Ask yourself what you need from your karate school and style. Everyone needs a specific thing in their personal martial art. Is it to get in shape, to train oneself, or provide discipline for the undisciplined? Or do you or a loved one need to defend against the bad guys of the world? Not all schools or styles are good for each individuals need, and if you don't know the difference you are wasting your money, your time and your life. Here we will show you the difference between the arts and what each are used to accomplish. Then you can make an educated choice.
We at Hargrave Martial Arts Tulsa Karate are good at what we do. We don't try to be all things to all people. This simple guide will help and save everyone time and effort. We want you to be at the right school.
( ) = English Translation
1. Kempo (fist law) Karate: Japanese and Chinese in origin. James Mitose (my-TOE-she) is considered to be the founder of modern Kempo. It is good for: self defense and as a martial art. It is not for sport or tournaments. Kempo Karate is a good art for all ages, and can be practiced into old age. Minimum flexibility is required. There are different Kempo / Kenpo systems today. Some are more Chinese and others more Japanese in origin.
2. Jeet Kune Do (way of intercepting fist): Founded in the 1962 by Bruce Lee. Chinese in origin. JKD is good for self-defense, and as a martial art. It is not good for sport or tournaments. It is a good art for most ages, but is best for smaller persons. Works well into old age. Minimum flexibility is required.
3. Karate (empty hand): Japanese in origin. Some versions are good for sport and tournaments. Other karate forms are just for defense. If tournaments are allowed, generally the art is sport in nature. Flexibility is a must for most systems.
4. Ju Jitsu (gentle art), Japanese Dr. Jigoro Kano is also considered the father of modern Jujitsu- Good for- self defense, one on one. Not good for tournaments or sport but can be adapted without the joint and bone breaks. Good art for all ages and works well into old age. Minimum flexibility. Often mistaken for mma a separate art.
5. Judo: Japanese in origin. Founded 1882 by Jigoro Kano at age 22. Judo is good for sport and tournaments but not general self defense. All ages can perform it, but throws tend to get hard on you as you age. Medium flexibility is therefore required.
6. Kung Fu (skilled man): Chinese in origin at aprox. 527 A.D. Kung Fu is good for, depending on style, self defense and tournaments. Some styles work well into old age. Some of the very low stances are, well, painful at times. Flexibility is a must.
7. Kobu Jutsu (weapons art): Origins lie in Okinawa, Japan with farmers who needed to defend their crops. Kobu JutsuTaught at Hargrave Martial Arts as a component of Kempo Karate.
8. Aikido (way of mind / harmony): Japanese in origin, founded in 1942 by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido is good for self defense to a point. Generally there is no striking. It is not for tournaments. However, it works very well into old age. Only minimum flexibility is required.
9. Muai Thai Kick Boxing: Origins are in Thailand. Muai Thai is good for self defense and ring work. It is best for the young. The average boxers time span in competition is 4 years before the crippling effects of style abuse remove them. This is not an art for the elderly. Flexibility and stellar physical condition are a must.
10. Tae Kwon Do (way of punching and kicking): Founded in 1955 by General Choi Hong. It is Hi-Korean in origin. It is good for sport, tournaments and sport art, but not for self defense. Tae Kwon Do is for the young, as older practitioners tend to suffer from knee and joint problems. Flexibility is a must.
11. Cardio Karate (Tae Bo): American in origin. Cardio Karate is good for aerobics and fitness. It is not good for self defense. All ages can participate but flexibility is a must.
12. Tai Chi: Chinese in origin. It is the moving forms / meditations. Tai Chi is good for overall fitness, but limited in the cardio area. Younger persons tend to find it boring. It can be adapted for self defense if the instructor shows you how, or knows how. 13. MMA- Mixed Martial Arts - Appeared around the inception of UFC. Often mistaken for Ju Jitsu a separate art. .MMA is not a system in that it uses no guidelines form, or ranking progression. Good for wrestling around with a sweaty guy in a cage for competition or one on one self defense. Not good for multiple opponents.
Grandmaster Carter Hargrave 10th Degree Kempo Karate Black Belt - Chief Instructor at Hargrave Martial Arts
