Frequently Asked Question
What is a Martial Art?
A Martial Art can be defined as a system of techniques, physical and mental exercises developed as an effective means for self-defense and offense, both unarmed and with the use of weapons.
The origin and history of Martial Arts is a controversial issue. We can see signs of Martial Arts in Greek, Egyptian, African, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, as well as other cultures. There is a clear trail leading from the Southern China-regions up to Korea, Okinawa and Japan. The details before that, and the exact details of that transfer, are greatly debated by historians and Martial Artists.
How do I choose a style?
There are many major systems of the martial arts. Some styles favor grappling others prefer to kick. Some use weapons and some focus on the martial sports such as kickboxing.
The process of choosing a style is a process of elimination. It starts with the vast universe of different styles and sub-styles that exist in the martial arts. That universe is narrowed to the schools and styles you have access to in your area. When you are comparing schools by style, it’s important to understand that what style a school teaches is totally different than how the school teaches that style.
The only style that really matters is the teaching style of the instructor. You can have two schools that teach the same system but one connects and motivates you much better than the other. His or her teaching style is the style you are really choosing.
How can I motivate my child to continue?
Staying with a goal without quitting is an integral skill that has to be instilled by the parent. This is the very foundation of goalsetting and achievement. Quitting is the very foundation of under-performance and failure. The world is full of great starters. Teach your child that its the ability to set goals and see them through to their completion that's most important. When you've been attending with the child and know exactly what's been happening in class, you can help re-motivate the child into getting to class by reminding them of how much they enjoy the last class and that they can look forward to seeing their friends in class.
Why Should I Choose Martial Arts Training Over Other forms of Exercise?
When trying to get in shape, people are faced with choosing from hundreds of class options, from step aerobics to water exercise classes. What makes martial arts training better than a typical gym exercise class? Why should someone interested in fitness look at training in martial arts?
Can I Train In Martial Arts If I Am Pregnant?
If you are currently pregnant, congratulations! If you are a martial artist, you might be wondering what being pregnant means for your training. Don't worry! Find out more about training in the martial arts while expecting a child.
What is the best martial arts style?
A common question from beginning martial artists is "What is the best style?". This short article is intended to get past all the misinformation and explains what really is the "best martial arts style".
CAN I DO IT WITH MY FAMILY?
Absolutely! Many students have found this to be the perfect family activity. Both parent and child can attend their individual class and/or attend class together when Family class is offered. This gives you the opportunity to work directly with your child to create a special bonding experience.
What is a dojo?
Dojo is essentially a school. Do means way, jo means learn, so dojo means the place where we go to learn the way. This is a Japanese word. The Korean word is Dojang.
What are hard techniques?
Hard techniques are techniques that tend to meet force with stronger, more efficient force. Such techniques include blocks and strikes (e.g. punches and kicks). Hard techniques tend to be more linear. Small martial artists can produce more force than the typical untrained large person because their techniques are much more efficient.
What are soft techniques?
Soft techniques are techniques that tend to sidestep or redirect force. Such techniques include parries, grappling techniques, joint locks, and throws. These techniques tend to be more circular as they are taking the force that comes towards the defender and redirecting it. Throws are considered soft techniques because the defender does not actually strike the attacker -- the ground does. However, it is often true that the ground can hit you much harder than most people. An old saying goes, ``It's not the fall that kills you; it's the sudden stop at the end.''
What is a hard style and is a soft style? How are they different?
Hard styles are those collections of martial arts techniques which tend to concentrate on the hard techniques. Examples of this are Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Thai Kickboxing (Muay Thai), and Boxing. Soft styles are those collections of martial arts techniques which tend to concentrate on the soft techniques. Examples of this are Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Aiki Jujitsu, and its derivatives (Judo, Jujitsu, Aikido, Hapkido). Of course, these definitions are general. In fact, there is no martial art which is purely comprised of only hard techniques or only soft techniques. Quite often as the student progresses in a hard style, they will learn more soft techniques. Likewise, as the student progresses in a soft style, they will learn more hard techniques. (This is the general theory. In modern times, as most of us need day jobs, martial artists often don't get to the fusion of hard and soft techniques.)
