 Kickboxing: A Descendant of Martial Arts Fighting in some form or another – and with the elements of rules and sportsmanship – has been around for millennia, as shown by the huge number of ancient arenas and fighting pits that have been discovered dating back to some of the oldest human cultures. But these days, it’s much more than just tossing a couple of gladiators in a circle and placing bets. From those old traditions come some of the most common and recognizable disciplines we see today, including kickboxing.
Last month we talked about the origins and forms of karate, and that ties into kickboxing because that’s where the sport began! Though it may seem like a natural offshoot of a fighting style – after all, kicks are more powerful than punches – it actually was not until the 1950s that the sport we now know as kickboxing began to take shape in Japan. Drawing not only from traditional karate, but also from muay thai, a man named Tatsuo Yamada began outlining the forms of the new sport and throughout the early 1960s, it took hold in students of both disciplines. As more people learned the rules of the sport, and the first competitions and events were taking place, soon kickboxing was expanding around the world and by the 1980s, it had grown into North America and Europe. Moving back and forth in popularity since then, and with very broad scope of rules and styles, it is one of the most enduring schools of modern martial arts for people of all skill levels. Though each country seems to have its own rules, the bouts that most people are familiar with in kickboxing are generally based on full-contact karate, where the opponents fight through rounds until one of the fighters is knocked out or submits. There is no specialized equipment or weapons; generally only a mouth-guard, hand wrappings, and other protective gear is needed. Rules vary on low and high kicks, hits to knees or with elbows, use of spins, and other details. That means that each fighter has to be pinpoint accurate, quick to strike and to retreat, and ready to react to their foe in an instant. As opposed to the more meditative nature of karate and kung fu, kickboxing is much more fast-paced and focused on the immediate impact of kicks and punches. There are dozens of sub-styles of kickboxing, including shoot boxing (where fighters can use standing chokeholds and armlocks), sanshou (which incorporates elements of wrestling and takedowns), and Japanese K-1 (which allows lower-body strikes and grappling). Whatever your personal style may be, if you like to fight, chances are good that there’s a kickboxing genre for you. However, if you prefer something more holistic and meditative, you can’t go wrong with studying kung fu – and we just happen to know the perfect place to learn: right here at Kung Fu
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 The Martial Art Of KarateWhen it comes to martial arts, many people think that they’re all the same – that kung fu is the same as judo, or karate, or tae kwon do. But if you look a little further into it, you’ll discover that there are plenty of ways that these skills manifest in practice, and that all of these different styles have totally different focuses and areas of expertise. We’d like to explore a little bit of what makes each discipline unique, and how they are similar to the kung fu we teach here at our studio.
Today we’re going to talk about karate, which is one of the most popular martial arts in Calgary and, indeed, in the world. You may have seen it (or heard it misidentified) in hundreds of movies and TV shows, where it is often synonymous with any form of self-defense. There’s even an episode of The Simpsons where Bart claims to be learning a “Touch of Death” at his karate class. Luckily, karate is not all about causing harm to your opponent, but much more about self-discipline, training, and constant learning to always improve. Stemming from a blend of Chinese kung fu and Okinawan fighting styles, karate developed over many hundreds of years into different forms, types, and functions. Generally, they emphasize proper stances, strike and block techniques, and exercise, while psychological elements like leadership, perseverance, and virtue are built as well. A student can learn karate as an art (known as budo), as purely self-defense, or as a full combat sport – usually reserved only for competitions within the sport, but this is where the media’s portrayal of fighters usually draws from. There is even an offshoot called kyokushin that highlights full contact, toughness, and takedowns over the more mental aspects of the sport. Many practitioners of karate appreciate its simplicity, both in the training and in the materials needed. Traditionally, learners needed nothing more than a wooden post, some blocks of stone, and various other common materials in order to increase their strength, stamina, coordination, and speed. That means it’s easy to do wherever you are, and cost is not as much of a factor when trying to learn. The name itself, kara-te, even means “empty hand”, referring to the training of one’s own body to be efficient and effective. Of course, some schools and some students choose to train with weapons as well, such as the bo (staff), sais, or nunchaku, but these can be harder to work with as one must consider the laws regarding the use and transport such weapons (you can see our blog right here). You may be brand new to martial arts in Calgary (or in general), or you could be a seasoned pro, but with the sheer amount of new styles and techniques that are always being created, there’s always something new to learn in karate, kung fu, and all the others. Come see for yourself why these physical arts have lasted for centuries and still bring millions of people enjoyment, stress relief, and satisfaction all around the world. We can help show you the way at Kung Fu For Life, located just down the road from 39 Ave C Train station in Calgary! |
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