A FIRST LOOK - Martial Arts Denver

What Are “Martial Arts?” A Beginner’s Guide

The term Martial Arts, is a generic and mostly all encompassing name used to describe both armed and unarmed methods of self defense drawn from Asian society and culture. As the study of self defense systems and methods has become less secretive and specific and more hybridized and mixed through modern cultural contact and information sharing, the term now includes western methods of individual combat like boxing and wrestling as well as firearms instruction.  As a prospective student searches for a particular style of martial art or arts to study they must define the purpose of their search to aid in selecting an art. Are they looking to learn how to defend themselves? Are they searching for spiritual and character development? Are they interested in sport or competition, or perhaps a combination of the above? By looking at the choices in this way, it will help refine your understanding of the martial arts and aid in your decision to pursue their study, should you choose to do so.

Empty hand martial arts can be broken down in several ways depending on their style and approach to combat, and/or on their emphasis. As a gross simplification to a complicated subject, empty hand approaches can be categorized by striking arts, like karate, kung fu, boxing, and muy thai, or by grappling arts, like jujitsu, judo, aikido, and wrestling. A style is a different ryu or “school” of a particular approach, like Wado Ryu karate and Shotokan karate, or Danzan Ryu jujitsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.  The emphasis can be described as when an art ends with Jitsu or Do. Jitsu is primarily a military and secondarily a spiritual emphasis focused on overcoming an opponent in combat. Do is primarily a martial and spiritual path to follow as a way to live your life. Sport, like boxing, is just that, but it also happens to be a very effective method of defending yourself! Nothing is clear cut, and all have value.

Weapon based arts can be broken down in much the same way, but also in terms of time period. Ancient arts provide historical preservation and modern arts provide practical approaches. Some are both and blur the lines. Kenjutsu is both ancient and jitsu. Kendo is both modern and sport. Escrima is both ancient and modern and practical, (there are sticks and knives everywhere, from the athletic field to the kitchen, learning to use them is prudent self defense.) Firearms instruction is modern and practical. Again, nothing is clear cut; all have their advantages and disadvantages.

This guide page is intended to give a basic overview of what a martial art is and a basic template to help you choose what you are looking for. This is a very broad and deep subject about which an entire book could be written. If you would like to know more about the subject, a good starting point would be Danzan Ryu Jujitsu, a grappling, striking, and weapons system with an emphasis on self defense and character development. Good luck!

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