The most versatile martial art. Things to do: The best martial art for a street fight

The ability to defend plays an important role in the history of every nation. Under the influence of natural, historical and cultural factors, many hand-to-hand combat tactics were created and developed, each of which absorbed elements of the ethnic group of its country. Ways to strike the enemy and inflict pain became more and more effective, and over the course of many centuries, the usual fight with the help of stones and sticks turned into a real one. martial arts.

We bring to your attention the 10 most dangerous martial arts in the world, each of which has gone beyond the country of origin and has become popular in many parts of the world.

10. Jiu-jitsu

This is a very effective and tough way of fighting, which appeared during street fights, and is now included in the list of sports disciplines.

9. Kazukenbo

This is an explosive mixture of boxing and karate. It arose in the first half of the twentieth century in Hawaii, as a street fight. In this way, the natives defended themselves from sailors and gangs who sailed.

8. Capoeira

This method of fighting, included in the 10 most dangerous martial arts in the world, originated in Brazil during the time of slaves and their owners. Fugitive slaves defended themselves in this way from soldiers and slave traders. The fighting technique was so skillful that capoeira was banned at the legal level. But the Brazilian blacks did not want to part with it, and this struggle lives to this day in the form of a dance with combat elements.

7. Sambo

This type of struggle arose in the 20s of the twentieth century in the ranks of the Red Army, as self-defense without the use of improvised means. Sambo is a universal wrestling in which you can use not only arms and legs, but also elbows, knees, throws, jumps and choking techniques.

6. Bojuka

Bojuka is also one of the ten most dangerous martial arts in the world, since its use is aimed at a swift victory over a real enemy, and there are no specific rules and prohibitions in this martial art. It arose at the end of the last century and is actively used in the training of bodyguards.

5. Jeet Kune Do

Its creator is the legendary Bruce Lee. This is a mix of many combat techniques, aimed at maximum damage to the enemy in a minimum of time. In this way, Bruce Lee turned the pompous Chinese fighting techniques into effective street fighting.

4. GRU special forces combat technique

Soldiers use it special purpose. There are no analogues of Russian martial art in any country in the world, therefore it is considered one of the most dangerous.

3. Muay Thai

This technique certainly deserves to be included in the top of the most brutal martial arts in the world. Everything is used in it: feet, knees, elbows, head.

2. Aikido

Perhaps, each of us has heard about this martial art. But not everyone can skillfully master it, because aikido implies the ability to control human and earthly energy, redirect it in the right direction and fight without aggression and anger. To become a true professional in aikido, you need to learn the ancient Eastern teachings and enlighten yourself spiritually, what at first glance is done very easily, is achieved by incredible physical and spiritual efforts. In the arsenal of a professional, Aikido becomes the most dangerous weapon.

1. Bokator

This name translates as "fight with a lion." This wrestling comes from Southeast Asia and owes its origin to observant men who copy the habits of animals during the fight. Bokator, among other "animals" of martial arts, is considered the most dangerous, since, like Muay Thai, there are practically no forbidden tricks in it.

The list below consists of the top ten martial arts for self defense. If you are interested in choosing martial arts for the most effective defense, then you should definitely read this rating to the end.

Kickboxing is a combat sport that originated in the United States in the 1960s. It is based on punches and kicks along with martial arts techniques (sweeps, throws, etc.). It has quite a few branches, the most famous of which is Muay Thai - roughly translated as "the art of eight limbs."

Karate is a Japanese martial art that uses precisely targeted, powerful punches and kicks to the vital points of the body to crush the opponent. This sport was invented in 1929 by Gichin Funakoshi under the influence of Zen Buddhism. In Karate, special emphasis is placed on evasions.

In eighth place in the ranking of the best martial arts for self-defense is Aikido, a Japanese martial art, the peculiarity of which is the use of throws and grabs. It was founded by Morihei Ueshiba between the 30s and 60s of the 20th century. Aikido focuses on using the opponent's strength against himself. It is considered one of the most difficult Japanese martial arts to master.

Wing Chun is a Chinese martial art that uses a variety of fighting techniques. It is for this reason that it is considered an applied direction of wushu. It is characterized by effective escapes from the line of attack, complemented by instant, straight-line strikes at very close range. Often the fight ends with knee and elbow strikes. An experienced Wing Chun fighter is capable of inflicting up to eight blows per second on an opponent.

