Tweet
Over time it seems that quite a few folks sign up on these excellent boards @ Defend.net to ask for help with choosing 'What Style' is best for self defense etc.
I have over several years built up a reasonable data base of MA info and have some experience of a few styles (including those that I left fairly quickly due to not liking it for whatever reason/s). So I thought I would create this post as a reference to 25 different styles, most of which are quite well known, I have included a brief summarised paragraph about each style from a large number of sources, some from the web some from books and some from first hand experience.
NB. quite a long post follows, this will only be of interest to those who are seriously looking into 'which style' to study. In alphabetical order, lets begin with Aikido
AIKIDO (Japanese) A circular style, Aikido was developed by Sensei Morihei Ueshiba with the express purpose of allowing its practitioners to defend against any attack without seriously injuring the attacker. This is in keeping with Ueshiba's religious belief in the value of all life, and the ideal that violent persons should be shown the error of their ways, not executed.Thus, Aikido is one of the softest styles ever created, based mostly on Jujitsu, but eliminating all kicks and punches. Instead, the Aikido practitioner shifts her or his body to avoid the attack and guides the attacker's body to use their own force against them. However, the belief in the value of life does not mean that the Aikido artist will not use more extreme techniques if they are necessary to insure the practitioner's safety. Throws are used, many of which will cause the attacker to land flat on their back or some other way that could hurt them badly. Also, locks are used which can potentially break the attacker's joints. One of the main benefits of Aikido is that being comprised entirely of circular techniques it can be utilised by anyone, no matter how lacking in muscular strength. Aikido is developed from Zen philosophy which can be seen in its use of meditation and the concept of flow and the unbroken circle which are expressed in all of its techniques. Similar Styles: Aiki-Jujitsu (also Aikijistu) - The style of Jujitsu that Morihei Ueshiba studied and adapted to create Aikido. "the way of spiritual harmony" or "the way of co-ordinated power"
ARNIS ESCRIMA KALI (The Philippines) Arnis and Escrima are basically the same martial art as Kali, the different names signify which part of The Philippines the art comes from and some minor variations of technique. Kali is unusual in that it teaches students stick & knife fighting first and then open handed fighting as its open hand techniques are based on its stick fighting techniques. Kali is therefore commonly perceived as a stick fighting style, but unarmed combat is given equal emphasis. Most of the unarmed techniques are strikes, but leg and hip techniques to off-balance or throw an opponent are also used. The Spanish Espada y Daga was brought into Kali, and thus many schools will also teach sword and knife techniques. Similar Styles: Kalari Payat - This Indian style teaches more weapons than Kali, but open hand, knife, stick, and sword are foremost. Thaing (Bando) A style from Burma (now Myanmar) in which knife fighting is emphasised but stick, sword and open hand are also taught.
CAPOERIA (Angola and Brazil) Capoeira was developed by Brazilian slaves of African descent (presumably taken from the Portuguese colony of Angola) some time in the 16th century. Since it was illegal for slaves to practice fighting skills, they altered native African religious dances so that when they practised their art they would appear to simply be dancing. Because these dances included manoeuvres such as handstands, back flips, and cartwheels, Capoeira is today the most acrobatic of all martial arts, with many kicks being executed from a handstand position. Its offensive techniques are primarily kicks, its defensive techniques are primarily body movements which avoid the enemy's attack all together. African culture is a large part of studying Capoeira, especially since training and competition is done to the rhythm of the berimbau, a single- stringed musical instrument. Only in the 20th century has the practice of Capoeira become legal in Brazil, and only in very recent years has it been taught in other countries.
CHOW-GAR (China) Chow-Gar style is from Southern China. It was founded by Chow Lung, who learned hung-gar, one of the five basic southern systems originating in the Shaolin temple, from his uncle who added the pa-kua staff maneuvers to his nephew's training before passing away.The Choy style was taught to him by Choy-Kau. Later, after a three-year residence at the temples he opened his own school in Canton. In 1915 Gen. Lee-Fook-Lam appointed Chow-Lung an instructor in the Chinese army.
CHOY-LI-FUT (China) Choy-Li-Fut is a popular Southern style of kung fu in which the contenders oppose from some distance, which requires of each the proficient and expert development of long-hand abilities, as well as firm and solid grounding in the body, though the feet must be versatile. The arms are wielded freely and powerfully in a variety of styles: uppercuts, backfists, roundhouses, and overhead foreknuckle thrusts. The Baat Gaw land, willow leaf double swords, and 18 staff may be used in the aggressive kung-fu style.
