MARTIAL ARTS WOMEN

Empowerment and Self-Confidence

Martial arts for women can help reduce feelings of inadequacy, boost self-confidence and self-esteem, while developing mental fortitude and resilience. Men and women both may feel their self-esteem drop, at certain points of their lives. The martial arts are a great way for people to develop self-confidence and feel empowered. While the American media can sometimes become synonymous with fear mongering, being able to defend oneself in a confrontation is a great skill to have. Self-defense adds to that feeling of empowerment, reducing the negative effects of fear.

Discipline is another character trait that is developed through practicing martial arts for women. The perseverance and commitment one needs to give in order to advance through the belt ranks helps build mental fortitude and toughness; the feeling of progress through the ranks also helps. With a continued sense of achievement, these benefits can last a lifetime.

The Advantages of Learning Martial Arts

Despite all the hoopla surrounding famed women martial artists, the average female has increased investment and opportunity to benefit from studying the martial arts. Whether you are a young adult, professional or middle aged, learning the martial arts has significant advantages.

Firstly, the martial arts offer numerous styles. Women whose interests are remotely piqued by the martial arts can look into the various forms and pick one that fits best. Martial Art, in it’s essence, no matter the form or style, has as it’s foundation health and unity of body, mind, and spirit.  Dedicating to this core tenet of martial arts practice in itself brings increased poise, attention, and awareness, not to mention physical techniques, that can be used in situations to defend and protect oneself.

Taekwondo is popular for sport, but true taekwondo practice through history, promotes physical and mental well-being with artistic expression and body-alignment.  Karate, an all-too-familiar term, focuses on hand and upper body-joint strikes, punching and kicking. You may have heard of Kumdo (aka Gumdo), which is the forerunner to Japanese Kendo, originally from the 3-Kingdoms of Ancient Korea.

Like Kendo, JuJitsu and Aikido are Japanese martial arts. Judo, now an Olympic sport, relies on grappling and throwing techniques.

As a curious, potential student of the martial arts, you have plenty of options from which to forge your path in this powerful discipline. No matter which martial art you choose to focus upon, the benefits are tangible, enduring, and remarkable.

1. Gain Self-Defense Tactics

Women who pursue martial arts studies learn useful self-defense maneuvers. Judo and Jui Jitsu teach the diligent student how to defend herself using learned techniques—as opposed to employing immense strength. Women inevitably tap into their innate capability to defeat menacing attackers who are much larger than them.

2. Develop Overall Self-Confidence

Empower yourself by studying the martial arts. Your confidence levels will spike, as you incorporate moves that allow you to defend yourself. Eliminate feelings of  doubt and fear by learning a time-honored skill. Boost your self-esteem in the process, too. You will build mental fortitude, as you climb through the belt ranks. Plus, through studying any form of martial arts, your ability to self-control will transform, allowing you to enhance & promote your self-discipline in daily life. This is also a martial arts benefit for all adults.

3. Improve Socialization Skills

If you feel out of place socially, martial arts group classes offer a family-type atmosphere in which to socialize, as we are all in it together, and follow the same standards of respect & etiquette. The group structure permits the development of close bonds with fellow students. The camaraderie built between dedicated pupils who train together can last a lifetime. Motivate and inspire one another as you overcome challenges and work toward advancing in the ranks and towards your personal goals.

4. Boost Physical Health

Every martial arts and karate class requires robust physical stamina—and you will gradually develop or build strength in ways that promote total-body wellness and balanced musculature.   Quality martial arts workouts include interval training, cardio and flexibility that build optimum endurance. An active warmup/stretching sequence at the start of each class helps women stay limber, even as we age.

Motor skills are developed through the practice of martial arts. As women advance in years, improved motor skills shield them from debilitating, age-related injuries that are often a consequence of physical accidents.

You will burn calories through the total body workout in martial arts classes. An hour-long class that requires moderately intense activity can burn up to 500 calories.

