Sunday, October 26, 2014

Martial Arts Portland Oregon For Fitness, Self Defense, Competition

By Jocelyn Davidson


Hundreds of martial arts programs are available throughout the city. Whether your goal is fitness, competition, self defense, or personal development, there's a Martial Arts Portland Oregon program to meet your interests and needs. Don't think just eastern style Karate and Judo. There's also opportunities to learn boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling.

Most Eastern styles use a belt ranking system. Students test to prove their skills, then receive a colored belt signifying rank. Most Western styles engage in competition. Winners are awarded a Title, sometimes a decorative belt, worthy of their skill set. Advancement style and criteria varies widely among and between the different systems and styles.

Eastern traditions emphasize respect, self control, responsibility. All training requires commitment, self control, focus, and discipline. The fitness benefits are many including aerobic fitness, stamina, strength training, balance, flexibility, coordination.

Learn how to push through fear and anxiety, how to take a hit and get back up, how to take a fall. Learn proper breathing techniques for exercising, taking a hit or kick, delivering kicks or punches. Many Eastern styles include a series of choreographed routines that must by memorized. Many arts, now practiced as sports, use sparring practice that demands self control, a strike that doesn't actually connect, but is obvious to the judge. Eastern style training usually includes meditation, focus, and breathing exercises.

Training for children develops concentration and fitness. Programs should focus on respect, self control, self defense, conflict resolution, avoiding danger. Most include discussions on stranger danger and anti-bullying messages. Participants in martial arts progress at their own best rate, without the worry of disappointing a team.

Kung Fu focuses on strikes using fluid movements instead of hard and fast strikes. Judo, Aikido, Jiu-Jitsu focus on throwing and falling, pinning and holding. Boxing, Karate, and Taekwondo will teach you how to take a punch, avoid a punch, land a punch (or kick). If you're interested in self defense, Kempo Karate, Hapkido, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai are good choices. Competitive sports include Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, MMA, Wrestling, or Boxing. Tournaments and competitions are a way to test one's skills against other practitioners outside your own school.

Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.

Decide on your goals. Are you striving for fitness, personal development, self defense skills, or hungering to test your skills against the competition. Meet with the teachers/coaches. Ask about their experience and qualifications. Observe a class of experienced students to see the schools training methods and philosophy in action. Explain your goals to be sure the program is compatible with your goals.

Martial arts centers that focus on a particular style are a good choice if you know what you want to study and are willing to make a commitment. These centers generally require a contractual commitment to pay for a minimum period of time, whether or not you continue to attend classes. If you're not so sure, and/or money is a major concern, check city recreation classes, local after school programs, city gyms.




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