Patience With Learning

Patience with learning (All techniques take a while to do "correctly").

There is a lot of talk with this generation wanting instant gratification and while this is definitely apparent at times, most students understand that it will take a while and don't mind working towards something.

It is also important to understand that some techniques and concepts will just be more natural and come quicker and to keep in mind that when something doesn't come fast, it just means you have to be patient.

However, do not believe anyone who tells you that you can be a self defense expert in a short amount of time or that their system is superior so that you can learn without wasting a lot of time (as the saying goes "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing").

Generally, the first move I teach is the horsestance punch. Now your first horestance punch is a lot different than your 1000th and that 1000th punch is a lot different than your 10,000th. A common mistake that I see with students is their mindset of "I think I'm doing it correctly so now I'm ready for something new," not realizing that "learning how to do a technique is not actually practicing that technique, you can only practice a technique once you've learned how to do it correctly." There are many details with every move and yes, you could technically "do" a horsestance punch the very first class. But it is doubtful that your stance, your hand position, your posture, your power, etc. is great.

As techniques become more difficult, you will find that it takes longer and longer to just learn to do that technique correctly and of course there are always those techniques that will come quickly because you can do it naturally and other techniques that will take even longer because they don't come naturally.

As the saying goes "anything worth doing is worth doing poorly" Front kicks aren't that special because most people can do them without much practice (although a great front kick takes some time).

Often times students are so concerned with doing a spinning or jumping technique, that they don't worry about improving their basics. They don't realize (even when told) that their more advanced techniques aren't developing because their basics are lousy.

So be patient and enjoy the "fun" of overcoming obstacles, once you do you will build confidence and go into your next endeavor with a better mindset. After a while this effect snowballs and you are unstoppable (if you want to be).

The Dos and Don'ts of Karate Etiquette

Have you ever walked into a karate school and wondered what all of the rigid hierarchy and bowing is all about? Are you currently a new member of a karate studio and are wondering what all of the foreign words and chanting means? Or are you an avid student who still wonders what it all means when you enter your "Mini Martial Arts Experience" every Wednesday evening at 6pm? Lots of people share your confusion and many people wonder if it is all necessary.

Here is your quick cheat sheet to "The Dos and Don'ts of Karate Etiquette."

Depending on your karate school and style, some or all of the following may apply:

1. DO show respect to your instructor and fellow members while you try to find your place within the group and see if the school matches YOUR goals and has YOUR best interests at heart. If the school does meet your expectations then continue to train there and continue to show respect to the instructor, the club members and the traditions of the style. If the school doesn't meet your expectations then get out of there faster than Bruce Lee coult throw a One-Inch Punch.

2. DO open your mind to different ways of doing things. For the most part karate practices and methods have been transmitted down through the generations and as such carry a lot of cultural-specific traditions. In many ways these traditions help to accentuate the overall benefit of the "karate experience", in some ways they serve to distract you from your main goals for beginning karate in the first place. Be sure to be clear about why you want to start karate.

3. DO try to learn more about the background culture of your chosen martial art. For example, Karate is originally from Okinawa, Taekwondo is from Korea, Kung Fu is from China. By knowing where your art originated you can begin to learn some basic cultural knowledge about your chosen style. Your instructor should be able to help you find material for this.

4. DO your best to follow the directions given by your instructor and to fit in with the class, at least while you are in the discovery phase of seeing if Karate is for you. You will probably have lots of questions and depending on the situation it may be bad timing to ask your questions in the middle of the class. However, make sure that you ask your instructor and other club members about things that don't make sense or that are confusing before you go home. They should be more than willing to answer your questions and offer help.

5. DON'T take karate etiquette too seriously. A bow is simply a form of greeting, just like a handshake in the West. Some martial arts schools embrace traditional values, others don't. It's not a big deal either way. Your decision to join a particular school should be based on the quality of their martial arts programs and on their customer service, not on their chosen rituals of etiquette.