Jiu-Jitsu is the most versatile style on this list. This is a real hybrid, which includes elements of wrestling, hard punches, chokes, locks, etc. Jiu-jitsu is one of the oldest types of Japanese wrestling. The main principle of jiu-jitsu is not to go into direct confrontation, but to yield to the onslaught of the opponent, directing his actions in the right direction until he is trapped, and then turn the strength and actions of the enemy against him.

Jeet Kune Do was created by Bruce Lee and in Chinese means "the way of the leading fist." Today, this style of martial arts is considered one of the most popular in the world. It is taught in many countries. However, Bruce Lee himself did not call Jeet Kune Do a "style", but preferred to call it a "method". According to his philosophy, the Jeet Kune Do method can be used in any kind of martial arts. Here the emphasis is on the speed of impact and combinations.

The fourth place in the list of the best martial arts for self-defense is boxing. I think almost everyone knows that a boxer has the fastest, strongest, most accurate punch of any trained fighter of any other martial art.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art that is an international martial art, the basis of which is ground fighting, as well as painful and suffocating techniques. This art is based on the principle that a person of an underdeveloped physique can successfully defend himself and defeat a more powerful opponent using the appropriate technique (painful holds and chokes).

Keysi Fighting Method (KFM) is a self-defense system based on the development of natural human instincts and a number of techniques taken from the arsenal of boxing and street fighting. KFM is based on a small arsenal of techniques adapted to the specific situation. The system was created in 1957 by Spaniard Justo Dieguez and Englishman Andy Norman, both of whom are Jeet Kune Do instructors.

The best martial art for self defense is Krav Maga, an Israeli martial art developed by Imi Lichtenfeld for self defense purposes. In Krav Maga there are no exact rules and there is no difference between workouts for men and women. The system is not considered a sport, it lacks a specific dress code and competition, although some organizations award different levels and emblems as they learn. All techniques focus on maximum efficiency in real conditions, as well as on natural reflexes, simple movements and aggressive defensive techniques. The main principles of Krav Maga are: do not take damage, quickly neutralize the attacker, quickly switch from defensive to offensive technique, use the reflexes of the body, as well as the enemy's vulnerabilities, use any available object.

Among the huge variety of martial arts, there are several types that are rightfully considered one of the most dangerous. This post will introduce you to such martial arts.

Jeet Kune Do

The combat system developed by Bruce Lee is a complex hybrid of techniques united by one goal - to inflict maximum damage on the enemy as quickly as possible. It was Bruce Lee's street answer to all the tinsel he thought was adorned in China's ancient martial arts.

Bokator

In Southeast Asia, men studied combat techniques animals - there are a great many of them. It is not surprising that the fighting styles also copy the manners of animals and birds - there are techniques of a snake, horse, eagle and others. However, the most deadly is the "lion fight", or "bokator". The technique is intended primarily for fierce battles - elbows, knees, throws and other techniques aimed at the fastest possible neutralization of the enemy.

Aikido

Aikido technique is the accumulated ancient teachings of the East. Aikido is based on the science of Qi - the management of earthly and human energies in their endless harmonic whirlpool of Yin and Yang. Merging with an opponent's attack, redirecting energy and painful grips, which can be carried out even by an opponent who is inferior to another in weight - all this makes aikido a dangerous weapon in the hands of a professional. Fortunately, aikido adepts rarely give vent to anger or aggression - they simply do not arise in them due to spiritual enlightenment.

capoeira

Although today capoeira is more of a dance, in the past the art was the main street weapon in the Brazilian ghettos. Initially, capoeira arose as a method of fighting fugitive slaves with human hunters - they managed to develop the technique to such heights that it became a truly deadly weapon and was banned by law. However, in a form disguised as a dance, the deadly martial art lives on to this day.

kajukenbo

Karate and Chinese boxing are the two components from which, in the 1940s, an art designed for street warfare was born in Hawaii. Local residents defended themselves with it from street gangs and violent sailors.

Sambo

Self-defense without weapons is a complex system that combines striking and wrestling techniques. Martial art appeared in the Red Army in the 1920s as a universal and simple technique fight. In Sambo, all types of punches, kicks, elbows, knees, chokeholds and throws are allowed.

