Arts, the Martial kind

[crownjules]

Hello fellow ATOTers. I'm reaching out to see if you can give me a hand or at least some helpful tips that point me in the right direction.

I'm interested in pursuing a martial art of some form. Which one, I don't know since I really don't know what differentiates one form from the next. To me, karate, kung fu, tae kwon doe, jujutsu may as well all be the same. So how do I choose one? I know that each martial art specializes in a particular aspect to fighting, such as striking or grappling or weapons. Should I pick one of these for any specific reason or is it a matter of preference?

My motivations for taking up a martial art (if they help in the decision process) are: getting back in shape, learning a form of self-defense, discipline and meditation.

If you take a particular form, I would appreciate your reasons for taking that form and what you believe are its pros and cons.

 

[DaShen]

Depends on where you live and who you know and how much time you are willing to put in

 

[crownjules]

I live in Boston. I could dedicate a lot of time to it if I find I really enjoy it.

 

[akenbennu]

Aikido, though it takes a while (as in years) to be able to defend yourself well with it. Excellent excersice.

 

[crownjules]

Originally posted by: akenbennu
Aikido, though it takes a while (as in years) to be able to defend yourself well with it. Excellent excersice.

Aikido is a grappling form, correct? Do you practice this yourself?

 

[imported_Lensman]

i would personally like to learn some form of kung fu.

 

[Sex Smurf]

take up jujitsu if you don't want to get punched in the face much. It's basically grappling and submission techniques.

then

take up muay thai kickboxing. Soon you'll be the baddest bada$$ on the block.

 

[Corbett]

Insert obligatory Chuck Norris post here.

 

[DaShen]

Asian martial arts takes on some very different philosophies in fighting styles.

Korean Tai Kwan Do originated from an old version of Korean Martial Arts, sometimes called Teggen/Tekken. I forget. It can be pretty lethal. But it is highly acrobatic and requires mostly legs and some elbows.
Miu Thai is very lethal, but you can have joint problems later in life, and it really isn't a self defense type of style, more than a kill offensive.
Jujitsu is more grappling and hand to hand but is not as fluid as other Asian forms.
Judo is very good, but is quite hard to use unless you have practiced for a very long long time.
Xiaolin Boxing and Wushu is more about show and form because so much was lost, but it is pretty to watch.
Tai Ji if you practice Yang, Shang, & others for years and years (10+ years and you are close to being decent at it) is one of the best IMO. But you have to learn from people who actually know what they are doing and aren't just doing it for "exercise". My dad knows a whole bunch of different martial arts, but he is 63 now and only does Tai Ji now with some Judo and Korean Boxing mixed in. He still can beat the crap out of me with one hand. Pisses me off sometimes because I am a very strong guy. Being thrown around like a rag doll by someone almost 3 times your age can have that affect.

**EDIT**
All forms are good if you incorporate what is best about them and what works for you.
Any form is good to start off with as long as you have a good teacher and excellent work ethic.
BTW, I have heard good things about a Hebrew free form style of hand to hand they use in their military. The name escapes me though.

 

[crownjules]

Getting in shape is just a good reason. I could just as easily goto a gym, but I'd like to do something more and learning a fighting form has always been a desire. I've just never really had the time with school and all its associated activities. Now I do.

I should note that I'm quick and have very good reflexes. Fairly agile, too, if this helps me "fit" to one style or another.

 

[MasterAndCommander]

Originally posted by: Corbett
Insert obligatory Chuck Norris post here.

Chuck Norris frequently signs up for beginner karate classes, just so he can "accidentally" beat the sh!t out of little kids.

 

[JeepinEd]

You can try Krav-Maga (Israely combat fighting).
My wife and I took this class a few years back and it was excellent. This is not a "sport" type of martial art. It's basically self defense using your body's instictive reactions. My wife, who is about 5'2" @ 120 lbs took down a 6'1" >200 lb guy in a matter of seconds. (yeah, the crotch is one of the main target areas).

Our Krav-Maga instructor was in the Israely military. Our workouts were so tough that I would often end up not being able to lift my hand over the steering wheel to drive home.

ed

 

[necine]

JKD

 

[Schadenfreude]

Depends - what are you taking it for? If you're taking it for strictly self defense, Olympic style TKD or most styles of Aikido are probably not the best for you.
On the other hand, if you're taking it to better yourself mentally/discipline-wise, MMA/BJJ is probably not a good option.
If you're older and would like to take a class with a younger child, Muay Thai is probably not a good choice.

There's more factors as well - the area you're living in limits what you have available, and even the instructors in the studios differ - some n00b here might say that Kyokyushinkai/BJJ/whatever is the end-all be all, no exceptions, but if it's an instructor who "bought" their ranks, you're fvcked.

