More than 6 million people participate in martial arts, according to Lee's Champion Taekwondo Academy, and the benefits are numerous. Among other benefits, participating in martial arts can improve your physical fitness, concentration and focus, self-esteem, and social skills. Martial arts can also help to relieve stress and teach respect and values. With hundreds of styles of martial arts to choose from, you can easily find one that suits your needs.
Karate
Karate was officially introduced in 1936 in Okinawa as an art of self-defense, according to the Types of Martial Arts website. Karate is the oldest form of self-defense and goes back hundreds of years throughout Japan and Okinawa. It consists of several forms and principles that are put together for optimal self-defense technique. These include kata (forms), kumite (sparring), kokoro (attitude) and kobudo (weapons training). Karate is also a great exercise and improves coordination and agility.
Kung Fu
Kung fu is said to have originated in China during the 12th century BCE for use during war and was the basis for many other forms of martial arts, according to the USGyms website. Many different evolutions of the original kung fu style exist, and many are based on animal movements. Because so many styles of kung fu exist, so do many different movements and forms. These can include meditation, forms of posture, weapons training, stretching or sparring. Kung fu is an intense physical and mental workout that requires patience and strength.
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is the most widely practiced style of martial arts throughout the world, according to USGyms. The style was originally founded in Korea and is still the national sport of South Korea. It consists of several forms that include blocks, hand-strikes, jumps and kicks. Taekwondo was officially added as a sport in the Olympics in 2000.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian jiu-jitsu descended from judo and Japanese jiu-jitsu. The sport was first introduced to Brazilians by a Japanese immigrant. It focuses mainly on grappling and ground fighting and is primarily used for sport today. Two methods are taught, the original version intended for self-defense and the sport version, which aims to help fighters wins points during competition.
Judo
Judo descended from Japan in the early 1800s. It is loosely based on Japanese jiu-jitsu and teaches two main phases of combat: the standing phase and the ground phase. Popular techniques in judo include throws, chokes, falls and foot sweeps. It was first inducted into the Olympics in 1932 and is still an official Olympic sport today.
Aikido
Aikido is a Japanese form of martial arts that is a mix of jiu-Jitsu and kenjutsu. Aikido focuses on using your own body's energy to defeat your opponent, rather than kicking and punching. It is often described as a spiritual journey as well as a self-defense technique. While most martial arts styles are solo activities, during aikido training, you heavily rely on a partner to deflect your energy.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts is a fairly new form of martial arts that is derived from several other styles, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo and Muay Thai kickboxing, according to Articlesbase.com. It is generally fought inside of a cage and the purpose of the sport is to knock out your opponent.
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