Engage in high-aerobic activities, where each muscle in the body receives training. Build muscle tone, improve reflexes and increase balance through practicing the martial arts in a class setting.

5. Relieve Stress

Undoubtedly, stress can accumulate during the day, whether it’s due to our career or demanding lifestyle. Practicing the martial arts in a learning environment gives women the opportunity to unleash, unwind and relax. Women often see a drastic improvement in their moods as a result of martial arts practice. The endorphins released through a martial arts lesson will counter the day’s stress, leaving you stress-free.

Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defense; military and law enforcement applications; competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; and the preservation of a nation's intangible cultural heritage.

There are more than 170 martial arts. You will have heard of some, such as karate, Jiu-Jitsu, and Taekwondo, while others are rare or less popular. Martial arts come from different regions around the world, with many originating from China, Japan, and Korea.

The term martial arts refers to all of the various systems of training for combat that have been arranged or systematized. Generally, these different systems or styles are all designed for one purpose: physically defeating opponents and defending against threats. In fact, the word 'martial' derives from the name Mars, who was the Roman god of war.

Types of Martial Arts

Generally, martial arts can be broken down into five distinct categories: Stand-up or striking styles, grappling styles, low impact styles, weapons based styles, and MMA (A Hybrid Sports Style). Along with this, the emergence of MMA has caused quite a bit of mixing of styles in recent years to the point that a lot of dojos don't look quite the same as they used to. Regardless, below are some of the more well-known styles.

Striking or Stand-Up Styles

• Boxing
• Karate
• Krav Maga
• Kung Fu
• Kickboxing
• Tae Kwon Do

Grappling or Ground Fighting Styles

• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Russian Sambo
• Shootfighting
• Wrestling

Throwing or Takedown Styles

• Aikido
• Judo
• Hapkido
• Shuai Jiao

Weapons Based Styles

• Iaido
• Kali
• Kendo

Low Impact or Meditative Styles

• Baguazhang
• Tai Chi
• Chi Gong based styles.

• Famous Figures in Martial Arts

  • Itosu Anko: Anko (1831-1915) is widely considered to be "the Grandfather of Karate," for his work with creating simplified katas and forms for less advanced students. In this way and more, he is credited for helping the art to gain more mainstream acceptance.
  • Helio Gracie: Gracie died in January of 2009 at the age of 95. He is considered the inventor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, having taken the teachings of judo and made them less about strength and more about leverage.
  • Royce Gracie: Helio's son, Royce Gracie, won three of the first four UFC tournaments. This served to show the world just how effective the art that his father had invented, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, was. He did this, by the way, while only weighing approximately 170-180 pounds in tournaments where there were no weight limits. His performance in these early UFC tournaments changed martial arts forever.
  • Dr. Jigoro Kano: During a time when all individualized activities in Japan were on a decline (Japanese jujutsu included), Kano invented Kodokan Judo with the idea that it might someday be mainstream enough to become a sport and hence, less individualized. Thus, he eliminated many of the techniques he deemed dangerous in jujutsu and eventually, his dream came true. In 1910, judo became a recognized sport.
  • Bruce Lee: Bruce Lee was important for more than just his ability to act in popular movies and the television series, The Green Hornet. He was also an innovator in the arts, realizing that the things that did not work should be discarded for techniques that were effective. He was the founder of the art Jeet Kune Do, a style designed to live outside the boundaries of other traditional martial arts styles. On July 20, 1973, Lee died in Hong Kong at the age of 32. The official cause of his death was a brain edema, which had been caused by a reaction to a prescription painkiller.

  There are many people that have contributed to the martial arts in significant ways. Here are just a sampling of them.

1.Karate

Karate, (Japanese: “empty hand”) unarmed martial-arts discipline employing kicking, striking, and defensive blocking with arms and legs. Emphasis is on concentrating as much of the body’s power as possible at the point and instant of impact. Striking surfaces include the hands (particularly the knuckles and the outer edge), ball of the foot, heel, forearm, knee, and elbow. All are toughened by practice blows against padded surfaces or wood. Pine boards up to several inches in thickness can be broken by the bare hand or foot of an expert. Timing, tactics, and spirit, however, are each considered at least as important as physical toughening.

