Martial arts are a great, ancient way to keep fit and keep your body supple and strong. As a woman, they’re also a way to feel safer and more capable and able to protect yourself. Most cities in the US have many options on offer with regards to different forms, and it’s just a matter of choosing what form is right for you. Two fun and interesting forms are Shotokan Karate and Krav Maga.
Shotokan karate is a traditional form of this popular martial art, originally developed in Japan in the 1800s. This form of karate is centered on breathing, hand to hand combat, as well as routines designed for multiple attackers called “katas.” While it is driven by aggression, karate can also be a way to find peace by channeling aggression and anger into an acceptable conduit. Success is measured by intermittent exams after learning particular katas and routines, and the winning of different colored belts, the lowest being white and the highest, black. There are also numerous degrees of black belt, denoting different levels of skill and practice. Even if you’e not concerned with devoting a great deal of time and energy to achieving these belts, karate is still a great way to exercise and socialize in our increasingly hectic society.
Krav Maga is a newer form of martial arts than karate, developed by Imi Litchfield, a Hungarian Jew, in the 1930s. He taught it to the underground Jewish army during World War II, and after the creation of Israel he was hired to teach it to the new Israeli army, who are well-known for using it to this day. Krav Maga is focused on the idea of incapacitating one’s opponent by any means necessary. As a result of this, is does not have the same strict rule structure as karate. It is well known as a system of self-defense involving coordinated counter-attacks to vulnerable areas of the body, and simultaneous offensive and defensive moves. Both of these martial arts are a great way to learn self-defense, get exercise, and get involved in something new.