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The importance of martial arts
Martial arts allow you to find a balanced emotional energy through physical work that is ordered, disciplined and repeated over time. In fact it is disciplines that grow with those who practice them and that allow those who practice them to grow. The body reconditions itself to a movement in order to return to a natural, primitive, original form of defense and psychophysical intuition. Daily life forces us to always make the same, ordinary movements and the body gets used to making the same gestures. Through martial arts we “reprogram ourselves” towards a fruitful and functional way of acting, oriented towards the knowledge of the defense of one’s own body.
If practiced as a child, martial arts are able to frame in a positive way, teaching first of all that aggression never corresponds to a wise way, as if you are confident in your abilities you do not need to attack. the other person but you remain in the center of your heart and body. In other words, practicing martial arts it is understood that the skill in the ability to offend is inversely proportional to the manifestation of aggression and that if one remains in theinner harmony and you don’t let yourself be scratched by fear and hatred, you come out successful and healthy.
The great distinction: external and internal limbs
Let’s say first of all that it is a classification that is not too rigid but that it could be used for orient yourself in the vast world of martial arts. Both external and internal styles can lead to the same goals; it can be reached in different times and ways. Both styles, if well taught, lead to self-control, fear management and adrenaline mastery; in external limbs combat helps to manage emotions, while in the internal arts this process is activated thanks to the repetition of the technique, the execution of the forms and energetic gymnastics.
The internal limbs they go to study the energy in the body, they include meditation and execution of forms. This group includes arts such as Tai chi chuan, Wuji Quan, Pukulan Pencak Silat Sera, Kalaripayattu, etc. Qi gong falls into this category as a gymnastics that leads to energy work through static and dynamic exercises. They are styles aimed at internalizing the “principles” that govern combat. Slightly different is the discourse for disciplines considered “external”, ie those that do not fall within the first class of arts. They are also called “hard” disciplines as the confrontation really takes place on a physical level. The Tang Lang Quan, the Kick Boxing, Muay Thai and many others fall into this category. In ancient times this distinction did not exist and no one would have ever dreamed of starting a martial art for belts or medals. To understand how martial arts have arrived in simplified form just think that the Karate is characterized by over a dozen styles (Daido Juku, Shotokan Karate, Shotokai Karate, Wado-ryu Karate: the style of peace, Shorin-ryu Karate, Shorei-ryu Karate, Goju-ryu Karate, Uechi-ryu Karate, Isshin- ryu Karate, Kyokushin-kai Karate, Kyokushin-kan Karate, Seido Karate, Shito-ryu Karate, Chito-ryu Karate, Fudokan Karate, Shuri-te, Naha-te, Tomari-te, etc) all with different characteristics.
The ideal would be to deal with disciplines such as tai chi chuan, qi gong or lo Taoist yoga and then put on gloves, alternate, challenge each other, feel the adrenaline of the blow received and given. Integrating the two aspects becomes important for those who want a complete approach. It is also worthwhile, before deciding, to read and inquire about the origin of the discipline you are interested in: there are Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Malay, Thai, Middle Eastern, South American, Vietnamese arts, up to amateur wrestling and the Greco-Roman struggle.
Which one to choose
First of all, the distinction we have made (remembering that it is not a clear distinction) constitutes a great one compass of orientation to understand where to turn. We recommend the internal arts if you find yourself in one or two of these characteristics:
- You want to deepen the energetic / philosophical aspect and go to the roots of the art of combat;
- You have a great love for technique and your liking or injuries or personal data prevent you from practicing combat sports where explosive strength is required.
In these cases, you can directly go to the source of martial arts such as tai chi chuan, it being understood that even within this discipline, for example, there are different lineages that lead you towards large and very slow forms (Yang style) or with expressions of energies (Chen style). In both cases, try to strengthen your knees to make sure they handle friction, direction changes and twists well.
If you want instead get to the heart of the fight and to train strength, elasticity, explosiveness and physical performance together with the study of techniques, then we advise you to go towards an external style. Another factor to be evaluated in this sense is the duration of the commitment. An art like Karate certainly requires a very different path and immersion from Krav Maga, but things are not always this way and can vary depending on the subject and how passionate you are. Surely if in the second case we have an Israeli art that takes its cue from the techniques of defense and attack on the road, in the first case we have a training of body and mind that also have the aim of improving oneself / and.
A advise important to guide you in your choice: sometimes practicing martial arts could lead to a fairly self-referential drift. The subject who begins to practice experiences a euphoria mixed with a sense of superiority that leads to a certain arrogance. The antidote? A man or woman teacher who knows how to stand up, guide, lead and be the living proof of a fundamental value in martial arts: humility, the healthy one. Many teachers are able in a few gestures to annihilate an opponent but certainly do not show off or do not start bragging. These are the guides worth following and the spirit with which you need to start martial arts.
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