In sporting karate and sparring (kumite) in training, blows and kicks are stopped short, preferably within an inch of contact. Sporting matches commonly last about three minutes, to a decision, if neither contestant has scored a clean “killing” point in the estimation of the judges. Contests of form (kata) are also held, in which single competitors perform predetermined series of movements simulating defense and counterattack against several opponents. Performances are scored by a panel of judges, as in gymnastics.

Karate evolved in East Asia over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons. It was imported into Japan in the 1920s. Several schools and systems developed, each favouring somewhat different techniques and training methods. Karate, like other Asian martial-arts disciplines, stresses mental attitude, rituals of courtesy, costumes, and a complex ranking system (by colour of belt). There is some overlapping of technique with other fighting styles.

When someone starts their martial arts journey, there are some basic moves that make up the building blocks of everything that you will do. These include various punches, kicks, and blocks. Learning the foundational moves of Goju-Ryu will enable you or your child to grow within the artform and progress from white belt all the way up to black. To help, here are three basic karate moves and how to do them.

Straight Punch (Choku Zuki)

A straight punch, Choku Zuki in Japanese, is also known as the jab. It is the most basic punch, and you use the same technique in other types of punches. To start, you must make a fist, which you do by folding your fingers (excluding your thumb) down so that the pads of your fingertips touch the joint where your fingers meet your palm. Next, bend your knuckles at the base of your fingers to tuck your fingers into your palm. Lastly, tuck your thumb between the first and second knuckles of your fingers. Do not tuck your thumb inside of your fingers, or you may break it on contact. Now you have formed a punch!

When you throw your punch, you always want to strike with the pointer and middle finger knuckles at the base of your fingers. This is the strongest part of your hand and will keep you from fracturing your fingers or the bones in your hand.

Front Kick (Mae Geri)

One of the most basic kicks is the front kick, Mae Geri in Japanese. The front kick can be thrown from either your front or back leg when you are standing in a fighting stance. It can also be thrown as a snapping front kick, which is a quick and sharp motion, or as a thrusting front kick, a longer more powerful motion used to push someone away.

When performing any kick, you want to follow four simple steps: chamber, kick, chamber, down. Front kick is no different. To chamber a front kick, you bring your leg up, so your thigh is perpendicular with the floor, with a bent knee and bent ankle. This is readying your kick. Next, extend your leg in either a snapping or thrusting motion up and forward, keeping your ankle bent so that you hit your target with the flat of your foot. Bring your foot back into chamber and then bring your leg down to finish the kick.

Roundhouse Kick (Mawashi Geri)

A roundhouse kick is called Mawashi Geri in Japanese. It is a fast kick that gets its power from twisting your hips. It follows the same steps of chamber, kick, chamber, down like the front kick. To perform a roundhouse kick off your front leg, make sure that you are standing to the side of your target. Raise your leg up to the side of you while leaning slightly back and bend your knee and ankle so that your shin is tucked and there is a straight line from your shin bone down the top of your foot. To kick, extend your leg in a snapping motion and hit with the top of your foot. Bring your leg back into chamber, then lower it to the ground.

Building Blocks

By learning these basics, you can then move on to more intricate kicks and combinations that will become essential parts of your karate journey and competition repertoire. If you or your child are interested in taking the first steps into karate, these are some of the first moves that you will learn along with many defensive blocks that we will discuss in a future blog. To learn this, and much more, contact us at No Limits Martial Arts, the best karate studio in Milton and Oakville! Start down your karate path today!

2.Judo

Judo, Japanese jūdō, system of unarmed combat, now primarily a sport. The rules of the sport of judo are complex. The objective is to cleanly throw, to pin, or to master the opponent, the latter being done by applying pressure to arm joints or to the neck to cause the opponent to yield.