6. DON'T give up your spiritual values or religious beliefs. Just because you start learning about some mysterious Chi force or miraculous feats, don't suddenly think that you have found the answers to all of your unanswered questions. While karate can provide some very enlightening wisdom and inspiration, you should always remember why you first enrolled in the martial arts. It was probably to learn self-defense, to improve your health and fitness, or to join in with a worthwhile activity together with your child. I doubt that you wanted to join a pseudo-religious cult.

7. DON'T think that your instructor is some transcendental guru or sage, or even a demi-God. He's not! He is just another human being like you. He happens to be very good at karate; you may be very good at playing the piano, singing a song or telling a joke. Recognize that all people have strengths and weaknesses - even karate instructors!

8. DON'T forget the value of humility. Despite my rather light-hearted look at karate etiquette, it is still important to be respectful in a martial arts environment and not to be too outspoken. As with anything "actions speak louder than words" and all too often members of martial arts clubs get into trouble by speaking out about things that they don't understand too soon. It is better to give your chosen art a fair chance and to let your efforts in class initially do the talking until you feel that you have reached the point of being accepted and are able to ask intelligent questions.

To many people martial arts are a completely foreign activity and it takes some time to acclimate themselves to the specific culture and nuances of the art. Give karate a chance and don't deliver yourself a killer blow without first paying your dues.

The Importance of Humanity in Karate

Karate was fashioned on the model provided by Kendo and Judo. It was intended to be a 'style' of Martial Arts in itself but this never came about, perhaps because of WW2, or there may be other reasons. In any case, the original school system spawned Shotokan-Ryu, Wado-Ryu and Shito-Ryu. Goju-Ryu was developed much later and was accepted in to the Okinawa school system many years after the original karate program of Itosu.

If there had not have been a revision of Jujutsu into Judo, and Kenjutsu into Kendo, it is possible that those arts would not have survived. They were frowned upon by the new society. Similarly, Okinawa 'Te' was not popular and considered a violent activity by the general community, the more refined art of karate succeeded and was responsible for the continuation of this Okinawan Martial Art, albeit in another form.

Itosu realized that education was the key and that with education came humanity and understanding, and less need for civil self-defense. Okinawa had no organized sport like we know it today so an exercise regime, such as karate, was a brilliant stroke of genius on his part. Karate was to be a community exercise program, an educational undertaking to promote humanity and a pathway back to brutal self-defense should it be necessary.

Unfortunately karate has become a sport and recreational activity taught by those of both a high and a low rank. Very few know what it is they are teaching and mainly focus on all the wrong aspects. The physical techniques are not well understood so the basics of kata are taught as the foundation of karate. The humane aspects are rarely discussed or, are taught via the dojo kun and paid lip service only.

Karate was developed in Okinawa, a small backward country at that time, with very few people involved, yet we somehow consider that they have developed a complete system that will allow one to beat of 4, 8 or more attackers. The secret of karate is common sense and a combination of physical practice and intellectual study (bunburyodo).

One of the mistakes made today is to sell Karate as a product, it is not something that can be bought and sold like a hamburger. You are paying for someone's knowledge, skill and ability to pass on important information about how to gain health, fitness, compete in sport and defend yourself. You are paying a fee for an educational service. Apparently it's no longer important whom you learn from but at the end of the day, the only rank you hold is that of personal knowledge and ability.

How can one teach humanity? By setting standards. I don't think it can actually be taught but perhaps it can be nourished and nurtured. It's a bit like thinking that karate builds character. If someone is of poor character then that may be impossible to change.

It is important to ensure that a sense of fairness and consideration of others is the benchmark of any karate class. If we are to allow training partners to punch, strike and kick just mm's from our body then we must have trust in their character and faith in their humanity.

Nobody likes to be taken advantage of and we are brought up to have faith and trust in those in authority such as teachers. Hypocrisy by karate teachers destroys that trust, especially in the area of morals and ethics. Poor instruction can lead to karate damaging a person's character. Poor role models can influence a student of any age in the wrong direction.

