Shane Lee asked:


This article is about the kung fu martial arts and you can find some useful information in it if you are a fan of the kung fu martial arts. As a Chinese, I think I have a better understanding of the kung fu martial arts than most western people. 

A lot of people think that the Chinese kung fu martial arts is far more than the boxing. In their point of views, the kung fu martial arts should include kicks, elbows and knees skills too. This is reasonable, but I have something else to say. I think there is no big differences between different kinds of martial arts. Every country in the world has its own martial arts theories, but all of them are very similar. The Chinese kung fu martial arts have been exaggerated in my point of view. Many Chinese “kung fu masters” look down the boxing. But in the real street fights, the cross, jab, hook and upper-cut are the most practical and useful ways to strike your opponents. Shortest Distance between Two Points is a Straight Line. In most situations, the simplest way is the best. Also, the punches have lots of tricks and need lots of practice to improve its power. In China, a lot of people think that the Chinese kung fu martial arts have too many mere forms. In the kung fu martial arts shows, the kung fu fighters are just doing something superficial. These kinds of shows are just like dancing shows, not the practical fighting shows. Why the Chinese kung fu martial arts have so many mere forms? I think it is because of the Chinese culture. There are lots of mere forms and superficial things in the ancient Chinese culture and the Chinese kung fu martial arts gained these from the culture. If you like the Chinese kung fu novels, you will be able to see a lot of superficial things in them. The kung fu in these novels have been greatly exaggerated and they are just like magic. The top kung fu masters are like god and are able to do lots of incredible things in these kung fu novels.

Although I have to admit this shortcoming of kung fu martial arts, it still has some really good stuffs. Qi Gong ( it is called Nei Gong too ) is the unique thing in kung fu, comparing with other martial arts in the world. In many kung fu videos, you can see lots of Qi Gong stuffs from the Shaolin monks. They are able to break the bricks, sometime even iron sticks using this Qi Gong kung fu. But this unique kung fu is not easy to learn. Most Qi Gong kung fu maters are not willing to teach other people. This makes the Qi Gong more and more mysterious in the world. I have some good friends learning Qi Gong kung fu in China. They all have this kind of feeling that the Qi Gong kung fu’s theory sounds very reasonable sometimes. But you will find it ridiculous sometimes too. In the period of learning this Qi Gong kung fu, they can understand some Qi Gong kung fu theories sometime. But they will find themselves in a misted situation sometime.

In my view, you should not waste your time learning this kind of mysterious Qi Gong kung fu if your aim is to learn how to defend yourself. Some people learned 10 or 20 years of Qi Gong kung fu but still lost in the real street fights. If you wanna learn something more practical, I think the Chinese wrestling is a good choice. You do not need to find a “kung fu mater” to teach you this. The coaches in the sports academy or schools can teach you the most practical wrestling skills. All these coaches must get the professional licence to teach students. They have long time of experience in teaching wrestling. Generally, if you can learn the wrestling for one or two hours every day, you will be able to win most street fights after one year’s of wrestling trainings. If you can insist the trainings for 3 years. You will find that it is very difficult to find a good opponent in your surroundings. The boxing is also a very good opion. You can greatly improve your fighting skills if you have one year’s of trainings in boxing. For the self defence, I think the wrestling and boxing is enough. These are really practical in the real street fights.

Sanshou kung fu is the most practical kung fu in my point of view. It is like a combination of the Chinese wrestling and Chinese kickboxing. Learning Sanshou kung fu can be much more useful in the real street fights than learning the mysterious Qi Gong kung fu. Although a lot of Qi Gong masters talk about their incredible Qi Gong all the time. One one can stand out to fight Hailong Liu ( the famous Sanshou kung fu champion in China ). Sanshou kung fu is not very difficult to learn. You only need 3 months to learn its technics and skills. After one or two years of practice, you will gain the capability to defend yourself and to protect others.

By Shane Lee.  Date: 05/07/2009.

Copyright belongs to ShowKungFu Dot COM .  You can find more information about kung fu martial arts from our web site.

NOTE: Permission is granted by the copyright owner to disseminate this article in whole or in part provided credit is given to the author (with a link to the article’s source URL ShowKungFu Dot COM ) and this NOTE is not removed.



Leslie

Phil Burney asked:


The first and last thing you need to remember about martial arts is that it is a field of discipline that is supposed to prepare you for combat. It is not simply a set of movements that look great to spectators. Every movement, every breath done by the martial artist is meant to accomplish something during a combat encounter. If you are ready for the idea of using your martial arts skills for combat situations, then you are ready to train and progress in martial arts.