Techniques are generally intended to turn an opponent’s force to one’s own advantage rather than to oppose it directly. A ritual of courtesy in practice is intended to promote an attitude of calm readiness and confidence. The usual costume, known as jūdōgi, is a loose jacket and trousers of strong white cloth. White belts are worn by novices and black by masters, with intermediate grades denoted by other colours. Jūdōka (students of judo) perform the sport with bare feet.

Ippon-seoi-nage (One-arm shoulder throw) [Tachi waza -> Te waza]
Tori breaks uke's balance by pulling him directly forward. With his right arm inserted under uke's armpit, tori spins around on his right foot with his back against uke. Tori then lowers his right shoulder and throws uke over his shoulder in a circular motion.

Harai goshi (Sweeping hip throw) [Tachi waza -> Koshi waza]
Tori breaks uke's balance by pulling forward and to the right. Tori then spins so that his hips are against uke, and uses his right leg to sweep uke's weight-bearing right leg from the floor, and finally throws uke over his hip.

Osoto-gari (Large outer reap) [Tachi waza -> Ashi waza]
Tori breaks uke's balance by pushing him back, then tori uses his right leg to sweep uke's weight-bearing right leg from the floor in a diagonal motion from behind.

Ouchi-gari (Large inner reap) [Tachi waza -> Ashi waza]
Tori pushes Uke straight back, or back and leftward, then places his right leg behind Uke's left leg (at knee level) and sweeps Uke's left leg off the floor to throw him down.

Uchi mata (Inner thigh wraparound throw) [Tachi waza -> Ashi waza]
Tori breaks Uke's balance by pulling him straight forward, then inserts his leg deep behind Uke's left inner thigh and sweep's it off the floor with his right thigh.

Tomoe nage (Circular throw) [Sutemi waza -> Ma sutemi waza]
Tori breaks Uke's balance by pulling him straight forward, then slides into a supine posture (facing upward) between the legs of Uke, with the sole of one foot placed against Uke's stomach area. Tori then carries Uke's body over his own head with that leg, thus throwing Uke to the floor.

Katame waza (Grappling techniques)
Kesa Gatame (Scarf hold) [Osae waza]Tori lies on his side over the supine body of Uke while holding Uke's arm in his armpit, with his other arm around Uke's neck. With his legs wide apart, Tori holds Uke down in this posture.
Kami shiho gatame (Top four corner hold) [Osae waza]Tori lies face down with his upper body over the supine Uke's chest or abdominal area. In this posture, Tori pins both of Uke's arms to his sides, thus effectively holding Uke down.
Nami-juji-jime (Normal cross strangle) [Shime waza]With arms crossed, Tori grips both sides of Uke's collar, thus strangling him.
Ude hishigi juji gatame (Cross lock) [Kansetsu waza]Tori lies on his back grasping one of Uke's wrists with both hands, and with both thighs scissoring the upper part of that trapped arm. The arm is pulled to hyperextend the elbow or the shoulder.
Men’s judo competitions were first included at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964 and were held regularly from 1972. World judo championships for women began in 1980, and women’s Olympic competition began in 1992. Japan, Korea, France, Germany, and Great Britain have consistently fielded the strongest teams in the Olympics, as did the Soviet Union during its existence.

Katame waza consist of holding, strangling, joint twisting, and counter bending techniques, etc., designed to restrict the opponent's freedom of movement. These techniques are divided into three groups: "Osae waza" (hold-down techniques), "Shime waza" (strangling techniques), and "Kansetsu waza" (Joint lock techniques). The main "Katame waza" (Grappling techniques) are explained below.

3.Wrestling

Wrestling, sport practiced in various styles by two competitors, involving forcing

an opponent to touch the ground with some part of the body other than his feet; forcing him into a certain position, usually supine (on his back); or holding him in that position for a minimum length of time. Wrestling is conducted in various styles with contestants upright or on the ground (or mat).

