What Sort of Martial art do I want to do?
Knowing that you want to do a martial art is the first step but what type do you want to do. There are so many martial arts providing lessons, so you need to consider what sort of things you wih to learn. Here are a few most common martial arts:





Karate:
Translates as 'Empty Hand'. Its uses Kicks, punches, strikes & blocks for its basic work and then sweeps, holds and locks for it more advanced work. Part of the training is on your own doing kata (forms) and some with a partner for sparring and self defence. Karate teaches you to defend yourself and to never make the first attack. Power and strength is not essential, as body movement & speed is the key factor. Great for all abilities, ages and flexabilities and there is a ranking system with different coloured belts going all the way from white to black belt. Karate is great for all round body fitness, stamina, discipline and general confidence. Karate is a Japanese martial art which only uses the hands and feet as weapons.





Judo:
Translates as 'The gentle way'. This martial art comes from japan and is well known for its throwing techniques, as well as its controlling of an opponent once on the floor. Timing, speed and leaverage to get an opponent off balance is vital, whilst using the least amount of physical strength necessary to overcome them. Great for all age groups and abilities. Judo has a grading system from white to black.





Taekwondo:
Translates as 'The way of the Hand & Foot'. This martial art comes from Korea and is well known for its high & spinning kicks. Taekwondo has elements such as patterns, sparring, self defence and breaktests. Although this is a martial art for all age groups, a certain amount of flexability is needed to get the kicks head height. Taekwondo has a gading system from white to black.





Kungfu:
Translates as 'Time & Effort' and comes from China. It is a martail art which trains the mind and body and is a way of life for the practitioner. It is about controlling the 'chi' in the body and using the opponents strength against them. Kungfu has defensive movements like the movement of various animals (eg monkey, tiger, snake etc). Kungfu uses weapons such as nunchuku, knives, staffs and swords, as well a the hands and feet for punching and kicking. Kungfu has a grading system from white sash to black sash.





Jujitsu:
Translates as 'The gentle art'. It is a Japanes martial art which relies on skill rather than strength or power. Its aim is to absorb and attack and then convert that energy back onto the attacker. It uses techniques to throw your opponent and then control them once on the floor with holds and locks. Jujitsu sometimes use small weapons for practice and it is a very beautiful martial art to watch due to its circular and flowing movements. Jujitsu has a white to black belt grading system.






Weird reasons people join a martial arts club:
Most people are attracted to the martial arts because of marketing, movies, friends, driving by a neighbourhood school, children whining to become power rangers, or an interest in Asian culture for one reason or another. Here are some reasons that have been identified over the decades as being typical for people just starting out:

• You saw an action movie and you enjoyed the excitement.(want to be the next Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee)
  
  You would like to be able to beat up a particular person and teach them a lesson (eg nosey neighbour across the road)
  
  You would like to compete against others in combat and defeat them without going to the hospital.
  
  You think the movements are beautiful, and you would like to look beautiful while you perform them
  
  You want to become a better person by following the Asian philosophy of Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, or Shinto.
  
  You saw Shogun and wish to become a Samurai, wear swords and kimono, and drink tea while looking all puffy and disciplined.
  
  Your kids want to do karate because you let them watch Pokemon too much, and you want to spend time with them.

Proper reasons to join karate
People have all sorts of reasons for wanting to try a martial art and all (actually only some) of them are the right reasons.
When you join a club discuss with your instructor the pupose and aims of you joining. All instructors will make a note of this and will help each individual conquor their goals.



Proper aims people wish to achieve if they join a martial art:

1. Become a black belt (Most common answer)
2. To enter and win in a competition
3. Keep my children interested in training
4. To learn discipline and Ettiquette (maybe to control temper)
5. Become more confident and outgoing
6. To be good at something for a change
7. To get away from the rest of the family for my own bit of space
8. To be able to look after & defend myself
9. Make friends and become more sociable
10. Too become fitter and have a more flexible body