Best Martial Arts Schools in the World
Anyone serious about the martial arts has dreamed of doing a stint at a martial arts school or camp overseas as these experiences not only help you develop new cultural understandings, but also sharpen your skills and broaden your scope of knowledge.
Whether you’re a veteran martial artist or a complete beginner, visiting the birthplace of your chosen discipline for an ‘in-country’ training experience could be just what you need to take your practise to the next level, and give yourself a break for the day to day. If an overseas trip sounds almost unattainable at this point, keep the following verse in mind: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” – Proverbs 16:9.
Songshan Shaolin Traditional Wushu Academy, China
Practitioners of Shaolin Kung Fu should be well aware of that fact that it was founded and developed in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, China. What is perhaps not as well-known is the unbelievable opportunity to train with Shaolin Warrior Monks in Songshan Shaolin Traditional Wushu Academy, located inside the National Park of the Original Shaolin Temple.
Apart from Shaolin Kung Fu training, the school also offers training in other Kung Fu styles such as Wing Chun, Tai Chi Quan, Mei Hua, Quan, Be Gua Zhang, Ba Ji, Praying Mantis, Qin Na, and Xing Ya Quan. The Songshan Shaolin Traditional Wushu Academy is the only Martial Arts Academy authorised by the International Liaison Department of the Shaolin Temple to teach foreigners and offers a truly life-changing experience.
Tiger Muay Thai, Thailand
Much like the famed betting on Aussie sports, Tiger Muay Thai has been featured numerous times on travel shows and documentaries, and has made a name for itself as one of Thailand’s premier destinations for Muay Thai training. So what is it that makes Tiger so special? For starters, their International Martial Arts and Fitness complex is an incredible 9600m2 and is also able to boast the title of housing Thailand’s largest gym. The facilities are modern and well looked after, and there are separate training areas for beginners, intermediate, and advanced programs.
The location certainly doesn’t hurt either as Phuket’s Chalong area is a port town with a huge variety of cultural attractions, water sports, and a buzzing nightlife. Tiger is situated near the breathtaking 60m high gold-lead Karon Buddha and is within walking distance of the beach.
Kodokan, Japan
There couldn’t possibly be a better place to refine your judo technique than at Kodokan seeing as the institution was established by the founder of judo himself, Kano Jigaro. Since it was first established in 1882, Kodokan has cemented its legacy as historic grounds for learning and achievement, and the name itself means “a place to teach the path”.
Today, the 8-storied building in Tokyo is the headquarters for the international judo community, and countless students are welcomed for both judo training and research. Students of all levels of experience are welcome to train in Kokodan’s numerous dojos and there are a variety of classes which cater to specific training needs. Due to the incredible demand, the school has continuously grown in size, from a modest 12 tatami mats in its opening year to an unbelievable 1206 mats across the 5 main dojos today.
