Martial Arts vs Self-Defense

Aren’t those the same thing?

In fact, they each have elements of the other, but most competent schools teach both interwoven together. Good teachers understand the context of the forms (or kata) and techniques and drills used in most traditional systems. Consistent training in just these 3 elements of traditional martial arts will (eventually) result in the practitioner being skilled enough to protect themselves. However, progressive or “combat” skill training should heavily include free-form interactions that are not pre-set patterns, or else risk getting stuck at the ‘just playing around’ level of skill. The systems that focus exclusively on combat techniques are typically (though not exclusively) combat sports like Boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, etc.

The systems that establish a base of traditional skills and knowledge, but also pay considerable attention to the combat level of intensity (full-contact), will tend to have truly dangerous practitioners.

SYSTEMS TAUGHT BY JTK TRAINING ACADEMY:

Tornado Kenpo (direct descendant of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo)

TaiJiQuan (*Tai Chi)