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5 Responses to “What are the benefits of doing martial arts?”

1. callsignfuzzy on June 19th, 2009 11:23 am

   There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different martial arts. How much it costs varies from school to school, but monthly fees can range from $25-$150. Most around the Atlanta area run about $100+. As for the benefits, almost all of them will improve your health, because you're adding a few hours of formalized exercise a week to your life. It does require a degree of focus, discipline, and patience in order to improve, so you can get that as well. In all the good classes that I've seen, one also practices respect with ones instructor, fellow students, and martial art. The self-defense factor may vary. The way most martial arts are taught in the West does not optimize their self-defense training. I'm a strong proponent of realistic training scenarios and full-contact sparring.

   The different kinds of martial arts can be broadly classified as focusing on either striking (punching and kicking) or grappling (throws, pins, choke holds, and joint locks). Most will have a bit of both, but one skill might be emphasized over another. For example, Taekwondo focuses primarily on striking, but may also have some basic throws and wrist locks in their curriculum, while most Jujitsu is grappling-based, but will often have some striking in order to set up the throws and locks. Some of the different kinds of martial arts include:

   Taekwondo- a Korean striking system, focusing on kicks.

   Karate- a family of Okinawan and Japanese systems that focus on strikes. They may be long-ranged or short-ranged. They include Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Isshin-Ryu, Wado-Ryu, and Kyokushin.

   American Kenpo- a rapid-fire striking system based on Chinese and Japanese martial arts, Westernized and emphasizing scientific principles.

   Japanese (Koryu) Kenpo- A Japanese interpretation of a Chinese martial art, usually based on striking. Many different schools.

   Tang Soo Do- a Korean martial art blending Japanese karate with some Chinese and native Korean martial arts. A striking system.

   Japanese (Classic) Jujitsu- a family of systems based on medeival Japanese martial arts. Usually the emphasis is grappling with some striking, and occational weapons work, although this varies from school to school. Many different systems.

   Judo- Japanese grappling system that emphasizes throws and includes pins, chokes, and arm locks when fighting on the ground.

   Kung Fu/Chuan Fa- a generic term applied to a wide variety of Chinese fighting systems. They may be long-ranged or short-ranged, have many weapons or few weapons. They are generally striking-based systems but often include throws, locks, and weapons practice. Sometimes traditional healing is taught as well. Different systems include Wing Chun, Choy Lay Fut, Mantis, Black Tiger, Crane, Hung Gar, Lau Gar, Long Fist, Shaolin, Five Ancestors Fist, and White Eyebrow.

   Aikido- a Japanese grappling art emphasizing blending with the opponent's momentum, and using it to unbalance them. Includes many wrist locks and pins.

   Hapkido- a Korean system that shares roots with Aikido. It is known as a grappling system, utilizing locks and throws, but includes a variety of strikes as well.

   Muay Thai- a kickboxing system from Thailand. Known as "The Science of the Eight Limbs", it utilizes strikes from the fists, feet, elbows and knees.

   Brazilian Jiujitsu- a Brazilian grappling system based on Japanese Judo and Jujitsu. It emphasizes fighting on the ground, and focuses on locks and chokes.

   Capoeira- a Brazilian system known for its acrobatic kicks and flips. Primarily a striking system, although grappling in the form of throws and trips is sometimes taught.

   Modern Wushu- a Chinese system based on classing Kung Fu/Chuan Fa systems, however the focus is on athletic performance. The weapons are much lighter, and the forms include many acrobatic movements.

   Krav Maga- an Israeli self-defense method used by the military. Primarily a striking system.

   Kickboxing- a striking system that blends Western boxing with Eastern kicking systems. Many so-called "kickboxing" classes are purely aerobic classes now.

   Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)- a blend of striking and grappling systems designed primarily around MMA competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC).

   Sambo- a Russian grappling system resembling Judo, however they do not use chokes like Judo does, but they include leg locks, which Judo does not.

   Bujinkan Taijutsu (Ninjutsu)- Japanese system that blends about a dozen traditional schools. Teaches striking, grappling, body movement, and weapons work.

   Jeet Kune Do- Bruce Lee's interpretation of martial arts. The curriculum may vary, but most JKD school will emphasize striking. Some also include basic grappling and weapons work.

   Kali/Arnis/Escrima- Philipino martial arts that focus on stick and knife fighting, but also include basic empty-hand striking and grappling.

   Go check out what's in your area, and have fun!

2. Orange on June 19th, 2009 11:23 am

   The benefit: likely to get you kill on the streets. Martial Arts are useless, and a waste of time on learning them. All I'm doing is writing common sense here, that's all. So there's no need to fuss, fight, or scream at my senseful answer.

3. swindle_the_shoemaker on June 19th, 2009 11:23 am

   All are great and amazing in teaching those things. Some are better than others for teaching practical combat (Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai) and some are better at teaching relaxation, self control, breathing, and health (Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Aikido).

   However the most important thing is finding a instructor/school that is legitimate in teaching and not just in it for the money. If a fat white guy is teaching the class, it's probably no good. If there are 8 year olds running around in black belts, it's no good.

4. acecapinc on June 19th, 2009 11:23 am

   theres waaaaaaay too many martial arts to name..all over the country and very underground styles that arent in america. Most or all martial arts especially the asian (taekwondo, karate, kung fu,etc) styles they teach you discipline and patience all that good stuff, but i wouldnt recommend it for street fights because of its fancyness. For an asian martial art for fighting and really wanting to beat someone up ill say kyokushin karate, muay thai, jeet kun do, japanese jiujitsu. but really there is no answer for this, if you want to learn martial arts you must go and do it as an ART. I would recommend jeet kune do because it is the way of no way meaning whatever style suits you and if it works for you that is the your style. My advice….learn one to the max and move on to the next

5. tyler on June 19th, 2009 11:23 am

   your friends are right..honestly i would recommend taking a course in whatever art your local community college offers and pay the what, 20 dollar tuition for one semester and see how you like it. plus you get college credit for it (i dunno if your still in grade school or what) but yeah.. i personally train in karate at my community college and brazilian jiu jitsu at an academy and i think they're both a blast, but karate is again, 20 a semester and bjj is 150 a month so you know, you do the math

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