Before You Start

What is the best style of martial arts?

If there were an answer to that question, we wouldn't need sites like this one would we? The fact of the matter is that this argument has been going on for years - pick up any martial arts magazine and you're bound to find a debate. The Gracie family from Brazil started up The Ultimate Fighting Championship here in America to prove that their Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (more commonly known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) was the best style. While Royce Gracie was successful in defeating all challengers for a number of years, he and his brothers and cousins have all tasted defeat at one point or another, and those few that have managed to best a Gracie have also been beaten. So has anything been proven? Depends on how you look at it.If you want to win The Ultimate Fighting Championship this may indeed be a legitimate question. However, what a beginner getting into martial arts for self-defense should understand is that all the major styles of martial arts have had tournament success. So if a practitioner of any given art can defeat another highly skilled martial artist, will any of these arts provide a good foundation for defending yourself against a non-martial artist? Obviously. Martial artists don't go around picking fights, so the question of whether one is better than the other is irrelevant because you're not going to be defending yourself against a martial artist.The question then becomes, what is the best style of martial arts for you? This question is a lot more complex, but search through the style definitions and hopefully you will be able to figure it out. Try a style- if you don't like it move on. You will find that any experience in the martial arts increases your knowledge- it is almost impossible to waste your time.

Will martial arts allow me to defeat anyone?

Unfortunately, no. There are some people who have been in so many fights throughout their life that they have become very skilled fighters without any formal training. However, martial arts will greatly improve your chances of defeating such people and, more importantly, emerging from the conflict without injury. Furthermore, martial arts will teach you how to evade attackers and even how to avoid situations that could become violent.

Do I need to be athletic to study martial arts?

Not at all, though don't be surprised if you find yourself becoming athletic through the
experience. One of the benefits of studying martial arts is that in each session you attend you will get a good workout, but focusing on learning techniques prevents the boredom that goes along with most types of exercise and causes people to give them up. Many people start martial arts training quite out of shape. Anything that you need to be able to do to become a skilled practitioner of that martial art will be part of the training- if you were already able to do all those things you wouldn't need to take lessons, would you?

Do I need to be young to study martial arts?

Absolutely not, but martial arts are a good way to regain or maintain youthful vigor. Martial artists of all styles practice into their 70's or sometimes even their 80's. Granted, if you enter sporting competitions being young may be a benefit- but if Don Wilson can come out of retirement well into his 40's and win Kickboxing fights then being a little older obviously isn't too much of a hindrence.

Are there religious ceremonies in martial arts classes?

The answer to this question depends on your definition of "religious" but basically the answer is no. Many styles have exercises to develop awareness of the individual's life energy (called "ki" or "chi") and though this may seem religious to some, practitioners consider it an exercise like any other performed in the training center- there is no connection to any sort of diety or supernatural beings. Some martial arts utilize Taoist philosophy, but these concepts are ideas such as utilizing two opposite approaches at the same time, or using techniques that take advantage of natural physics instead of trying to resist nature- again, none of the Taoist concepts used in martial arts are ones that would in any way conflict with someone's religious beliefs.

Will martial arts give me self confidence and inner peace?

Nothing can give you confidence and tranquility, but martial arts is a very good approach toward achieving these goals for yourself. The most common effect martial arts tends to have on people is a new view of what the individual can and cannot accomplish. A new student often sees the advanced students performing feats that seem beyond his or her potential. After much practice, however, that student will find themself performing those same feats, and thus a new belief in one's own possibilities is found. Furthermore, because martial arts questions the assumptions that we make that lead to anger and conflict, the mindful student finds him or her self being more patient and calm, especially when dealing with others.

What should I look for in a training center?

The answer to this question is very easy- look for a place that you like. Some training centers emphasize the spiritual or philosophical side of martial arts, while others focus on sport, and yet others on practical application for self-defense. How well you fit with a certain training center will depend on how much you wish to explore that aspect of the art you choose. There are many variables, even between two training centers which teach the same style. Furthermore, find somewhere that the instructor and students make you feel comfortable- this should be a place that you enjoy going to, not a chore that you have to do. Usually, it is an instructor who is open-minded and willing to answer a lot of questions that puts students most at ease and who is enjoyable to learn from. So ask a lot of questions early on so you'll know if it is the right place for you- a good instructor will appreciate your enthusiasm for knowledge.

How do I find a training center?

The best resource for that is still your local telephone directory. Look under "martial arts" for any style except Boxing or Wrestling- those are traditionally are not considered martial arts and as such will probably be found under "gymnasiums." Another place to look is the local YMCA or community center, these places often have martial arts classes and are usually less expensive. An often overlooked resource is the owners and employees of martial arts supply stores, they will usually know most of the training centers in town including the non-profit clubs that don't have yellow pages listings. Call the training center and ask when would be a good time for you to come by and watch a class- any reputable school will let you watch a class and participate in one or two before signing up.

How long until I get my black belt?

Patience, grasshopper! First of all, not all fighting systems use belts to indicate rank. Wrestling, Boxing, and the various types of Kickboxing only distinguish between professional and amateur. As the Muay Thai fighters like to say, "the belt is in the ring" - meaning that the only belts in the style are championship title belts, and if you want one of those you've got to get in the ring and take it from someone. Of those styles that do use rank, the order, color, and experience needed to obtain various belts differ greatly. In Kung Fu a "red sash" is the highest rank. In styles such as Tae Kwon Do or Karate a student might be able to obtain a black belt in two years, while in others such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a black belt takes around ten years to obtain. So a black belt in one style is not the same as a black belt in another.Focus on learning and the belt will come.

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