It is a great responsibility in teaching anything, but especially karate. If it is misused the consequences can be very serious. Certainly karate training does not make anyone invincible but it can make one dangerous to those that have no self-defense skills.

Students need to be taught with great caution about the effects of striking another human being. Many people suffer serious injury from being knocked to the ground, not from the punch but from hitting their head on the hard floor. How can you give someone a loaded gun with no instructions in the why and when, and not be responsible if another human being is maimed?

Luckily most human beings are reasonably sensible and humane. I remember a case where a karate student was convicted of killing his own unborn child by kicking it's mother in the stomach when she was pregnant! We all know of karate instructors that have been charged with crimes against children.

If karate is to be taught like an aerobics class at the gym then there is a problem. Aerobics is about health and fitness, karate may be utilized in that fashion but there is still a need for explanation and standards of behavior to be set.

Are you a karate teacher, a sports coach or a gym instructor? Is your place of instruction a dojo, a clubhouse or a gym? All are worthwhile but you should not fool yourself or others. If your level of expertise is of a low level then admit to it and don't leave others thinking you are an expert. Otherwise, unintentionally, you are giving the experts a bad name.

Karate should be enjoyable, i.e. serious fun. One cannot pretend to be a Doctor, a Dentist, a Solicitor or a karate teacher, these are all known as Sensei, someone that has reached a certain stage of understanding, not someone who has yet to pass beyond the novice stage.

A Black Belt or Black and White Belt doesn't entitle the wearer to teach. They need to have a thorough knowledge of the content and training in the principles of teaching. If they are to teach a watered down sport version, as some suggest, then they still need to know enough so as not to cause injury to those within their duty of care.

Cheyne McMahon

The Belt Colors Of Taekwondo

The Belt Colors Of Taekwondo

The belts and their colors that are used with Taekwondo aren't just a random assortment of colors that are used to separate the ranks in the martial art.  In Taekwondo, each belt color has a meaning that lets fighters known about their advancement and increasing knowledge.  Belts are also great for the stylist, as they let the stylist know just how far they have progressed.

The colors of the belts found in Taekwondo vary, as they represent the advancement of rank, as well as the growth of the student.  It can take a long time for students to move up the ranks, all depending on their knowledge and how quite they adapt to the techniques and forms of the art.

Below, are the colors and belts of Taekwondo, along with their meaning.

White belt
A white belt is the symbol of birth, or the beginning for the stylist.  Students that wear white belts are just starting out, searching for the knowledge to continue Taekwondo.

Yellow belt
A yellow belt is the first ray of light that shines on the student, giving them new strength to the Taekwondo martial art.  Students that have yellow belts have taken a great step in learning, and have opened their mind to new techniques.

Green belt
A green belt is the symbol of growth, or a seed as it sprouts from the ground and begins to grow into a plant.  Students with green belts are continuing along the path of Taekwondo, learning to develop further and redefine every technique they have been taught.

Blue belt
A blue belt represents a blue sky, with the plant continuing to grow upwards, heading for the sky.  Students with blue belts continue to move higher in ranks, as the plant continues to grow taller.  Students at this stage will also be given additional knowledge of Taekwondo so that their mind and body can continue to grow and develop.

Red belt
The red belt is the heat of the sun, with the plant continuing the path upwards toward the sun.  Students that possess red belts are higher in rank, as they have acquired a lot of the knowledge in the art of Taekwondo.  Red belts also tell the students to be cautious, as they gain more knowledge and their physical techniques increase.

Black belt
A black belt is the best of the best.  It symbolizes the darkness that is out there beyond the light of the sun.  Once the student is given a black belt and begins to train other students, he will teach all that has been taught to him.  Black belts recognize the best students, as they continue to teach others the art of Taekwondo, and continue the never ending cycle of training.