The three basic types of wrestling contest are the belt-and-jacket, catch-hold, and loose styles, all of which appear to have originated in antiquity. Belt-and-jacket styles of wrestling are those in which the clothing of the wrestlers provides the principal means of taking a grip on the opponent. In many cases this is no more than a special belt worn by both wrestlers, while in others a special belted jacket and special trousers are worn. Catch-hold styles require the contestants to take a prescribed hold before the contest begins; often this grip must be maintained throughout the struggle. Loose styles of wrestling, which are used in modern international competition, commence with the wrestlers separated and free to seize any grip that they choose except such as are explicitly forbidden (e.g., taking hold of an opponent’s clothing or using a life-threatening grip, such as a stranglehold).

Wrestling can also be classified in terms of what is required to win. These categories can be graded on an ascending scale of violence as follows: break-stance sports are those that require forcing the opponent to relinquish a certain posture or position; toppling requires that the standing opponent be forced to touch the ground with some part of his body other than his feet; touch-fall wrestling requires that the opponent be forced into a certain position, usually supine, for a brief instant; pin-fall wrestling requires that the opponent be held in such a position for a measurable length of time; and submission wrestling requires the opponent to vocally or visually signal defeat by his own choice.

4. Kung fu 

This martial art was introduced in China by Chinese Yellow Emperor Huangdi in 2698 BC during his reign. Kung fu literally means an achievement gained through hard and long work. It is one of the oldest martial arts in the world. To date, there are tens of thousands of forms and versions of Kung fu used all over the world. Shaolin monks who taught kung fu emphasized on virtues such as humility, trust, patience and respect and the importance of philosophy and morality to the kung fu practitioners. Like other martial arts, kung fu is valued for its health benefits and for self-defense. 

Kung fu, (Chinese [Wade-Giles romanization]: “skill” ) , Pinyin gongfu, a martial art, both a form of exercise with a spiritual dimension stemming from concentration and self-discipline and a primarily unarmed mode of personal combat often equated with karate or tae kwon do. The term kung fu can also signify careful preparation for the performance of any skillful endeavour without interference from the intellect or emotions.

As martial art, kung fu can be traced to the Zhou dynasty (1111–255 BC) and even earlier. As exercise it was practiced by the Daoists in the 5th century BC. Its prescribed stances and actions are based on keen observations of human skeletal and muscular anatomy and physiology, and it employs great muscular coordination. The various movements in kung fu, most of which are imitations of the fighting styles of animals, are initiated from one of five basic foot positions: normal upright posture and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse riding, and snake. There are hundreds of styles of kung fu, and armed as well as unarmed techniques have been developed. In the latter half of the 20th century a new genre of action films centred on kung fu techniques and philosophies emerged and helped to promote international interest in the art.

Basic Kung Fu Moves

Stances form the foundation for all Kung Fu movements, such as strikes and blocks. Beginners start by learning the stances, then slowly become familiar with kicks, punches, elbow strikes and blocks.

SportsRec

Horse Stance

The horse stance is one of the first things you learn in Kung Fu. It's meant to test a beginner's mental fortitude more than anything. To do a horse stance, set your feet wider than shoulder-width apart. Point your toes out slightly, then squat down. Your knees should be bent slightly higher than 90 degrees.

Some Kung Fu teachers ask their students to hold this position for up to an hour before they begin formal training, to ensure that they have the mental fortitude to practice Kung Fu. While that might be extreme for the average beginner, getting comfortable with this position will pay off in the long run because there are many Kung Fu movements performed from this position.

Other Stances

In Kung Fu, you'll learn to string together various stances, punches, blocks and kicks as you get more advanced. In order to combine everything you learn, you have to break down the stances into individual parts and perfect them.

There are a few basic stances that you'll see often. The forward stance looks like a lateral lunge where you lean on one leg. Cat stance is where you lean on your back leg with the knee bent, bring one hand up to your chest, and hold the other above your head with your arm straight.