Bojuka

Like other non-combat sports, this hybrid fighting technique does not focus on sports interest, and is aimed at the fastest possible victory over the enemy. Created in the 1990s by Tom Schenka and used to train bodyguards.

GRU spetsnaz system

Techniques are trained by the military, undergoing training in special forces. Experts say that this art has no analogues in the world - only Israeli Krav Maga approaches the System in terms of efficiency and speed.

Jujutsu

Extremely tough and effective jiu-jitsu fight today exists as sports discipline However, art began primarily with street fights, in which all means were used.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is sometimes called the "Art of Eight Limbs" - this says a lot about the technique, in which elbows and knees are used. Not surprisingly, Muay Thai is one of the most merciless martial arts in the world and deservedly so.

Someone, talking about the qualities of martial arts, thinks that it could be used both in competitions and on the street. Someone is thinking about using it against other martial arts. We will try to reason in both these directions.

Percussion types of martial arts

Percussion types include martial arts in which wrestling is not used, but only blows are used. These sports include boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, taekwondo, some types of karate, etc. For each of them, competitions are held where athletes can test their level of skill.

IN this moment modern martial arts do not use the formal sequences of movements that are used in traditional martial arts. A prominent representative is karate with its own kata. Many martial arts experts consider kata to be a relic of the past and that now more attention should be paid to practice (working in pairs and sparring). But representatives of traditional types of martial arts believe that such formal practices of techniques and combinations are necessary.

My opinion on this matter is that formal training of combinations in the air is of course necessary, but they must go without interruption from practice, so that each student understands how this or that movement is applied in a real situation.

Even in the same boxing, athletes pay a lot of attention to working at the mirror, training the clarity of movements during blows. This is very valuable, because they understand that a correctly delivered blow is more dangerous than a poorly practiced one.

Wrestling martial arts styles

In wrestling, there is much less practice in the air than in traditional percussion styles. But nevertheless, to some extent it is also present. In addition, there are significant differences in different areas of wrestling styles. Many of them prefer a certain level of wrestling. For example, judo gradually began to specialize more in stand-up fighting than in the ground. And jiu-jitsu, on the contrary, moved mainly to the ground. It has to do with the rating system. sports competitions, preparing for which, athletes work out those technical actions, for which they can get more points in the tournament.

At the moment, only Sambo is more or less able to balance between the upper and lower levels of wrestling.

Traditional martial arts

There are many martial arts that, according to some experts, are only suitable for competitions and that they are useless on the street. On this occasion, there are many attacks on Taekwondo, Karate, Aikido, Wing Chun and other authentic martial arts.

In my opinion, such claims are partly justified because such martial arts are stuck in their development.

The fact is that from time immemorial, schools of such martial arts have tried to stand apart from each other and did not exchange experience. Competition, of course, was also not held. This was due to the fact that each school tried to preserve its individuality. But on the other hand, it could be due to the selfishness of the founder of a certain martial arts and, as a result, because of the fear of comparing his style with others, which would inevitably lead to the identification of many shortcomings and undermine the authority of the creator of this martial arts. All this made the direction of martial arts more and more closed from the outside world. The exceptions are those combat directions, which were developed for use in hostilities, that is, in wars. But again, these are more applied areas in which bladed weapons were most often used. But on the other hand, fighters of such directions had a lot of practice and the level of skill could be assessed by whether a representative of one or another martial art is still alive or dead.

On the other hand, maybe it was the fear of death that made martial arts schools closed. No one wanted to give out the secrets of deadly techniques that can be used to eliminate the enemy.

But nevertheless, in our time, the success of mastery directly depends on the ability to enrich one's own experience, identify one's own shortcomings and work on them.

Wrestlers VS. Drummers

At the competition, the skill of athletes in their sport is tested. They compete on equal terms and there are no contradictions. Whoever has the best competitive discipline wins. But who will win if representatives of different martial arts meet on the street?

If the fight is going to be one on one. Then the chances of winning will be approximately equal for representatives different types martial arts. For example, two absolutely abstract athletes met in battle: a judoka and a boxer. Which of them will win if their skill level is about the same?

It is impossible to answer this question objectively. If the judoist has time to grab and make an amplitude throw, for which the boxer will obviously not be ready, since he has not studied either throws or correct falls, then the fight will come to an end. But if it happens that when trying to make a grip, he runs into an oncoming blow, then the fight will also be ended ahead of schedule, but in favor of the striker in the face of the boxer.

