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Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Other Martial Arts: Differences, Goals and Benefits

Many martial arts from different countries originated in ancient times. Even in Ancient Greece, a warrior received a laurel wreath for winning a wrestling competition at the Olympic Games. Over time, such battles turned into a sociocultural phenomenon.

Currently, martial arts promote respect for others, physical and spiritual development. The versatility of various types of martial arts requires concentration, thoughtfulness, and active work of the brain and body. Therefore, martial arts fans are thinking people with a strong nervous system.

The term "martial arts" covers various schools and approaches to training. The main goal is to improve consciousness through self-defense skills.
Ethics and self-discipline are useful for both a child attending a karate class and an adult studying Brazilian jiu-jitsu. see also

Defensive Philosophy: How to Strike in Self-Defense
Depending on the type of martial art, fighters use different parts of the body at different levels of physical contact with partners. The fight can take place without punching or hitting the face. In all types of martial arts, martial artists show painful techniques, strengthen the body and help to correctly perform techniques. Lifehacker.com will tell you about the main martial arts, so you can choose which ones are best for you.

So, do you want to be the coolest guy on the block?

Still from the film “Bloodsport”

What martial art is most effective on the street? This is the question most men ask when they decide to choose this cool hobby for themselves.

By the way, such training can be useful not only in case of “you never know”, but also for improving a variety of your physical parameters - endurance, reaction and coordination.

But how can you make a choice in favor of one thing when there are hundreds of different schools, styles and trends? Okay, let's say you're not going to go to Tibet to learn the secrets of this skill. But there are still several options for what you can learn in your city.

Let's quickly get to know them, learn about the benefits of different arts and how to find something “yours” in this long list.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

photo: Miljan Zivkovic (Shutterstock)

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a popular and powerful fighting system. Legend has it that the samurai had a similar martial art. Today this art form is gaining popularity in the USA and Western countries. Thanks to the sports organization UFC, which conducts mixed martial arts fights known as MMA, jiu-jitsu has become accessible and widespread among young people. Smart marketing and branded clothing help spread awareness and increase the number of fans of this art form.

The basis of jiu-jitsu is choking, overturning the opponent, joint grips of the arms, shoulders and ankles. The fight takes place without throwing or punching. The main techniques of an athlete are to take an advantageous position, put the opponent on his back or side and use the right techniques to win. The symbiosis of body and brain produces adrenaline, strengthens the body and psyche. With constant training, methods and techniques expand and improve the athlete's views on the world.

For beginners, learning jiu-jitsu is like speaking an alien space language. Once an understanding of the language and terms comes, there is an endless stream of sequences and variations that make learning this art interesting and exciting.

Medical contraindications

Any sport has its contraindications, so it is advisable to consult a doctor before enrolling your child in a section in one discipline or another. If the doctor has given the go-ahead, but the child has some abnormalities, be sure to inform the coach about this.

The main contraindication, which can be attributed to almost all types of martial arts, is a disease of the spine or musculoskeletal system. It is associated with a high load on these body systems.
It is also worth paying attention if the child has problems with the heart, respiratory system, vision, digestion and genitourinary system. It is contraindicated to practice martial arts during periods of exacerbation of acute and chronic diseases, epilepsy and vascular diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
Impact martial arts are not recommended for young children, as there is a risk of head injury. And at a young age it is dangerous to get such an injury.

The only type that has practically no contraindications is wushu.

Taekwondo (or taekwondo)

photo: BUGNUT23 (Shutterstock)

Taekwondo is one of the traditional Korean martial arts that combines the development of physical and spiritual abilities with punches and kicks. The five main principles of this martial art are:

politeness;
decency;
persistence;
self-control;
indomitable spirit.

All Taekwondo practitioners are required to adhere to these rules both in daily training and in competition.

The name “taekwondo” is deciphered as follows:

"tae" means "foot", "leg" or "to step on";
"kwon" means "fist" or "fight";
"to" means "path" or "discipline".

Putting these three parts together reveals two important ideas at the heart of Taekwondo. They can be seen in the words of the creator of taekwondo, Choi Hong Hee:

“Taekwondo is a synthesis of health, spiritual training and unarmed self-defense techniques using fists and legs to fight.”

What points should be taken into account when choosing the optimal combat direction for yourself?

Gender: men or women.
Age group: children, adults or seniors.
Temperament: the need for intense training or orientation towards moderate physical activity.
Body type: thin, big-boned or well-muscled.
Initial physical skills: the body’s preparedness for sports activities or the initial level of physical fitness.
Health status: the presence or absence of medical contraindications to martial arts for the athlete.
Preferences for martial arts techniques: striking, throwing or mixed.
Purpose of classes: gaining competitive experience or real fighting skills, improving health or losing excess weight.
Participation in sparring: psychological readiness for mandatory work in pairs or solo practice of technique.

