Choosing a Martial Arts Style
Various martial arts training manuals.
Not all martial arts styles are equivalent and encompass an enormous assortment of paradigms and theories. These not only include differences between fighting techniques, but also in how they regard interpersonal combat and training protocol. Moreover, many fighting styles are better suited for certain body types or physical conditioning – to say nothing of the psychological makeup of the practitioner. Some of these traits can be forged through practice of a given martial arts while others are more intrinsic.
Know Yourself
No two people are the same, and so the choice of a martial arts style is a matter of preference, circumstances, environment, knowledge, and aptitude. If you are serious about studying the martial arts, know that choosing which martial arts style(s) you study is a serious and deeply personal consideration. It requires a stark and honest assessment of your inherent aptitudes from both a physiological and psychological standpoint. This means coming to terms with any and all weaknesses you might possess. Only then, armed with honest self-knowledge, will you be ready to decide on a fighting style.
Selecting a martial arts style begins by asking questions. What kind of opponent are you most likely to face? What variety of environments are you most likely to face them in? Is your body type better suited for punches, kicks, or grappling? Do you have any chronic injuries that will limit your ability to perform certain types of techniques? Even if you think you have all these questions answered, it helps to reassess them periodically, since our bodies and environment changes as we progress through life.
These questions also must address your mental and emotional capacities. Are you emotionally able to handle bloodying up an enemy, or is defense and redirection more appropriate? This is a concern that too few people are honest about with themselves. You might wish to believe you are a “tough guy” who is indifferent regarding the prospect of seriously injuring an attacker. However, you might actually be hesitant to do so during a real fight – effectively negating your ability to use the techniques you spent so long learning. Such feelings, in a critical moment, can thus work against you. Do not let your pride become your undoing: if you can’t bear to use certain types of techniques in a fight, don’t waste your time learning them and instead focus on mastering what you truly have the capacity to utilize.
Be Realistic
Martial arts are not magical, and no martial arts style is undefeatable. Much of the popular and commercial presentation of martial arts depict practitioners as being able to easily handle larger or multiple attackers. Often, these superpowers are sold as being attainable with minimal effort because they represent “secrets” of combat that you can unlock… for a fee. The danger with these ideas is that real fighting is chaotic, and survival is never a guarantee. It is a game of chance, and though you can increase your odds through martial arts, they will never be 100%. Larger attackers will always have the advantage in an actual fight no matter what. The same holds true for ruffians fueled by rage, unfettered aggression, and/or a full disregard for consequences. Again, martial arts are not magical.
Be Pragmatic
Once you have a clear picture of your various aptitudes, weaknesses, and circumstances, you can begin assessing martial arts styles. First, you need to know what your options are for instruction. Some locales offer more variety on what martial arts instruction is available. Once you have researched what is available, you must research each of the martial arts styles. Fortunately, like with all research, the internet has made this easier than ever.
In assessing a martial arts style, you are seeking to discover its doctrine, or its central paradigm. Every martial art style is based around a doctrine that dictates its approach to fighting. For instance, taekwondo is based on the idea that kicks are more effective weapons for fighting than punches. Conversely, grappling styles purport throwing and submission holds as the most potent methods of combat. Even systems with similar doctrines might have divergent ideas on the potential lethality of their techniques. Of the doctrinal options available, it is on you to determine which is the closet fit to your needs and aptitudes. Do not take this process lightly.
Building a Full Complement of Aptitudes
No martial arts style is perfect, nor can any single system address every aspect of combat. If you wish to be a truly realized martial artist, you must compensate for this. What that means is that you will need to learn additional fighting styles that fill in the strategic gaps in your fighting repertoire. This can only be done once you have fully learned your core fighting style. Your core style must be the one that most closely fits your needs and aptitudes. It is the one that will always be the bedrock of your fighting style. Upon this bedrock, you will build additional skills as you learn new martial arts styles that complement it and cover your weaknesses. For example, if your core fighting style is a kick-based system, your supplemental martial arts systems will need to address punches and grappling.
Choosing the right martial arts style is a critical first step in the martial arts journey. It is also an unending process of learning, mastery, and improvement. Your fighting style will always have gaps and weaknesses that will need to be filled by additional knowledge and practice. There is no endpoint, and that is the point. Good luck.
The Martial Way is a powerful and rewarding way of living derived from the martial arts. To learn more about the history, development, cultivation, and application of the Martial Way, check out my book NOBLE ECHOES: Gifts from the Martial Arts for Modern Life. Available in paperback or Kinde e-book.