HAPKIDO (Korea) A Hapkido practitioner becomes skilled in numerous kicks, punches, and blocks. From Aiki-Jujitsu (the predecessor of Aikido) it gets most of its grappling techniques.Thus, the Hapkido practitioner spends an equal amount of time learning techniques such as throws and joint locks. The benefit of studying Hapkido versus studying one striking style and one grappling style is that the practitioner learns to use the two approaches to compliment one another. For example, a Hapkido artist might use a punch to distract his opponent while a difficult throw is set up. Conversely, a Hapkido artist might spin or off-balance his opponent to decrease their ability to defend against a kick. Along these same lines, the Hapkido artist learns to counter in the opposite manner of an attack, thus confusing the enemy. As such, linear attacks are countered with a circular technique and circular attacks are countered with a linear technique. Hapkido artists also learn vital targets and pressure points in order to immobilise their attacker as quickly as possible. Similar Styles: Combat Hapkido Very similar to traditional Hapkido, this modern version uses Muay Thai striking techniques instead of getting its strikes from Tae Kyon. Cuong Nhu A Vietnamese style which incorporates both Karate and Aikido. Kajukenbo Named after the five styles which were combined to create it: Karate (ka), Judo and Jujitsu (ju), Kenpo (ken), and Chinese Boxing (bo).
HSING-'I (China) Literally the 'mind-form'. Found chiefly in the north, originating in San-Shih province. It spread to Hepei, then to Hunan, and eventually reached Peking. Based on the five-element philosophy of Chinese cosmology, it has a simple and practical style. Major weapons are knife(tao) and sword(chien). It uses single movements in training, repeated on both left and right sides, and contains short basic forms, unlike other northern systems. Important figures in the Hepei style (San-Shih original style) are Li-Tsun-I, San-Yuen-Shiang, Tsau-Ke-Li, Chiao-Liang-Feng and Adam Hsu.
HUNG GAR(China) A Fukien tea merchant, from the family Hung, studied Shaolin tiger and then went on to develop the leopard, adopted and changed the styles of dragon and snake. He married a lady who was adept in the crane style. Adopting this style as well. The five animal style was thus created. The most famous exponent of this style is Wong Fei-Hung.
JEET KUNE DO (China and USA) Jeet Kune Do is less an actual style of martial arts than it is a philosophy. Conceived by the late film star Bruce Lee, the main idea of Jeet Kune Do is that each practitioner of martial arts has different physical and mental abilities, and therefore no style, in fact not even a single technique, can be effectively used by everyone. Thus, the Jeet Kune Do artist learns to, "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless," using exclusively their own judgement to determine usefulness. Schools of Jeet Kune Do do not have regimented lessons that are taught, rather the instructor's objective is to show the student the paths they can take to developing their own style. Jeet Kune Do has been listed as highly variable on the grappling & striking scale because in theory it can be as centred around either approach as the individual using it decides it should be. However, the reality is that Bruce Lee's own formal training was in the Wing Chun style of Wushu and therefore the techniques taught will tend to lean toward striking. Advanced practitioners are taught to study many styles and take from them whatever they think they could use.
JUDO(Japan) Judo was developed in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano from the techniques of Jujitsu. Kano felt that Jujitsu was too violent and eliminated or altered its techniques where necessary to fulfil his ideal of "mutual benefit" of the practitioner and society as a whole, one of the two concepts central to Judo. The other founding concept of Judo is that of "maximum efficiency from minimum effort" which allows the practitioner to defeat a stronger opponent by turning his strength against him, and thus can be seen in Judo's main physical elements. Judo emphasises grappling techniques, especially those that upset the enemy's balance, in particular- gaining leverage, throws, clothes grabbing, joint locks, and strangle holds. Advanced students also learn to strike vital areas. In most schools, after students have learned the basic techniques, they spend most of their time free sparring, a one-on-one exercise under the same rules as a competition. One aspect of Judo is rare in the world of martial arts, in that there are no different "schools" of Judo- wherever it is studied around the world the student will learn the same techniques, unlike most styles of martial art which can have dozens of schools, each with its own particular brand of the style. Ironically, although Kano discouraged competition Judo has become a very popular sport, gaining Olympic status in 1964. Similar Styles: Dumog - A sport from the Philippines where competitors attempt to throw one another to their backs using grappling techniques. Goshin-Jutsu - Like Professor Kano, Tanaka Tatsu felt that Jujitsu was too violent and dangerous, so he created this style from it to be safer. Sambo - Russian wrestling style which developed in the 1930's from over 20 styles of wrestling practised in the republics of the Soviet Union. Yudo - Korean style of Judo.