Thai boxing

photo: MADAREE TOHLALA/AFP (Getty Images)

Muay Thai , or Thai boxing , is the national pride of Thailand. The Science of the Eight Limbs teaches you how to strike with your hands, feet, knees, and elbows. This brutal sport builds self-confidence, flexibility, and muscle strength in the most difficult conditions.

Thai wrestlers are famous for their knowledge of wrestling strategy and, as legends say, they can even knock down trees for fun. To develop strength and technique, you need to do cardio training, study combinations of roundhouse kicking techniques, actively engage your core, and work on mobility.

The skills of this art will always protect you in dangerous situations on the street.

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Types of martial arts

The most commonly used criterion for grouping martial arts is the technical arsenal of martial arts and the principle of influencing the enemy. There are striking (boxing, kickboxing, Thai boxing), wrestling (BJJ, judo, sambo) and mixed styles (MMA, combat sambo).

Strike martial arts is the art of fighting only by striking with limbs without the use of weapons or objects that replace them.

The distinctive features of striking martial arts include:

An effective symbiosis of defensive and attacking techniques, constant movement and movement of the athlete.
The training process involves the participation of men and women.

Women's sports competitions are held according to adapted rules (they have a number of restrictions on striking techniques) and with increased protective equipment for female athletes.

The age audience of strike martial arts fans is predominantly children and middle-aged, due to the high intensity of the training process.
Main qualities: speed, strength and accuracy of the blow, on which the outcome of the battle depends, and muscle endurance (the ability to perform active actions for a long time).
The structural features of the body and the level of physical skills are not of fundamental importance due to the mandatory preparatory stage in the training process, aimed at fully adapting the body to the main loads. Only upon reaching the required level of physical fitness does the athlete begin to participate in training sparring.
Shock martial arts classes satisfy all the needs of an athlete: effective self-defense skills, participation in competitions of any level, weight loss and the formation of body contours, improvement of the body (stabilization of the heart and lungs).
Interaction in pairs is not a prerequisite; there are a number of areas and adaptation programs that completely exclude sparring or provide for limited contact.

Summary: striking martial arts are suitable for active people no older than middle age who do not have strong psychological barriers to direct confrontation. The striking technique in a real fight is effective as self-defense against one or more opponents.

Judo

photo: KARIM JAAFAR (Getty Images)

Judo is a fascinating science of fortitude and a Japanese martial arts without weapons.

The word "judo" is translated as "the gentle way" because it emphasizes a variety of subtle movements and concepts. Agility techniques focus on managing balance, controlling the opponent's momentum, and being able to easily throw or catch.

If you understand the laws of movement, then the most perfect judo can be victory over your opponent without a fight.

see also

10 Best Exercises for Strength and Endurance

Wushu

It is believed that wushu was created by the monk Bodhidharma, who arrived in China from India in the first half of the 4th century. Wushu has many styles, including northern and southern, external and internal. Northern styles, or styles from the northern provinces of China, are characterized by wide movements and jumps, as well as large distances between fighters. The most widespread of the northern styles is considered to be Chan Quan, while of the southern ones the most popular is the Nan Quan style. Students of external styles see their main task as honing the technique of performing techniques, while internal styles are aimed at improving the mental qualities of a fighter. A classic representative of this group of styles can be called taijiquan, characterized by smooth movements and flowing movements.

In wushu there is a direction of so-called sports wushu, which combines the above styles, and also includes complex acrobatic elements that require great flexibility of the spine and elasticity of the leg muscles.

Boxing

photo: Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP (Getty Images)

Irish boxer and actor Joe “Big Joe” Egan called boxing “the sweet science.”

This Olympic sport combines thinking, strength and fighting between two opponents.

With a systematic approach and discipline, boxing helps you achieve excellent physical shape.

If grappling is a wrestling technique using holds, as in classical martial arts, then boxing is a striking technique with hands in special gloves with well-established mechanics of footwork in the ring. Throwing a real punch isn't just about waving your arms.

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Boxing improves the functioning of the lungs and heart, which means it has a positive effect on the immune system and provides the basis for a quality life without disease and stress. The philosophy of boxing is to build self-confidence. Achieving goals, getting back on your feet after a defeat, training your reaction to a blow - these are the basic tactics of boxing. Boxing develops individuality, strengthens the spirit and sharpens psychological thinking.

Wrestling technique

Classical Greco-Roman wrestling

This is a European type of martial arts where opponents, using various techniques, try to throw each other off balance. Victory comes when the opponent is pinned to the floor with his shoulder blades. The main wrestling techniques are: throws, holds, painful holds. Pros: flexibility develops, coordination of movements is honed, tendons and ligaments are strengthened.

