Choosing the Best Martial Arts Style For You

Whether you’re a stressed workaholic in New York or a keen MMA enthusiast who wants to start competing in Fairfax, martial arts training can undoubtedly help improve your health and outlook. However, with over 100 different types of disciplines coming from many different countries, choosing the right one for you may be prove complicated and difficult. The good news is not only do you have a lot of options, you don't have to limit yourself to just one.

Whether you’re looking for a high-impact strenuous style or a relaxing, meditative one, you’ll definitely find one to suit your needs in the studios around Fairfax. Martial arts differ not just in style but also in pace, strength required (among other aspects) but they have one thing in common - they’re good for you.

Need to Relax and De-stress?

If you’re not looking to punch and kick but still want to get the benefits of muscle training and flexibility, you should investigate Qi Gong and Tai Chi Chuan. (Here’s a tip, you’ll find many of them practicing around the parks early in the mornings.) Tai Chi and Qi Gong are characterized by graceful yet controlled movements, which are said to channel the body’s life force or chi (Qi). They help balance your energies and improve your health, while providing you with some basic self-defense knowledge. Health benefits include tranquility and calm, which can help in lowering hypertension and slowing the pulse.

Want to Dance?

If you love dancing, you’ll want to check out Capoeira, a Brazilian art form and sport involving a high level of aerobic and dance movements that focus on eluding strikes to an accompanying beat. Not only does this style tone you fast, it’s also very energetic and harmonious–the music is also highly infectious! Unlike Zumba, however, it is still a fighting sport.

Want to Let Out Some Aggression?

You can’t just punch or kick someone just because you’re stressed. In cities like Richmond or Fairfax, martial arts classes, luckily, can help you blow off a little steam. Karate, in particular not only lets you strike and kick, you get to do a lot of yelling, too! In Karate, directed strikes using the hands and feet are performed while expelling specific sounds for added strength and power. Among the benefits of Karate are the development of precision, strength, and agility, as well as heightened knowledge of your body, particularly the joints and muscle groups.

Bruce Lee Fan?

For Bruce Lee fans around Fairfax, martial arts such as his specialty Jeet Kune Do - as well as related styles like Wing Chun and Wushu - are taught by local masters. Because Jeet Kune Do is a highly disciplined and developed fighting style that uses practically the whole body in a series of moves, it is beneficial not only in gaining physical strength, but also for developing mental strength, discipline stamina, flexibility, and agility.

The Next Ultimate MMA Champion?

If you’re an MMA enthusiast, you’ll definitely be interested in kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Muay Thai—sports that are growing in popularity in places such as Los Angeles and Fairfax. Martial arts involving full-contact kicks and punches such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Savate, however, require a higher level of fitness than most, so be sure to check with your doctor before signing up.

If you’re looking to learn Martial Arts, Pat Tray is chief instructor at the Trident Academy of Mixed Martial Arts, the premier training and instruction centre in the region. In Fairfax, martial arts including Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Combat Submission Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, can be studied at Trident with the best instructors from across the NOVA and DC area.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.