After practicing one particular martial art for a while, it is very common to see students pick up an interest in another martial art. But how many martial arts can a person learn?
As a general rule, a person can learn and master 3 to 5 different martial arts thoroughly. And many advanced students are capable of learning two or three martial arts simultaneously. However, beginners should start with one and not add additional martial arts for at least 2-3 years.
And, of course, there’s not really a limit. But it can be hard to master all of them if you’re trying to learn 10.
The effectiveness of learning different martial arts depends on the student’s time constraints and ability to recover from training. A particular martial art may be practiced in 2 to 3 hours of training each week.
These martial disciplines are sometimes related, and other times they are entirely unrelated. Some people want to practice in various similar styles, and some prefer total diversity.
I’m sure you might be wondering what type of martial art you can learn simultaneously and how many you can practice at once. Is there a limit, or is it possible to learn all of them? Continue reading to the end of the article to find out.
It’s good.
Self-defense is good. It’s good to know how to defend yourself. I highly recommend taking a self-defense class if you haven’t already.
Learning martial arts in my teens-young adulthood is something I’m very thankful for and don’t regret. At all. pic.twitter.com/Q80xRIMcCm— Rae (@Rae_209) April 12, 2022
How many martial arts can you learn at once?
Depending on the amount of time you have and your strength, you can learn two to three martial arts at once.
But I would only recommend this if you’ve been practicing one for at least 2 years. There would be no Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) if it were physically impossible to practice two martial arts at the same time.
However, this does not mean that a beginner in Kung Fu should seek out Judo classes. There are numerous martial arts that can complement each other if you find the correct trainer or teacher to assist you in blending the forms.
It is best to master one art before you start the second one.
After you’ve become a true “master” of one field, you realize there’s always more to learn. This implies that mastering a single martial art may be, and often is, a life-long commitment.
There isn’t enough place for that type of commitment for many fighters to consider taking on a second.
Most types of martial arts require rigorous training that contributes to improved fitness. One of the benefits of engaging in any martial arts practice is improved blood pressure. Especially during training, repetitive movements can behave like high intensity interval training. pic.twitter.com/uuexuyXN1x
— 3R Global Services (@3rchefglobal) April 15, 2020
How many martial arts are there?
In the globe, there are over 190 distinct martial arts. This includes popular martial arts techniques like Karate, Taekwondo, Krav Maga, BJJ, MMA, and less common styles like “Drunken Fist” Kung Fu, Sherlock Holmes’ Bartitsu, and Zulu Stick Fighting.
Martial arts have been practiced for thousands of years. Many have faded into history and are no longer practiced, while new skills and methods continually come up almost every day.
Martial arts are divided into four categories: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Brazilian, with several styles within each group. Mixed Martial Disciplines, or MMA, is a type of martial art that incorporates techniques from different combat sports and martial arts.
Among the 190+ martial arts in the world, these are the top 10 martial arts:
- Karate: Japan.
- Muay Thai: Thailand
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Brazil
- Kung Fu: Chinese
- Taekwondo: Korea
- Ninjutsu: Japan
- Jiu-Jitsu: Japan
- Krav Maga: Israel
Martial arts come in a variety of styles and schools. Individual teachers or masters may introduce schools or styles, or a gym may launch them as a brand name. Martial arts can be classified by type or concentration or by place of origin.
For example, not every martial art uses pressure points. So which ones do?
In a recent article, I revealed which martial art teaches pressure points. What really surprised me was what is considered a pressure point and how many different ones there are.
Just click on the link to read it on my site.
GM from Camp🏝️
I love MMA, I’m doing MuayThai since I was in Uni but start Jiu jitsu about a year ago. How the different movement sport I learning, balance then emotion and strategy. I met a lot beautiful and strong woman at camp 💕 pic.twitter.com/OXAKGbQpfY— Bhee! (@bheisayu) February 23, 2022
Can you learn all martial arts?
It is not possible to learn and master every available martial art, as there are over 190+ martial arts globally, making it impossible to learn all of them up to an expert level. However, you can combine two-three martial arts depending on what you intend to achieve.
Deciding to learn all martial arts is a personal decision based on the goals you have for yourself.
For someone that wants to be an expert at fighting, you can learn different defending skills from different martial arts. There are numerous martial arts a person can combine and learn at once.