I have over several years built up a reasonable data base of MA info and have some experience of a few styles (including those that I left fairly quickly due to not liking it for whatever reason/s). So I thought I would create this post as a reference to 25 different styles, most of which are quite well known, I have included a brief summarised paragraph about each style from a large number of sources, some from the web some from books and some from first hand experience.
NB. quite a long post follows, this will only be of interest to those who are seriously looking into 'which style' to study. In alphabetical order, lets begin with Aikido
AIKIDO (Japanese) A circular style, Aikido was developed by Sensei Morihei Ueshiba with the express purpose of allowing its practitioners to defend against any attack without seriously injuring the attacker. This is in keeping with Ueshiba's religious belief in the value of all life, and the ideal that violent persons should be shown the error of their ways, not executed.Thus, Aikido is one of the softest styles ever created, based mostly on Jujitsu, but eliminating all kicks and punches. Instead, the Aikido practitioner shifts her or his body to avoid the attack and guides the attacker's body to use their own force against them. However, the belief in the value of life does not mean that the Aikido artist will not use more extreme techniques if they are necessary to insure the practitioner's safety. Throws are used, many of which will cause the attacker to land flat on their back or some other way that could hurt them badly. Also, locks are used which can potentially break the attacker's joints. One of the main benefits of Aikido is that being comprised entirely of circular techniques it can be utilised by anyone, no matter how lacking in muscular strength. Aikido is developed from Zen philosophy which can be seen in its use of meditation and the concept of flow and the unbroken circle which are expressed in all of its techniques. Similar Styles: Aiki-Jujitsu (also Aikijistu) - The style of Jujitsu that Morihei Ueshiba studied and adapted to create Aikido. "the way of spiritual harmony" or "the way of co-ordinated power"
ARNIS ESCRIMA KALI (The Philippines) Arnis and Escrima are basically the same martial art as Kali, the different names signify which part of The Philippines the art comes from and some minor variations of technique. Kali is unusual in that it teaches students stick & knife fighting first and then open handed fighting as its open hand techniques are based on its stick fighting techniques. Kali is therefore commonly perceived as a stick fighting style, but unarmed combat is given equal emphasis. Most of the unarmed techniques are strikes, but leg and hip techniques to off-balance or throw an opponent are also used. The Spanish Espada y Daga was brought into Kali, and thus many schools will also teach sword and knife techniques. Similar Styles: Kalari Payat - This Indian style teaches more weapons than Kali, but open hand, knife, stick, and sword are foremost. Thaing (Bando) A style from Burma (now Myanmar) in which knife fighting is emphasised but stick, sword and open hand are also taught.
CAPOERIA (Angola and Brazil) Capoeira was developed by Brazilian slaves of African descent (presumably taken from the Portuguese colony of Angola) some time in the 16th century. Since it was illegal for slaves to practice fighting skills, they altered native African religious dances so that when they practised their art they would appear to simply be dancing. Because these dances included manoeuvres such as handstands, back flips, and cartwheels, Capoeira is today the most acrobatic of all martial arts, with many kicks being executed from a handstand position. Its offensive techniques are primarily kicks, its defensive techniques are primarily body movements which avoid the enemy's attack all together. African culture is a large part of studying Capoeira, especially since training and competition is done to the rhythm of the berimbau, a single- stringed musical instrument. Only in the 20th century has the practice of Capoeira become legal in Brazil, and only in very recent years has it been taught in other countries.
CHOW-GAR (China) Chow-Gar style is from Southern China. It was founded by Chow Lung, who learned hung-gar, one of the five basic southern systems originating in the Shaolin temple, from his uncle who added the pa-kua staff maneuvers to his nephew's training before passing away.The Choy style was taught to him by Choy-Kau. Later, after a three-year residence at the temples he opened his own school in Canton. In 1915 Gen. Lee-Fook-Lam appointed Chow-Lung an instructor in the Chinese army.
CHOY-LI-FUT (China) Choy-Li-Fut is a popular Southern style of kung fu in which the contenders oppose from some distance, which requires of each the proficient and expert development of long-hand abilities, as well as firm and solid grounding in the body, though the feet must be versatile. The arms are wielded freely and powerfully in a variety of styles: uppercuts, backfists, roundhouses, and overhead foreknuckle thrusts. The Baat Gaw land, willow leaf double swords, and 18 staff may be used in the aggressive kung-fu style.
