Practising martial arts is an excellent form of exercise and a great way to learn self-defence tactics. You can also gain self-confidence and learn discipline.

You can start at beginner levels for all martial arts. With experience, you can enter competitions.

All martial arts have a professional level and judo, karate, and taekwondo are in the Olympics.

There is a huge range of martial arts out there. Here are a few of the biggest:

• Karate: From Okinawa. Based around striking your opponent with your hands.
• Judo: From Japan. Based around grappling and throwing your opponent to the ground.
• Taekwondo: From Korea. Similar to karate but more emphasis on kicking.
• Muay Thai: From Thailand. Based on striking your opponent with fists as well as elbows, shins and knees.
• Aikido: From Japan. Based on defeating an opponent without harming them.
• Jiu-Jitsu: From Brazil. Based on defeating larger opponents by fighting them on the ground.

(Content sourced from Australian Government Department of Health)

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