Will My Martial Art Get Me To The UFC?

Will My Martial Art Get Me To The UFC? 

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity and ratings over the past couple of years. Love it or hate it, it looks like the UFC is here to stay. Consequently many men in the 18 – 34 demographic are becoming more interested in the martial arts.

 After watching great strikers such as Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva and Houston Alexander and watching the incredible grappling and wrestling skills of Randy Couture, Matt Hughes and BJ Penn, many martial artists are asking themselves the question “Will my martial art get me to the UFC?” 

The answer to this question is very simple. 

No, your martial art will not get you to the UFC! Make that a maybe, instead of a definite no. 

OK, I can already tell that some of you may be shocked at that one line put down of you, your chosen martial art and your UFC aspirations. After all I don’t know anything about you but let me expand on my answer so you know where I’m coming from. 

First of all, it is important to understand that no one style has all of the elements of a complete fighting system for success in the Octagon, but many styles have a lot of them. The UFC, Pride, WEC and Elite XC are all labeled under the category "Mixed Martial Arts." This should tell you a lot in relation to the question of whether your martial art will get you to the UFC. Mixed martial arts is exactly what it says it is – a mix of several different martial arts pulled together to create the full skill set of techniques needed for survival in the ring, cage or octagon (or the street for that matter!) 

To be a successful UFC fighter you need to have a great stand-up game and a great ground game. In addition to this you need to learn take-downs and take-down defenses. This doesn’t even include the physical conditioning or the mental aspect of preparing for a fight. So here are some suggestions as to which styles you should study to give yourself the best chance of becoming a good fighter.

· Striking Skills: Boxing, Muay Thai, Shotokan, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Savate 

· Take-Downs: Judo, Hapkido, Sanda (San Shou), Sambo 

· Grappling and Submissions: Wrestling, Brazilian Ju-jitsu, Japanese Ju-jitsu, Aikido 

There are many other martial arts not on this list that are also worthy of in-depth study; and some of them on the list include all of the above skills to a greater or lesser degree. 

So will your martial art get you to the UFC? Not by itself, but if you combine the strength of your chosen art with the missing elements that you need from some of the other styles above, then you will be well on your way. 

Sparring

Sparring is something that all martial arts use.  There are numerous sports, such as boxing and wrestling that use sparring as well.  It is a very useful technique, helping students become better with their techniques and what they have learned.  By practicing with other people, students learn their arts better and become more apt at performing the techniques quickly and efficiently.

If you are studying martial arts in a dojo, you’ll find sparring to be very exciting as well as beneficial to your training.  The instructors and teachers will be right there watching and guiding students, making sure that no one gets hurt.  Students use full body gear, including headgear, to ensure safety during practice.

Depending on your skill level and martial art you are studying, you may end up using no protective gear.  Students that are very skilled won’t normally need protective equipment, as they are good enough with sparring and their techniques that they can go a few rounds with other skilled students and not make any type of contact at all.

Martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, that focus on grappling, make the most use of sparring, as it is needed to properly execute the techniques.  Martial arts that focus mainly on grappling use joint locks and submission techniques, which will need to be practiced quite a bit before they can be used effectively during a competition or even as self defense.

During sparring, students go back and forth, competing with each other and testing each other.  The rounds will vary, although most last several minutes.  Students will also receive help and insight from their instructors to let them know how they are doing and if they need to change anything they are doing.  This also gives instructors the chance to see just how well you are progressing in training and what areas you need to work more on.

Sometimes, sparring is done by yourself, without anyone else working with you.  If you are sparring by yourself, you’ll use equipment such as punching bags, tackling dummies, or other forms of equipment that will help you with your martial art.  The foam or rubber dummies are most often used with grappling techniques or punching on the ground, as they represent the opponent that you are trying to pummel into submission.

