Martial arts aren't just a fancy way of defending oneself, they're also a great way to get in shape and master one's body and mind. Before we do an overview of the main martial arts' styles, here are several concepts you'll have to grasp in order to understand the basics of each art. Elbow Strikes Blocks Circular Indicates how much the style actually uses circular techniques, which focus on redirecting the energy of an attack to your advantage. After many years of extensive study and practice, circular techniques will allow you to overtake an opponent of any size. Linear Indicates how much the style actually uses linear techniques.
Linear technique focuses on using force to overpower an opponent.
They are the most widely used and their effectiveness depends on the fighter's strength, technique and size. Relaxed vs. Strenuous It's also important to know whether or not a style is too demanding on a cardiovascular and muscular level. Some of these martial art styles require more strenuous physical training while others are more spiritual. So now that we've defined some basic martial art terminology, let's explore the main unarmed styles of martial arts. Its main focus is on the concept of flow and the unbroken circle.