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May 9th, 2009 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Bag Iron Buddha

Which is Better JKD or Krav Maga? Karate or Tae Kwon Do? MMA or BJJ?

Wouldn't it be great to find (and study) the very best martial arts in the world?

This article helps you in your quest for the best karate style or kung fu style.

The Best Martial-Arts Style Search

During your search, it's important to realize that any time you ask someone from a style you are considering, the opinion will probably be extremely biased. Also, when researching, the author most likely will have written with a strong bias.

Note: Objective articles and opinions do exist. I am just suggesting that since style bias is so prevalent, you be aware of the angle of of the source. This makes sense, doesn't it?

If you are wondering where to start your search for the best martial-arts style, I suggest you read the rest of the article, first. You might save yourself some research time.

If You Meet Bruce Lee on The Path, Kill Him

The original phrase and title of a book is, "If you meet Buddha on the path, kill him." The implication was (or is) that anyone who proclaims to be Buddha couldn't be, by the very fact that he or she is claiming to be Buddha.

I modified the phrase to, "If You Meet Bruce Lee on The Path, Kill Him," because...well...Bruce Lee is dead. So, anyone claiming to be Bruce Lee ...

OK, let's get down to business: What I am really saying is that if a style claims that it's the best, then I can pretty much guarantee that it's not. This applies to schools, as well. Instead of searching for the best school or the best martial-arts style, I suggest that you look for a style or school that fits your needs.

Look for a good fit:

Find a style that is conducive to your body type and age. If you are 45 years old, do you really want to jump through the air with flying kicks? (You might "want to," but those of us who are realistic can find a more efficient style to start at that age.)

Find a school where you could see yourself studying for years -- nice teacher, supportive students, no egos involved, and so on.

Don't Waste Your Time

Instead of spending an inordinate amount of time search for the best, why not take a more realistic approach:

Study how you'd defend against specific attacks. Find a style that will teach you to defend yourself against a variety of styles and attacks. Avoid schools that only defend against their own techniques.

Always train with the goal of reducing the number of meanies out there who are better than you. Improve your skill, so fewer and fewer people could defeat you. Don't worry so much about being The Best.

Keith Pascal is the author of Control Your Fear: A Guide For Martial Artists: Develop Super Calm.

Keith is the editor and author of several martial-arts ezines, including:

Practical Punch Improvement.

Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.