All in all, sparring is an excellent way to practice the skills you have learned against equipment or other students.  Students are fun to spar against, especially if they are at a higher level of skill than you are.  You can use sparring to your advantage, learning what others do and how they react to your movements and techniques.  The longer you spar and practice your moves - the better you will get in your training, speed, and the execution of your skills.

Korean Martial Arts

Every culture has its own methods of how to fight regardless of religion or political beliefs. While you might want to take the moral high road and not fight there are people in this world who won't give you that option, and than the only thing that remains is to fight. The nation of Korea like so many others found itself fending off invaders, and like others before them they developed martial arts. The two most prominent Korean martial arts styles in existence today are Taekwondo and Hapkido.

Taekwondo dates back to the Silla dynasty in Korea, and was developed for the military. Hapkido, though practiced prior to World War II, came into being after the war and is billed as a purely defensive art. Both of these Korean martial arts are now practiced around the world.

Taekwondo was first taught to the elite Hwarang warriors of the Silla dynasty, an ancient Korean kingdom. The style focuses primarily on kicks, and was included with a soldier's traditional military training and education. The style was practiced openly for centuries, but the martial art was forced underground during the Japanese occupation and colonization during the early 20th century.

The Japanese were harsh invaders and did their best to change Korean culture, and make the Koreans more like them. The treatment was brutal, but the Japanese did share their martial arts training with the Korean people and those who had the opportunity to train in Japan and China would share what they learned and adapt Taekwondo accordingly. That Japanese influence would shape modern Tae Kwon Do.

When General Choi, the most commonly acknowledged founder of Tae Kwon Do, became older he went to Japan to study. Choi had been studying calligraphy and Taek Kyon in Korea under Han Il Dong and upon arrival in Japan he started to study Shotokan Karate as a student of a Korean named Kim Hyun-soo. After two years of intensive training he was presented with a first Dan Black Belt in Shotokan. He then went to Tokyo University where he was able to visit the Shotokan and perhaps train on occasion under Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan.

General Choi earned his second Dan (second degree black belt) in Shotokan and, around this time, he started teaching, and became an instructor at the Tokyo YMCA. (There are pictures of Gen. Choi as a student at the main Shotokan dojo when he was a student in Japan which has been published in "Taekwon-Do Times" magazine.)

Conscripted into the Japanese army in 1943, Choi was posted to Pyongyang where he became involved in the Korean Independence Movement, resulting in his imprisonment. Wanting to maintain good physical and mental health during his imprisonment, he practiced Karate, alone at first, then by teaching it to the staff of the prison and the other prisoners. Until his liberation at the end of the war he practiced and developed much of the martial art.

Becoming an officer in the new Korean Army after the end of the war, he continued to teach his martial art to his soldiers as well as to American soldiers serving in Korea.

His beliefs and his vision of a different approach to teaching martial arts led General Choi to combine elements of Taek Kyon and Karate techniques to develop a modern martial art. He called it TaeKwonDo, which means "the way of the feet and the hands", and this name was officially adopted on April 11th, 1955.

Taekwondo would eventually be spread around the world by American military personnel stationed in Korea. Among those to train in Korea was a young Air Force enlisted man named Chuck Norris who would go to make martial arts history. As a sport Taekwondo can be exciting, but those with United States military training never saw it as a replacement for what they had already been taught which was Jujutsu. The lack of grappling the ability to deal with modern weapons limits someone who practices Taekwondo. That is not to say isn't good to train in Taekwondo, but it won't be an effective self defense system.

Hapkido is another popular Korean martial art that has close ties to the Japanese martial arts as well. Hapkido is a direct adaptation of the popular Japanese martial art Aikido. Many in Korea consider Taekwondo to be a hard martial art while Hapkido is a soft martial art. Just like those who practice Aikido, those who practice Hapkido consider the spiritual side very important and say the martial art is about uniting harmony and energy, and those who practice Hapkido pride themselves in that their martial art is purely self defense. A Hapkido student will try to use their attacker's energy against them like in other martial arts, but unlike Jujutsu; they always allow the attack make the first move and try to react to the attack.

