Which Martial Arts Are For You?

Various styles of martial arts come and go, while some of the more traditional types are here for the long haul. But which martial arts are for you?

Martial arts dates back in time and was traditionally more of a fighting system, a form of combat that used no guns. Today martial arts are studied for many reasons including sport, fitness, self defense, and meditation.

All the styles are different but still somewhat similar so choosing the right one for you or your kids can be a bit overwhelming. And if you pick wrong you could land up wasting tons of money.

The most important thing to remember is that there is a style of martial arts for everyone. It’s just a matter of finding the right style for you or your family members. The best way to find the right one is to ask yourself a lot of questions.

Start by writing down why you want to take martial arts. Are you looking for self defense skills? Wanting to get in shape? Looking to enter tournaments? Always had a curiosity about the martial arts? Understand what’s driving you to look at the martial arts.

Next gather information on each of the types. You can find plenty of good information online. Read through it until you have a good understanding of each of the arts. Don’t just rely on one site to provide you with the information. Rather pull information from several web sites.

Once you’ve decided which style works for you, it’s time to visit the schools. Have a look at the facilities they have to offer. Meet the instructors. Ask about pricing and what your costs offer you. A few of these schools are more interested in collecting your money and offering you little in return.

You’ll need to decide how much you can afford to spend or are willing to spend on your training. Make sure you include your travel time and the gas cost into that budget figure. See if you can find a school nearby to help keep your costs down.

Check references on the schools. Find out what others have to say. You can also ask co-workers or friends if they have any recommendations as to which schools are best. It doesn’t hurt to sit through at least one class of each style that interests you. That will give you a better idea of what it really involves.

You need to decide how much money you are willing to spend or can afford to spend on your training. You’ll need to decide if you can afford to enter tournaments and pay for your travel.

You’ll also want a list of the equipment you’ll need to buy. Some of the martial arts equipment like the kendo can be very expensive while other forms can be much more affordable.

After you’ve visited each of the schools make sure you write down the good and bad you found with each school. Then do your comparison. If something about one school made you feel comfortable or at ease make sure you note this as your comfort is important too!

Judo, Tae-Kwon-Do, Karate, Tai Chi, Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Wushu, Jeet Kune-Do, Krav, Angeles Eskrima, and Maga are all forms of martial arts. And of course there are plenty of others. So whether you are looking to get some exercise, protect yourself, or compete there is a martial arts for you!


Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit ArticleClick.com. Article Click is a free content article directory. This means that as a publisher you may reprint the articles that are included in our site, as long as the article is unedited and the author box is included with it's live hyperlinks.