And this applies to almost any shock or wrestling type of martial arts. Much will depend on the ability to avoid what you are not ready for and start doing what you are ready for. But if something happens that you would like to avoid, then the chance of losing is great.

Street

So which martial art is more effective for street fight against a regular, random opponent? Again, if the fight takes place one on one, then any martial art will be effective: both wrestling and shock. But if the fight takes place against two or more opponents, then the efficiency is on the side of the strikers. It's obvious that you can fight.
at the same time with only one opponent, while his partners can strike a wrestler whose hands are busy, which excludes the possibility of defending.

The drummer, in turn, can strike several opponents in turn, the main thing is to choose the right tactics for fighting and have the required skill.

But on by and large No matter how skillful an athlete is, a fight against several opponents is something that must be avoided at all costs, as it is too dangerous. After all, no one knows what a street scumbag can get out of his bosom. Nevertheless, a striker always has an advantage over a wrestler in any street fight. This advantage lies in the ability to flee. Thanks to fighting with strikes, not throws, a strike-style fighter always has the opportunity to break the distance with opponents up to several kilometers.

But it may also be that the hooligans have experience in street fights and know that if help approaches, the victim cannot be released, and will try to capture in order to play for time before the arrival of their hooligan associates. To be able to avoid such problems, a fighter must be able to get rid of the hold, and this is already part of the skill of the fighter.

So, therefore, for street fighting, it is desirable to have striking skills and some basic basics of fighting, at least in order not to be on the ground and not be kicked.

Mixed styles of martial arts

And now let's find out what kind of martial art gives those involved in both striking and wrestling skills at the same time. This is, as many have already guessed, martial arts of mixed styles. Mixed martial arts include:

hand-to-hand combat,
Army hand-to-hand combat,
pankration,
Combat Sambo,
kudo,
Wushu Sanda,
MMA (Mix Fight).

Despite the clear advantages that have been justified above, mixed styles have one drawback. Due to the large amount of material in the form of striking and wrestling techniques, fighters of mixed styles need much more time to master the discipline being studied than it takes to master homogeneous styles. That is why in mixed martial arts often people come who already know some kind of martial art and want to expand their combat arsenal, as well as learn how to connect it with each other.

Martial arts - various systems of martial arts and self-defense of different, often East Asian origin; developed mainly as a means of hand-to-hand combat. Currently practiced in many countries of the world mainly in the form sports exercises aiming at physical and conscious improvement.

Classification

Martial arts are divided into areas, types, styles and schools. There are both quite old martial arts and new ones.

Martial arts are divided into wrestling, drums And martial arts(include not only the study of techniques, but also the philosophy of combat and life).
With or without weapons. Martial arts with the use of weapons include: all types of shooting, throwing knives, darts, etc., knife and stick fighting, fencing (rapier, saber), various oriental martial arts (for example, wushu, kung fu, kendo) using nunchaku, staffs, sabers and swords. Martial arts without the use of weapons include all others in which only various parts of the arms, legs and head are used.
Types of wrestling by country(national). Every nation has its own types of martial arts.

Consider the most famous of them.

Japanese karate, jujutsu (jiu-jitsu), judo, aikido, sumo, kendo, kudo, iaido, kobujutsu, nunchaku-jutsu, ninjutsu etc.).
Chinese wushu and kung fu. In addition, in China there are also various styles that imitate the behavior of animals, birds, insects, as well as a style that imitates the behavior of a drunk person (“drunkard” style).
Korean hapkido, taekwondo (taekwondo).
Thai muay thai or thai boxing.
Russians sambo and Combat Sambo, hand-to-hand combat.
European boxing, french boxing(savate), freestyle and Greco-Roman (classical) wrestling.
Brazilian capoeira, jiu-jitsu.
Israeli krav maga.
mixed kinds. MMA (mixed fight), K-1, kickboxing, grappling is mixed species, techniques in which are taken from other martial arts and martial arts.
Olympic martial arts. Part of the types of wrestling, martial arts and martial arts are included in the program Olympic Games. These include boxing, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, taekwondo, various types of shooting.

The difference between martial arts and martial arts

All sports martial arts differ from real martial arts in that they are always aimed at fighting one person (hence why they are called martial arts), which is always fair and a good sportsman, and always acts within the framework of certain pre-clearly stipulated rules.

