Martial Arts Basics

There are a lot of excellent reasons to learn martial arts. The latest rise in popularity of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) means that there are a lot of places today that provides martial arts courses. 

There are a lot of reasons why people decide to get involved in martial arts. Learning martial arts can help you prepare to face the challenges that you might face in life, encourages confidence, calms the mind, and establishes discipline. Thus, whether you are looking into Ving Tsun Washington martial arts training for fitness, spirituality and discipline, self-defense, or any other reason, it is an excellent move to familiarize the basics and a couple of well-known forms. 

Martial Arts Basics 

Almost every martial art consists of the same skills and techniques that form a base for the art, despite the differences in style and origin. A couple of general basic moves shared by almost every martial art form are different evasion techniques, punches, knee and elbow strikes, parries, leg sweeps, striking with the open hand, and kicking. 

Almost every style integrates footwork, as well as postures that facilitate either offense, defense, or both. A lot of styles also utilize grappling. Usually, these arts also utilize mat work methods such as submission holds, bars and chokes, takedowns, throws, and much more.  

Every martial art discipline uses a mixture of repetition of forms and moves and meditation. Grappling and sparring are also used by students as they increase their rank.  

Ground Forms 

One form relies mainly on submission holds, groundwork, and grappling. These ground forms include Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (the most common ground style martial art) and jiu-jitsu. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, also known as BJJ, is a martial art utilized for self-defense and sport. It’s more aggressive compared to circular styles since students always seek ways to submit and choke enemies instead of redirecting attacks. However, it doesn’t include kicking or striking.  

Linear Forms 

Other forms count on linear methods. Linear attacks are more aggressive and typically count on force to overpower enemies. With this, stronger and bigger people will have a huge advantage in linear forms. Smaller individuals might be able to compensate with excellent technique, speed, and training. However, if both of the fighters are equal, the one with greater size and strength will win.  

Taekwondo and Karate are the two popular examples of linear forms.  

Circular Forms 

A couple of forms utilize circular methods, aimed at transmitting the energy of incoming attacks to your advantage. You can learn to handle an attacker using a circular form with years of study. 

Hapkido and aikido are the best examples of circular forms. Both of these martial arts share the same origin. Hapkido is mainly a defensive martial art. However, it also integrates offensive tactics such as punching, kicking, and much more. On the other hand, Aikido is much milder compared to Hapkido. The goal of an Aikido student is to repel incoming attacks and incapacitate the opponent using throws, locks, or pins. However, the student has to make sure that he/she don’t cause serious harm.