the coin and replace it with a different one in 5/100 ths of a second.

Not everybody is going to be able to train long enough to do that, but I think that not all body kinds would allow it anyway.

It is a good idea to rent a couple of DVD's on the different fighting styles and attempt to work out what appeals to you personally. If you find that you like a number of of them, why not go down to a local dojo that instructs mixed martial arts?

The instructors there will be less prejudiced in favour of one skill and will have experience with diverse body sorts and temperaments.

Make certain you spend some time choosing a reputable gym or dojo to go to for advice. Most places will give you an interview and a free first lesson. If you explain your quandary, they are certain to be able to help you come to the right decision about choosing the best martial arts style for you.




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