Also in martial arts, most often there is a division into weight categories, weapons are not used there, vile tricks and the effect of surprise, as well as tricks that can very much injure a person.

But naturally, in a real battle on the street, such excellent battle conditions are rare. Three of us can attack here, they can put a knife to the throat or even hit from behind without warning in advance, so let's try to discuss more effective and applied types martial arts.

Aikido

This self-defense system was created by the master Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) based on one of the branches of jiu-jitsu. Separate techniques of aikido were borrowed from the so-called Chinese wushu. soft styles, where the vector of application of force to the enemy coincides with the direction of movement of the enemy himself. Fundamental difference aikido from other types of martial arts lies in the lack of offensive techniques. The main sequence of actions of a fighter is to capture the enemy’s hand or wrist, throw him to the ground and here, with the help of a painful hold, finally neutralize him. Movements in aikido are usually performed along a circular path.

There are no competitions or championships in aikido. However, it is very popular as an art of self-defense and quickly incapacitating an opponent. Like karate and judo, aikido is widespread outside of Japan, including in Russia.

American kickboxing

Another type of boxing is “American kickboxing”, according to legend, its name and even the development of the fighting style are prescribed by the famous actor and naturally multiple kickboxing champion Chuck Noris. Kick-boxing is translated almost literally as "Kicks and punches."

Because kickboxing has become a mixture of wushu martial arts, English boxing, muay thai, karate and taekwondo. Ideally, fights should take place in full force and in all levels, i.e. kicks and punches are allowed with full force all over the body. What allows kickboxers to become quite dangerous opponents both in the ring and outside it, but still it is sports system and it was not originally imprisoned for street fighting.

English boxing and French boxing

Although the modern English boxing that we know from about 1882 was recognized as dangerous to health in its former form and began to be fought according to the rules known today, which finally reduced its combat effectiveness. But after that time, a bunch of similar combat "boxing" systems from various countries of the world still became known.

Of the most famous types of boxing, it can be noted: French boxing "Savate" was once generally one of the best street fighting systems in Europe.

Savat is European martial arts, also known as "French boxing", is characterized by efficient technique punches, dynamic kicking technique, mobility and subtle strategy. Savat has long history: this type of martial art originated as a synthesis of the French school of street hand-to-hand combat and English boxing; In 1924, it was included in the Paris Olympic Games as a demonstration sport.

Greco-Roman wrestling

Classical wrestling is a European type of martial arts in which two participants come together in a fight. The main task of each athlete is to put his opponent on the shoulder blades with the help of a number of different elements and techniques. Main difference Greco-Roman wrestling from other similar martial arts - this is a ban on the implementation of any techniques with the feet (footboards, hooks, sweeps, etc.). Also, you can not do leg grabs.

Judo

Judo means "soft way" in Japanese. This modern martial art comes from the Land of the Rising Sun. The main judo are throws, painful holds, holds and chokes. Judo is based on the principle of unity of spirit and body and differs from other martial arts in lesser use of physical strength when performing various technical actions.

Professor Jigoro Kano founded judo in 1882, in 1964 judo was included in the program of the Summer Olympic Games. Judo is a codified sport in which the mind controls the movements of the body, it has the most pronounced educational character in the Olympic program. In addition to competition, judo includes the study of technique, kata, self-defense, physical training and perfection of the spirit. Judo as a sport discipline is a modern and progressive form of physical activity. The International Judo Federation (IJF) includes 200 affiliated national federations on five continents. More than 20 million people practice judo, a sport that perfectly combines education and physical activity. The IJF organizes over 35 events annually.

Jujutsu

Jiu-Jitsu is a generic name for a combat system that is almost indecipherable. This is hand-to-hand combat, in most cases, without the use of weapons, and only in some cases with weapons. Jiu-jitsu techniques include kicking, punching, punching, throwing, holding, blocking, choking and tying, as well as the use of certain weapons. Jiu-jitsu does not rely on brute strength, but on skill and dexterity. Applying the minimum amount of effort to achieve maximum effect. This principle allows any person, regardless of his physical form or physique, to control and use your energy with the greatest efficiency.

capoeira

(Capoeira) - Afro-Brazilian national martial art, a synthesis of dance, acrobatics and games, all accompanied by national Brazilian music. According to the generally accepted version, capoeira originated in South America in the 17th-18th centuries

But nevertheless, experts still argue about the homeland and the time of the emergence of such a unique art. No one knows exactly where it came from, who was the founder of the ancient skill and, like capoeira, from century to century has reached rapid popularity.

