STRIKING ARTS

Shotokan Karate is one of four major styles of karate developed in Okinawa, Japan. It is a versatile style where the emphasis is on long and wide stances, linear techniques, speed, mobility, and quick and direct attacks. Modern Shotokan teaching emphasizes competition rather than self-defense.

Okinawan karate refers to the earliest karate forms created in Okinawa. When Japan took over the Okinawa islands, Okinawans developed karate to protect themselves from cruel rulers. Karate eventually spread to Japan, and these Okinawan forms became the basis for various styles of karate.

Sanda is a full-contact martial art, often seen as a sport version of Kung Fu. It consists of hand strikes, kicks, elbows, and knees as well as trips, throws, and wrestling takedowns. In some way, you can look at Sanda as kickboxing with takedowns and grappling.

There are five major kickboxing styles: Muay Thai, Dutch kickboxing, Full Contact Karate, Savate, and Sanda. What distinguishes each kickboxing style from the other kickboxing styles is the rules, which explain how you can strike and where you are allowed to strike.

K-1 is the kickboxing promotion that emerged in 1993 in Japan with the idea of finding out which striking martial art is the best. The letter “K” stands for karate, Kung Fu, kickboxing, and Kempo. K-1 was so popular that the “K-1” set of rules later became the official kickboxing style.

Boxing is considered a martial art because it fits the definition of a martial art perfectly. It is a combat skill that can be used for self-defense, as a sport, or used by the military as a means of close-quarters combat. Boxing has systemized methods of training for the purpose of combat.