Different Types Of Martial Arts

I'm a big fan of martial arts ever since I was a kid. Though my parents are somewhat paranoid and over protective, I used to dream of one day being some kind of assassin like Kenshin Himura aka Samurai X.

I knew all about the different types of martial arts, and would often debate with my friends which style was the best. I remember having endless discussions about subjects we did not quite understand, and often get into arguments that in retrospect seem pretty ridiculous.

Later on, I realized that it isn't about what type of martial art is stronger so much as what appeals to you the most. You see, there are many different types of martial arts, but their strengths and weaknesses lie more in its application more than in the style itself. For instance, an experienced fighter in one art system can always beat a mediocre fighter in another one, no matter which type of martial art is better.

Yet, understanding the different types of martial arts can help you find something which appeals to you. Karate, kung fu, jeet kune do and takewondo are usually preferred by very aggressive sorts of people These are generally primarily striking types of martial arts, concentrated on exerting the maximum force possible to cause your opponent as much harm as you can. Although they will eventually allow you to develop subtlety and evasive capabilities, their main strengths are physical conditioning, stopping power, and overall aggressiveness.

If you are, on the other hand, interested in restraining your opponent or disabling them from attacking you then you should study the grappling styles of martial arts. Aikido is the most defensive of these arts, but it is extremely powerful. In aikido you learn to harmonize with your opponents motion, deflecting attacks by using his own aggression against him. Judo is also this type of martial art, but focuses more on grappling and pinning than on throws.

There are also types of martial arts that combine both striking and grappling. One of the most famous examples of this kind of martial art is jujitsu as seen in Ultimate Fighting Championship. In this well known art you learn to pin your opponent, disable him with joint locks, and punch and kick the heck out of him. It is a particularly brutal art, and one often favored by professional fighters. Nonetheless, it can also be a handy defensive art. It can be used to disable much stronger opponent by using principles of leverage.

By the way, having the right martial arts equipment will greatly help your training so better check if your chosen gym offers these for free.