There are many different forms of martial arts that are taught around the world. People tend to be most familiar with the far-east styles and Bruce Lee movies, but there are many other places in the world where martial arts is just as significant as in Asia.
One of these places is Haiti. And in Haiti, as well as places like Asia martial arts are deap rooted in the region's history and culture.
The Haitian martial arts style includes a few prominent styles:
* Judo
* Brazilian Jujitsu
* Taekwando
Judo
Judo is one of the more popular and recognized Haitian martial arts styles. Judo is a modern self defense style that originated in Japan in the late nineteenth century.
It is primarily used as a competitive style of self-defense. Judo sparring matches are incredible to watch as the Judo moves and maneuvers are truly incredible.
Judo strongly emphasizes a freestyle sparring as one of its main and most major forms of training. Sparring, even within safety rules and regulations, is much more effective self defense than only practicing techniques. It helps Haitians develop strategy and better reflex and reaction skills, and helps them to learn to use new and innovative techniques against a resisting opponent.
Brazilian Jujitsu
This is another incredibly popular Haitian martial arts form, one which is very different from any other in its class. Brazilian Jujitsu is a combat sport that focuses on grappling, ground fighting techniques, and submission holds; including joint locks and chokeholds.
Since its origination, Brazilian Jujitsu has evolved incredibly, and over time has developed into a relatively independent system that is practiced religiously by students across the world, and especially in Haiti.
Taekwando
Taekwando is one of the most familiar Haitian martial arts styles, and it is a fighting style and combatsport that puts the most emphasis on kicking techniques. This is what makes it the most different from any other Haitian martial arts style and it is actually considered as being the most maligned of all types of self defense, as in it you are asked to believe that it was created for the destruction of one man by another.
Taekwando works by bringing a fluid to motion and a grace to movement, and also brings self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-knowledge to Haitians. Typical taekwando training includes a system of blocks, punches, open-handed strikes, take downs, sweeps and throws.
Remote places like Haiti still enjoy the benefits of martial arts and even in a place such as this the ancient self defense techniques are still practiced by many Haitians today.
