| Martial Arts training has been around for | | | | stationed in Japan after World War II, the |
| literally thousands of years. At the core of | | | | adoption of techniques and the gradual |
| it, hand-to-hand combat was a way of life up | | | | transmission of entire systems of martial |
| until the use of guns and other motorized | | | | arts to the West started. |
| weapons. | | | | |
| | | | Martial Arts Styles: |
| For the most part Martial Arts has now | | | | |
| become a great way to learn self-defense, get | | | | As training in most arts has been evolving |
| in shape and learn a new art form. But in | | | | for decades and in some cases hundreds of |
| order to know the best style for yourself, we | | | | years, there has become quite a variety of |
| first have to look at the fundamentals of | | | | different fighting systems. |
| martial arts and go back in time a few years | | | | |
| to see how it all evolved... | | | | Most notably, the common ones are: |
| | | | |
| Martial Arts Background: | | | | Traditional Fighting Arts - These are systems |
| | | | such as Karate, Aikido, Kung Fu and Taekwondo |
| The teaching of martial arts in Asia has | | | | (to a lesser extent.) They are well rounded |
| historically followed the cultural traditions | | | | and focus a lot on the "art" aspect of the |
| of teacher-disciple apprenticeship. Students | | | | system. |
| are trained in a strictly hierarchical system | | | | |
| by a master instructor. | | | | Sport Fighting Arts - These are systems such |
| | | | as Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Judo, Muay |
| The traditional form of martial arts has been | | | | Thai, exc... These are martial arts at the |
| evolving in Asia for centuries. It has always | | | | core but are more focused on the sport and |
| been a very hierarchal form of training, | | | | competition aspect of the art (generally |
| where the student trains under a master for | | | | speaking). |
| many years until he himself becomes one and | | | | |
| then starts the process all over again. In | | | | Full Contact Fighting - These systems are |
| Aisa and other eastern countries, martial | | | | fairly new and focus on actual full-contact |
| arts was and in many cases still is a large | | | | fighting! The most common one is "Mixed |
| part of life for people. | | | | Martial Arts" (MMA). This is a mixture of the |
| | | | other systems, taking the best fighting |
| The influence and development of the | | | | aspects of them and combining them into one |
| "traditional martial arts" never started | | | | fighting system that best suites the fighter. |
| until after World War 2. As Western influence | | | | |
| grew in the East a greater number of military | | | | What Is The Best Martial Art For YOU? |
| personnel spent time in China, Japan, Korea | | | | |
| and elsewhere. Exposure to martial arts | | | | That is a great question! The best way to |
| during the Korean war was also significant. | | | | find-out is to checkout a bunch of schools in |
| Gradually some soldiers began to see the | | | | your area. Try one of their free classes or |
| value of Eastern martial arts and began | | | | free months that many will offer you. Ask a |
| training in them. | | | | lot of questions and after a few tries your |
| | | | going to find an art that will work for you! |
| With large numbers of American servicemen | | | | |