What Are Martial Arts?

The phrase martial arts refer to all the different systems of fighting training that has been organized or systematized. In general, these many systems or styles are all geared to achieve the same goal: physically defeating opponents and guarding against threats. In truth, the term "martial" comes from the name Mars, the Roman god of war.

If you are looking for fighting art training, then there are high chances that you would be looking at martial arts, one of the most popular forms of fighting, attempted by many across the globe. In fact, there are many international-level competitions organized in this fight-sport style.

If you wish to get physical training in this sport style, you can get trained in San Jose martial arts or wherever you live.

Different Types of Martial Arts:

In general, martial arts can be divided into five distinct categories:

  1. STRIKING: Striking or stand-up martial arts systems teach students how to defend themselves while standing up by using blocks, kicks, punches, knees, and elbows. The extent to which they teach each of these qualities varies depending on the style, sub-style, or instructor.
  1. GRAPPLING: Martial arts grappling systems teach practitioners how to take opponents to the ground and either acquire a dominant position or use a submission hold to end the fight.
  1. TAKEDOWN STYLE: Combat always begins with the fighter standing. The only definite method to get a battle to the ground is through takedowns and throws, which is where these throwing styles come in. Take note that all of the grappling styles listed above teach takedowns, and the majority of the throwing forms teach grappling as well. There is obviously some overlap, but the primary focus of these techniques is takedowns.
  1. WEAPON-BASED: Many of the aforementioned systems include firearms. Goju-Ryu karate practitioners, for example, are taught to use the bokken (wooden sword). However, some martial arts are entirely focused on weaponry.
  1. MMA:  Most martial arts forms incorporate techniques from other disciplines. Many schools have simply taught numerous martial arts techniques together in recent years, which are known as mixed martial arts and has been popularised through competitions such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship. MMA refers to training in a competitive martial arts style that includes grappling, stand-up fighting, takedowns, throws, and submissions.

Benefits of martial arts:

  • IMPROVES BODY COORDINATION: Because martial arts is such a dynamic discipline that needs your body to function swiftly together, you acquire synchronization across your kinetic chain. You learn how to coordinate your entire body. And as you continue to practice, you will improve your proprioception, or the capacity to perceive your body's balance and relative position; you will become more lithe and agile, allowing you to execute bodily movements with ease.
  • IMPROVES STRENGHT: Some martial arts workouts (particularly MMA) are designed to engage nearly every muscle in your body. Kicking will strengthen your legs tremendously. Your arms and lats acquire the same strength as you punch. Grappling will assist you to improve core muscles. The nature of martial arts develops core muscles as well as muscles that are not usually worked on during regular strength training.
  • PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS: Exercising in martial arts training will improve your physical fitness. The strategies will assist you in increasing your stamina, strength, endurance, and agility. To achieve excellence, you must have strong physical fitness, which can only be obtained by rigorous body training.
  • STRESS RELIEVER: Exercise can help us feel better and reduce stress. Martial arts training is no exception. Prolonged stress can cause heart disease, chronic headaches, anxiety, and other problems. Certain martial arts require a lot of cardio and concentration. By doing it, you will be able to forget about your daily troubles as you focus solely on your body motions. Movement and physical activity aid in the release of tension in both the mind and the body.
  • WEIGHT LOSS: Martial arts training is ideal for people looking to lose weight. Regular exercise cannot match in terms of calorie burn. While running on a treadmill for 60 minutes at a medium speed may only burn 600 calories, taking a class will burn 700 to 900 calories in the same amount of time. When grappling and striking, you use more muscles than when cycling on a stationary bike or running on a treadmill. Martial arts training mixed with a healthy, balanced diet will help you drop more weight than you ever thought possible.

CONCLUSION:

Not just martial arts, but for self-defense training as well as for physique strengthening, you can look to get trained in San Jose Karate classes as well.