What is Karate?
Karate is a hard style that was distilled in Okinawa from Chinese fighting styles. Originally called ``te'', for hand, it was later called kara-te for ``Chinese hand''. In later years, the Japanese modified this definition to mean ``Empty hand''. As Okinawa was occupied by the Japanese at the time of Karate's introduction to Okinawa, it was a primary self defense style for the unarmed population. The Japanese in general sneered at the art, preferring Judo. A challenge match between a young Japanese police officer and Judo practitioner against the leading Okinawan Karate teacher of the day, Chojun Miyagi (No -- not the guy from ``Karate Kid!'') lead to the Japanese accepting Karate. The 75 year old Miyagi dropped his youthful opponent with one punch to the solar plexus. The man who brought Karate to the Japanese mainland was Gichin Funakoshi. He founded a version called Shotokan which is widely practiced today.
What is Aiki Jujitsu?
Jujitsu (literally ``the gentle fighting art'') is an empty handed extension of the sword fighting art of the Japanese Samuarai. The actual ancient art is called Aiki Jujitsu. This involves joint locks, throws, strikes, blocks, and chokes. Aiki Jujitsu went through some changes in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Jigoro Kano removed many of the dangerous techniques to create Judo (``the gentle way''). This allowed students to practice full speed against resisting opponents, but with far fewer injuries that happened when Jujitsu was practiced at full speed. About the same time, Morehei Uyeshiba took a different set of techniques out to create Aikido. (A jitsu is a fighting style. A do is a way.) About the same time, a Korean named Yong Suhl Choi combined Jujitsu techniques with the kicks and punches so prevalent in Korean martial arts to create Hapkido. (Hapkido is the Korean pronunciation of the Kanji that in Japanese is pronounced Aikido.)
What is Zen Budokai?
Zen Budokai is an integrated, multidisciplinary martial arts system created by Duke Moore that integrates techniques from Judo, Aiki JuJitsu, several systems of Karate (Shorin-ji, Shotokan, and Kyokushin primarily) and Aikido with techniques from boxing and wrestling. Throwing, restraint, blocking, and counter-striking methods are borrowed from each of these styles and are integrated in the Zen Budokai system. The names are all over the map -- many of them being in Japanese and many in English. Zen Budokai is the self defense system that we learn in our dojo. The system name is symbolic of things that Duke Moore considers important. Budokai is literally ``martial way society''.
What is Zen?
This is a tough question because if you ask it to 100 people who practice Zen, you will probably get 100 different answers. Even asking the same person twice will probably yield different answers. Roughly put, Zen can be defined as the mental discipline that allows you to act freely when you have to. Originally part of the Eastern philosophy this has been popularized by martial artists and athletes in the Western world. The phrase, ``Just do it,'' was not created by some advertising agency -- it was lifted from a book on Zen. The study of martial arts is often associated with Zen because the martial arts give you the mental discipline to act freely when you have to in a self defense situation. It is the constant practice that can make a martial artist's reactions to danger almost automatic. This ability to act, without wasting time on a conscious thought process, is the essence of Zen and what it is like to ``Just do it.''
What is the difference between how a black belt and a white belt does a technique?
There is no instantaneous transformation from white belt to black belt. Many of the techniques used at black belt levels are simply combinations of techniques learned at white belt level. The differences are in how well the technique is executed and in what combinations they are performed. As you rise through the ranks you tend to get more efficient in your techniques. The hips, legs, arms and torso all move much more in synchrony when executing techniques. So the same techniques that might have a 70% chance of defeating an attacker when executed by a Yellow Belt may have a 95% chance of success for a Black Belt. Plus, the higher you go the more options you have for responding to a given attack. Many of the throws at a new level are extensions of throws at previous levels. At each new level (through second degree black belt), new techniques are added at each level as well as new combinations of old techniques.