What you have to do is look at what's available in your area first of all, and then ask about the styles (either by looking them up - Wikipedia has a good chunk of them - or asking here) and actually checking out the classes. Yes, you might not know what's going on, but if it looks crummy to you, ask them. There's a good chance that there's a few schools that teach the same style - visit each of them and compare and contrast.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Apocalypse23]

I did Karate for a while, and though I don't have experience in the other martial arts, i'd say go for that. I loved it, I felt it was much more 'direct' and 'to the point' than kung fu/wushu stuff which I find is too much of katha and style/movement etc. I also think Karate is much more versatile than tae kwon do for example, but i'm basing this on my friend who took tae kwon do for a year or so and it seemed all he learned was a few kicks, extremely basic punches, and no holds and his defence was very weak. Karate is VERY well balanced in the sense that you learn a lot about defence as well as offence, it doesn't focus on just one area and I find it highly practical. It's also an awsome workout, if you find a good teacher, you'll be exhausted by the end of the session. Good luck in whatever you choose!

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Apocalypse23
I did Karate for a while, and though I don't have experience in the other martial arts, i'd say go for that. I loved it, I felt it was much more 'direct' and 'to the point' than kung fu/wushu stuff which I find is too much of katha and style/movement etc. I also think Karate is much more versatile than tae kwon do for example, but i'm basing this on my friend who took tae kwon do for a year or so and it seemed all he learned was a few kicks, extremely basic punches, and no holds and his defence was very weak. Karate is VERY well balanced in the sense that you learn a lot about defence as well as offence, it doesn't focus on just one area and I find it highly practical. It's also an awsome workout, if you find a good teacher, you'll be exhausted by the end of the session. Good luck in whatever you choose!

What kind of Karate did you study? And I hope you know hat there are thousands of Kung Fu styles out there, a few of which is the predecessor to Okinawan Karate . . ..

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: crownjules

Originally posted by: akenbennu
Aikido, though it takes a while (as in years) to be able to defend yourself well with it. Excellent excersice.

Aikido is a grappling form, correct? Do you practice this yourself?

aikido isn't grappling per se, although it does put you in such situations (judo would be better suited if you like grappling).

aikido is very much finessed - it doesn't rely on brute strength to accomplish its goals, but if you put your muscle behind the technique (in addition to the original finesse) you can really mess people up. i take it and i'm very small (5' 11'' 150lbs). it's a ton of fun

 

[mrrman]

I train in karate...I prefer the solid stances over Tae Kwon Do for example...personally I feel that more power comes from a solid stance

 

[Atheus]

Everyone will tell you to go for a specific form, but I think most people are best just going to the school closest to their house, or the one their friends go to. The important thing is to stick with the training for more than a year or so, to start seeing real results. As long as it's a 'real' martial art. I mean _not_ a sport derived from an art, such as judo or kickboxing or reular old western boxing.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Atheus
Everyone will tell you to go for a specific form, but I think most people are best just going to the school closest to their house, or the one their friends go to. The important thing is to stick with the training for more than a year or so, to start seeing real results. As long as it's a 'real' martial art. I mean _not_ a sport derived from an art, such as judo or kickboxing or reular old western boxing.

What's wrong with Judo, Kickboxing, or Western Boxing?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

i took tae kwon do for about 6 years. a lot of straightforward striking rather than flexible hopping around like capoeira. tkd focuses alot on attacking with the legs where i learned it. i don't remember much of anyhing...but it was interesting nonetheless. have a nice day.

 

[JRich]

I took Tae Kwon Do and Aikido. I liked them both. I'm looking to get some Jujitsu in

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: Atheus
Everyone will tell you to go for a specific form, but I think most people are best just going to the school closest to their house, or the one their friends go to. The important thing is to stick with the training for more than a year or so, to start seeing real results. As long as it's a 'real' martial art. I mean _not_ a sport derived from an art, such as judo or kickboxing or reular old western boxing.

What's wrong with Judo, Kickboxing, or Western Boxing?

In a way, nothing, but they were derived from others (like judo from aikido) by taking out the most lethal moves and placing restrictions on the pratitioner (no punches below the belt in boxing, etc) to make it possible to use the art as a sport. Nothing against sport but the OP wants to learn a martial art.

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: Jehovah

Originally posted by: Atheus
Everyone will tell you to go for a specific form, but I think most people are best just going to the school closest to their house, or the one their friends go to. The important thing is to stick with the training for more than a year or so, to start seeing real results. As long as it's a 'real' martial art. I mean _not_ a sport derived from an art, such as judo or kickboxing or reular old western boxing.

What's wrong with Judo, Kickboxing, or Western Boxing?

In a way, nothing, but they were derived from others (like judo from aikido) by taking out the most lethal moves and placing restrictions on the pratitioner (no punches below the belt in boxing, etc) to make it possible to use the art as a sport. Nothing against sport but the OP wants to learn a martial art.

His definition of 'martial art' may be different than your defintion of 'martial art'. Of course, I'm just stating my opinion, but I think ignoring certain styles because of pedigree is just plain stupid.

 

[Leper Messiah]

[neo]I know kung fu[/neo]