Explore popular martial arts styles like BJJ, Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and Muay Thai. I break down key techniques, origins, and what makes each one unique.
Capoeira is a fascinating Afro-Brazilian martial art that has gained a lot of popularity in the past decade. But can you fight with it, and is Capoeira effective in MMA? Here’s what I know from training in it: Overall, Capoeira is not a great martial art to learn if being an MMA fighter is the … Read more
Taekwondo involves both punches and kicks, and with kicks, you are allowed to kick the face and head. So, how do you stay safe in Taekwondo? Stay safe practicing Taekwondo by wearing padded helmets and torso pads and by focusing initially on the precision of hits more than power and speed. Power and speed are … Read more
Judo is a martial art that translates to “gentle way.” Its goal is to throw an opponent to the ground and then submit them with a joint lock or choke. But it’s not for everyone, so what are the Judo pros and cons? Judo Pros Judo Cons Helps build core strength Throws can induce injury … Read more
Judo is a martial art that’s employed by millions all over the world. In addition to being a sport, it is also valuable for self-defense. But is Judo effective in MMA? Judo is very effective in MMA. It is employed by some of the most successful fighters in the UFC including Ronda Rousey and Khabib … Read more
Kung Fu was the original martial art to gain popularity in the west. But there are dozens of different styles, and some styles look brutal. So, is Kung Fu safe? On the whole, Kung Fu is safe, particularly gentler styles of Kung Fu such as Tai Chi. The styles more likely to result in injury … Read more
Jiu-Jitsu and its close cousin, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are 2 of the most popular martial arts and are widely seen as great for self-defense, but is Jiu-Jitsu offensive or defensive? Jiu-Jitsu is overall primarily defensive but has both offensive and defensive techniques. At its core, Jiu-Jitsu is about smarts, not brawn, which is why it’s ideal … Read more
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial art designed to help smaller or weaker opponents beat a bigger and stronger one. But there are downsides too, so let’s review all the BJJ pros and cons: The pros of BJJ include excellent self-defense, physical fitness, and enabling a smaller person to successfully defend against a larger person. However, … Read more
Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts out there. It involves a lot of kicking. But is Taekwondo offensive or defensive? Taekwondo is largely defensive in that it is not designed for attack. Most martial arts have a spiritual component that decries unnecessary use of force and the most offensive or aggressive systems, … Read more
Kung Fu, at one point, was the most popular martial art in the US. And it was the martial art initially practiced by martial art icon Bruce Lee. But is Kung Fu offensive or defensive? Kung Fu is actually a collective term for a variety of Chinese fighting styles, with some styles, such as Tai … Read more
Kendo is a Japanese form of fencing. It’s highly popular in the East and other parts of the world. But is Kendo like real sword fighting? Here’s what I found out: Kendo is not like real sword fighting and is more of a sport like fencing. Kendo is based on the ancient art of Kenjutsu, … Read more