Styles

Muay Thai

Sometimes called Muay Thai Boxing or Thai Kickboxing; Muay Thai differs from Western-style boxing most noticeably in its allowing the use of elbows, knees, feet, and certain holds and throws. Because a Muay Thai fighter uses hands, elbows, feet, and knees, it is called "the science of the eight limbs" - although Muay Thai actually involves all parts of the body. Muay Thai also permits a wider range of targets, to strike "below-the-belt" is not illegal.

Although Muay Thai is generally regarded as a very hard, external style, some consider it to have a spiritual aspect as well. Thai boxers typically perform the "wai kroo," or homage to his teacher before each match. This is followed by the graceful "rum muay" which is considered a warm-up exercise that enables the fighter to relax and focus.

To an uninformed spectator, a Muay Thai bout may seem like a lawless brawl. However; with all of the allowances, there are certain tactics that are prohibited: choking, head-butting, and hair-pulling, to name a few. Muay Thai differs from Asian martial arts in its use of a boxing ring and uniforms, timed rounds, padded gloves, and in standup grappling. Two articles of clothing are also unique to Muay Thai, both acting as good luck charms. First is a band worn around the bicep throughout the match. The other is a cord worn about the head, which is removed before the bout begins.

Practicing Muay Thai is a vigorous workout and produces tremendous cardiovascular endurance. Practitioners learn about thirty basic techniques, mostly practiced by sparring. There are no forms in Muay Thai. In formal competitions, groin protectors and gloves are mandatory. Muay Thai's effectiveness is well-known.

Training is rigorous, similar to Western boxers. It includes running, shadow-boxing, and heavy bag work. Kicks are of primary importance in Muay Thai and the art is best known for its shin strikes. The characteristic Muay Thai round kick is delivered with the shin, therefore, there is shin conditioning. There is also a lot of emphasis placed on performing various drills with "Thai pads." A trainer wears the pads, and may hold them to receive kicks, punches, and knee and elbow strikes, and may also use them to punch at the Muay Thai trainee. However, full-contact kicks, knees, and elbows are typically not used in training.

Kickboxing

What is called Kickboxing today came out of Full Contact Karate competitions in the sixties. Competitors included such fighters as Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis and Chuck Norris. Each had different backgrounds in Karate and boxing, as well as other martial arts. New fighting styles, techniques and strategies developed out of the need for a comprehensive form of fighting that was effective in the ring.

Kickboxing is a Western fighting method practiced worldwide with the kickboxer using both hands and feet, as in Karate. Because it is a realistic, practical method of fighting, it has grown into a popular sport. Kickboxing is similar to Full Contact Karate, as the goal of Kickboxing is to knock out the opponent. Also in Kickboxing, strikes are delivered full force.

Kickboxing combines elements from Karate and Thai Boxing; both the strategy and techniques from kicking and boxing. It mixes foot techniques from Karate and fist techniques from boxing. There are four different types of combat competitions: Semi-Contact, Light-Contact, Full-Contact and Low-Kick. Musical Forms are the fifth style of Kickboxing competition. All these systems are the same worldwide and follow precise rules and regulations.

To minimize the risk of injury during Kickboxing competitions, competitors must wear protection for the feet and head, as well as shin guards, safety gloves, mouth guards, groin guards for men and chest protection for women. Kickboxing competitors use sparring, kicks, punches, kick blocks, shadow boxing, and wood breaking that is learned and applied under professional instruction.

While Kickboxing was first developed as a martial art for tournament fighting, it has more recently become very popular; especially with women, because the Kickboxing workout (Cardio Kickboxing) is excellent for developing body toning and burning fat while also helping students gain confidence in self defense.

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a modern martial art, characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name Taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as 'the way of hand and foot.'

• Tae = 'Foot' or 'to kick' or 'to jump'
• K'won = 'Fist' or 'to strike or block with hand'
• Do = 'The way of' or 'art'

Put this together and Taekwondo means: "The art of kicking and punching" or "The art of unarmed combat."

Taekwondo has four disciplines:

• Patterns
• Sparring
• Self-defense
• Break Test

It is the combination of these four disciplines that make the art of Taekwondo.

Objectives of Taekwondo:

• to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and an art
• to achieve physical fitness through positive participation
• to improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity
• to learn self-defense skills
• to develop a sense of responsibility for one self and others

Taekwondo is primarily a kicking art, often with a greater emphasis on the sport aspect of the art. Taekwondo stylists tend to fight at an extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet. It is a hard/soft, external, fairly linear style and is known for being very powerful. There is a lot of competetion work in many dojongs. Training tends to emphasize sparring, but has forms, and the basics are important as well.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)

Jiu Jitsu loosely translated means "science of softness" or "gentle art" and is applied to many schools of unarmed and hand-to-hand combat. The soft grappling style was intended to help unarmed soldiers to fight against armed enemies in any way possible, using the least amount of force necessary.

Jiu Jitsu emphasizes turning an attacker's own force against him or herself, putting them off balance. Jiu Jitsu’s main emphasis is on grappling moves. A Jiu Jitsu student is expected to learn how to gauge the force of an opponent's attack and use it against him, evade attacks, use leverage against an opponent and how to attack joints, & limbs.

The main goal in Jiu Jitsu practice is to cultivate a person's mind and body: not to use it as a means to vent one's anger, frustration or emotional problems. The use of force is condoned only in self-defense or in the defense of those who are defenseless.

Hapkido

Hapkido literally translated: Hap means "coordination of harmony," Ki means "the essence of power," and Do means "the art" - in short, "the Way of Coordination and Internal Power."

Hapkido uses diversion or suppression and combines skeletal joint locks, pressure points, throws, kicks, and strikes for self-defense. The Hapkido practitioner uses their attacker's power against him. Hapkido emphasizes circular motion, non-resistive movements, and control of the opponent. Although Hapkido contains both outfighting and infighting techniques, the goal in most situations is to get inside for a close-in strike, lock, or throw.

The essence of Hapkido is to gain advantage through technique, avoiding the use of strength against strength. For example, if the attack is strong, one must receive it gently. If the attack is gentle, one must counter it powerfully. This makes this style more suitable for women, as they are not required to meet an attacker head on.

Some of the striking and kicking practice is form-like with no partner; however, most is done with a partner who is holding heavy pads that the student strikes and kicks full power. There is some weapons training for advanced students - primarily belt, kubatan, cane, and short staff. Forms and sparring are offered by some schools. There are no Hapkido competitions.

Many Hapkido techniques are unsuitable for use in sparring, as their use would result in injury, even when protective gear is used. There is generally an emphasis on physical conditioning and excercise, including "ki" exercises.