Korean Martial Arts for Self Defense

Like most martial arts, both Hap Kido and Tae Kwon Do take years to master. But once mastered, will they work in real life self defense. At the end of the day, a punch is still a punch and a kick is still a kick, so you have to look at where the system is today. Tae Kwon Do is an Olympic Sport, like Judo, Wrestling and Boxing; the focus is on the sport rules. Athletes are trained to avoid methods that would get them disqualified. The same can be said for mixed martial arts. While brutal in nature, they are designed for safety.

In the case of the Korean martial art of Hapkido, practitioners focus on less combat and more peace. Like Aikido, Hapkido was developed for people who seek a higher spiritual plane, not combat. The idea of "Combat Hapkido" is about the same as saying "Combat Buddhism". It just doesn't make any sense. Hapkido has spiritual intentions NOT combat roots. Self Defense is not a style or a way of life it's a skill, a skill that can be easily learned and recalled. If you wish to follow the path of the martial warrior, scholar, then a martial art is what you seek. If you want to know what works, then start training in hand to hand combat. If you want the best of both worlds, do both. A true warrior is a student first.

Which Martial Art Is For Me?

Those of us old enough will remember trying to find a martial art club was almost impossible. Many clubs trained in backstreet gyms and halls, were often just a small group of friends. If you knew someone training already, it was easy to get in, if you didn't, well, it was virtually impossible. Fast forward to the early 70's. It was at this time that the 'Bruce Lee Phenomenon' hit the West. Enter The Dragon, a major Hollywood backed film, hit the silver screens. It was explosive, here was a guy who could do almost magical things, at blistering speeds, and so, as a direct result of that film, so was born the modern age of martial arts in the West.

Clubs began to spring up everywhere, people flocked to be trained so they could be like Bruce Lee! The reality of that was somewhat harsher! Soon, may realised that to reach even a fraction of Lee's ability required years of painstaking practise!

The first martial art to really explode as a result of Lee's film was Karate. With schools already well established in the UK, they capitalised on the phenomenon by coming out of the back streets and into the school and church halls etc. Adverts sprang up, and all of a sudden, you could find a club to train at! Karate is perhaps one of the most well known of all the martial arts, with a rich history and tradition spanning centuries. And so Karate clubs began to boom, along with other martial art styles, which began to gain interest from a Western culture suddenly smitten with the lure of Eastern mysticism and legends.

Inevitably, this boom faded, people left because it was too hard, that to get anywhere was a lifelong commitment, not something achieved in a matter of weeks or months, but years of hard graft. And so, clubs lost members, but not to the extreme levels that they disappeared back into the dingy training halls of earlier years. Many thrived with a steady increase in students, losing others along the way, but retaining sufficient to keep going.

Then, as with the Bruce Lee films, along came another Hollywood Blockbuster that was to push martial arts back into the public domain...Karate Kid. The film was simple, a young lad being picked on by a group of Karate school bullies, boy comes across a Japanese janitor, who just happens to be a master in Karate....Mr Myagi. It was a wonderfully simplistic film, where, I am sure we all remember, the young lad, 'Daniel san' was taught the rudimentaries of Karate through washing a car! 'Wax on, wax off'.....marvelously clever analogy, from which he learnt everything he needed to do Karate! Of course, it is not that easy in reality, but here we had a film, which spawned 2 sequels, that suddenly showed that training was not only hard work, but could be fun as well!

