If you've browsed our website, you can see that we believe the martial arts are an activity that offers benefits for everyone, regardless of age, gender and physical abilities. Classical Martial Arts mission is to be a place not only where members come to learn but a place where students and families grow and make new relationships and friendships. With that in mind, we want to offer as much information as possible to help those interested choose the right martial art...

A couple questions to ask yourself before starting a martial art are what you would like to get from your training? We recommend making a list, as that serves as a great way to see what your goals are!

Self Confidence? Self Esteem? Self Discipline?

A greater sense of Respect? Compassion? Gratitude?

Increased Focus or Concentration?

Self Assuredness? Awareness and Self Defense?

If your goal is mostly to improve these values and martial virtues, then Classical Martial Arts has many programs to choose from.

Once you know what you'd like to gain from the martial arts you can research what might be the best fit for you or your family. Another thing to ask is do you have any particular strengths or disabilities that might impact your training?

For example... Are you very flexible? Did you wrestle in middle or high school? Are you looking for a intense physical workout? Do you have any preexisting medical conditions? Have you recently had any medical procedures? Is your mobility limited in any significant way?

Once you have a clear idea of what you want to gain and what might assist or inhibit your experience, please feel free to use our guide below to compare some of the most popular and prevalent martial arts found in the Pittsburgh North Hills region, specifically the Allison Park and McCandless Township areas.

Karate Do: Karate is a great activity for all ages and abilities. Classes vary but generally include cardiovascular exercises as well as muscular strengthening and stretching. Karate is known for dynamic body movements and with explosive bursts of energy. It is a full body work out, with movements often contrasting between fast and slow and hard and soft. In other words, Karate techniques sometimes require muscular tension and at other times require the practitioner to be muscularly relaxed. Karate is a very codified and organized martial art. At Classical Martial Arts we use a 12 Kyu (class) belt system. Each rank belt comes with its own set of rank requirements and standards. This information is provided in typed format via rank requirement sheets. This allows the student to always know what is required of them and helps to reinforce responsibility and the importance of personal organization. Karate, like other martial arts, reinforces the virtues and character traits that benefit individuals are society like honesty, humility, integrity, self control, perseverance and indomitable spirit. Karate can be practiced by all age levels, regardless of physical limitations within reason. Students can practice individually or with partners. 

Jujutsu and Brazilian Jiujutsu: Jiujitsu is an extremely popular martial art right now. Through exposure from numerous professional and semi professional leagues and organizations such as the UFC, Jiujitsu is probably the most sought out martial art today by beginners in the teenage and adult age bracket. Jiujitsu traces its origins to the feudal era of Japan, where samurai practiced this martial art in varying forms for centuries. Jiujitsu is another full body workout like karate, but for entirely different reasons. Jiujitsu, Brazilian Jiujitsu especially, is practiced almost exclusively on the mat, or floor or whatever the student happens to train on. Students learn ground self defense, how to fight and defend themselves from a prone position, usually flat on their back or side. Students learn falling techniques commonly called break falls, that teach a falling student how to lessen the impact of their fall and how to properly disperse their weight to minimize the chances of bodily injury. Jiujitsu can be an intensive physical workout and usually Classical Martial Art recommends only those students in good physical shape take up its practice. Students can do some limited practice individually, although most of the martial art is practiced with partners. Jiujitsu can not reasonably be practiced by those with physical impairments within reason.

Judo: This martial art is an Olympic sport! Judo was created by Dr. Jigoro Kano in Japan in the 1880s. Judo is also a martial art that is practiced within a class and with partners. Judo teaches a philosophy of redirecting and using an opponents energy to destabilize and neutralize the opponent. Judo relies mostly on throwing and pinning techniques to accomplish this. Judo students also learn break fall techniques to deal with the dozens of falls and rolls they will execute throughout their class. It is for this reason that Classical Martial Art also describes Judo as a very intensive workout and due to the numerous throws and falls a student will engage in each class, we recommend that students who study judo are in good physical shape. Judo can not be reasonably practiced by those with physical disabilities within reason. Students training in Judo can practice individually but most of class is spent working with partners.

Tae Kwon Do: This is a Korean martial art similar to Karate. Tae Kwon Do is primarily a stand up martial art that places a larger emphasis on kicks and kicking techniques. Tae Kwon Do, like Karate has blocking punching and kicking techniques as well as Hyong, which are prearranged patterns that can be practiced individually. Tae Kwon Do is another art that is generally a great cardio work out. Tae Kwon Do students also learn self defense and philosophy. The Pittsburgh region offers many choices as far as Tae Kwon Do schools. Classical Martial Arts considers Tae Kwon Do as an activity that can be reasonably practiced by individuals with physical disabilities within reason. Tae Kwon Do can be practiced individually as well as with partners.

Tai Chi and similar arts: Tai Chi is an internal Chinese martial art. When describing a martial art as 'internal', what is meant is that the focus of the movements are not on outward projections of power but rather on the inner well being of the practitioner. Tai Chi is a low impact, relaxed martial art that is practiced at a deliberately slow pace. Tai Chi is wonderful for all ages. Benefits include increased circulation and balance, greater flexibility and low risk of injury. Tai Chi can be practiced in literally any size space. Classical Martial Arts recommends Tai Chi for all ages and abilities and can certainly be practiced by individuals with physical disabilities. Tai Chi can be practiced individually as well as with partners.