There are many styles and uses of the martial arts. There are movie martial arts for stylistic stunt fighting - obviously most of those movements aren't practical in a street fight, but the graceful appeal may do its job by attracting young, new students. There are martial arts for fitness, like Tae-Bo and civilian Krav Maga, as well as other cardio-kickboxing systems. There are also martial arts for self-defense, which many instructors now emphasize. This is because it's easy to appreciate the discipline that hardcore street defense requires. Finally, there are martial arts for competition, which will always have a place because so many people enjoy friendly competition.

But whatever form the practice takes, training in a martial art encourages a more serene and balanced approach to life. Whether studying Judo, Aikido, Kendo or Kyudo, it doesn't matter because the names of all those paths contain the suffix -do, which signifies a "way" to something greater than yourself.

This is the heart of the peaceful warrior's way - this innate desire to embrace grand tradition and continue the teachings of all those who walked before, as they stand on their shoulders to reach higher.

If you're trying to determine what the "best" art is, remember:

• There is no best art, only the best practice for a given individual at a given time.
• There is a martial art for any age, body type or temperament.
• The teacher is more important than the style. A wise teacher transcends the techniques to transmit his or her level of awareness.

Ultimately, the study of martial arts is the study of yourself. Understand the art, and you understand life's universal laws. Understand that the practice never ends; it only changes form.