Generally speaking, most of the Japanese, Okinawan and Korean martial arts tend to have more of a HARD style focus. These arts tend to lean more toward linear movements, and meeting power with power. There is a high emphasis on hard contact, toughening up the body and aggressiveness.

The SOFT styles tend to come more from China. These arts tend to incorporate more circular movements and redirecting, or deflecting power. They tend to focus more on grace, balance and precision attacks.

The martial art system that we teach at On Mission Martial Arts is built on a foundation of KEMPO. Kempo is a style that blends both the HARD and SOFT together, so each student becomes proficient at both. In self-defense situations, there are times when a HARD move will be more appropriate and other times when a SOFT move will be more appropriate.