And, what this film did that no other film before it had done, it attracted Children to the martial arts! It was truly a catalyst in the meteoric rise of martial arts clubs across the world, with parents rushing to sign up their kids to learn about this wonderful way of looking after yourself, of learning respect and discipline, and making their children better people for when they finally enter the world as Adults. Karate was the main benefactor of this boom, obviously I guess given the film's title, but the knock on effects were felt right across the various martial art styles. Popularity rose through more films, with stars such as Jackie Chan, who, with his unique blend of undoubted skills and comedy, made Chinese martial arts seem fun to learn. And so there we have it, a very brief history of the rise in popularity...But! Here we are in 2008, and despite all the publicity, do you know which martial art is which? I hope the following will give you some guidance:

Karate - Probably one the most recognised. There are several styles, which I will not elaborate too much on here, suffice to say that each does have it's differences, but each also has many of the same characteristics, namely a focus on traditional etiquette, discipline and hard work. Karate (meaning Empty Hand) is a very traditional martial art, where you will certainly learn respect for others. The main styles are Shotokan, Wado Ryu, Goju Ryu, and Shitu Ryu, though there are a great many more. Karate has also become one of the most 'bastardised' styles. There are a great many schools and organisations whose Chief Instructors have studied many of the styles, and have combined this knowledge to develop their own systems. These Organisations have developed their own curriculums and grading syllabus. Essentially they are still Karate, and, with the right club or organisation, you will learn a great deal about yourself.

Taekwondo (or Tae Kwon Do) - This is a Korean martial art, thousands of years old, but only really becoming popular in the past 20 or 30 years. The modern concept of Taekwondo was developed by General Choi in Korea during the 1950's. Today, there are two styles, ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) and WTF (World Taekwondo Federation). Both teach the same basic ideals. Taekwondo (meaning the way of hand and foot) is, predominantly, a martial art based around kicking techniques. Very spectacular and effective techniques, but those learning Taekwondo will also learn valuable hand techniques, and self defense. ITF Taekwondo is much closer to the original concept of General Choi. The WTF style has developed more into a Sport, and is, in fact, a recognised Olympic Sport. ITF sparring is semi contact, whereas, if you fancy your chances, the WTF style concentrates on full contact.

Judo - Judo means 'The Gentle Way'. It is a very modern art, and, in fact, is not really a martial art, but a sport. Judo is, however, a very effective self defense art, teaching you how to put locks and holds on an opponent, and how to throw. There are no kicks or punches in Judo. A well established Olympic sport, it offers an alternative to more traditional 'combat' style martial arts.

Kung Fu - A Chinese martial art. There are hundreds of styles available, the most popular today being Wing Chun. Bruce Lee was a famous exponent of Kung Fu, but he also studied many of it's various styles and developed his own Jeet Kune DO (JKD), a method of fighting that used real life street situations to develop an effective method of attack and defense.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - This is the fastest growing martial art style in the world today. Japanese Judo and Ju Jitsu masters exported their martial arts to Brazil around the 1940's and 50's, where it quickly gained popularity. A Brazilian family, the Gracies, took this knowledge and developed it into one of the most effective ground fighting systems known today. Although similar to Judo and Ju Jitsu, the Brazilian art concentrates much more on getting your opponent into a submission by locks, holds and chokes. It is, to many, a much more realistic method for the street, where rules do not exist.

MMA - Not really a martial art as such. MMA means 'Mixed Martial Arts'. It's origins are again Brazil, where it is known as Vale Tudo. Today, MMA, or perhaps you would know it better as 'cage fighting' is a huge sport, dominated by the UFC, Pride and Cage Rage. It has, for many, become an alternative to boxing. MMA is a 'no holds barred' sport, whereby opponents can punch, kick, elbow, knee and wrestle each other into submission, or, get a knockout. Very explosive, and certainly not for the faint hearted! Those in MMA will have also trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as well as Karate, Taekwondo or other martial art style, hence the term Mixed Martial Arts.

Kickboxing - Probably the second largest participant club sport in the world. Developed by the Americans as an alternative to Boxing, Kickboxing is, as the name suggests, a Boxing sport, but you are also allowed to kick. Training is hard but rewarding. As well as traditional boxing techniques (jabs, hooks, crosses, ducking and weaving etc), you will also learn a variety of kicks, most of which derive from Taekwondo in style. In fact, many Taekwondo clubs will also run their own Kickboxing clubs, as the two styles compliment each other extremely well.

