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What style is best for you?

There are traditional martial arts (such as traditional Taekwondo and Karate, sport martial arts (such as sport Taekwondo, Judo, and sport Karate), striking arts (such as Taekwondo, Karate, and Boxing), grappling arts (such as Aikido, Jujutsu, and Wrestling), and weapon arts (such as Kyudo, Kendo, and Escrima). Different martial arts and different styles of arts may have different philosophies and goals. You first should look inward to learn your reasons for wanting to learn a martial art, then research the different arts find one that satisfies your needs, and then visit schools that teach that style and find one with an instructor that compliments your personality and training philosophy.

The cultural background of a martial arts style influences the training philosophy of its instructors. Most martial arts of eastern origin are characterized  by perfection of movement, adherence to tradition, and monotonous repetition of movements. Western styles are more open to influence of other arts, and training moves a quicker pace to prevent boredom. Oriental raised instructors differ from American raised instructors due to cultural differences. One is not necessarily better than the other, they are just different in their approach to training. An American instructor will probably teach a more Americanized version than an instructor from elsewhere. It is easier for students to understand instructors of their own culture, but if you are interested in learning another culture as well as the art, then ensure you find an instructor that is well-versed in that culture.

Martial art styles are classified by their country of origin. Each style is influenced by the culture of its origin country.

Since China is the largest of the countries, with a variety of people, climate, terrain, religion, and philosophy, it has a great variety of martial arts. China's martial arts may be divided into the internal (soft) arts and the external (hard) arts. The soft arts are take longer to master but much value may be gained from their no-violent nature.  The hard arts are powerful and more easily perfected. Northern Chinese hard styles evolve upright stances, many kicks, and long range attacks and are often a bit "flashier" in their movements. Southern Chinese hard styles use low, powerful stances with short, choppy techniques.

Japanese martial arts tend to be very disciplined and formal with structured, ritualized classes. Okinawan styles do not like to grouped with the Japanese, but, since Okinawa had a lot of influence on many Japanese arts, their styles are similar.

Japanese schools have "hard" and "soft" (external or internal) arts, similar to the Chinese but the differentiation is not as clear. Japanese martial arts tend to blend both hard and soft techniques. In Japanese schools, it is important to know whether a school teaches a "do" art or a "jutsu" art. Most of the arts have either "do" or "jutsu" as a suffix, such as Ailkido or Jujutsu. The "do" arts tend to be more formal and modern, and teach a lot of philosophy. The "jutsu" arts tend to be the older, more traditional styles. They are less formal, and less modern, and have a greater risk of injury, due to their traditional training methods. Instead of gaining insight from philosophy, these arts use powerful techniques to gain knowledge. Many weapon arts are "do" arts. They teach discipline, patience, and philosophy, by learning a specific (usually arcane) weapon. Their application in self-defense in modern society is limited; but the philosophy and character learned in class is useful in everyday life.

Korean martial arts use high kicks, spinning techniques, and usually require breaking techniques. Classes are usually very disciplined with much sparring. Korean arts are primarily striking arts with little to no grappling. They are favored among people who like to compete. Korean arts are great for instilling discipline and building confidence in children.

Philippine martial arts are generally taught in a relaxed atmosphere, with an emphasis on drills. The majority of class time is spent drilling with a partner using wooden sticks, wooden knives, or empty hands. These arts are useful for close-in fighting with empty hands, and they also work well against opponents with sticks or knives. Because of the more casual nature, there is often not as much separation between ranks and it may be more possible to make friends with students and even the instructor. Even though these arts are based around weapons, they are still practical in the modern world since any common object may be picked up and used as a weapon..

Although here are no "true" American martial arts, Americans have "Americanized" many other arts or have combined many different arts into a "new" art.

The closer you get to an opponent, the faster things will move. The more distance between two fighters, the slower the fight. Although most martial arts train at varying ranges, many prefer specific ranges.

• Long range arts tend to be the easiest to learn, such as Taekwondo, Karate, and the Northern Kung-fu styles. With increased range, a student has more time to read and react to attacks. These distance arts also tend to emphasize overcoming power with an even greater power.

• Short range arts, such as Kempo and the Southern Kung-fu styles, require quick reflexes. Because of the shorter reaction time, students are required to learn more complex moves and often require a great degree of proficiency before a student is capable of defending him or herself. These arts tend to emphasize overcoming power with speed.

• Close range arts are the grappling arts, such as Aikido, Judo, and Jujutsu. This close range increases chances of injury and requires a high degree of proficiency to be useful. These arts are useful against many types of ground attacks but are less useful against standing attacks. These arts emphasize overcoming power with proper technique.

Specialty arts are arts that teach only a sport/competition version of an art, such a Olympic style Taekwondo, Judo, and Boxing, or teach a specific weapon, such as Kyudo, Kenjutsu, or Escrima, or teach a form of exercise or meditation, such as Yoga or Tai Chi Ch'uan. Remember that these arts are taught for a specific purpose and may not be applicable to actual self-defense situations.

