Martial Arts Styles: Ronin
Ronin was a Samurai without a lord or master during the feudal period (1185-1868) of Japan. A Samurai became a Ronin because of the ruin or fall of his master, or after the loss of his master’s favor.
Martial Art Styles: Goju-Ryu
Goju-Ryu in Japanese means “hard-soft style.” Goju-Ryu is one of the four main traditional Okinawan styles of Karate. It features both hard and soft techniques. Go means hard, and it refers to straight line, closed fist attacks, and Ju means soft and refers to circular movements, and open hand techniques. Goju-Ryu includes striking techniques such as punches and kicks, and also […]
Martial Art Styles: Karate Styles
There are a number of different Karate styles, each one developed with the intention of being able to defend one’s self against an attacker and to put an end to the altercation in a fast, painful and destructive manner. Some of the many different styles are:
Martial Art Styles: Sanshou
Sanshou is also called Sanda. Sanshou literally means freehand, or it literally means free fighting. Sanshou is Chinese Hand to Hand Combat. Sanshou is not a style itself, but one of the two components of Chinese Martial Arts training, the other being Taolu (forms).
Martial Art Styles: Choi Li Fut
Choi Li Fut is a combination of many different styles of Chinese Martial Arts, (including Northern and Southern styles) Choi Li Fut was developed around 1836 and it includes the Five Animals: the Tiger, Crane, Leopard, Snake, and Dragon styles. Choi Li Fut contains a wide variety of techniques, including Punches, Kicks, Sweeps and Takedowns, […]
Martial Art Styles: Hung Gar
Hung Gar is a style of Kung Fu from Southern China. It was founded around 1700 A.D and is known for its low stances, especially the Horse Stance, and for its strong hand techniques including the Bridge Hand and Tiger Claw.
Martial Art Styles: Wushu
Wushu is the Mandarin Chinese term that literally means Martial Art. In the west this has been confused with the words Kung Fu. But in Chinese, Kung Fu can be used in contexts completely unrelated to Martial Arts. It refers to any individual accomplishment or skill that is achieved through long and hard work. Wushu […]
Martial Art Styles: Tae Kwon Do
Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art that has its roots in ancient Korean Fighting Styles, and modern Japanese Shotokan Karate. Tae Kwon Do could be called “Korean Karate” and it means “the way of the Foot and Fist,” with a heavy emphasis on “foot.” Philosophy The philosophy of the art of Tae Kwon Do is that the legs have more […]
Martial Arts Styles: Shotokan Karate
Shotokan Karate was founded by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957). One of the greatest Okinawan Martial Arts masters, Funakoshi trained in two styles of Okinawan Karate, Shorei-ryu and Shorin-ryu for many years. He created a simpler style that combined what he thought were the best techniques from the two, and also from Kendo’s (Japanese Fencing) distancing, and timing. Shotokan is called […]
Martial Art Styles: Shorin-Ryu
Shorin-Ryu’s roots can be traced back to Chinese Martial Arts. These Fighting Arts were brought to the Ryu Kyu islands, now known as Okinawa. Shorin-Ryu was created by Chosin Chibana, a top student of legendary Master Anko Itosu. Shorin-Ryu is desended from Shuri-Te Karate. The original Karate styles were named after the villages that they came […]