Which Martial Art is for Me? Only YOU can choose
Some words of wisdom from Northstar founder Andrew Dickinson
A kick is a kick and a punch is a punch. What makes a system of martial arts unique is the framework that holds the principles together and the objectives behind the moves. In Taekwondo, Judo, kickboxing and any other martial arts that makes competition the priority, winning the game is the primary driver and the techniques, philosophies and system objectives revolve around that mind set.
In competition orientated martial arts such as Taekwondo and Judo, there is physical improvement and there is spirit to continue, but Martial Sports can attract the physically strong and/or gifted. The strong win, the weak lose. Wherever you find any sport, ego is just around the corner. Taekwondo, Judo and Brazilian Ju Jitsu are great for health, fitness and vitality and if you are into sport can be fantastic fun. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is the latest Martial Arts craze. It is robust, gets you fit, and can teach you good fighting techniques. The new students just needs to be mindful of the Instructors qualifications to teach.
Traditional/classical Martial Arts that have links to a line of legitimate teachers, such as Karate, Ju Jitsu, kenjutsu, Iaido, Wushu and others can best be described as the glue that holds it together. Though, if the traditional martial artist expert has not learned to use his ancient techniques as a working surface to observe the mind and is still concerned with learning self defence or winning then his practice has no more substance than an aerobics class.
Which ever martial art you choose, it really has to fit your personality and reasons for training. Good luck with your quest for truth in Martial Arts.
Northstar Ju Jitsu
The aim of Northstar Ju Jitsu is to teach immediate and practical fighting skills that can be learned, assimilated and used quickly and immediately by men and women of all ages. Simple defensive combinations are taught in all ranges of fighting. Northstar Ju Jitsu is not about learning a 100 different ways to block, punch and kick and it is not about learning 100 different ways to throw or numerous defences against the same kind of attack. It is about having a basic but very effective group of simple techniques that cover all ranges of fighting. These include distant fighting with long range kicks and punches, in close fighting with knees, elbows and standing grappling and control on the ground. There is no time wasted learning complicated patterns or outdated rituals that have no real use. The workouts are physically demanding with emphasis on fitness and conditioning. Separate sparring classes are held and are done over many ranges working up to an all round format with kicks, punches, throws and ground defence.
Northstar Ju Jitsu is a non sport system that retains the traditional elements of martial arts yet is highly practical in our modern society. It follows the standard pattern in martial arts. There are gradings every 3 months and students work towards gaining a Black Belt in minimum 3 years.
Taekwondo
Korean Martial Art. Famous for dynamic kicking. Though predominately an Olympic sport practiced world wide there are some traditional schools that still practice the original style of Taekwondo.
Ju Jutsu
(Also known as Ju-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu, or Jiujitsu), is a Japanese martial art and a method of close combat for defeating an armed or unarmed opponent, using strikes, throws, locks, chokes and submissions. The sport of Judo was founded by Jigaro Kano, a famous Ju Jutsu Master.
Aikido
A Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Ueshiba’s goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to defend themselves while also protecting their attacker from injury. Aikido is performed by blending with the motion of the attacker and redirecting the force of the attack rather than opposing it head-on. Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daito Ryu Aiki Ju Jutsu.
Karate
Born in Okinawa and later developed and refined in Japan, Karate is probably the most famous of the martial arts. There are many styles of Karate, ranging from traditional kata or pattern based styles to modern kickboxing orientated styles. Karate is a self defence and fighting system that uses the feet, hands, elbows and knees as weapons.
Martial Arts Facts
The modernization and systemisation of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform that consisted of the kimono and the dogi or keikogi — mostly called just karategi — and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo and one of the men Funakoshi consulted in his efforts to modernise karate.