During training, the child learns to concentrate, anticipate the enemy’s actions, and react instantly. Develops, thanks to various stances, stability, endurance, reaction speed, as well as internal strength. Children become confident. To achieve visible results, classical wrestling must be practiced regularly.

Freestyle wrestling

The technique is similar to classical Greco-Roman. But there is a slight difference: here you are allowed to use your legs when performing any technique.

Hapkido

Photo: StockphotoVideo (Shutterstock)

Hapkido is a Korean hybrid martial art that is derived from Japanese jujutsu. It combines wrestling, throws, punches, kicks, elbows and knees.

Hapkido incorporates techniques from other martial arts and combines them into a single philosophy. The spiritual elements of this art are love for the motherland and respect for elders.

The martial arts fan community has formulated a core thesis of Hapkido called YU WON HWA:

Hwa, or harmony, is about keeping the body relaxed and not directly opposing the opponent's force. Hapkido practitioners rarely resist an opponent; they redirect their momentum to their advantage;
"Out", or the principle of the circle, redirects the opponent's linear energy into a circular motion. The fighter is in the center of the sphere and defends himself with a continuous circular movement from the enemy;
"Yu", or the principle of water, refers to the fact that Hapkido practitioners strive to defeat opponents not through direct force, but through adaptable movements. Water can be both quiet and smooth, and a powerful destructive element. The fighter adapts to the attacker's movements and directs his energy to one point.

Hapkido is suitable for those who are interested in the interaction of practical skills and spiritual journeys.

Aikido

Having appeared relatively recently in Russia, aikido has managed to gain some popularity. This martial art was founded by master Morihei Ueshiba in 1945. The main concept of Aikido is for the fighter to achieve harmony between his own life energy and the surrounding world. In combat, an aikidoist strives to use the enemy's aggression against him. This type of martial arts is more a means of defense rather than attack, and therefore is suitable for balanced, non-aggressive people. Aikidoists compete in short white kimonos and wide black hakama trousers, which makes the fight spectacular.

Like karate-do and wushu, aikido has its own internal directions. The most popular of them can be called volumes of aikido, combining the techniques of traditional aikido with judo techniques. Tomiki Aikido includes competitions in the training program, which is very atypical for eastern martial arts, because it is believed that it is more important to master the art of combat than to win competitions. It is worth mentioning tanto randori-ho, the art of fighting without weapons with an armed opponent. For training, a soft knife is used, which is wielded by one of the athletes, and at the end of one fight they change roles.

Krav Maga

photo: MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP (Getty Images)

Krav Maga is the official combat system of the Israeli Defense Forces. This is a martial art of survival, aimed at the brutal destruction of everyone who meets on the way.

Krav Maga prepares for situations such as attack or defense from danger on the streets, a fight in a bar, or the need to disarm a stronger opponent. Krav Maga is contact combat in the name of victory by any means necessary.

There are military and civilian versions of the Krav Maga hand-to-hand combat system. Some techniques are similar between the civilian and military versions, but the military version is tougher.

Contact Karate (full contact)

Karate is the native martial art system of Japan. Although karate is a system of martial arts, there are many styles of karate. Some areas are more useful than others for street self-defense. Many karate schools are very shady and won't allow you to spar or teach you anything worthwhile to defend yourself. Stay away from these schools. Instead, if you want to learn karate, go to a school that emphasizes sparring. It is advisable to have full contact. Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of sparring, especially full contact and hard sparring. While you shouldn't spar all the time, you should experience what it's like to fight realistically. Many traditional martial arts schools are not gentle enough. Stay away from any school that doesn't allow you to spar frequently.

pros

Martial arts develop strength, speed, coordination and agility. During training, the child hardens and gains self-defense skills. The muscular system of the whole body is strengthened.
Such important personality qualities as discipline, determination, and the will to win develop. A child who attends a martial arts class learns to cope with failures with dignity, set new goals and build relationships with an opponent to their advantage.
Intuition develops, since during a fight you need to always be on the alert and try to predict the enemy’s move. Confidence in yourself and your abilities appears.
Martial arts are especially beneficial for aggressive children. It would be a mistake to think that children become aggressive when doing martial arts. On the contrary, during training they “let off steam” and learn to control themselves.

Let's sum it up

Martial arts practice promotes the physical, intellectual and psychological health of a child. If you exercise regularly, the immune system is strengthened, coordination of movements, dexterity and fine motor skills are improved. In addition, the character and personality of the young athlete is formed. All this can be said about any sport. A special advantage of martial arts is that, in addition to all of the above, it develops self-esteem and self-confidence.

A child involved in such an active sport as martial arts will learn to control his own body, strengthen his health and immunity. A competent coach teaches children to be strong, not to be offended, to be restrained and not aggressive.