You can learn Karate for defensive skills and Taekwondo for traditional discipline.
Combining a grappling martial art with a striking martial art is an excellent option for individuals who want to be MMA fighters. Combining Muay Thai with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in my opinion, optimizes the benefits of cross-training martial arts for this reason.
If a martial artist wishes to develop abilities for self-defense, I recommend training Muay Thai with either Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Judo.
This is vital for self-defense since being able to control distance with striking or dominate with close-range grappling opens up more alternatives for effective self-defense in various situations.
Wrestling would be ideal for both an MMA fighter and a martial artist seeking self-defense capabilities.
Still, it can be challenging to find a place to train in pure wrestling, so people will have to make do with what is available in their area, typically a BJJ school that works takedowns or a Judo school.
And some martial arts are best learned by the younger generations, whereas others work for older folks.
In a recent article, I explained the different martial arts you can learn in your 20s, 30s, and 40s.
Click on the link to read it on my site.
Throwback to when I was in college and just learning karate lol. Should have probably learned it alongside Taekwondo when I was younger, but oh well lol pic.twitter.com/MQJcnV0FGY
— Local Dubdog Falls Into The Void. More At 11 (@Symphonia4900) May 3, 2020
Can I learn both Karate and Taekwondo?
Yes, you can learn both Karate and Taekwondo. There is no reason why you cannot do both at once. Similar to studying different subjects in school, your brain should not mix up the two martial arts too much.
Also, the skills learned in both martial arts will benefit you.
Even though you can learn and practice Karate and Taekwondo at the same time, most professionals would not recommend it because you will not be as good at either if you devote all of your time and attention to perfecting one method.
It is usually recommended that you reach at least a 4th Dan level in one martial art before moving on to learn another.
Both Karate and Taekwondo provide a full-body exercise while teaching patience and discipline. Depending on the style of Karate or Taekwondo you pick, they each have various variances in how they are performed.
Karate will be a better option if you want to master more balanced, full-body techniques.
At the same time, Taekwondo is the superior alternative for people who wish to master rapid and complex kicking movements.
What earning a Black Belt Represents #Danforth #Karate #DanforthKarate #DanforthKarateAcademy #NoExcuse #nevergiveup #neverquit #dontquit #dontgiveup #EastYork #Riverdale #Eastend #Toronto #BlackBelt #Motivation #conqueryourfears Danforth Karate Academy pic.twitter.com/v6DKrHwrnE
— Danforth Karate (@DanforthKarate) January 22, 2020
Should you wait to start a new martial art until you have a black belt at your current dojo?
Waiting until one has obtained a black belt before starting a new martial art is not necessary. But beginners should wait at least 2 years to start training a different martial art simultaneously.
But this is based on your decision.
You can decide to get a black belt at your current dojo before starting another martial art. This way, it sends a message to your new instructor that you’re a disciplined person and you’ve gone through training from your former martial art class, and you are now willing to start as a white belt holder in your current dojo.
Also, you can decide to learn both martial arts as soon as you’ve mastered one of them without getting a black belt. You can always combine your dojos and learn simultaneously.
Are you currently enrolled in one martial arts school, and you don’t know how to get out of your martial arts contract?
In a recent article, I explained how you could easily get out of your martial arts contract. Click on the link to read the article on this website.
Conclusion
For most martial arts practitioners, learning more than one martial art is a life dream and goal.
They can become well-rounded fighters proficient in numerous disciplines. At the same time, some other students prefer to specialize in a particular martial arts category, such as striking or grappling-oriented martial arts.
Multi-discipline training provides you with a more holistic view of martial arts and combat, which aids in the development of skills and capacities in all of the martial arts disciplines you practice.
While there is a limit to how many disciplines you can master, developing a broad basis of fundamental martial arts knowledge may be both enjoyable and gratifying, allowing you to adapt techniques gained to a variety of circumstances across all disciplines.
And while most martial arts are best learned with a partner, there are some that work great on your own.
In a recent article, I wrote about the martial arts you can practice by yourself without a partner to make it easier for you to learn multiple martial arts at once. And I shared the 1 crucial piece of equipment necessary for that.
Just click that link to read it on my site.
Image by inna mykytas from Pixabay