Inasmuch as the term “Martial Arts” literally means “the art of Mars” (Mars being the god of war in Roman mythology), you should be prepared to invest in martial arts equipment to train for highly combative situations. Though some cultures frown upon women taking part in martial arts, there are other cultures that expect women to learn martial arts too – like in ancient Japan, wives of samurai warriors were expected to defend the home if attacked in the absence of their husbands.

Martial arts can be subdivided as to what skills they seem to prioritize – this will tell you what types of martial arts equipment you need to use. For striking, you may need the “wooden dummy” that is used as Chinese martial arts equipment – this type of Chinese martial arts equipment tries to train your mind to anticipate where angles of attack would come from. For kicking sports like Taekwondo, the necessary martial arts equipment to use would be a mouth-guard and a head-guard (for both male and female jins or fighters.) Male jins need other martial arts equipment like a crotch guard or sport cup so that their groin is not exposed to injury. Chest protectors are standard martial arts equipment for amateur matches and Olympic-level matches. However, in real life you should expect such protective martial arts equipment to be absent so some sparring matches involve absence of any protective gear, so you get used to being in real-life combat situations.

Uniforms are standard martial arts equipment for nearly all martial arts nowadays. Often, you can distinguish what type of martial arts is being done based on what the fighters are wearing. But uniforms are not just pleasant to look at – since they are made of thick material, they are pretty durable so that they can withstand constant strikes and friction during combat situations. Uniforms nowadays are also made of breathable material like thick cotton so that fighters don’t overheat or feel too uncomfortable in the heat of a match.

Since martial arts were developed for combat, often fighters or martial artists might be members of the military. In the Western context then, it may be necessary to have access to important martial arts equipment such as strength training equipment. Though in the past, the weight of your opponent may have been enough to workout with, nowadays many martial arts recognize that strength training is quite important too. So if you can find a way to buy your own gym equipment (as your investment into necessary martial arts equipment) or at least rent them by the hour, that would help you develop strength and power for your matches.

In many Chinese martial arts, there are other forms of martial arts equipment that Western martial arts do not require. Some Chinese disciplines will require you to break wooden blocks or planks with your fist. This simple yet staple among Chinese martial arts equipment tests your power, focus, and ability to marshal your chi (energy) into your fist where it meets the wood. Another type of necessary martial arts equipment for the Chinese martial arts would be concrete blocks. Some instructors may ask you to break these concrete blocks with your fist, feet, or even your head.

As you can see, the Chinese martial arts require a different set of martial arts equipment compared to the Western type of martial arts. Do invest in the type of martial arts equipment appropriate for your discipline. Martial arts equipment will help you be a stronger, better and more confident fighter in the end.



Judy

Destino asked:


I really want to do a martial art, but I don’t have that much time. What is the usual amount of classes a week someone attends?

Eva

Matthew G asked:


Just the most useful Martial Art and why it would help in MMA fighting. I want somthing that will really really really help with what is used in MMA so nothing out of the question please.

Nancy

Christa Kowalczyk asked:


Martial Arts come in different forms and they are not only confined to Kung-fu or Taekwondo, which is popularized a lot in television and the movies. You would be surprised to know that certain forms of fighting are also called martial arts. To learn and practice martial arts, one should be well equipped with the proper supplies.

Martial arts have different origins. The term “Martial” is derived from the Roman god of war named “Mars”. Martial Arts simply mean “the art of war”. Although most people think that martial arts only came from the Asian cultures, it is also found in America and Europe. Martial arts feature a type of combat system that has codes within a single objective of physically defeating a person.

Aside from this, it is mainly used for self-defense against any bodily harm. Some martial arts techniques are actually based on a spiritual or religious philosophy such as Aikido and Judo. This is while others base it on a certain code of honor such as fencing. Hence, martial arts techniques are being practiced as a form of combat sports and some in the form of dance.

Thus, regardless of where the art originated, they have similarities with one another. Each style has a systematized fighting style. They even have forms and routines when they do sparring, which is practiced either alone or with a partner. Martial arts are grouped in a way that each style will focus on a certain area.

