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How
to Choose the Right Martial Art
THE
SHAPE OF A MARTIAL ART
by
Bill Wallace
Reprinted from Black Belt Magazine April 2002
I
don't know of anybody who just woke up one day and said, "I
want to take shorin-ryu karate," or "I want to take goju-ryu. "Most
people don't have any idea what makes one art different from the
next. They just think karate is karate; it doesn't matter whether
it is really taekwondo, jujutsu or judo. They learn about those
different systems only when they join a school and start reading
books and magazines.
That
is unfortunate because many people end up studying an art that
is not particularly well-suited to their body type and personal
goals. Although they often find out whether they are gifted in
the art they've selected or they should have picked a different
style during their first three months of training, you can save
yourself some wasted time by reviewing the following guidelines
for selecting a martial art.
Because
judo concentrates on throwing techniques, it is a good choice
if you have a short, squatty physique. You won't be punching
or kicking, so you'll have to rely on maneuvering close to
your opponent, getting under his center of gravity and tossing
him into the air and onto the mat. Judo is also a good choice
if you are tall and lanky and don't want to wrestle or get
down on the ground because you've got too many limbs in the
way. However, even if you are highly skilled, you will have
trouble keeping a shorter opponent away from you.
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If
you are small, you may want to study jujutsu, but you must
not have an aversion to going to the ground, rolling around
on your back and getting covered with sweat-both yours and
your opponent's. While you struggle to get your opponent into
position for an armbar or choke, you will probably have to
crawl between his legs and under his arms and contort your
body in all sorts of directions. Having sustained a back or
neck injury could preclude you from doing that.
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Taekwondo
is best-suited for you if you're tall, slender and flexible.
Those qualities will enable you to execute fast high kicks
all day long. However, if you're heavily muscled or significantly
overweight, you may find that your legs get awfully heavy after
a while and that your kicks become slower and slower. You may
also have to contend with poor endurance and flexibility.
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If
you have a strong, stocky build, consider practicing shotokan
or shorin-ryu karate. Those arts will allow you to showcase
your strong hand technique and stances, and you can become
very successful in competition and self-defense once you master
them.
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Wrestling
is a good choice if you are compactly built, strong for your
size and have a good sense of balance and movement.
If
you do not have one of the physiques described above, you should
try a variety of arts to find out which one you like best. Also
think about which aspect of the martial arts appeals to you the
most. I enjoy kicking, but you might prefer punching because you
have a different outlook on fighting. Of course, it is essential
to possess skill in kicking, punching and grappling, and once you
find an art that suits your needs, you should work on filling in
the gaps that exist in your arsenal. You need not be an expert
in all ranges of fighting, but you should at least be proficient
in them.
About the Author
Bill Wallace is a former kickboxing champion and
Black Belt Hall of Fame Member who now teaches seminars around
the world. To conatct him, visit http://www.superfoot.com
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