There are literally hundreds of martial arts systems to choose from. Classes in both Eastern and Western styles abound. Martial Arts Portland Oregon includes classes with a focus on health and fitness, sport and competition, self defense, personal development.
How students progress varies from school to school and system to system. Most Eastern Martial Arts use a skill testing system with colored belts showing a students rank. Most western systems test through combat with winners receiving a Title. Ranking systems vary from system to system, and sometimes from school to school.
Eastern traditions emphasize respect, self control, responsibility. All training requires commitment, self control, focus, and discipline. The fitness benefits are many including aerobic fitness, stamina, strength training, balance, flexibility, coordination.
Learn how to push through fear and anxiety, how to take a hit and get back up, how to take a fall. Learn proper breathing techniques for exercising, taking a hit or kick, delivering kicks or punches. Many Eastern styles include a series of choreographed routines that must by memorized. Many arts, now practiced as sports, use sparring practice that demands self control, a strike that doesn't actually connect, but is obvious to the judge. Eastern style training usually includes meditation, focus, and breathing exercises.
Training for children focuses on self control, listening skills, stranger awareness, anti-bullying strategies, respect for others. It's a sport that many children find exciting, and it gets them moving and training their bodies. It also allows children to progress at their own rate. No team pressure to win the game, catch that ball.
Kung Fu uses fluid movements easier on the joints than the hard and fast moves of Karate and Taekwondo. If your goal is self defense, good choices are Kempo Karate, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Hapkido. If your goal is to competition, some choices are boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, MMA. MMA blends Eastern and Western styles. Use whatever moves outmaneuvers your opponent. To learn to take a fall, use your opponents weight to take him down, how to keep him down, consider training in Wrestling, Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu.
Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.
Decide on your goals. Are you striving for fitness, personal development, self defense skills, or hungering to test your skills against the competition. Meet with the teachers/coaches. Ask about their experience and qualifications. Observe a class of experienced students to see the schools training methods and philosophy in action. Explain your goals to be sure the program is compatible with your goals.
Storefront training tends to be more expensive, and often requires participants to sign a year long contract. If you know what you want and you're serious about a long term commitment, this may be the right choice. If you're just testing the waters, take a look at city recreation classes, after school programs, or community gym offerings.
How students progress varies from school to school and system to system. Most Eastern Martial Arts use a skill testing system with colored belts showing a students rank. Most western systems test through combat with winners receiving a Title. Ranking systems vary from system to system, and sometimes from school to school.
Eastern traditions emphasize respect, self control, responsibility. All training requires commitment, self control, focus, and discipline. The fitness benefits are many including aerobic fitness, stamina, strength training, balance, flexibility, coordination.
Learn how to push through fear and anxiety, how to take a hit and get back up, how to take a fall. Learn proper breathing techniques for exercising, taking a hit or kick, delivering kicks or punches. Many Eastern styles include a series of choreographed routines that must by memorized. Many arts, now practiced as sports, use sparring practice that demands self control, a strike that doesn't actually connect, but is obvious to the judge. Eastern style training usually includes meditation, focus, and breathing exercises.
Training for children focuses on self control, listening skills, stranger awareness, anti-bullying strategies, respect for others. It's a sport that many children find exciting, and it gets them moving and training their bodies. It also allows children to progress at their own rate. No team pressure to win the game, catch that ball.
Kung Fu uses fluid movements easier on the joints than the hard and fast moves of Karate and Taekwondo. If your goal is self defense, good choices are Kempo Karate, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Hapkido. If your goal is to competition, some choices are boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, MMA. MMA blends Eastern and Western styles. Use whatever moves outmaneuvers your opponent. To learn to take a fall, use your opponents weight to take him down, how to keep him down, consider training in Wrestling, Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu.
Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.
Decide on your goals. Are you striving for fitness, personal development, self defense skills, or hungering to test your skills against the competition. Meet with the teachers/coaches. Ask about their experience and qualifications. Observe a class of experienced students to see the schools training methods and philosophy in action. Explain your goals to be sure the program is compatible with your goals.
Storefront training tends to be more expensive, and often requires participants to sign a year long contract. If you know what you want and you're serious about a long term commitment, this may be the right choice. If you're just testing the waters, take a look at city recreation classes, after school programs, or community gym offerings.
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