If you are looking for "street" self-defense, some choices are Jujutsu, Hapkido, some Kung-fu styles, Karate, Ken(m)po, Baguazhang, Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, traditional Taekwondo, Ninjutsu, Kali/Escrima/Arnis, Silat, or Xingyiquan. If you are looking for meditation and philosophy, some choices are Aikido, most Kung-fu styles, Taiji, Kendo, Kenjutsu, or Iaido. If you are looking for a sport and competition, some choices are Fencing, some Karate and Kung-fu styles, Judo, Boxing, Kendo, sport Taekwondo, Savate, or Shuaijiao. If you are looking for intense body conditioning and muscle development, some choices are Judo, some Okinawan Karate styles, some Kung-fu styles, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, or Capoeira.

As stated above, there are a few martial art systems, but hundreds, if not thousands, of martial art styles. When considering training in a particular martial art, consider whether it is a system or a style and whether it is a valid style or just the brainchild of an egocentric "grand master."

Remember: "Caveat Emptor" Buyer Beware!

As a example of how many martial art styles there are in the world, here are just a very few:

Aikido, Aiki-Jujitsu, American Freestyle Jujitsu, American Freestyle Karate, American Freestyle Taekwondo, American Free-Style Kenpo Karate, American Isshinryu Karate, American Ji Do Kwan Karate, American Karate, American Kenpo Karate, American Ko Sho Ryu Dragon Kenpo, American Taekwondo, American Tenshindo Jiu-Jitsu, Arnis, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Brazilian Kickboxing, Bujutsu, Bul Kyo Mu Sool, Bushi Jujitsu, Capoeira, Chang Moo Kwan, Chi Du Kwan, Chinese Kempo, Chinese Kenpo, Choong Mu Kwan, Chung Do Kwan, Chung Yong Kwan, Chun Ji Kwan, Chun Kuhn Do, Chun Mu Kwan, Close Quarters Combat, Combat Karate, Combat Taekwondo, Defensa En La Calle, Dragon Kenpo Karate, Free Style Kick-Boxing, Full Contact Karate, GoShin SenJutsu Kempo , Gumdo, Hapkido, Hap Ki Do, Huk Ju Kwan, Hwa Rang Do, Iaido, Ildokwan, Il Ho Kwan, Jeet Kune Do, Jidokwan, Ji Do Kwan, Jiu Jitsu, Jiu Jutsu, Judo, Jujitsu Jujutsu, Ju Mu Kwan, Jung Moo Kwan, Jung Mu Kwan, Jung Mu Won, Kajukenbo, Kajukido Kung-Fu, Kali, Kempo Karate, Kempo Jujitsu, Kendo, Kenpo Karate, Kick Boxing, Kidogkyo Mudo Kwan, Kidogkyo Mudo Sul, Kidohae, Ki Do Hae, Kintora Ryu Bujutsu, Kobudo, Korean Hapkido, Korean Karate, Koreja-Do Jujitsu, Kuk Do Kwan, Kuk Ki Kwan, Kukkiwon, Kuk Mu Kwan, Kuk Sool Kwan, Kuk Sool Won, Kumdo, Kung-Fu, Kung Jung Mu Sool, Kwang Do Kwan, Kwon Pang Do, Kwon Wa-Ki Do, Latino Hapkido Sool, Latino Kempo Ryu Bujutsu, Lugo Ju Jitsu, Modern Arnis, Modern Jiu Jitsu, Modern Jujitsu Concepts, Moo Duk Hae, Moo Duk Kwan, Moo Hap Sul, Moon Mu Kwan, Muay Thai, Mu Do Won, Mu Moon Kwan, Mushin Budo, Mu Yeh Kwan, Ninjitsu, Ninjutsu, Oh Do Kwan, Okinawan Goju Ryu, Okinawan Kempo Karate, Okinawan Kempo Jujitsu, Okinawan Kenpo, Okinawa Seito Ryu, Pella De La Calle, Puerto Rican Korean Karate, Reality Fighting Systems, Sado Kwon Bup, Sa Hyel Kwan, Savate, SeiTo Ryu Karate System, Seung Mu Kwan Shaolin Kenpo, Shaolin Kung-Fu, Shi Toh Ryu Karate, Shito Ryu Karate-Do, Shodokan Aikido, Shootfighting, Shoot Wrestling, Shorinji Kempo, Shorinji Ryu, Shorin-Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, hotokan Karate-Do, Sin Moo Hapkido, Sombo, Songahm Taekwondo, Song Moo Kwan, oo Mu Kwan, Southern Kuntao, Street Combat Karate, Submission Fighting, ubmission Kenpo, Sungja-Do, Sung Mu Kwan, Sun Mu Kwan, Tactical Hapkido, Tae Kuk Kwan, Taekwondo, Tae Kwon Do, TaeKwon-Do, Tae Pang Do, Tang Soo Do, Tang Soo Kwan, Tiger Crane Kenpo Karate, Togakure Ryu Ninjitsu, Traditional Taekwondo, Tuk Gong Mu Sool, Uechi Ryu Karate, UMAA Martial Arts System, Universal Combat Martial Arts Systems, Universal Karate, USMC Kombat Kempo, Wado Ryu JuJitsu, Wado Ryu Karate, Western Self-Defense Systems, White Crane Kempo Karate, White Tiger Kenpo Karate, White Tiger Tejitsu, Woo Chen Karate Jitsu, Wushu, Yang Woo Kwan, Yudo, Yun Moo Kwan, Yu Sool Kwan, and Zendo.

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