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.
Self defense and competition require confidence in the face of danger. Taking a strike or fall and getting back up is as important a skill as taking down an opponent. Eastern styles practice meditation, breathing exercises, and the practice of choreographed fighting routines to develop muscle memory. Some use soft contact for training, and even competition. Opponents stop a strike inches from the target to be awarded points by a judge.
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.
If you love Martial Arts, but your joints won't take it anymore, don't overlook the fitness benefits of Tai Chi. Focus is on the mind and body connection. It's noncompetitive, taught as an exercise program, not a sport. Movements are slow and fluid, emphasizing flexibility, focus, balance, proper breathing. Movements can be modified to meet the needs of the disabled and infirm.
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.
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.
Self defense and competition require confidence in the face of danger. Taking a strike or fall and getting back up is as important a skill as taking down an opponent. Eastern styles practice meditation, breathing exercises, and the practice of choreographed fighting routines to develop muscle memory. Some use soft contact for training, and even competition. Opponents stop a strike inches from the target to be awarded points by a judge.
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.
If you love Martial Arts, but your joints won't take it anymore, don't overlook the fitness benefits of Tai Chi. Focus is on the mind and body connection. It's noncompetitive, taught as an exercise program, not a sport. Movements are slow and fluid, emphasizing flexibility, focus, balance, proper breathing. Movements can be modified to meet the needs of the disabled and infirm.
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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