HAPKIDO (Korea) A Hapkido practitioner becomes skilled in numerous kicks, punches, and blocks. From Aiki-Jujitsu (the predecessor of Aikido) it gets most of its grappling techniques.Thus, the Hapkido practitioner spends an equal amount of time learning techniques such as throws and joint locks. The benefit of studying Hapkido versus studying one striking style and one grappling style is that the practitioner learns to use the two approaches to compliment one another. For example, a Hapkido artist might use a punch to distract his opponent while a difficult throw is set up. Conversely, a Hapkido artist might spin or off-balance his opponent to decrease their ability to defend against a kick. Along these same lines, the Hapkido artist learns to counter in the opposite manner of an attack, thus confusing the enemy. As such, linear attacks are countered with a circular technique and circular attacks are countered with a linear technique. Hapkido artists also learn vital targets and pressure points in order to immobilise their attacker as quickly as possible. Similar Styles: Combat Hapkido Very similar to traditional Hapkido, this modern version uses Muay Thai striking techniques instead of getting its strikes from Tae Kyon. Cuong Nhu A Vietnamese style which incorporates both Karate and Aikido. Kajukenbo Named after the five styles which were combined to create it: Karate (ka), Judo and Jujitsu (ju), Kenpo (ken), and Chinese Boxing (bo).
HSING-'I (China) Literally the 'mind-form'. Found chiefly in the north, originating in San-Shih province. It spread to Hepei, then to Hunan, and eventually reached Peking. Based on the five-element philosophy of Chinese cosmology, it has a simple and practical style. Major weapons are knife(tao) and sword(chien). It uses single movements in training, repeated on both left and right sides, and contains short basic forms, unlike other northern systems. Important figures in the Hepei style (San-Shih original style) are Li-Tsun-I, San-Yuen-Shiang, Tsau-Ke-Li, Chiao-Liang-Feng and Adam Hsu.
HUNG GAR(China) A Fukien tea merchant, from the family Hung, studied Shaolin tiger and then went on to develop the leopard, adopted and changed the styles of dragon and snake. He married a lady who was adept in the crane style. Adopting this style as well. The five animal style was thus created. The most famous exponent of this style is Wong Fei-Hung.
JEET KUNE DO (China and USA) Jeet Kune Do is less an actual style of martial arts than it is a philosophy. Conceived by the late film star Bruce Lee, the main idea of Jeet Kune Do is that each practitioner of martial arts has different physical and mental abilities, and therefore no style, in fact not even a single technique, can be effectively used by everyone. Thus, the Jeet Kune Do artist learns to, "absorb what is useful, reject what is useless," using exclusively their own judgement to determine usefulness. Schools of Jeet Kune Do do not have regimented lessons that are taught, rather the instructor's objective is to show the student the paths they can take to developing their own style. Jeet Kune Do has been listed as highly variable on the grappling & striking scale because in theory it can be as centred around either approach as the individual using it decides it should be. However, the reality is that Bruce Lee's own formal training was in the Wing Chun style of Wushu and therefore the techniques taught will tend to lean toward striking. Advanced practitioners are taught to study many styles and take from them whatever they think they could use.
JUDO(Japan) Judo was developed in 1882 by Professor Jigoro Kano from the techniques of Jujitsu. Kano felt that Jujitsu was too violent and eliminated or altered its techniques where necessary to fulfil his ideal of "mutual benefit" of the practitioner and society as a whole, one of the two concepts central to Judo. The other founding concept of Judo is that of "maximum efficiency from minimum effort" which allows the practitioner to defeat a stronger opponent by turning his strength against him, and thus can be seen in Judo's main physical elements. Judo emphasises grappling techniques, especially those that upset the enemy's balance, in particular- gaining leverage, throws, clothes grabbing, joint locks, and strangle holds. Advanced students also learn to strike vital areas. In most schools, after students have learned the basic techniques, they spend most of their time free sparring, a one-on-one exercise under the same rules as a competition. One aspect of Judo is rare in the world of martial arts, in that there are no different "schools" of Judo- wherever it is studied around the world the student will learn the same techniques, unlike most styles of martial art which can have dozens of schools, each with its own particular brand of the style. Ironically, although Kano discouraged competition Judo has become a very popular sport, gaining Olympic status in 1964. Similar Styles: Dumog - A sport from the Philippines where competitors attempt to throw one another to their backs using grappling techniques. Goshin-Jutsu - Like Professor Kano, Tanaka Tatsu felt that Jujitsu was too violent and dangerous, so he created this style from it to be safer. Sambo - Russian wrestling style which developed in the 1930's from over 20 styles of wrestling practised in the republics of the Soviet Union. Yudo - Korean style of Judo.
Comment