How to choose the right martial arts style for you

From greater self-discipline to improved fitness,  to the ability to defend yourself, discover the benefits of these martial arts styles.

When choosing a martial arts style, you need to consider your budget, competition goals and self-defence needs. This guide to choosing the right martial arts style compares the popular martial arts styles of Muay Thai, Judo and Tae Kwon Do to see which is best for you.

Often referred to as kickboxing, Muay Thai originated in Thailand. It involves high kicks and knee strikes, so you'll find it easier to master if you are already flexible. If you plan to compete, then Muay Thai is a good martial arts style to choose, as there are plenty of amateur competitions happening across Canada. It also has some value as a self-defence technique.

Rather than kicks and punches, Judo mostly involves throws and choking moves. It's very useful for self-defence if you find yourself grappling against an attacker.

There are some opportunities to compete as an amateur Judo practitioner if you seek them out. Judo is also good preparation for learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is a breakaway style of this ancient martial art that has become very popular in the United States and Canada.

During training, expect to work your core more than your arms or legs.

Tae Kwon Do training involves drilling kicks and punches, and is a good cardiovascular workout. As Tae Kwon Do schools usually require their students to wear the full costume for training, your budget needs to stretch to buy sparring gear when you take up the sport.

This investment will be rewarded by the opportunity to take part in plenty of competitions: Tae Kwon Do is statistically the most popular martial art, perhaps thanks to its status as an Olympic sport.

Many martial arts experts argue that the style you choose is less important than the quality of the martial arts school that you attend. Before committing to a particular martial arts style, visit a few schools in your local area to find out about the teaching techniques used. Many martial arts schools allow newcomers to observe or take part in a class before they commit to membership, so take advantage of this opportunity to see which martial art is right for you.

Also, rather than just looking at the headline cost of membership, find out whether there are any additional charges you will be expected to pay, such as initiation or advancement fees since it's easy for these hidden charges to add up.