What Types of Martial Arts Are Out There?
This is a question we hear all the time — and it’s a great one.
What types of martial arts are there, anyway?
The first thing to know is that “martial arts” is a very big category. Think of it as a giant umbrella. Under that umbrella are many different combat systems — not just karate or taekwondo, but even boxing and fencing. If it’s a structured combat sport, it falls somewhere under martial arts.
When most families ask about martial arts, they’re usually thinking about punches, kicks, and self-defense skills. In that case, you’re really looking at a few main branches.
One branch includes styles like taekwondo and karate. These systems focus on striking — punches, kicks, blocks, and movement. Karate, which is what we teach at Championship Martial Arts, includes many different styles and traditions, all built around strong fundamentals and practical techniques.
Another branch focuses on the ground and grappling side of martial arts. Styles like judo and jiu-jitsu emphasize takedowns, control, and leverage. These arts are very effective and, depending on the school, may also include some striking — every school teaches a little differently.
And that’s an important thing for parents to know:
even if two schools teach the same “style,” their programs can look completely different. That’s normal — and it’s not a bad thing.
That’s why the best advice we can give is simple:
go try a class. Watch how it’s taught. See how students are treated. Make sure it feels like the right fit for you or your child.
If you’d like to learn more about our karate program or see how our classes work, we’d love to have you stop in. We’ll talk soon — and hope to see you on the mat 🥋
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