Martial arts have a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Today, there are more than 100 martial arts, including boxing, judo, karate, and taekwondo. Find out here what martial arts are precisely and which are the most popular martial arts. Perhaps there is a discipline for you?
What Is Martial Arts?
Martial arts include various fighting styles, the common feature of which is athletic competition. Usually, two martial artists compete against each other, with the aim of forcing the opponent to their knees with kicks, punches, or other permitted techniques. The outcome of a competition is decided by a referee who observes the action from a safe distance. Martial arts are usually about victory or defeat, but they are also about personal development and mental growth.
There are martial arts that use weapons, such as fencing. However, most disciplines are performed without any additional equipment. Famous examples are boxing, judo, and taekwondo. An important distinguishing feature of fighting styles is the intensity of physical contact:
- Semi-contact fighting: The focus is on control and speed. Punching or kicking with full force is not allowed. In addition, the referee stops the competition after each hit. Examples include wrestling, boxing, and judo.
- Light contact fighting: This also excludes knockout punches. Everything revolves around the most precise technique possible. For example: Taekwondo and Jiu Jitsu.
- Full-contact fighting: Full strength is required, and the goal is a knockout punch. Examples include MMA and Thai boxing.
Martial Arts vs. Combat Sports
Martial arts also fall under combat sports. They are generally less regulated and have a holistic approach. The focus is not on competition but on personal development. It is about self-discipline, respect, technique, and concentration. Martial arts originated in Asia, where they have a long tradition. Examples include Aikido, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi.
What Are the Benefits of Martial Arts?
Martial arts generally train the entire body. You must coordinate your arms, legs, and torso at high speed, whether it’s a punch, a kick, or an evasive maneuver. This requires flexibility, muscle tension, strength, and endurance. In this respect, martial arts are an effective full-body workout.
Martial arts also train mental fitness. Maximum concentration is the deciding factor between victory and defeat. Without self-discipline and willpower, you won’t get far in martial arts. Last, you can let off steam by boxing, fencing, or wrestling. This can help to relieve stress and pent-up emotions.
Qi Gong and Tai Chi are special cases: they are internal martial arts that aim for slowness, inner calm, and patience.
Who Is Martial Arts Suitable For?
In principle, the sporting aspect is the main focus of modern martial arts, as we can practice them here. It is not about taking out your aggression on other people or hurting someone. Instead, martial arts are for anyone who wants to train holistically, develop further, and test their athletic or mental limits.
Anyone who chooses a classic martial art should have a great deal of sporting ambition. Victory is the goal. Even if you only box against a punching bag in training, you will eventually go into the ring to defeat an opponent. Martial arts could suit you if you primarily want to develop yourself personally and train your discipline. If you want to be prepared for an emergency on the open street, a self-defense course is the right place for you.
Learning a martial art is time-consuming and complex. You should, therefore, be prepared to invest several hours a week in a good teacher. The best way to learn martial arts is not on YouTube but in a school. The correct technique is the highest priority. One wrong punch can mean your KO. That’s why you should master all the basics perfectly. If you don’t know which fighting style suits you, arrange a trial training session first.
What Martial Arts Are There?
There are said to be around 3,000 martial arts worldwide. Here is a list of the most well-known fighting styles:
Aikido
Aikido is a defensive Japanese martial art with its origins in the samurai tradition. The aim is not to knock out or injure the opponent but to force him to surrender through disciplined, concentrated, and respectful action. Aikido trains many complex evasive maneuvers and inner strength.
Boxing
Boxing is the most well-known martial art. There is classic boxing, kickboxing, and Thai boxing.
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Classic boxing: Two opponents fight with closed fists. Kicks or elbow strikes are not allowed. Stamina and punching power are essential in this type of boxing. Fitness boxing has also become popular. In this, punch combinations and movements are trained without physical contact.
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Kickboxing: A full-contact fighting style. There are no strict rules; kicks and punches are allowed in the ring. This martial art requires even more coordination than classic boxing.
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Thai boxing (Muay Thai): A complex, full-contact martial art from Thailand. It combines elements from classic boxing with kickboxing techniques. Elbow strikes and knee strikes are also permitted. In Muay Thai, you can fight with all your weapons—fists, elbows, knees, and shins.
Capoeira
Capoeira is an acrobatic, dance-like martial art from Brazil. It involves no physical contact at all. Two opponents move smoothly around the room, sometimes just on their hands. Exercises such as lunges, cartwheels, headstands, and handstands imitate a conflict. The “referees” stand in a circle around the opponents, sometimes with instruments that rhythmically accompany the action.
Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-jitsu is a martial art of the samurai used for self-defense without weapons. The focus is on resolving conflicts peacefully without causing injury. The opponent’s power is directed against him. To do this, the martial art uses various techniques such as hitting, kicking, choking, levers, and thrusts. Jiu-jitsu is based on an attitude to life that goes beyond sport.
Judo
The Japanese martial art of judo is similar to Jiu-Jitsu. Only those who are experienced can tell the difference from the outside. Judo teaches four techniques: throwing, ground, falling, and striking. The competition between two opponents is based on the principle of “win or give in.” It is about respect and mental and physical strength.
A further development of judo is the so-called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a full-contact martial art that gets down to business. Kicks and punches are taboo, but leverage and strangulation techniques are allowed, sometimes to the point of unconsciousness.
Karate
The unarmed martial art of karate has a long tradition. It originated in Japan and was initially developed for self-development and self-defense. There are now countless styles—sometimes sporty or combative, occasionally ceremonial. The discipline focuses on punches and kicks. It is less about victory or defeat and more about personal development and sharpening self-discipline.
Kung Fu
Kung Fu originated in China, where the Shaolin monks developed the martial art. Today, there are many different Kung Fu styles. They all have in common that learning them is time-consuming and physically demanding. The five elements of stick, spear, fist, saber, and sword have an essential tradition. They represent wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. True Kung Fu masters manage to destroy iron bars using only their physical strength without feeling any pain.
Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA for short, is a full-contact combat sport comprising various styles, such as boxing, kickboxing, karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and wrestling. Everything is allowed in the fight. The aim is to knock out the opponent or force them to give up. Combat sports are complex and sweaty.
Qigong
Qi Gong is a dance-based, defensive martial art from China. It teaches meditation combined with controlled movement. It trains concentration and mobility. It is more of an internal martial art and philosophy. The aim is to strengthen Qi, the life energy.
Wrestling
Wrestling is fought on the ground and standing. Throws, hurls, and levers are permitted. Punches, kicks, thrusts, and choking are taboo. There are two types of unarmed martial arts: freestyle, where the whole body is the target, and Greco-Roman wrestling, where only the upper body is used. The aim is to force the opponent to the ground and keep them on the mat with both shoulders.
Taekwondo
The martial art of taekwondo originates from Korea. The discipline is similar to karate but focuses more on sometimes highly complex foot techniques. Taekwondo is primarily about speed, endurance, and discipline. Marner art also pursues moral values like freedom, justice, and peace. Every student is obliged to take an oath.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan is an internal martial art originating from China, like Qi Gong. It is also called shadowboxing. It is unique because the movements involving the entire body are carried out very slowly. Weapons are also permitted, although only the stick is used in modern practice. The aim is to balance yin and yang and to achieve inner focus. The martial art is particularly gentle on the joints and can be practiced well into old age.
