What is the Best Martial Arts For Me to Take?
If you are considering studying the Martial Arts, you may be over whelmed with all the choices in styles that are available. To make thing more challenging within each style e.g. Kung Fu, there can be hundreds of disciplines. With all these choices and everyone making claims to having the best style it can be extremely difficult, but; choosing a style of Martial Arts is really a personal choice. There is a something that you should keep in mind before making that decision though:
Do you fit a hard or soft style better?
Martial Arts can be broken down into two segments: hard styles, and soft styles. The names refer to how technique is used when dealing with an opponent attack, and the amount of force used when applying techniques.
The hard Martial Artist meets force with force. Hard styles have a lot of force applied behind there technique. The Martial Artist of these styles work from solid stances that plant them firmly to the ground, using these stances the student of hard Martial Arts generate a tremendous amount of force when punching and blocking.
Hard styles of Martial Arts require more strength to execute the techniques properly. Additionally, since the Martial Artist of hard styles are meeting force with force, those who practice the hard arts need to build stronger bones. The hard styles have developed various training methods over the centuries to build strength and harden the bones.
The Martial Artist of soft styles use an attackers force and momentum to defend himself. Instead of meeting the attackers force head on, they will parry and lead the attacker off balance. From this advantage point they can then counter striker.
The movements of the soft styles are graceful. They can be as lovely to watch as they can be deadly. Speed and agility are the tools used in the soft styles. Using various training techniques the students of the soft styles enhance these attributes. Additionally, students practice various two man drills while studying the soft arts. These drills grow in difficulty as the student progresses in ability.
When choosing a style it is a good idea to keep these two differences in mind. Your body type and physical attributes will, in some ways, determine whether a hard style or a soft style is best for you. It is a good idea to visit martial arts schools of various styles, and take a demonstration class. By doing this you will be able to see firsthand what style is naturally more comfortable for you.
