Robert Jones
Robert Jones is ranked as a Master in Kempo Kung Fu and is an expert in training and teaching Kung Fu and Self Defense. He has 20 years experience teaching adults in the art of Kung Fu. He has three schools one in Bellevue, Kent, and Lynnwood Washington. He can be reached at 800-508-6141 or on the web at Bellevue Martial Arts and Kung-Fu or Martial Arts Instruction in Washington.
Are All Martial Arts The Same?
- By Robert Jones
- Published 11/15/2006
Are all martial arts the same? Many beginners who have not done any research can make this mistake. All they see is someone in a funny uniform kicking and punching. Then they generalize and think all the martial arts are the same. While all martial arts stem from the same roots, they are not the same any more. They are all some form of fighting art; just as the name implies. But, like any art, the martial arts have evolved and changed over time with each practitioner. Just as no two painters would paint a picture the same way, no two martial artists perform their art in the same way. It is for this reason that we have so many different styles (kung fu, karate, aikido, judo, etc) of martial arts.
Martial arts started as exercises for Chinese monks living in the Shaolin temples. The monks would sit in meditation for long periods of time, so their bodies were out of shape. They were taught exercises so that their bodies would become as strong as their minds. This tradition of training the body and mind has continued through all types of martial arts. Another similarity is that the basic motions for most of the martial arts that exist today are similar, if not the same. It is the expansion of these movements into more complicated techniques that began to separate one style from another. Some practitioners began emphasizing different parts of the art; such as focusing more on kicks or punches. Some focused on powerful strikes instead of flowing movements. There are many different styles today, and more are still being created. That is why it is an art; there is room to be creative.
All types of martial arts are not the same; but they all started in the same place. They will all teach you a way to fight and train your mind, but that is not to say that one is better than another. Each style has its own strengths, and its own weaknesses. Some styles are hard, some are soft. Some emphasize striking, while others emphasize the redirection of your opponents force. The differences between the styles can be vast, but they all come from the martial tradition. So no all martial arts aren’t the same but they share the same history and traditions.
