Discover six different martial arts
There are dozens of martial arts. We help you find yourself in these sports practiced for hundreds of years.
Most martial arts are born in Asia. Over the years, they have taken different forms. Today, they are experiencing the height of their popularity, propelled by the emergence of mixed martial arts. Some fighters, such as Quebec’s Georges St-Pierre, have become world-famous stars.
Beyond certain violence, martial arts emphasize a spiritual dimension. This combination of physics and mind is necessary to rise to the highest echelons of these disciplines.
Karate (Japan)
Karate is a Japanese art that is believed to have originated in the first century. It consists of various techniques of attack or defense. Fighters use fingers, open or closed hands, forearms, feet, elbows, and knees to hit their opponent.
Ju-jitsu (Japan)
The favorite martial art of the Samurai to defend themselves when they were unarmed, the Ju-jitsu is to avoid being hit. Sophisticated evasive techniques make it possible to use the strength of your opponent to defeat him.
Judo (Japan)
This Olympic sport was born in the 19th century. It is partly inspired by Ju-jitsu, from which it borrows its values of education of body and mind. Important respect is given to his opponent. This is why the judokas keep their opponent in a fight. They avoid that this fall too heavily and is injured.
Taekwondo (Korea)
Born in the middle of the 20th century, Taekwondo is also an Olympic sport. Compared to other martial arts, it differs from the more widespread use of kicks. Taekwondo wear a body plastron and a helmet to practice their personal discipline.
Brazilian Ju-jitsu (Brazil)
Derived from Japanese Ju-jitsu, Brazilian Ju-jitsu was developed in the 1920s. It consists of bringing one’s opponent to the ground and winning his fight by various take-backs of submission.
Muay-thai (Thailand)
Often called Thai boxing, this fighting sport was taught to Thai soldiers as early as the 15th century. This form of boxing combines punches with elbow knuckles. It is widespread in Thailand, where professional leagues offer many fights.
Whatever discipline you choose, martial arts are a great way to be fit. They teach self-defense techniques and improve self-confidence.
Guide to choosing the martial art that suits you
From better self-discipline to improved physical fitness to self-defense, discover the benefits of these different styles of martial arts.
When choosing a martial art, you must take into account your budget, your competition objectives, and your self-defense needs. This guide will help you choose the martial art that suits you by comparing popular martial arts styles such as muay-thaรฏ, judo, and taekwondo.
Muay-thai
Often referred to as kickboxing, muay-thai is originally from Thailand.
- It involves high kicks and knee strokes, so you’ll be more comfortable in its mastery if you’re already flexible.
- If you wish to participate in competitions, the muay-thaรฏ is a good choice of a martial art because there are many amateur competitions taking place across Canada.
- It is also effective as a self-defense technique.
Judo
Instead of kicking and punching, judo usually involves throwing and choking. It is very useful for self-defense if you find yourself struggling with an attacker.
- There are certain possibilities to participate in judo competitions as an amateur if you wish.
- Judo is also a good preparation in which to learn ju-jitsu, which is a style emerging from this ancestral martial art that has become very popular in the United States and Canada.
- During training, expect to strain your abdominal muscles more than your arms or legs.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo’s training involves kicks and punches. It’s also a good cardiovascular exercise.
- Taekwondo schools usually ask their students to wear a full outfit during training.
- Your budget will have to be bigger to buy the necessary items if you choose this sport.
This investment will be rewarded with the opportunity to take part in numerous competitions. Taekwondo is statistically the most popular martial art, perhaps because of its status as an Olympic sport.
Choose a martial arts school
Many martial arts experts argue that the style you choose is less important than the quality of the martial arts school where you train. Before embarking on a particular martial art, visit a few schools in your area to learn more about the teaching techniques used.
Many martial arts schools allow newcomers to observe or participate in a course before enrolling. So take this opportunity to see what martial art suits you. In addition to estimating the cost of membership, find out if additional costs will be incurred, such as initiation or promotion fees, as it is easy for these hidden costs to accumulate.
There are various disciplines and techniques of fighting arts. If you want to improve your self-defense skills by doing sports, these three styles of martial arts are interesting. Just choose the one that suits you best.
