Alot of people ask what style is right for me. The biggest question anyone needs to ask themselves is whats available to me. If you have a few different styles available, you can go onto the next step which is choosing a style.'
I apologize to the other martial artists out there who practice other styles than karate. I practice karate, i'm more knowledgeable about it. Please, if anyone has anything to add about history of the others, feel free to do so.
Karate
There are many different systems in this style. If the name ends in ryu, its karate. Shorin Ryu, Wado Ryu, s.hito Ryu are examples of the ryu styles. There are a few exceptions to the "ryu" rule, namely Shotokan and Kenpo or Kempo. Karate is mainly a striking art, although you may see joint locks or holds in some of it. Pure karate is blocking and kicking, most techniques that look like holds or locks are normally limb destruction techniques.
Karate developed in Okinawa and was brought to Japan in the 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi, who is referred to in some circles as the father of modern karate-do. Funakoshi's teacher was Master Itosu, who is the founder of the Shorin ryu style. There are a lot of similarities between Okinawan karate and Japanese karate. They use the same katas, or forms, and alot of the techniques are similar.
-Caution, a lot of karate dojos teach sport karate that could get you hurt in a real conflict situation.-
Tae Kwon Do
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art that focuses on kicking. High energy, high altitude kicks can dominate this art, although not necessarily all the time. If you see a martial artist kicking for someones head, theres a good chance they are a practicioner of Tae Kwon Do. Taw Kwon Do has been glorified as a sport art, especially since it is a summer olympic event. Take caution when choosing a school for TKD if you want to learn to defend yourself.
Judo
Literally translating into the "gentle way", judo is a martial art which teaches its practicioners to use their opponents force against them using takedowns. Mostly a sport martial art also, judo does have some self defense value. It all depends on how its taught.
Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese style that concentrates on joint locks and controlling your opponent. A lot of karate schools that focus on self defense will incorporate some aikido in their lesson plans.
Ju-jitsu
Jujitsu is one of the more (for lack of a better term) "fad" martial arts now a days, sort of like karate was when The Karate Kid hit the movie screens back in the 80s. Now calling jujitsu a fad isn't an insult, but a lot of people are starting to practice it because of its popularity in cage fighting (Ultimate Fighting and its offshoots). The fact that jujitsu has become a fad martial art doesn't take anything away from its effectiveness. A skilled jujitsu student can be devastating. They get close, get their opponent to the ground, and break something, choke them out, and subdue them with leverage, body position, and strength. A student with a mix between jujitsu and a striking art is a very formidable opponent.
Kung-Fu
Kung-fu literally means "hard work". Its the general name given to Chinese martial arts. There are a few different systems, the only one I can think of is Wing Chun. Maybe Lei can help me out here because he seems to be well versed on Chinese martial arts. Bruce Lee practiced Kung-fu, and developed his fighting principals that he named Jeet Kun Do on kung-fu. Kung-fu is a striking art, but it flows more than karate. Karate is a linear or circular style depending on how its practiced, while kung-fu's techniques are as elegant as they are deadly.
Once you choose a style, you have to find a school. First off, determine why you want to practice martial arts. Do you want to compete in tournaments, or do you want to defend yourself?
Most people answer this question with "I wanna learn how to fight". While many people start with this attitude, it soon changes if they become serious about continuing. As you progress, you learn you dont have to fight.
If you want sport, the schools that teach that are easy to find. If you want quality instruction, ask these questions.
Do they spar, if they do, how do they spar?
If they spar for points or don't spar at all, just walk away. What good is fighting if you don't practice it.
Do they make you sign a contract?
Thats a good sign that they don't care about your education, they just want your money.
Do they promise you a black belt in 2 years or less?
Run away, this is a belt factory. Black belt grow on trees in these places, you want to earn it.
What I've done here is give a general idea on what styles are and how to pick a good school. I hope that the other martial artists here give some advice also.
I apologize to the other martial artists out there who practice other styles than karate. I practice karate, i'm more knowledgeable about it. Please, if anyone has anything to add about history of the others, feel free to do so.
Karate
There are many different systems in this style. If the name ends in ryu, its karate. Shorin Ryu, Wado Ryu, s.hito Ryu are examples of the ryu styles. There are a few exceptions to the "ryu" rule, namely Shotokan and Kenpo or Kempo. Karate is mainly a striking art, although you may see joint locks or holds in some of it. Pure karate is blocking and kicking, most techniques that look like holds or locks are normally limb destruction techniques.
Karate developed in Okinawa and was brought to Japan in the 1920s by Gichin Funakoshi, who is referred to in some circles as the father of modern karate-do. Funakoshi's teacher was Master Itosu, who is the founder of the Shorin ryu style. There are a lot of similarities between Okinawan karate and Japanese karate. They use the same katas, or forms, and alot of the techniques are similar.
-Caution, a lot of karate dojos teach sport karate that could get you hurt in a real conflict situation.-
Tae Kwon Do
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean martial art that focuses on kicking. High energy, high altitude kicks can dominate this art, although not necessarily all the time. If you see a martial artist kicking for someones head, theres a good chance they are a practicioner of Tae Kwon Do. Taw Kwon Do has been glorified as a sport art, especially since it is a summer olympic event. Take caution when choosing a school for TKD if you want to learn to defend yourself.
Judo
Literally translating into the "gentle way", judo is a martial art which teaches its practicioners to use their opponents force against them using takedowns. Mostly a sport martial art also, judo does have some self defense value. It all depends on how its taught.
Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese style that concentrates on joint locks and controlling your opponent. A lot of karate schools that focus on self defense will incorporate some aikido in their lesson plans.
Ju-jitsu
Jujitsu is one of the more (for lack of a better term) "fad" martial arts now a days, sort of like karate was when The Karate Kid hit the movie screens back in the 80s. Now calling jujitsu a fad isn't an insult, but a lot of people are starting to practice it because of its popularity in cage fighting (Ultimate Fighting and its offshoots). The fact that jujitsu has become a fad martial art doesn't take anything away from its effectiveness. A skilled jujitsu student can be devastating. They get close, get their opponent to the ground, and break something, choke them out, and subdue them with leverage, body position, and strength. A student with a mix between jujitsu and a striking art is a very formidable opponent.
Kung-Fu
Kung-fu literally means "hard work". Its the general name given to Chinese martial arts. There are a few different systems, the only one I can think of is Wing Chun. Maybe Lei can help me out here because he seems to be well versed on Chinese martial arts. Bruce Lee practiced Kung-fu, and developed his fighting principals that he named Jeet Kun Do on kung-fu. Kung-fu is a striking art, but it flows more than karate. Karate is a linear or circular style depending on how its practiced, while kung-fu's techniques are as elegant as they are deadly.
Once you choose a style, you have to find a school. First off, determine why you want to practice martial arts. Do you want to compete in tournaments, or do you want to defend yourself?
Most people answer this question with "I wanna learn how to fight". While many people start with this attitude, it soon changes if they become serious about continuing. As you progress, you learn you dont have to fight.
If you want sport, the schools that teach that are easy to find. If you want quality instruction, ask these questions.
Do they spar, if they do, how do they spar?
If they spar for points or don't spar at all, just walk away. What good is fighting if you don't practice it.
Do they make you sign a contract?
Thats a good sign that they don't care about your education, they just want your money.
Do they promise you a black belt in 2 years or less?
Run away, this is a belt factory. Black belt grow on trees in these places, you want to earn it.
What I've done here is give a general idea on what styles are and how to pick a good school. I hope that the other martial artists here give some advice also.
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