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The Aspiring Martial Artist's Guide To Choosing A Style

By Erik Blair

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Published: 05Oct2011
Word count: 1628
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Once you decide to pursue the martial arts, the first decision you'll need to make is which style to learn. Most people pick karate or taekwondo, two of the most popular styles taught today. Others lean toward the more exotic systems, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga, both often on display in MMA tournaments. Novices usually want to know which MA style is the best. The answer is none of them.

There are pros and cons to learning any martial arts system. Some are more physically demanding than others. Some are more suitable for competing in tournaments. The "best" system is the one that matches your goals. We'll discuss this in more detail below, and present a few questions you'll need to ask yourself before you choose a system.

Martial Arts Styles And Their Focuses

It's important to be familiar with how each MA style approaches fighting as that alone may heavily influence your decision. Karate, a striking art, emphasizes the use of the limbs as well as the knees and elbows. Taekwondo is also a striking art, though there is heavy emphasis on the feet. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu stresses grappling, which means it also stresses takedowns and ground control. Both judo and aikido are gentler styles, highlighting throws over strikes.

Matching A Fighting Style To Your Goals

Your goals will play a key role in selecting a fighting system. For example, suppose you want to enroll into martial arts classes because you're interested in physical fitness. Karate and taekwondo are good options since both provide plenty of movement.

Taekwondo is also a good choice if you're interested in competing in tournaments. If you plan to compete in events that involve grappling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and judo are more suitable options.

Suppose you're interested in enrolling your children into kids' martial arts classes. Here again, karate and taekwondo are good choices. Both offer young people an active, engaging environment that will keep their attention and encourage them to excel.

Many aspiring MA students are interested in learning a fighting style they can use for self-defense. We'll come back to this subject in a moment. For now, it's worth noting that any of the systems mentioned thus far can be used effectively for this purpose depending on the circumstances.

Are You Willing To Get Into Shape?

We mentioned earlier that some MA systems are more physically demanding than others. It is one thing to decide you would like to learn such a style. It is another thing entirely to actually do it well.

For example, suppose you decided to enroll into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes. In order to perform the style, and even keep up with lessons, you'll need to be in reasonably good shape. If you are not currently physically fit, are you willing to become so?

It's also worth considering past injuries. A bad back or weak knee should inform your decision regarding which system to choose.

What Type Of Fighting Do You Prefer?

A lot of people enjoy grappling. Others prefer to remain standing, and use their hands and feet to strike their opponents. Your preferred fighting style should play a role in choosing a system. Martial arts that focus on ground fighting (i.e. grappling) include jujutsu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and sambo (a Russian art). Those that stress remaining on your feet include karate, kung fu, and taekwondo.

There are elements of both grappling and striking found in a few MA styles, such as aikido and hapkido (a Korean art). This is important to know if you have a strong aversion to one or the other.

A Note On The Martial Arts For Self-Defense

Martial arts schools will often claim that the styles they teach are ideal for using in self-defense. Although any fighting system can be used to ward off an attacker, some systems are better than others. For example, an experienced kung fu artist may be effective in defending himself against an unwary attacker. But someone trained in Wado Kai Karate is bound to have much more success since the style is deeply-rooted in self defense.

As you can tell, choosing a martial arts system is more complex than it seems. Consider the above points to ensure you select a style you'll enjoy pursuing over a lifetime.

Want to find out more about self defense Colorado? Then visit The DoJo of Karate.

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