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.
Although hard contact sports have injury rates to be considered, many of today's martial arts use soft contact training. The physical and mental benefits of training are many: aerobic fitness, stamina, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, self control, focus, self discipline. Training also teaches respectful conduct, responsible behavior, self discipline, commitment.
Learn how to push through fear and anxiety, how to take a hit and get back up, how to take a fall. Learn proper breathing techniques for exercising, taking a hit or kick, delivering kicks or punches. Many Eastern styles include a series of choreographed routines that must by memorized. Many arts, now practiced as sports, use sparring practice that demands self control, a strike that doesn't actually connect, but is obvious to the judge. Eastern style training usually includes meditation, focus, and breathing exercises.
Training for children focuses on self control, listening skills, stranger awareness, anti-bullying strategies, respect for others. It's a sport that many children find exciting, and it gets them moving and training their bodies. It also allows children to progress at their own rate. No team pressure to win the game, catch that ball.
MMA combines Eastern and Western training in an anything that wins goes style. Kung Fu focuses on striking arts but uses fluid, artistic motions easier on the joints to practice. Grappling moves are the focus of Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Wrestling. Striking styles that have developed into competitive sports include Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo. Judo and Jiu-Jitsu also have a strong focus on competition. For self defense consider Kempo Karate, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Muay Thai. Learn how to take a strike, avoid a strike, land a strike (punch or kick).
Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.
First decide on your goals: fitness, self defense, competition, or personal development. Choose a style that will keep you interested and engaged. Ask teachers or coaches about their qualifications and their training philosophy. Observe a class of long time students. Ask about practice and training requirements to advance and the expected time frame. Ask about programs affiliations and connection with competitions.
Martial Arts Centers often require a contract. Students commit to a training schedule they pay for even if they stop attending. If you know what you want and are committed, these centers can be an excellent choice. If you're not so sure, look for classes offered through city recreation departments, city gyms, school and after school programs.
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.
Although hard contact sports have injury rates to be considered, many of today's martial arts use soft contact training. The physical and mental benefits of training are many: aerobic fitness, stamina, strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, self control, focus, self discipline. Training also teaches respectful conduct, responsible behavior, self discipline, commitment.
Learn how to push through fear and anxiety, how to take a hit and get back up, how to take a fall. Learn proper breathing techniques for exercising, taking a hit or kick, delivering kicks or punches. Many Eastern styles include a series of choreographed routines that must by memorized. Many arts, now practiced as sports, use sparring practice that demands self control, a strike that doesn't actually connect, but is obvious to the judge. Eastern style training usually includes meditation, focus, and breathing exercises.
Training for children focuses on self control, listening skills, stranger awareness, anti-bullying strategies, respect for others. It's a sport that many children find exciting, and it gets them moving and training their bodies. It also allows children to progress at their own rate. No team pressure to win the game, catch that ball.
MMA combines Eastern and Western training in an anything that wins goes style. Kung Fu focuses on striking arts but uses fluid, artistic motions easier on the joints to practice. Grappling moves are the focus of Aikido, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, and Wrestling. Striking styles that have developed into competitive sports include Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo. Judo and Jiu-Jitsu also have a strong focus on competition. For self defense consider Kempo Karate, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Muay Thai. Learn how to take a strike, avoid a strike, land a strike (punch or kick).
Tai Chi focus is on balance, stretching, and weight bearing moves that are easy on joints. It has numerous health benefits including increased concentration, flexibility, and coordination. It is used more as a health and fitness exercise that a combat sport and is noncompetitive. Movements can be adjusted to meet any physical fitness level including senior citizens with limited mobility.
First decide on your goals: fitness, self defense, competition, or personal development. Choose a style that will keep you interested and engaged. Ask teachers or coaches about their qualifications and their training philosophy. Observe a class of long time students. Ask about practice and training requirements to advance and the expected time frame. Ask about programs affiliations and connection with competitions.
Martial Arts Centers often require a contract. Students commit to a training schedule they pay for even if they stop attending. If you know what you want and are committed, these centers can be an excellent choice. If you're not so sure, look for classes offered through city recreation departments, city gyms, school and after school programs.
