Created in ancient Asian cultures, Martial Arts heighten spirituality and develop character. Because of their holistic approach, several of the martial arts can make an exceptional contribution to your personal fitness course. The beauty of these methods is that, more so than other types of physical exercise, they develop the mind and soul as much as the body.
The martial arts have few competitors in the catalogue of exercises and sports when it comes to psychological and spiritual nurture. As previously mentioned, they are not designed to encourage violence or aggression. Quite the opposing, people who train in the martial arts tend to quietly avoid conflict and demonstrate no need to confront. In general, studies show that there is an opposite relationship between the length of time students of the martial arts have trained and their participation in vicious encounters.
Martial arts do not present the total range of exercise needed to achieve top physical fitness. They should be increased with conventional strength and cardio training. Nevertheless, martial arts do improve posture, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and stamina.
A big part of the physical control in the martial arts involves rigorous conditioning through the extended reiteration of choreographed routines. Some techniques, called the “hard” styles, incorporate aerobic and cardio-vascular workouts. The “soft” styles are less powerful but focus on flexibility, balance and control.
Asian martial arts boost character development in a way that competitive Western sports typically do not. More than simply tools for self-defense, these systems offer personal growth in mind, soul and body. If you are looking for a system that will fortify not only your body but your attitude, why not consider the workouts that the martial arts offer? There is sure to be a type that suits you.
Here is a list of some of the more popular remarkable and striking styles:
1. Judo – means the “gentle way,” Judo is a grappling technique that teaches how to wrestle and throw opponents.
2. Ju Jitsu – uses the opponent’s force and strength of attack as a weapon against him, thus enabling a stronger or bigger attacker to be subdued. One of the most complete martial arts, Ju Jitsu includes unarmed strikes, chokes, joint locks and throws.
3. Karate –this style originated in Okinawa and stresses striking techniques through punches, kicks and blocks. It is highly active and makes balanced use of a great number of body muscles; it provides excellent all-around exercise and develops coordination and agility.
4. Kung Fu – a tremendously disciplined, powerful martial art, Kung Fu is another remarkable style where strength is built in low stances and powerful blocks.
5. Muay Thai – also called as Thai Boxing, Muay Thai is the oldest known form of kickboxing. Besides a focus on kicking, the sport has changed to discourage the use of upper body and knees in its strikes.
6. Tae Kwon Do – the world’s most commonly practiced martial art, Tae Kwon Do is a Korean fighting art that looks very similar to Japanese karate. The methods are characterized by powerful and graceful movements.
7. Tai Chi – a Chinese martial art as characterized by its graceful, slow, flowing movements. It promotes an inner calm and an enhanced self-awareness. The body weight or center of magnitude of the practitioner submerged into the abdomen and trunk of the body, thus allowing more relaxed and deep breathing and overall balance.
