So
you are considering taking up martial arts?
Or maybe you already have begun the first
part of what I truly hope and believe
will be a long, inspiring and
enjoyable journey? Any how: Congratulations
and welcome!
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This
page is designed for you: A person who is
considering taking up martial arts, or who
has just started out. The expression "just
started out" means, to me here, that
you have done a few classes, maybe already
been training for a few weeks or months.
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The
road that you have chosen to try out is
potentially full of great and positive experiences,
but also some pitfalls. This page is meant
to help you stay on the road you have started
on, or to help you find a suitable art.
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Where
do you begin to search for "your"
art?:
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I
don't know about you in particular, but
I can safely say that most people (this
includes myself) are simply teking
up martial arts that are recommended
to them by others. Some folks simply
search through the yellow pages or drop
by the nearest available school.
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There
are in other words a lot of chance and luck involved.
You may hit gold, or run into something
that may be martial indeed, but have very
little in common with art :-) Or you may
find a great art and great school, but one
that does not fit your requirements and
preferences.
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What
is it that you're looking for?:
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When
your friend or family member recommends
a spesific art and/or school to you, this
is more often then not based on their own
idea of, and knowledge about, what is "good"
or "best". Simply put; what is
good for me may not be what you're after.
My advice? Do your searches, take your time,
look around, test, and by all means ask
around!
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Please
keep in mind that there are so many great
arts out there and so many different objectives
and ways to do the martial arts!:
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You
can do martial arts for
fitness
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It
may be you're taking up martial
arts for self-defense
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Maybe
you wish to lose some
weight or want to get in
shape
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You
can be enjoying martial
arts for the historical
and traditional side
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You
can be starting with budo
for enjoyment and fun
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You
can indeed do martial
arts to compete and fight
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You
can be taking up martial
arts for the psychological
and mental benefits
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You
can be doing martial
arts because of the weapons
aspect
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You
can be interested in the
more esoteric sides to some arts
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You
can see the arts as a way
to meet people and
learn something new
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Who's
to say that one objective is "better"
or more worthwhile than the other. For sure,
I'm not going to tell you what you should
be aiming for. If you find your goal, something
that is right for you, then shoot!
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What are
the differences between the arts?:
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Now,
this is a vital question, and one that we
will be addressing when we begin presenting the different
arts.
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For
now, be aware that some arts are more into
punches and kicks (karate, taekwondo or
kickboxing to name a few), while others
are more grappling orientated (some jujutsu
styles, judo, wrestling, grappling, sambo etc.).
There are arts that begin with weapons training
(like kali/escrima or kendo), some
that have weapons on a more advanced level,
and some that don't do weapons at all. There
are arts that are heavily self-defense orientated
(like modern krav maga, jujutsu, some mixed
martial arts and RBSD - "reality based
self defense"), and some that put very
little focus on this. There are those that
are heavy on competition, while others shy
away from it. There are styles that
stick to one or few things, while others
may have many sides to them (kung fu, jujutsu,
kali, jeet kune do, ninjitsu, silat and
others), there are "soft" styles
and "hard" styles, styles that
have lots of Eastern sides to them (like
aikido), as well as modern styles that have
very little to do with the Eastern "ways".
Some (most) arts use ranks/belts, but others
don't. Some martial arts train in pre-arranged
forms, while yet others don't.
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More
to follow...
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