I have been taking Taekwondo classes for 7 years now, and I’m on my towards my 3rd degree black belt! (woohoo) Obviously I’m a little biased when I say that Taekwondo is the best martial art and self defense class out there, but I’m going to give you a few other options too.
In my opinion, everyone should take a self defense class. It’s incredibly empowering to know that if something ever happened, you can confidently defend yourself. It’s not something I like to think about, but I know I can defend myself if needed.
Workout with a Self Defense Class
- Taekwondo is a martial art that originated in Korea. Taekwondo focuses on fast kicking techniques that include high jumping and spinning techniques. On top of intense kicking practices, Taekwondo also focuses on forms, sparring, and weapons. Taekwondo is not only a great workout but it teaches discipline, self-control, integrity, and perseverance. Again, I am biased because Taekwondo has had such a huge impact on my life and it’s been an incredibly positive journey.
- Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that focuses on grappling and sparring techniques, mostly down on the ground. The idea is that a smaller or weaker opponent is able to perform techniques that will help them defend themselves against a bigger opponent. Jiu-Jitsu classes focus on physical conditioning as well as ‘rolling’ which is what they call sparring. Since ‘rolling’ can get pretty intense, there are certain health and safety aspects that must be taken into consideration.
- Karate is probably the most well known martial art out there. Karate has a strong focus on hand and punching techniques. Karate also teaches forms, called kata, and sparring, and has a large focus on self-development. Karate emphasizes aerobic conditioning, agility, strength, and flexibility.
- Kumdo means “the way of the sword”. It’s a Korean martial art that focuses on swordsmanship. Kumdo training’s number one rule is respect, students and instructors bow when entering or leaving the school or workout area, during training sessions, before competitions, etc. A typical class includes a warm up period with aerobic exercises, exercises using a bamboo sword, and a cool down.
These are a just a few of MANY self defense classes. Before deciding which class you want to attend, try a self defense class out first. Many schools offer you a chance to try a class before joining. You can also do a search on youtube for examples of what a typical martial art entails.
The beauty of a martial arts or self-defense class is that most times anyone can take it. There aren’t many sports where an entire family can join and practice together, so it makes a great activity for the whole family to enjoy and get fit and healthy together. For example, in the clubs I have attended, and the club I am currently running, we teach everyone and anyone, ages 4 and up. We also make sure to include everyone, no matter what their fitness level is, as long as you are giving your best effort, we can accommodate you!