Below is a list of samples for each group:

Grappling

? Throwing – Judo, Jujutsu, Sambo

? Joint Lock – Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Hapkido

? Pinning Techniques – Wrestling, Judo

Striking

? Punching – Boxing (Western style), Wing Chun

? Kicking – Capoeira, Savate, Taekwondo

? Other Strikes – Muay thai, Karate, Shaolin Kung Fu

Weapons

? Traditional Weaponry – Fencing, Gatka, Kendo, Kali

? Modern Weaponry – Eskrima, Jogo do pau, Jukendo

For some, most of the styles are well known as a form of Martial Arts technique and only a few would know that boxing and fencing is also categorized as such. At present, most styles of martial arts are being used as combat sports. For the others, they are used in military or police training as a form of self-defense.

Hence, Tae Kwon Do, fencing, boxing, and wrestling are events in the summer Olympics. This is while other martial arts such as Wushu of China and Muay Thai have tournaments held around the world. Aside from this, there are also those, which are regarded both as a form of dance and as a type of Martial Art. Good examples would include the Capoeira of Brazil, Yolah of Oman/UAE, and Buza from Russia.

Here is short description of some of the techniques mentioned above.

CAPOEIRA

The slaves in Brazil created this martial art during in the 16th century. It’s a blend of dance, game, and as mentioned already – martial art, where in, music is incorporated. It’s more of a skill based art rather than injuring the opponent. The players’ form a circle called the Roda, where in, they will take turns in playing inside the circle.

The basic movement in Capoeira is called the ginga, in which, they need to swing and rock back and forth. They should move with the rhythm of the music being played by the bateria. Hence, the players usually use acrobatic movements such as cartwheels, handstands and use kicks, sweeps, and head strikes as a form of attack. They also do rolls and ducks, as their defensive move and as type of preparation for an attack.

Thus, this is more of a combination move for self-defense that makes use of a cartwheel with a blocking kick and an attack at the same time.

BOXING

The ancient Greeks first introduced it as a sport and there are different forms of boxing done around the world. As a combat sport, usually two persons with a similar weight class fight with each other using their fists. There is the presence of a referee, one who needs to watch over and control the fight.

Since boxing is a type of contact sport, certain precautions must be taken in order to prevent injury. Hand and wrist wraps and boxing gloves are worn in order to protect the bones in the hands. During practice or sparring sessions, a headgear is also worn to protect the head and face. A mouthpiece is also worn to protect the insides of the cheek and lips from getting cut and also the jaw joint when the face gets hit.

Boxers practice their punches on a “speed bag” or on the heavy “punching bag” in order to develop speed, agility, and strength. Other training equipments include free weights, jump ropes, and medicine balls. The trainer uses focus mitts as padded targets for the boxer during practice.

MODERN ARNIS

A Filipino style of martial arts founded by the late Remy Preses was created as a self-defense system. Influenced by the style of the Bolo (machete) and the art of Balintawak (Stick-Dueling), rattan sticks are used as weaponry, in which, it is called a “baston” (baton) or cane. Two techniques are taught using the baston – the single and double stick technique.

The cane is considered sacred to the practitioners of the art. This is the reason why, during combat, the arm or hand of the opponent is hit and not the cane. This method was called “defanging the snake”, where in, the opponent will drop his weapon, making him less of a threat. Then this technique has been discouraged a lot from learning the art. This is because it was too painful to learn.

Plus, this caused the Filipino martial arts to become almost extinct! Therefore, what Remy Preses did is to preserve the Filipino martial art via developing a method of cane-to-cane combat during practice. This is in order to attract would be practitioners of the art. Thus, the “defanging the snake” method remains the practical application.

TAEKWONDO

Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea and perhaps the most popular martial art in the world. It is a combination of self-defense, sport, and combat techniques, which makes it an official event in the Olympics. The training of taekwondo usually involves the use of the power of the hips and legs. It also has blocks, punches, sweeps, and joint locks.

Taekwondo is distinguished from other techniques because of its kicking techniques. They believe that the leg is the most powerful weapon especially with the back kick of taekwondo. The union of the mind and body is developed and practiced in this art, while developing other aspects such as discipline, strength, flexibility, and stamina.

The “dobok” is the official uniform of a taekwondo student and is usually white, and with it, a belt is worn around the waist where its color will indicate the person’s rank.

FENCING

A European martial art that involves the use of swords, knives, bayonets and other similar weapons used in armed combat. Presently there are three weapons used:

? Foil – light thrusting weapon

? Epee – heavy thrusting weapon

? Sabre – light cutting and thrusting weapon

Dueling gained popularity with the Europeans in the 17th up to the 19th century, where in, the cutting style of swordplay became a thrusting style or “foining”. During that time fencing involves defending one’s honor so no duels using sharp blades took place unless a formal insult was made.

