photo by Doug Stennett
Choosing a Martial Art
As published in the June 2005 issue of “Explore Monthly”
Martial arts have lots to offer, but before you head down to the closest corner dojo and sign up, you may want to stop and think a little about what it is exactly that appeals to you about martial arts, and what exactly you would like to get out of training. I admit that I am biased as to what I think the best training is (running a dojo myself), but I will also admit that what I do is not for everyone. You really need to decide what you’re looking for before you go looking for training. Different martial arts focus on different areas, but can generally be broken into three categories: self-defense, fitness/exercise, and spiritual benefits.
Self-defense is what many people think of when they think of “martial arts” in general. If you are looking to be able to hold your own in a fight, or more importantly to protect your family or others not as capable of protecting themselves, you want to find a dojo that focuses primarily on realistic self-defense instruction. You want to be very careful here, as there are many instructors out there who claim to teach self-defense, but actually teach ineffective techniques that do not work in the real word. These may instill in you false self-confidence that can get you seriously hurt if you ever had to make use of your “skills”. Make sure whatever style you learn that it has a proven history and long track record of actually working when it matters. All the cool theories by the latest self-proclaimed “expert” and flashy looking kicks don’t mean squat against a determined attacker who’s not afraid to bend the “rules” to come out on top. Also make sure to watch for realistic training. If everything you participate in is overly stylistic and you never get “real” attacks, then you will never be able to properly defend against any REAL attack that comes at you on the street. Don’t confuse “traditional teachings” with “overly stylistic” though – there are many techniques and teachings that have been passed down for more than 1,000 years that at first glance look funny or awkward, but when put to the test work very well, or teach an important skill that can be used in a self-defense situation. Lastly, ensure the style you choose has a wide application. Ground-fighting has become very popular lately, for example, but if you only know how to grapple on the ground you will be at a huge disadvantage when it comes to any other kind of fighting (especially if it’s not a tightly controlled one-on-one encounter). The old adage “if you only have a hammer, every problem you see looks like a nail” applies here. Put many “tools” in your “toolbox”, and learn to use them all well.
The great success of Cardio-Kickboxing classes and the like shows a huge demand for martial arts training that focuses on physical fitness and exercise. This is an excellent use of martial arts – it’s fun and exciting and keeps people coming back for more, which is much better than getting so bored on the treadmill you come to dread going to the gym. Most importantly, look for something engaging and fun to do that you enjoy and you won’t get bored. Make sure it’s similar to a good aerobics class in that your heart rate stays up for most (if not all) of the class. By keeping your heart rate up for an extended period of time, you are increasing your cardiovascular endurance (a very important part of general fitness), and burning fat at the same time. Lastly, make sure that it focuses both on increasing strength (toning and/or building muscles through repetitive strenuous exercise) as well as increasing flexibility (using a full range of motion and stretching frequently). The balance of strength and flexibility is very important to achieve good overall physical fitness.
A benefit of martial arts frequently over looked is the “spiritual” benefit of training. If these ideas interest you, you may look for training that focuses on meditation, or the quieting of the mind. Meditation is a great way to release and deal with the stress that inevitably builds up in your day-to-day life. You will be amazed at the difference in your outlook on life with a very short period of focused daily meditation. Self-confidence is another “spiritual” benefit of good martial arts training. Things as small as practicing proper posture through walking, sitting, and movement can do wonders for increasing your agility and therefore your self-assuredness. Knowing your own body better through these teachings can help make incredible strides toward knowing and accepting both your body make-up and what is good for you and what is not. This can make you look at everyday things you previously took for granted in an entirely different light. Lastly, inner peace and relaxation is something a spiritually focused martial art can offer. Learning to understand and control the distractions and confusions (whether they be stress, lack of mental discipline, or a misunderstanding of “what makes you tick”) that you may not even be aware are plaguing you on a daily basis can change your whole attitude towards life. Do not confuse spirituality with religious ideas; there is no reason people of ANY religion can not train in the martial arts without compromising their religious ideals.
There are very few martial arts that can encompass all three of the above goals, so pick and choose carefully when you go to sign up for your first class. If you are looking for realistic self-defense skills you may be very disappointed by a Tai Chi or Tae Kwon Do class, for example, but Tai Chi offers excellent spiritual training and there are few things more fun and energizing than a good Tae Kwon Do or Cardio-Kickboxing class. Similarly, if you are looking for a good cardio workout you may be disappointed in a self-defense based martial art, as much of the focus here is making the most efficient use of the body and minimizing effort extended to maximize effect. Most dojos will offer a free class to prospective students, so take advantage of that and try out what you think you might like. Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions along the way. Most importantly though - take a few moments before hand to decide what it is that really appeals to you about martial arts training so you will be able to ask questions that really matter.