Choi Kwang Do - Another Korean art, this concentrates mostly on the practical side of 'what works in reality'. Kicks, generally, are not above the waist, and you will learn a variety of hand techniques, all designed to work 'on the street'.

Tai Chi - Another Chinese art. Often thought of as an 'old people's' martial art. Whilst it certainly lends itself well to the older generation, in my personal opinion, it should not be overlooked. It teaches meditation and relaxation, but also it teaches you to focus your inner energy, or Chi, very effectively.

In some ways, it is sad that, as a result of the modern age, there are also some excellent, but increasingly forgotten martial arts worth investigating. Aikido and Hapkido (Japanese and Korean respectively) have become victims of the increase in popularity of the more explosive martial arts. These are predominantly self defense systems, but incredibly effective. If you aren't sure, watch some of Steve Segal's early films. Segal is a world recognised master of Aikido, it is one of the single most effective martial arts for self defense, but, sadly, it receives little publicity nowadays. It's principles are the teaching of using your opponents own momentum for your own gain, it also teaches pressure points and restraints. Even if you study one of the more popular styles, Aikido or Hapkido are definitely worth considering as a second martial art.

Today, choosing which martial art you want to do is actually much easier than you think. A great many clubs will offer you a first lesson free, so take advantage of that fact, and go and try as many as you can. In this way, you can find out which one suits you best.

I will give a couple of words of caution!!

1. Do not be tempted to sign up to a membership or any payment plan on your first lesson, or even in the first 3 or 4 lessons. Make sure it is right for you first!

2. Avoid buying any uniform for the same period. Otherwise, if you decide it's not for you, you will have wasted your money.

3. Go along and watch a few classes first, before actually trying. Most clubs will let you watch. You will get a different perspective on the class teachings this way.

4. Talk to other members, or even the Instructors. Nobody will mind you asking questions. Believe it or not, the vast majority of clubs are not interested in just taking your money only to see you leave. They want you longterm, because they genuinely want to teach you and see you develop.

There are, unfortunately, plenty of organisations out there who will happily take your money. The 'McDojo' as they are derogatorily referred to by our American friends are out there, waiting for the unsuspecting student or parent. These will try the hard sell, some even go cold canvassing onto the streets! Don't be easily tempted by promises of a Black Belt in a few weeks or months, it simply doesn't happen that way.

So, how long will it take to get a Black Belt? Well, on average, you should allow a minimum of 3 years, and that is based upon a lot of hard work, and regular weekly training, at least twice a week! And remember also, a Black Belt does not mean you are an expert! On the contrary, getting your Black Belt is merely akin to completing your apprenticeship of learning...Once you get your Black Belt, the real learning starts, it is your doorway to a wealth of knowledge and experience that awaits you on the other side.

Too many people look at trying to grade every 3 months, which is fine. But, it is not how quick you get your Black Belt that counts, it is EARNING your Black Belt that will make it most satisfying.

Learning to defend yourself, and others, is only one aspect of Martial Arts, but Martial Arts is not about learning violence. It is, and remains, one of the most effective methods of fitness in the World. It will teach you confidence, respect, both for yourself and others, you will learn discipline and above all, you will learn how to become a respected and well rounded individual.

And when you do decide which martial art to practise, don't be afraid to check out just where you can get your equipment. Often your Instructors can supply you the equipment you need, but if you feel their prices are too high, check out the Internet of a Martial Arts Magazine for guidance. Instructors do, on the whole sell to you at the same price, but unfortunately some like to try and make a fair nit more if they can. Fortunately, the boom in Martial Arts has also seen a boom in the choice of Martial Arts Supplies available. So, whatever you do decide to practise, you will also be spoilt for choice as to where you can go to kit yourself out!

So go on, give it a try, and you will never look back!