Twist stance is rather complex. You have to cross one leg over the other and squat down. Crane stance requires balance because you have to stand on one leg and hold the other one in the air with your knee bent.

SportsRec

Punch-Block-Punch

After you learn basic stances, you can practice strikes and blocks. One of the simplest is the punch-block-punch. From either a standing position or horse stance, punch out straight with one arm until your elbow is straight and knuckles face up. Then, flip your hand over and pull your arm back slightly. This is the block.

After you block, punch the arm straight out again. This move combines offense and defense. Start slow and, over time, you'll be able to increase speed while keeping your technique clean.

Read More: How to Learn Northern Shaolin Kung Fu

Basic Kicks

The basic kicks in Kung Fu are similar to most other martial arts that use kicks. The front kick is the most basic, where you simply thrust your leg forward into the opponent, hitting them with the bottom of your foot.

Side kicks are similar to front kicks, but you face perpendicular to the object you want to strike, instead of facing towards it. Front and side kicks are very abbreviated strikes with the power to stop an advancing opponent.

For a roundhouse kick, you actually turn your body in the direction you're kicking and strike your opponent with your shin or foot. This is a more powerful strike than the front or side kick because you have more time to build momentum.

5. Taekwondo 

Taekwondo became popular after World War II as the occupation of Korea by Japan ended. This martial art is defined by its English translation which means “the way of fist and foot” and uses the combination of physical skills and mental strength. This is often illustrated when a taekwondo follower breaks boards with foot or hand. Included in the Olympics event, taekwondo is regarded as the most popular martial art in the world, with 30 million followers in over 100 countries, three million of which are black belts. Stamina, speed, balance, flexibility and physical strength are developed and enhanced by this martial art.

Axe Kick/Swing Kick(Naeryeo Chagi):

This kick gets its name, because it comes down the in the same motion as swinging an axe. You use your heel(the hardest part of your foot) to either strike at the opponent’s collar bone or the top of their head. It can be thrown circulating inward, outward, or straight up and down.

Back Kick(Dwi Chagi):

A back kick(also referred to as a turn sidekick) is a powerful kick in TaeKwondo. Your back leg is used in this kick and you turn 180 degrees to gain power/speed. You use the heel of your foot and generally throw the kick to the solar plexus of the opponent. It is also thrown to the face depending on the rules of the competition.

Flying Back Kick(Twi-myo Dwi Chagi):
Front Kick(Ap Chagi):

Same motion as a back kick, but you fly forward to hit the opponent. This adds extra power to the kick.

It is similar to the motion of an axe kick and you also land with the heel, but you kick with the front leg. To throw this kick you step forward with your back leg(it becomes your front leg) and throw the kick. The motion is an inward crescent motion outward. Hence the name crescent kick.

This is a strong kick in TaeKwondo and is also used in karate. To throw this kick bring your knee to your chest and throw it outward in a snapping motion. You hit the opponent with the ball of your foot to their core or face.

Jumping Front Kick(Eedan Ap Chagi):

You can add a jump to hit a taller person’s chin. This move is also used is in board breaking demonstrations.

Push Kick(Meereo Chagi):

This kick is similar to the motion of a front kick, but instead of a snapping strike it is a pushing strike. A push kick is also used as a defensive move to make space.

Knee Strike(Moreup Chigi):

A knee strike is called chigi instead of chagi, because it isn’t a kick. It is specifically used for self defense and not allowed in competitions.

Flying Sidekick(Twi-myo Yeop Chagi):

Another variation of the sidekick that includes a jump to cover more distance to attack an opponent. It also adds power to the move.

Roundhouse/Turning Kick(Dollyo Chagi)

This is a common martial arts technique that has different variations for each one. To throw this kick turn your foot(opposite the kicking foot), bring your knee up for height, and turn to bring the kick across your body. It is possible to throw the kick with other foot.