There are several main hypotheses for its occurrence:

The African zebra dance, which was common among local tribes, became the prototype of warlike movements.
Capoeira is a fusion of ancient cultures - Latin American and African dances.
The dance of slaves, which gradually developed into a martial art. Associated with the landing of Europeans on the continent and the emergence of the slave trade.

Karate

Karate ("way of the empty hand") is a Japanese martial art that offers different forms of hand fighting and several weapon techniques, including bladed weapons. This martial art does not use grabs and throws. The main principle is speed and speed, and the main task is to maintain the main stance for a long time. Therefore, first of all, balance plays a role in karate.

Kendo

During sports fights, fencers hold elastic bamboo swords, and special training armor covers their head, chest and arms. For purely executed blows to certain parts of the opponent's body, the participants in the duel are awarded points.

Nowadays kendo is not only popular view sports, but is also an integral part of the physical education program of Japanese schools.

Kobudo

The term "kobudo" in Japanese means "ancient military way". The original name is "kobujutsu" - "ancient martial arts (skills)". Under this term, the arts of possession are represented today. various types Eastern types of edged weapons.

Currently, there is a division of kobudo into two autonomous independent areas:

Nihon-kobudo is a direction that combines systems common on the main islands of Japan and uses in its arsenal edged weapons of samurai origin and weapons from the arsenal of ninjutsu.
Kobudo (other names Ryukyu-kobudo and Okinawa-kobudo) is a direction that unites systems originating from the islands of the Ryukyu archipelago (modern Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) using tools (objects) of peasant and fishing households of the inhabitants of these islands in the arsenal.

Sambo

Sambo belongs to the unique types of martial arts that have spread throughout the world. He became the only kind sports where international communication is conducted in Russian. There are two types of sambo, the first of which is combat, used to protect and incapacitate the enemy. The second type of this struggle is sports sambo, contributes to the development personal characteristics, tempers the character and body, allows you to develop self-control and discipline.

Sumo

The rules of sumo are very simple: to win, it is enough to either make the opponent lose his balance and touch the ring with any part of the body, except for the feet, or simply push him out of the ring. Usually the outcome of the duel is decided in a few seconds. Associated rites can take much longer. Wrestlers are dressed only in a special loincloth.

In ancient times, sumo champions were revered on a par with saints; according to the beliefs of the Japanese, wrestlers, shaking the earth, not only make it more fertile, but also scare away evil spirits; sumo wrestlers were sometimes hired to "expel disease" from wealthy homes and even entire cities.

Therefore, such attention is paid to the weight of the wrestler (in sumo there is no weight categories). Since ancient times, a variety of diets and exercises have been preserved to most effectively gain Weight Limit. Age professional wrestlers fluctuates between 18 and 35 years. Most sumo champions become folk idols.

Thai boxing

Muay Thai was developed as a military and army martial art, the fighters of which, with or without weapons, had to be part of the personal guard of the king and really confront whole armies of an enemy outnumbered on the battlefield.

But today, like previous sports martial arts, Thai boxing has undergone quite strong changes in the direction of sports, modern rules have also changed a lot in it, which have become much more loyal and made this super tough and even deadly martial art an order of magnitude less effective.

Although in more closed schools and even sects, even outside of Thailand, where Thai boxing is also taught, there are still people who teach more effective forms of it.

Taekwondo (taekwondo, taekwondo)

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. Its characteristic feature is that the legs in a duel are used more actively than the arms. In taekwondo, both direct kicks and kicks with a turn can be delivered with equal speed and strength. The martial art of taekwondo is over 2000 years old. Since 1955, this martial art has been considered a sport.

wushu

Literally translated as martial art. This is the common name for traditional Chinese martial arts, more commonly referred to in the West as kung fu or Chinese boxing. There are many different directions, wushu, which are conditionally divided into external (waijia) and internal (neijia). External or rigid styles suggest good sportswear fighter and high expenditure of physical energy during training. Internal or soft styles require special concentration and plasticity.

As a rule, the philosophical basis of external styles is Chan Buddhism, and internal styles are Taoism. The so-called monastic styles are traditionally external and originate from Buddhist monasteries, one of which is the famous Shaolin Monastery (founded around 500 BC), where the Shaolinquan style was formed, which influenced the development of many styles of Japanese karate.

