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Most people gain their only perception of the martial arts through what they see on television and in the movies. Few have actually set foot in a dojo (the Japanese word for the karate gym) or have witnessed the intense training required to become a martial arts expert. Yet, many individuals desire to learn one of the many ancient oriental fighting styles for a number of reasons. If you are planning to attend a school for the martial arts there are a few things you should do in preparation, so that you can select the best school to help you achieve your goals.
Initially, you must decide why you want to learn a martial art. Is it for self-defense, fitness, competition and tournaments, mental relaxation, or a combination of these? This is very important because there are many different kinds of martial arts and many different kinds of self-defense schools. In a moment we will examine each of these reasons for becoming involved in the martial arts, but let us first look at a few of the styles of martial arts and their philosophies.
There are literally hundreds of styles of martial arts throughout the world today. Although the main body of fighting styles is found withing the orient (China, Japan, Korea, etc.), many styles have origins in other countries. However, regardless of the country of origin, martial arts styles tend to fall into one of two categories. These are 'hard' and 'soft'. Sometimes they are also referred to as 'external' and 'internal' respectively. It is important that you know a little bit about each category because it will influence the choice you make.
The 'hard' or 'external' styles of martial arts focus mainly on physical training to achieve a high degreee of fitness and agility. Most external styles rely on long training sessions (1 to 3 sessions, three to five time a week) with a high degree of repetition of movements. Some of the martial arts that fall under this category are karate, tae kwon do, and judo. Karate (literally 'empty hand') is a Japanese martial art that focuses on the conditioning of one's hands and feet to make them into formidable weapons. This is achieved by repetitive of solid objects such as a wood block, sand bag, or concrete slab. Tae kwon do, which is a Korean style of military combat training, involves a great deal of kicking . Therefore, students often spend over half of each class session repeating and perfecting these techniques. Judo is another Japanese fighting style that resembles a form of wrestling. This style is primarily used in tournament fighting, but it has a number of useful self-defense techniques.
The philosophy of 'soft' or 'internal' styles is more focused on mental discipline. When these styles are used for self-defense, they often employ techniques to gain a psychological advantage over one's opponent. Certain disciplines of kung-fu and the art of tai chi are two examples of internal style martial arts. Both of these styles employ extensive meditation and lifestyle philosophy to achieve their goals. Although physical training is a part of each of these styles, the focus is often more on personal improvement rather than mastery of technique. These styles are based in both religious and philosophical ideologies that are incorporated into techniques taught.
If you are looking for a class in which you may learn some basic self-defense techniques, you may want to consider one that is offered at a local community college or recreational center. These classes typically last about 6 weeks and cover self-defense techniques for some of the more common assault scenarios. Later, you may also wish to consider a more advanced class in which techniques are taught to help you defend yourself against multiple attackers and assailants with weapons.
In our busy, computer-oriented society, many people are looking for a way to relax and 'wind down'. Some have turned to internal martial arts forms such as tai chi and yoga to learn and develop relaxation techniques. Again, you may chose simply to learn the basic techniques, many of which are taught in short-term venues. However, you may find that you wish to delve more deeply into these techniques while adding some physical discipline to your regimine. In this case you may want to consider enrolling in a martial arts school. This is usually a longer term commitment and can be cost prohibitive, so it is a good idea to reasearch the school and its philosophy before signing an expensive contract.
The most popular martial arts schools in our society are those that teach tournament style fighting. These schools are usually very disciplined and make use of a traditional or modified advancement system to rate students and their progress. The most common of these is the 'belt' system. In most martial arts the white belt is a beginner rank while the black belt is considered a sign of expertise or mastery. Again, perform some research before you commit to a school. Be mindful that there are a wide variety of ranking systems jsut as there are many martial arts to choose from. The term 'black belt' is not a catch-all rank as most of us westerners believe. In some schools this rank can be achieved in just a couple of years, while other styles only award this belt to life-time masters of the art. Some styles do not even use ranking systems at all, but many have adopted a belted ranking system to attract students here in the US.
There are also kickboxing classes and videos available which focus mainly on cardiovascular fitness and enduarnce. These are not designed to teach effective self-defense techniques, but some of the movements, if mastered, can be used in self-defense.
You may find, once you become involved in the martial arts, that your goals will change. Many people who are now martial arts instructors began by taking a simple self-defense class at a local high school. Likewise, there are many people who have enrolled in a long-term martial arts school only to find that all they really wanted was to learn a few basic techniques.
Don't be afraid to call or visit a school. Don't assume that only one program is offered. Many large martial arts schools also run self-defense clinics. Take time to do a little 'leg work' before deciding which classes are best for you. If you do decide that you want to attend a school on a long-term basis, be sure that the style and philosophy are waht you are looking for. Some schools put a lot of emphasis on sparring and tournament preparation while others strictly teach street-style defense. Some styles also require students to train in the use of one or more traditional weapons. This may also influence your decision.
The martial arts provide a wide variety of disciplines for the improvement of many aspects of your life. With a little preparation you can make the most of your experience, and perhaps you may find an endeavor that lasts a lifetime.
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