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Martial Arts Classes to Try: Krav Maga, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do

Heather Dale — Fri, 06 May 2011 02:24:53 PDT

Martial arts is an umbrella term used for systems of training for combat. Boxing, karate, tai chi, tae kwon do, krav maga, kung fu, kickboxing, wrestling, and jiu jitsu all fall into the martial arts category, because they all have the same underlying principle - protection from physical threat. Martial arts can be broken into five categories including: grappling styles, stand-up or striking styles, low-impact styles, weapons-based styles, and MMA (a hybrid sports style).
Now that the weather is finally workout-friendly, you've gotten back into your Spring training groove. To keep your momentum from losing any speed, be sure to mix up your workout routine with interesting new classes. Here are three types of martial arts sports that are guaranteed to mix up your regular workout routine!

Get Motivated: Born Without Arms and Getting a Black Belt

FitSugar — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:30:45 PDT

I know there are days when you don't feel motivated to work out, but this story is sure to get you off your couch. Sheila Radziewicz began training in martial arts three years ago, and next month she's testing to earn a black belt in tae kwon do. A feat unto itself, but Sheila is doing it essentially without arms. She has a rare genetic disorder known as thrombocytopenia absent radius, or TAR syndrome. Characterized by the absence of the radius bone in the forearm, the severity of this genetic condition varies among people with the syndrome. Sheila's arms formed such that her hands are near her shoulders. With TAR syndrome, it's common to have other structural malformations, and the soon-to-be black belt was also born without kneecaps.

Sheila never let her disability stop her from doing anything. Sheila says, "I grew up with the phrase, 'The impossible only takes a little longer.'" The 32-year-old was told she wouldn't survive; then told she wouldn't walk. Now, despite her condition, her tae kwon do instructor explains, "She can use nunchucks and break boards with her kicks." With determination and a can-do attitude, you can accomplish many goals that seem beyond you. I love her mantra too!

SMG on Self, But Not Self Centered

FitSugar — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:45:00 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar is one of those celebrities that seems a bit more grounded, despite the fact that she too was a child actress. Recently, she deep dived with Self Magazine about what's it's like to be her...

Here are highlights:

Gellar follows a very strict eating plan that she summarizes in two words: good food. "I'm not much of a junk food eater. I like pretzels, but I'd rather have steak. I'd rather have a great meal. I'd rather dine.

It's a bit hard to believe Gellar puts away all that grub give that, at 5 foot 4, she's barely sample-size. But she works up an appetitive by being active virtually nonstop. As a child, she was ranked the third-best figure skater in New York state, and later she earned a brown belt in tae kwon do. Most recently, she's taken up tennis.

Usually I don't buy into celebrities saying that they eat a lot and don't gain weight, but somehow I feel like she's being honest. It seems she is just sensible about what she eats, but she'd never deny herself some tasty grub, especially since her hubby went to culinary school. Also, balancing off the tasty grub with some good old fashioned activity (skating and tae kwon do?!) is definitely a healthy way to live life. Plus, she's known to bike around New York City (man, I still love that bike) instead of using car, or a driver for that matter. Check out the rest of her great interview in the October issue of Self Magazine (on newsstands now).

Source

Martial Arts Explained

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 08:45:00 PST

I am always looking for a new way to exercise and keep myself healthy. I've always thought about trying martial arts, partly to learn self-defense skills, but more for the mind and body strengthening aspect.

There are many styles including Stand-Up, Ground Fighting, Throwing, and Meditative. And each style has many different kinds within them. Once you get a sense of each, then you'll be able to pick which one might be right for you.

Stand-Up Style

Karate - Originated in Okinawa, it's considered Japanese, but has its roots in China. Karate uses linear footwork and stances that emphasize power in technique. Many women began taking Karate as a form of self-defense.

Kung Fu - A Chinese martial art, it literally means "hard work." There are more than 400 different types of Kung Fu, and each one has its own unique set of characteristics.

Tae Kwon Do (also written as Taekwondo) - A Korean martial art, it's famous for its fast, high spinning kicks.

I'm just getting started. Want to see the rest? Then

Ground Fighting Style

Jujitsu - A Japanese martial art that means "gentle," or "compliant." It's all about yielding to the force provided by an opponent's attack. There's also a lot of throwing, pinning, joint-locking, and strangling (how lovely), kind of like wrestling.

Sambo - A modern martial art developed in Russia. It is an abbreviation that means "self-defense without a weapon." It's also similar to wrestling.

Throwing

Judo - A modern Japanese martial art that means "gentle way." It's very competitive. The object is to either throw one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an opponent to submit by joint locking the elbow or applying a choke. That doesn't sound very "gentle" to me.

Aikido - A Japanese martial art that's not about punching or kicking opponents. It focuses more on using your own energy to gain control of an opponent or to throw them away from you. It involves a lot of movement.

Meditative

Tai Chi - A Chinese martial art practiced as a sort of therapy to promote health and longevity. It involves much slower movements and deeper relaxation. It's a kind of moving meditation.

Qigong (also written Chi Gong) - It's an aspect of Chinese medicine that involves the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body. Wow - that sounds a lot like yoga.

Fit's Tips: To get a better sense of which one you'd like, go and sit in on a class in your area. Since martial arts classes can tend to be mostly men, look for a school that offers women's classes so you'll feel more comfortable. Or better yet, find an all women school, like Seven Star Women's Kung Fu in Seattle - they even offer childcare while you train.