Print this pageFequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between Kung Fu and Karate???
Traditional Kung Fu or the Chinese martial arts in general, teach a smaller person to defeat the larger person with little or no effort by striving for maximum efficiency, utilizing superior body mechanics, along with angles to redirect an opponents oncoming force while using optimal body positioning, and fast accurate technique execution to end a situation at the onset. Traditional forms of Karate often teach individuals to meet force with force by not properly utilizing the most efficient body mechanics and angles, thus limiting the redirection of an opponents energy, ultimately requiring the smaller person to attempt overpowering the larger person.
2. What is the difference between "Traditional" martial arts and "Mixed Martial Arts" or martial sports (Brazilian Jiujtsu, Kickboxing etc.)???
The easiest way to explain this common question is, a "Traditional Martial Art" is a martial arts style that has been time tested over hundreds or thousands of years and proven to work on and off the battlefield in life or death, real world situations. Its techniques and ideologies are not bound by rules of organized combat. A "Martial Sport" is a game or type of competition that utilizes watered down, non-lethal aspects of various martial arts and is specifically designed and practiced according to the rules of a "fair fight" or a one-on-one competition (game) and not real life or survival.
3. How do I know what style or form of martial arts is best for me???
How one knows what style is best for them is no easy question. One must look inward at oneself and his or her own reasons for seeking martial arts instruction. If you are interested in purely competition, one should try sport Karate or Performance Wu Shu. If a person likes martial sport fighting, Kickboxing, MMA, or American Boxing might be a good choice. If a person is interested in competition and/or martial sport fighting, but has his or her main focus on bettering ones health and self discipline, while learning self defense that will save ones life in a serious situation, than a traditional martial arts style like the arts instructed at SMAC are for you! 4. How come the prices are often lower at the Scranton Martial Arts Center than many other schools??? That answer is easy. The reason the prices at the Scranton Martial Arts Center are so affordable, is because all of the instructors at SMAC love the arts, and love to teach. Many of the instructors have other careers and dedicate their free time, apart from their families and personal training, to help keep the arts alive by preserving and passing on their knowledge to interested, worthy individuals.