Muay Thai/Kickboxing
Kickboxing has become an umbrella term that covers anything involving punching and kicking, but Muay Thai has distinctive features. A centuries-old practice from Thailand, Muay Thai involves knee and elbow strikes as well as stand-up grappling called the clinch. You’ll start to learn techniques through drilling combos on Thai pads, before moving on to real sparring. Many MMA fighters use Muay Thai as the basis for their striking game. If you’re already fairly flexible, you should find Muay Thai easy to get the hang of, especially the kicks.
Wing Chun Kung Fu
Wing Chun originates from China and is one of the close-range types of martial arts. It focuses on balance and relaxation techniques to keep the body in its best form.
Wing Chun comes with a lot of visualisation – the practice teaches the idea of a centre line in the body that guides every action we make. The attacks are mostly rapid strikes performed while moving forward towards your opponent. If you have issues with personal space or have slow reflexes, this form of martial arts may not suit you. But if you’re looking to improve your balance and concentration, Wing Chun may be a perfect choice.
Brazilian Ji-Jitsu
With Brazillian Ji-Jitsu (BJJ) the aim is to put your opponent in a submission hold that either knocks them out or inflicts significant pain to the point where they have to submit. If you’ve watched a UFC event, you will have seen BJJ in action.
Most of BJJ involves ‘rolling’, which is essentially wrestling. If your primary goal is self-defence, this may not be the right choice for you. But if you’re in it for the exercise, BJJ may be the martial arts you’re looking for. Get your headgear ready!
Taekwondo
Hailing from Korea, taekwondo is one of the broadest types, with more followers than any other martial art. Its attacks include kicks, throws, and punches but its training also involves relaxation techniques, standard cardiovascular exercises, and breaking objects like boards with your hands and feet.
Taekwondo programmes can vary in what they include so it’s important to research the classes in your area so you know what they offer before you commit to anything.
Mixed martial arts (MMA)
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has evolved into a popular sport with a large following and a lot of variety.
MMA programmes usually draw on Muay Thai techniques for striking and wrestling, and Brazillian Ji-Jitsu for building up the ground game. It will usually involve a lot of body contact and you can expect to leave the class feeling worn out!
With there being so many aspects to MMA, it is often a larger financial commitment than other types of martial arts – with the cost of a club membership and protective gear to consider. This is because you’ll be doing a lot of work and it’s considered a full workout. While its purpose isn’t self-defence, it does teach you how to handle a variety of situations.