Main Page Contents of Main Other Main Pages      Approximately 25 years ago, the question of which martial art to take was a simple one to answer because, quite frankly, there weren't too many to choose from. Most people went to a gym and did boxing or, if they had the necessary connections to families from other countries, did karate or kung fu in private.
    It is said that soldiers returning from World War II instigated the change in the Western martial arts scene. They brought back tales of exotic fighting styles and knowledge gained from years of living in foreign lands. Demonstrations were arranged and amicably received, and training halls began to emerge. Americans began to tentatively embrace foreign martial culture.
     Hollywood gave the next big boost to the spread of martial arts in the west with the emergence of superstar Bruce Lee. His energy and on screen presence enthused the world, and sparked a craving for martial knowledge that can be accurately called "Kung fu fever."
     Today, a prospective student can choose from dozens of martial arts. Finding the right one can therefore be a daunting task. In taking a martial art you put yourself at varying risk of injury along a path that can be frustrating, tiring, and extremely rewarding. You therefore want an environment where you feel safe, but one that is at the same time enjoyable and conducive to learning. To help you in your search, I have compiled the following suggestions based on conversations with other martial artists and my own personal experiences and observations.



CREDITS: The middle two paragraphs were based on a Discovery Channel documentary on martial arts around the world, which I found to be extremely interesting. All other writing on this page belong to yours truly.

Faust