The styles of martial arts

Types of martial arts are generally divided into ï¿½smoothï¿½ and ï¿½hardï¿½, ï¿½internalï¿½ and ï¿½externalï¿½. According to this classification, those that use circular movements, characterized by the utilization of the opponentï¿½s force (like tai chi, aikido or ninjutsu), are considered as ï¿½smoothï¿½, whereas those that use blocks, blows, kicks, etc (like karate, taekwondo, muay thai), are considered as ï¿½hardï¿½. ï¿½Internalï¿½ and ï¿½externalï¿½ are more subjective concepts, with certain parallelism to ï¿½smoothï¿½ and ï¿½hardï¿½, and they are usually used with the reference to the Chinese styles.
Some say that there are so many styles as fighters. The following list shows some of the main styles. The technical aspects of each one are only mentioned, without taking into consideration their philosophical or spiritual part.

Aikido
It is one of the ï¿½smoothï¿½ styles. It makes emphasis on neutralizing powerful attacks, redirecting their force. In a classic aikido form, attacks include various stylized strikes and grabs such as shomenuchi (a vertical strike to the head), yokomenuchi (a lateral strike to the side of the head and/or neck), munetsuki (a straight punch), ryotedori (a two handed grab) or katadori (a shoulder grab). Many of the -uchi strikes resemble blows from a sword or other weapon.

American Kenpo
Also called kenpo karate, it is an eclectic style developed by the Ed Parker from Hawaii. It unites the direct use of circular and linear movements with kicks and punches, extensively utilizes multiple strikes. American kenpo is an art considerably oriented to self-defense.

Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art. It is highly acrobatic and characterized by deft, tricky movements that are often performed on the ground or completely inverted. Capoeira fighters primarily attack with kicks, sweeps, and head strikes. Some schools teach punches and hand strikes, but they are not as common.

Hapkido
Korean martial art that combines blocks, pressures, projections, kicks and blows in a practical form of self-defense. Hapkido unites elements of both "smooth" and "hard" tendencies. Sometimes hapkido is confused with the Aikido, due to the similarity of the name.

Iaido
The art of pulling sword out of a scabbard. The objective is to pull sword out of a scabbard perfectly, striking while it removes, so that an adversary does not have opportunity to defend himself against the blow. Usually one practices it solitary.

Judo
A good system of self-defense and physical development, based on projections, imbalances, and control of the opponent.

Ju Jutsu
One of the oldest martial arts. It is a complete system that include launchings (projections), keys, kicks and holds, and many other elements.

Kali
Philippine martial art, partly derived from the fight with canes and swords, also uses other arms and includes techniques of defense with empty hands.

Kajukenbo
Very eclectic martial art, invented in Hawaii. It is a mixture of karate, judo, kenpo and boxing, from where the art makes up its name.

Karate
One of the most elaborated martial arts systems. Been born in Okinawa and later taken to Japan. Nowadays it is normal to find its practice divided between ï¿½traditionalï¿½ schools (formal styles of Okinawa) and "schools of competitionï¿½ (directed primarily to championships). There is a great variety of styles of karate, but all of them are based on kicks and direct punches. Hard styles of karate (kyokushinkai karate, etc) can be considered as very effective self-defense systems.

Kenjutsu
The use of the sword in combat. Normally one practices with wooden swords. The practice in pairs is very developed, and has a strong spiritual side.

Kendo
Derivative of the Kenjutsu. Practitioners use protective armors and simulated bamboo swords (called ï¿½shinaiï¿½).

Kobudo
Kobudo is a traditional martial art of Okinawa. A lot of its elements are focused on working with weapons.
The classic kobudo weapons are:
ï¿½ bo - cane. Most usual he is the one than it has around 1.80 meters, but there are them of other sizes.
ï¿½ sai - a species of iron club, with grip in possessor form, normally used by pairs.
ï¿½ nunchaku - two short wooden sticks united by a cord or chain.
ï¿½ kama - a sickle.
ï¿½ tonfa - wood cane with a perpendicular grip, normally used in pairs.

Kung Fu
Generic name that includes multitude of Chinese martial arts, ï¿½smoothï¿½ and ï¿½hardï¿½, and ï¿½externalï¿½ and ï¿½internalï¿½. It involves various holds, blows, attacks towards the vulnerable body points and training with different kinds of arms.

Lua
Hawaiian martial art with certain similarities to the ju jutsu. Kept during long time in a secret (its education was restricted to the members of the Hawaiian Royal Family), it makes emphasis on breakup techniques.

Muay Thai
Thailand boxing. It includes techniques of punching, kicks and blows of an elbow. It requires a great physical level of practitioners. It is the national sport in Thailand.

Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu is a ï¿½smoothï¿½ Japanese martial art that incorporates armed and unarmed battle tactics and focuses upon the efficient use of the movement and the corporal mechanics. With a simple use of the movement and the corporal weight, defender takes control of his adversary or throws him down. Ninjutsu tries to study all the possible battle situations, and has subdivisions (ï¿½schoolsï¿½) within the art, that must be studied jointly (arms, fight on the ground, blows, and much more).

Savate
French martial art, developed in the last century. It combines techniques similar to those of the karate or taekwondo, techniques of western boxing, and techniques of cane. Their exact origins and the relation with other martial arts are not clarified absolutely.

Silat
Pencak Silat is the set of martial arts of Indonesia, with different styles and schools. Most of the techniques they are indigenous, although sometimes (according to the zone) they include also technical Chinese or Japanese.

Taekwondo
Korean martial art with an emphasis on kicks. Many of its techniques are similar to those of the karate, that had certain influence on taekwondo development. Physically, taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and stamina.

Tai Chi Chuan
It is a combination of Chinese traditional ï¿½externalï¿½ styles, with the Taoist principles. It has evolved into innumerable sub-styles. Tai Chi Chuan is characterized by slow and controlled movements. Although the great majority of people practices Tai Chi for the spiritual development, with the suitable practice and emphasis on technical aspects it also turns out to be an effective martial art.

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