Many people consider taking up martial arts but are hesitant to do so because they are unsure where to begin. The greatest place to begin is with research.
You can’t go wrong with research because it will tell you everything you need to know about the different martial arts types, accessibility, availability, and requirements.
Meanwhile, you may learn about the different types of martial arts, such as jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and karate, by scrolling down.
1. Kung fu
Without a doubt, it is one of the most well-known martial arts styles of all time. The different types of martial arts all share similar themes (usually classified by families, schools, or sects).
Physical exercises that replicate animal movements are used in some forms, while others are based on Chinese philosophies, religions, and tales.
Internal styles are primarily concerned with qi, whereas external styles are concerned with muscle and cardiovascular fitness.
Hung Gar, Eagle Claw, Praying Mantis, Five Animals (Shaolin Kung Fu), Monkey, and Wing Chun are some of the most popular styles. (Kung fu is commonly used in the West to refer to Chinese martial arts, but its original meaning relates to one’s proficiency in any skill, not simply martial arts.)
2. Karate
Karate is a martial art that developed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. It was mostly used for self-defense and discipline. It is now used as part of combat sports.
In any case, if you’re looking for a new hobby, workout, or source of entertainment, karate is a great choice.
Karate is one of the most widely practiced martial arts styles. While it is more popular in Japan, it is becoming more popular all over the world.
In today’s world, it’s not uncommon to find a karate school in almost every American city and town. There may be more than one of these amenities in some circumstances.
Unless you live in a rural region, access should not be an issue. Various striking techniques are used in this type of fighting style.
Kicking, punching, kneeing, elbowing, and open-handed techniques are among them. To perform all of the above-listed hitting techniques, karate practitioners must learn to use every inch of their body.
Compared to taekwondo, karate focuses on hand blows, while taekwondo does emphasize kicking techniques.
Shotokan, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, and Wado Ryu are the four major traditional karate styles.
One of the reasons karate is becoming more popular in the fitness sector is this. For a little charge, many commercial gyms now offer karate lessons two to three times a week.
3. Jiu-jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu, also known as jujitsu, is less well-known than karate, yet it is gaining popularity worldwide. Another martial technique that developed in Japan is Judo.
The major objective of these martial arts, such as karate and other types of martial arts, was self-defense and discipline.
In addition, it is used in combat sports. If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, you’ve undoubtedly heard of jiu-jitsu.
Jiu-jitsu is combined with boxing and other types of martial arts in MMA organizations, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator.
Weapons may or may not be used by jiu-jitsu practitioners. When weapons are used, they are usually small, measuring little more than 12 inches in length.
The short keychain is a short weapon that jiu-jitsu practitioners widely use. This weapon is typically used for self-defense at close quarters.
Joint locks, throws, and pins are used to neutralize an opponent by redirecting an attacker’s energy rather than directly resisting it (as with other types of martial arts such as karate).
Blocking, fulcrum throw, non-fulcrum throw, evading, and hitting are the five main areas or art of training.
4. Aikido
Aikido, which is classified as a grappling art, is a Japanese martial art that is practiced by flowing with the attacker’s motion rather than directly resisting it.
This Japanese martial art, like jujitsu, uses the momentum and strength of the opponent to achieve your goal (sometimes referred to as “non-resistance”).
Aikido means “the way for harmony,” a martial art form with a specific focus on the philosophy of channeling and unifying the spirit energy.
Aikido is also an interesting martial art because of its ultimate goal of non-aggression while using an opponent’s mobility and momentum against him.
It’s also known as the non-resistance path. In comparison to jujitsu, aikido does not involve kicking and uses fewer hand strikes; instead, the practitioner employs a variety of rotating and pushing techniques, as well as joint locks.
5. Judo
In 1882, Kano Jigoro, a Japanese polymath, came up with the concept of Judo. He established the art to teach physical and mental well-being as well as morality.
Judo’s goal is to eventually pin an opponent to the ground, which is accomplished by wise movements and throws. The martial art has grown through time, and it is now an Olympic sport.