Which martial art to choose?

The choice of classes depends, first of all, on your preferences and physical features. The table will help determine your body type and the type of wrestling suitable for this correspondence. However, do not forget that only general recommendations. Learning martial arts is a long process, during which your body will get used to, adapt to new conditions and gain experience in the martial arts that you choose.

Ectomorph

Tai chi chuan (tai chi chuan)

This graceful, non-offensive Chinese martial art emphasizes stability, balance, balance and is ideal for lean individuals. A set of controlled smooth movements will teach all your muscles to work together and smoothly. Do not confuse tai chi chuan and tai chi, which is offered in fitness clubs. Real schools are more stimulating and allow their students to master many different weapons, including the double-edged sword.

This Chinese style is also called kung fu. There are over 300 varieties of wushu. Of these, wing chun (yongchun, "eternal spring") is suitable for people with a lack of weight and dimensions. This style allows a small, lightweight person to defeat a larger opponent by targeting sensitive areas of the body that are not protected by muscles (eyes, throat, groin, knees, and specific nerve points). Special flexibility is not required as most strikes are thrown low ( kneecaps or shin).

Taekwondo (taekwondo, taekwondo)

It is desirable to be lean, light and loose for this Korean martial art, as it is best known for its wide variety of high impact kicks. This fighting style relies more on the legs than the fists. Head strikes are common, so you must at least be able to raise your foot to face height. In the classroom, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will receive a couple painful strokes, but in general the contacts are not very violent. In addition, taekwondo students train not only in fighting with each other, since this is one of the martial arts where breaking boards and bricks with your hands and feet is part of the training regimen.

Mesomorph

Aikido

Aikido does not focus on exhausting punches and kicks. The focus is on using the opponent's own energy against himself, in order to incapacitate him (using wrist locks or handholds) or knock him back. This style is easier for people with an athletic build, as most offensive moves are more effective when the musculature is developed. Also, unlike most martial arts, which require 10 ranks to reach a black belt, this Japanese martial art only has 6 levels.

Kendo

A Japanese martial art that allows you to wield a bamboo sword, dress like a samurai, and repeatedly stab your opponent's neck and head. It sounds menacing, but in this martial art the body is protected by armor similar to a knight's, which minimizes damage. Speed, strong shoulders and arms are necessary attributes of sword fighters, so a lean muscular physique will be ideal.

Muay Thai (Thai boxing)

Thai martial art with full contact with the opponent. Instead of just using the fists and legs, the opponent gets a series of blows to the elbows and knees. Most suitable for people of athletic build with developed muscles around the joints. Those wishing to master this type of martial arts should be prepared for early retirement, as serious practitioners have a rather short career (4-5 years maximum).

Endomorph

Judo

A Japanese martial art that aims to unbalance an opponent and throw them onto the mat. Stocky people have an advantage in it, performing defensive maneuvers, since extra weight helps to stand more steadily in the ring. Breathlessness will not be a problem in the early stages of training, which is all about perfecting grips, grappling maneuvers, and how to fall properly. To reach a more advanced level, you will need to develop endurance.

Karate

Based on a combination of cultures (roots from both Japan and Okinawa), karate is also a mixture of different fighting methods. Students learn how to fight with their hands, several techniques with the use of weapons, including nunchucks. Although this martial art does not involve grappling and throwing, stocky people gain an advantage due to a stronger and stable position, which gives more power to their punches and blocks. Most varieties of karate are worth choosing, but if you are afraid of pain, then be careful with styles that have "kenpo", "kempo", "American freestyle", "full contact" in the name.

Shorinji Kempo

This boxing style of karate is more suited to larger people for several reasons. First, he uses a series of punches, like in boxing, where stability in the ring due to a powerful physique is more important than strong fists. A strong physique will also be useful for mastering the techniques of dodging opponent's blows. Striking will require flexibility, but strikes are usually performed no higher than the waist.

Jiu-jitsu (jujutsu)

This Japanese technique combines many dangerous offensive and defensive techniques. This type of martial art is merciless, as it was originally developed for training an unarmed person to neutralize an armed soldier. It will be easier to master jiu-jitsu for those who are accustomed to loads, have endurance and flexibility.