How to Choose a Martial Art to Learn

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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You've decided to study a martial art, but how do you know which style is right for you? Use these guidelines to match your preferences with a style you can feel comfortable learning.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Assess your physical condition. Do you have any physical limitations that might affect your ability to practice a certain martial arts style?

Step2

Watch practitioners from the various styles before making a choice. Many schools have an observation area, so you can watch while a class is being taught. Ask permission first.

Step3

Decide whether you can see yourself learning to perform the techniques within a style. If not, consider another style.

Step4

Summarize the information you have learned and match your preferences to a martial arts style that supports your physical state and long-term interest.

Tips & Warnings

Hard-style training tends to be physically intense. Examples include karate and tae kwon do.
Soft-style training tends to be less physically challenging. Thus, soft styles are suited to older students and those with physical limitations. Examples include aikido and tai chi.
Consult your physician before beginning any exercise program. Remember that practicing martial arts can be dangerous, so exercise caution.

Comments

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Decide what you are looking for. Some martial arts focus more on real self defense while others focus on performance arts.

Anonymous said

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on 2/23/2006 If you get into a style that is too much for you, don't say you
can't do it. Keep looking for the right style for you. For example; if kung fu isn't you, try something a little easier, like tie kwon do. But don't give up because you didn't find your style right off the bat, keep looking.

Anonymous said

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on 10/1/2007 Always watch out for fake or useless Martial Arts. A martial art is fake if it imitates another martial art, but in a blatantly profane or somewhat dumb manner.

A useless Martial Arts is one that is too colorful and cannot be imagined by anyone except the delusional students to be useful in combat.

Just because a martial art is colorful does not mean it is useless. Tai chi and Bagua are both colorful, their use lies in subversion.

Just because a martial art does not fit imitation or too colorful does not mean it is fake, either. Delusional Gong fu artists used fake martial arts that had the same power as karate against the Chinese Authorities during the Taiping Revolution, but they were still defeated.

Know your art. That is the ultimate law in choosing a Martial Art.

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 If you can't find a teacher, look up the karate belt requirements and when you have accomplished all the requirements, move up on the next belt.

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