After World War I, dueling was almost non-existent and went out after the Second World War. Therefore, the training and using of sharp swords disappeared. Plus, the emphasis was more in the technique and training styles of fencing.

As a form of martial art, the goal of fencing is to be theoretically trained for a duel. In classical fencing, where in the art of swordplay is applied and even expected to become applied in their training for an actual duel or fight, they utilize the standard foil, epee, and the blunted sabre. As for historical fencing, the use of a variety of weaponry with realistic weight will demand a different way of handling them, even affecting the movement of the body.

Today, fencing, as a type of sport, uses protective clothing during practices or events. The complete set includes the following:

? Croissard – form fitting jacket covering the groin with a strap that goes between the legs.

? Gorget – small fabric to protect the neck

? Plastron – under arm protector

? Glove – to protect the hand and prevent the blade from going into the sleeve

? Breeches or knickers – short trousers

? Socks – knee length or thigh high

? Shoes – with flat soles

? Mask – with a bib to protect the neck

? Plastic chest protectors – required for female fencers

Things you need when you are planning to join a martial arts class:

1. Uniform – most students are required to have a uniform. There are available uniforms for students of the following:

? Taekwondo

? Karate

? Judo and Aikido

? Kung-fu

? Ninja

? Belts

2. Protective gears and sparring gears

? Head gear

? Hand gear

? Foot gear

? Chest guard

? Shin guard

3. Weapons

? Practice swords

? Escrimas

? Weapons cases

? Weapons stand

? Knives

? Bo’s and staffs

? Kubotan

4. Training gear

? Breaking boards

? Mats

? Conditioning gears – hand grips, double end ball

? Hand held pads -mitts and arm shield

? Heavy bags

5. Boxing equipments

? Gloves

? Cardio wraps

? Jump rope

? Leather speed ball

6. Exercise equipments

? Medicine balls

? Chin up bars

? Heart rate monitor

? Free weights

? Ankle weights

? Stretching equipment



Karen

Terry Parker asked:


Before you begin to shop for the right martial arts equipment, and before you take that first step inside of the dojo, it is important to choose a martial arts style. All martial arts styles are not created equally and the best style for one person may be the worst for someone else.

There are several main style categories to consider, ground fighting or grappling, stand up, weapons based styles, throwing styles, and low impact styles. Stand up fighting styles, including Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Boxing, Kickboxing, and related styles. These types of martial arts are the most popular, and require specific martial arts equipment, depending on the specialization. If you are just beginning your martial

Ground fighting or grappling styles focus on wrestling related combat, and include Greco Roman wrestling, Sambo, Brazilian Jujitsu, and others. Of these, Brazilian Jujitsu is the most prolific in martial arts circles, and was developed into the form known today by the Gracie family, who were also responsible for developing the vale tudo combat matches that were the precursor to today’s MMA competitions.

Throwing martial arts styles are characterized by standing positions that make use of locks, trips and other techniques with the goal of throwing an opponent off balance. Styles in this category include, but are not limited to, Akidio, Judo, Shuai Jiao, and Hapkido. Martial arts equipment required for these styles consists of specially designed gis or uniforms, which are typically heavier than those used for karate and other ground fighting styles, and floor mats.

Low impact martial arts styles include Tai Chi, Ba Gua, and Chi Gong. While these styles were originally developed for combat, today, they are primarily focused on well being, stress relief, and low impact exercise. Tai Chi in particular emphasizes consistent movement, breathing, relaxing, and fitness techniques.

Weapons based martial arts focus on the use of one or more weapons and include, Kali, Iado, and Kendo. Kendo, translated literally as the way of the sword has been practiced since 1185 AD. Martial arts equipment for kendo includes protective armor known as bogu, a shinai, or practice sword, and a bokken, or wooden sword, for serious combat.

Regardless of the martial arts style you choose, be sure to practice safely, using proper martial arts equipment and the techniques learned during your lessons. Remember that martial arts is a mental as well as a physical discipline, and that it should only be used in self defense when it is absolutely necessary. With a little patience and a lot of practice, you will be on your way to becoming a martial arts master.



