The Three Major Types Of Martial Arts: A Final Word

Now you know the general strengths and weaknesses of modern self-defense systems, combat sports, and the traditional martial arts. As you embark on your journey, it is important to remember that what I have written in my previous three posts are just that: generalizations. My posts are based on my personal experience in Shotokan karate (a traditional martial art), Krav Maga (a modern self-defense system), and amateur wrestling (a combat sport). My knowledge has been supplemented by many hours of research at the library, reading martial arts magazines at Barnes and Noble, watching documentaries on TV and the internet, and being a hardcore UFC fan. That being said, I don't know everything, so don't limit yourself to the styles which I mentioned by name in my previous posts. Each martial art is unique, and it is up to you to do the research necessary to find the one that is right for you. Take an honest assessment of your personality, body type, and martial arts goals, and try out several different styles. Once you find the one which is the best fit for you, commit yourself to that fighting style primarily and supplement your training with techniques from complementary styles to ensure that you are well-rounded. For example, if you choose karate, incorporate some grappling moves from judo and some weapons' defenses from Krav Maga so that you can defend yourself from the most common street attacks. The key thing is to ensure that you know enough to defend yourself in realistic self-defense scenarios. It is also important that you have fun and develop your character as well as your body. Provided that you are practicing a style which allows you to do all of those things, it really doesn't matter what you study. Just make sure that you are training in the system which is the best fit for you.