How To Choose The Right Martial Art Equipment?
So you want to be a martial artist - what style are you into that you feel the most comfortable with? When you first get started on your journey to being a martial artist, it's rather hard to choose your style. Karate, kung fu, boxing, judo, kickboxing, jeet-kun-do...? You'd be amazed at so many different forms and styles there are for you to choose from. Believe me, the answer always lies deep within yourself. You know it all along, don't you?
Let's take a better look at yourself first and then worry about what styles to choose from before choosing the appropriate equipment for your daily training. Let's look at yourself in the mirror: are you slim and tall, or are you rather stocky and full of muscle? Are you more likely to stand firm on the ground when faced with potential challenge or dangers, or flight as quickly as you possibly can? Are you more of a 'red fiber' muscle type, or just the opposite, the 'white fiber' type?
Now all these will not only help but also are essential factors in determining which style or form of martial arts are most appropriate for you. For example, if you're slim and tall with longer limbs, you'd be best at long range movements such as Taekwondo, Karate, Thai Kickboxing and the like. It's especially so when you're also the 'white fiber' muscle type and flight rather than fight when faced with dangers. Your responses tend to be quicker but your power seems to be lacking though.
If you happen to be with the other type: 'red fiber' muscle type, more stocky and muscle, more likely to stand on your ground and fight against any potential challenge, your movements will tend to be slow but your hits are whole lot more stronger with force than the former type. Then you're more likely to perform better in styles such as Wing Chun, Hung Kar, most of the Kung Fu styles from the southern part of China, judo, wrestling, boxing, and the like.
After carefully choosing your most appropriate styles will you then choose your martial art equipment because different styles and forms of martial art will have very different requirements as to what equipment to use. For example, a huge hanging punch and kick bag will be more suitable for Karate, Taekwondo, Thai Kickboxing training rather than for the Wing Chun practitioners who require only a square punching bag to hang onto the wall for training their 'inch-punch.'
Knowing your style is then considered the most important factor in determining what martial art equipment you'd need. Don't be misled by those ads out there telling one way or the other. Martial art is a way of life, and it's your own life and don't let anybody manipulate it. You're your own boss and don't give your own power away - this is the reason you want to be a martial artist, isn't it?
Besides being a naturopathic physican, Dr. Kang-pang Chan is a personal trainer certified by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as well as a certified instructor in Yiquan - an advanced form of holistic Chinese martial art that utilises precise bodymind coordination as the real source of power.
Please visit Bruce Lee And Wing Chun Kung Fu for more information.
Source: www.ezinearticles.com