Throws, takedowns, pins, joint locks, and chokes are all part of the discipline. Yushin “Thunder” Okami, Yoshihiro “Sexy Yama” Akiyama, Ayaka Miura, and Ken Haseg are all Japanese superstars that have learned this particular art.
6. Taekwondo
Martial artists who studied Japanese and Chinese martial arts developed Taekwondo in Korea between the 1940s and 1950s.
Taekwondo employs several striking techniques, as well as a blocking and take-down system. Several people have tried this kind of martial arts and found it too tough to learn because of its complexity.
Athletes and other people are using taekwondo as part of their strength and speed training. You can accomplish more in taekwondo than you can in two other martial arts combined.
At least, that’s what some martial arts instructors preach. This art focuses on head kicks, jumping kicks, spinning kicks, and other kicking techniques.
“Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim, “Pretty Boy” Kwon Won Il, and ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Region “The Immortal” Eersel are some of the athletes that utilize it.
7. Boxing
Boxing is one of the most well-known and celebrated types of martial arts in history. Due to its emphasis on calculation and correctness, it has been dubbed a “sweet science” by many.
For efficiency, it employs head movements and footwork, as well as super-targeted punches.
Even though it has been around for a long time, boxing is still seen as a modernized type of martial arts due to its constant modification, which is, once again, one of its key characteristics.
8. Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) dates back to the dawn of warfare. It was practiced in ancient Greece, China, Egypt, India, Italy, and Japan in various forms.
However, each country’s rules were distinct. MMA has grown in popularity among children, teenagers, and young adults. It was developed primarily for use in combat sports.
In cage fighting bouts, UFC and Bellator athletes frequently use it. MMA, unlike karate and jiu-jitsu, is not a self-defense or discipline sport. In cage fighting tournaments, however, it is used for self-defense.
In MMA, a range of grappling and striking methods are used. To be successful in this game, you must be a well-rounded fighter. To be well-rounded, you need to have both good stand-up and ground defense.
MMA fighters in ONE have also pulled off some of the most spectacular knockouts and submissions ever seen on television.
9. Tai Chi
This Chinese martial technique, also known as tai chi chuan, features coordinated, slow-motion poses. A sword or other weapons are used in some forms.
The graceful motions of a crane fighting off a snake are claimed to have inspired tai chi, which was created when a Chinese monk watched the fluid movements of a crane fending off a snake and merged them with Taoist breathing practices.
Today, tai chi is mostly performed as a form of exercise rather than a combat art in the West. It’s an internal Chinese martial art that’s used for both self-defense and health reasons.
There are many various styles of training, such as the westernized, standardized version of tai chi (tai chi chih), which resembles Chinese tai chi (tai chi chuan) but does not include any martial arts elements.
10. Muay Thai
Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport, and it is a martial art that dates back to Siam’s Konbaung Dynasty. King Chulalongkorn converted martial art into a sport in the nineteenth century.
Rules and regulations were introduced in the years that followed. Muay Thai is practiced for self-defense, health, and personal improvement, in addition to competitiveness.
Punches, kicks, knees, and elbows are the mainstays of “the art of eight limbs,” but it also includes sweeps and clinches work. It’s a sort of martial art that focuses on stand-up striking and clinching techniques.
Punches, kicks, elbow strikes, and knee strikes are prevalent, with eight points of contact, as opposed to the hands and feet (four contact points), which are more commonly used in other types of martial arts.
Muay Thai skills can be found in MMA in a variety of forms.
11. Krav Maga
Wrestling, grappling, and striking techniques are used in this hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel.
It is well recognized for its incredibly effective and vicious counter-attacks, which are meant to keep the practitioner safe while incapacitating the opponent in any way possible.
In general, there are no rules in krav maga, and it is not affiliated with any sporting organization. Furthermore, there is no formal uniform; however, some organizations use rank badges, levels, and belts to recognize progress.
The willingness and ability to use materials found in the environment to overcome an opponent, particularly those of greater size and strength, is a major feature of this martial art discipline.