Milton

legs asked:


I am a tall, mid-twenties female with not so strong joints but I want to do a martial art. I want to learn better balance, flexibility and cardio health. I want to be able to defend myself in an attack and I want to gain strength and lose weight. I dont really want to use weapons. I know there are so many different kinds of martial arts from all different asian countries. Which is best for me?

Henry

GuinessDraught asked:


What martial art should I take to learn how to use a katana and other Japanese swords? I was thinking Kendo but I know that other martial arts teach it too like Aikido and Ninjutsu. Thanks.

Jeremy

pdopes asked:


ve checked out all the karate videos and would like to advance.

Has the martial arts bug been bothering you for some time now?

If you wish to study karate in depth, your primary objective is to join your local karate course so that you can master the basics correctly.

Without some previous form of karate or karate experience, you will find it very challenging to master the advanced karate steps and techniques that will allow you to grow and develop as a martial arts student.

Whether your rationale in learning martial arts is for self-defense or to compete in tournaments, joining a respected karate course is a vital first step. The most difficult part of this process is choosing the right karate academy as this will determine the result of your martial arts training. It would be a waste to spend hours of training without even mastering the basics.

Here are some tips and general guidelines that should be considered when choosing a good karate school.

One. Proximity. Choose a karate school that is relatively close to your home if possible. If you drive, try to keep this within a half hour. If your shosen course is close, it will be a lot easier to maintain a long-term training program. However this is not a rule. Feel free to choose any course that meets the criteria. You should never sacrifice the quality of your karate training for the convenience of having class within walking distance.

Two. When selecting a martial arts classes, ensure that the program is congruent with your goals. As an example, if your objective is competition and tournaments, it makes very little sense to get involved with a self-defense specialist. Although any karate training will be of great help to your overall development, targeting your goals directly is certainly one of the fastest way to achieve them.

Three. Make sure that your chosen karate school has been in operation for some time and that your intructor has enough background in teaching martial arts. Do some research about the lessons before making a final decision. There are plenty of karate schools in New York, a lot of them close down after the first couple years of operation. If you wish to master the art of martial arts, than select your instructor carefully.

Four. Don\\\’t sweat the small stuff. It is no big deal if you do if you don\\\’t have all of your martial arts gear ready for your first day of training. This acutally works out because ideally, you want to collect your gear little by little as this will allow you to get used to it a gradual pace. Also, it is easier to make adjustments as you are just beginning.

Five. Get all your questions answered. One of the smartest things you can do before joining a martial arts course in New York is to prepare a list of questions specific to the training you would like to have. This can be as small mental note or basic outline. Remember, this is about your martial arts training. It is not a time to be timid as you will be paying for this education, And not just with money.

Take your research to the Internet to make sure that you have covered all the bases. Stay focused and consistent and you are well on your way to mastering the art of Karate.

Milton

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


There are many various forms of exercise that people use to keep in shape. One way to keep in shape and gain more confidence is by doing martial arts. You will find many different types of martial arts are available to those who are interested in this discipline. To help you out with the learning process of martial arts there are academies and dojos where you will have a chance of learning different styles and forms of martial arts.

In the academies you will get to learn different techniques and weapons use of the many forms of martial arts. While you can learn more about this ancient form of fighting it is best to experience this learning with a qualified and trained instructor.

With the help of these individuals you can make sure that your training progress at a rate that your body will be able to work with. You will also be shown the right movements so that you don’t cause yourself any serious injurious. Now most of these academies can be geared towards teaching one type of training.

For this reason it is best if you see which martial arts form you would like to learn. Once you have made a decision about the unarmed fighting that you want to learn you can think about where you will get this training. You will find that some forms of martial arts are considered as being more popular than others.

You can look at the enrollment form of different classes in a martial arts academy to see which ones have more people in them. At the present karate is considered as being quite a good martial arts discipline to learn about. Even in this form of fighting you will find sub disciplines. Some of these martial arts are ones that we have heard about.

For instance you will find that Tae Kwon Do is one such martial arts that people take part in. Judo, Ninjitsu, Tai Chi are just a few of the other well known forms of unarmed fighting. You will find that many of these martial arts are inspired by legends who keep the flames of these art forms alive just by their names. For instance we have all heard of Bruce Lee.

This Kung Fu master has taught and acted in numerous martial arts movies. As a result many people who have seen the grace and fluid movements have been moved to learn a particular form of fighting. As a result of this desire to learn martial arts even by the young at heart you will find that this ancient form of fighting is still going strong.



Yolanda