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Saturday, October 11, 2014

A Review Of Martial Arts Portland Oregon

By Jocelyn Davidson


Whether your goal is health and fitness, competition, self defense, or personal development, there's a class to meet your needs and interests. There are hundreds of different styles and systems. Although most people think of traditional eastern systems, martial arts Portland Oregon includes western forms such as wrestling, boxing, and kickboxing.

How students progress varies from school to school and system to system. Most Eastern Martial Arts use a skill testing system with colored belts showing a students rank. Most western systems test through combat with winners receiving a Title. Ranking systems vary from system to system, and sometimes from school to school.

Although hard contact sports have injury rates to be considered, many of today's martial arts use soft contact training. The physical and mental benefits of training are many: aerobic fitness, stamina, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, self control, focus, self discipline. Training also teaches respectful conduct, responsible behavior, self discipline, commitment.

Learn to persevere after a hit, recover from a fall, avoid a strike, land a strike. Proper breathing techniques extend physical capabilities and reduce injuries. Eastern forms teach choreographed routines to train the bodies reflexes and muscle memory. Some forms of Martial Arts focus on hard contact. Others practice sparring where the kicks and punches don't actually connect, but are obvious to a judge or bystander. Eastern training also includes advanced training in breathing techniques and meditation.

Training for children develops concentration and fitness. Programs should focus on respect, self control, self defense, conflict resolution, avoiding danger. Most include discussions on stranger danger and anti-bullying messages. Participants in martial arts progress at their own best rate, without the worry of disappointing a team.

MMA combines Eastern and Western training in an anything that wins goes style. Kung Fu focuses on striking arts but uses fluid, artistic motions easier on the joints to practice. Grappling moves are the focus of Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Wrestling. Striking styles that have developed into competitive sports include Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo. Judo and Jiu-Jitsu also have a strong focus on competition. For self defense consider Kempo Karate, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Muay Thai. Learn how to take a strike, avoid a strike, land a strike (punch or kick).

Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.

First decide on your goals: fitness, self defense, competition, or personal development. Choose a style that will keep you interested and engaged. Ask teachers or coaches about their qualifications and their training philosophy. Observe a class of long time students. Ask about practice and training requirements to advance and the expected time frame. Ask about programs affiliations and connection with competitions.

Martial Arts Centers often require a contract. Students commit to a training schedule they pay for even if they stop attending. If you know what you want and are committed, these centers can be an excellent choice. If you're not so sure, look for classes offered through city recreation departments, city gyms, school and after school programs.




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