So many martial arts styles and so little time. Find out what makes each style unique so you can choose the right one. While you’re at it, read up on some of the great style rivalries.
Muay Thai History and Style Guide Introduction: They call Muay Thai "the art of eight limbs". When you break it all down, that's perhaps what makes this Thailand national sport so effective in combat.
Jeet Kune Do History and Style Guide Introduction: Though it fits neatly under the category of a martial arts style, Jeet Kune Do really isn't one. You see, it's more of a philosophy.
Tang Soo Do History and Style Guide Introduction: You walk into the martial arts class and almost immediately begin to take notice. Practitioners are doing acrobatic kicks and practicing rhythmic forms with purpose.
Kyokushin History and Style Guide Introduction: You walk into the karate tournament as a spectator and immediately notice the difference. Rather than referees acknowledging points, you actually hear the grunts from opponents that signify a strike has landed
The history of the martial arts style of Shotokan begins with Gichin Funakoshi, a man that is given great credit not only for its birth but also for helping to popularize karate in general. However, in recent years a UFC fighter by the name of Lyoto Machida has done quite a bit to bring the art of Shotokan to the forefront.
There was really only one true competitor to Royce Gracie and his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu style of fighting during that initial UFC tournament way back in 1993, and that person was a shoot fighter or shoot wrestler by the name of Ken Shamrock. Shamrock would eventually become the first Pancrase organization champion, immediately making him a part of shootfighting history.
Thinking about the practice of the Japanese martial arts style of iaido in this day and age might leave one imagining a scenario from the movie Highlander. In other words, iaido history and practice could certainly point a 21st century person's mind in the direction of a warrior unsheathing a sword in a public garage and beheading someone.
Jiao li would serve as the basis of many martial arts styles throughout history, including shuai jiao, as it was really the first formal martial arts type invented in China, making it one of the oldest in the world.
What caused the martial arts style of hapkido to grow? Effectiveness. As history tells it, a Korean man by the name of Suh Bok Sub watched one man amazingly defend himself against multiple attackers.
History indicates that the martial arts style of aikido was mostly formulated during the 1920's and 30's by Morihei Ueshiba in Japan. Aiki refers to the idea of becoming one with an aggressor's movements so as to control them with minimal effort.
The roots and history of the martial arts style of Baguazhang can be traced back to the 19th century in China. It is a soft and internal style of martial arts, making it comparable to Tai Chi Chuan.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art based in ground fighting that is widely utilized by MMA fighters worldwide.
Goju-ryu is a traditional Okinawan style of karate. The term Goju-ryu actually means “hard-soft style,” which refers to the closed hand techniques (hard) and open hand techniques and circular movements (soft) that comprise this martial art.
Judo is a popular martial arts style and Olympic sport with a rich, though relatively recent history. Breaking the term judo down, ju means “gentle” and do “means the way or path.” Thus, judo translates to "the gentle way."
Kali is a term often used in the United States and Europe to describe the elements of Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) that focus on sword and stick fighting.
Karate is primarily a stand up or striking martial art that emerged on the island of Okinawa as a blend of native Okinawan fighting styles and Chinese fighting styles.
The term kickboxing is a somewhat generic one used to cover the combination of several different styles of striking or stand up fighting arts that fall within the classification of sport martial arts. Its history is rooted in a blend of Japanese karate and Muay Thai boxing.
The roots or history of the martial arts style of Krav Maga dates back to only the 1930's. In that sense, it does not have the lengthy story that some of the Asian-borne styles do.
The Chinese term kung fu describes any individual accomplishment or refined skill that is achieved after hard work.
Russian Sambo is a martial arts style and self-defense system that was formulated in the former Soviet Union during the early 1900's. In that sense, it does not have as long a history as some of the Asian styles.
The martial arts style of Tae Kwon Do or Taekwondo is steeped in Korean history, though some of that history is cloudy due to a lack of documentation in early times and the longtime Japanese occupation of the area.
Tai Chi is considered a soft martial arts style with roots so deeply entrenched in Chinese history that they're hard to follow.
Wrestling refers to contests where two combatants physically engage one another in an attempt to gain control, often by utilizing hand-to-hand techniques designed to throw their opponents off balance and take them down to the ground where they can achieve a dominant position. Wrestling is embedded in the history of nearly every culture.
If you're a beginner looking to learn about Pro Wrestling, this is a good place to start.
A brief Shotokan Karate style guide from All-Karate.com.
There are numerous arranged and systemized methods of combat in the world today, and these are often referred to as martial arts styles.
A Kenpo Karate style guide from All-Karate.com.
Want to know about the martial arts? Then this is the place to be. Learn about the various methods of combat that have been systemized- often referred to as martial arts styles- and some of the techniques that are a part of them.
Each type of martial arts possesses its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it's really about the type that suits what you’re looking to do and learn, rather than a global best kind.
