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What martial arts should I learn?

JMaster

Golden Member
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?
 
Originally posted by: JMaster
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?

Brazilian Kickboxking
 
Originally posted by: BDawg
Originally posted by: JMaster
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?

Brazilian Kickboxking


I say take thai kickboxing instead, also known as muay thai. If you wanna do grappling take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, people here don't seem to like it, but so far 1 on 1 it beats any other martial art. If you want self defense, take krav maga. The fastest effective martial art would be boxing.
 
Originally posted by: JMaster
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?

What's your body type? In my past experience, body type has alot (75%) to do with what martial art you should study. Also, are you in it for the sport aspect, the exercise aspect, or to further your ability to protect yourself? You've left out alot of information we require to acurately recommend a martial art to you.
 
Originally posted by: JMaster
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?

If I may ask, what specifically do you disagree with?
 
Aikido... blehhh...

Jeet Kune Do should be an easy step and allow more freedom than Tae Kwon Do... read Bruce Lee's books and see if that gels with you first.
I'd say learn some of the tradition kung-fu styles such as tai chi and shaolin styles a tad for some insight. Most masters I know have mastered various styles.
 
Originally posted by: dtyn
Originally posted by: JMaster
I'm looking for something to do to get some exercise and I decided to take martial arts. I have a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo, but I don't agree with how it's taught, so I'm looking to learn something else. I was thinking of taking Aikido, but anyone else recommend something else?

What's your body type? In my past experience, body type has alot (75%) to do with what martial art you should study. Also, are you in it for the sport aspect, the exercise aspect, or to further your ability to protect yourself? You've left out alot of information we require to acurately recommend a martial art to you.

I'm actually looking for the exercise aspect. I'm pretty confident about protecting myself, but I've added a few pounds within the past few years, so might as well gain some of the lost discipline I once had and learn a martial art while I'm at it.

If I may ask, what specifically do you disagree with?
I disagree with how it's taught and some of the policies. For instance, because I'm a Korean (and a teenager back then) and the masters were all Korean, they felt they could say and do things that they wouldn't with non-Koreans. I think I did a lot of damage to my body without knowing that I was harming it, assuming they knew best. As far as policies go, they didn't tell me the price for the tests up front, and with each test, the cost was higher. My black belt test costed something like $600! They told me that the association is the one to blame for the high costs. Then after I got my black belt, they tried to get me to teach the classes that I was paying for.
 
Originally posted by: JMaster
Originally posted by: dtyn

If I may ask, what specifically do you disagree with?

I disagree with how it's taught and some of the policies. For instance, because I'm a Korean (and a teenager back then) and the masters were all Korean, they felt they could say and do things that they wouldn't with non-Koreans. I think I did a lot of damage to my body without knowing that I was harming it, assuming they knew best. As far as policies go, they didn't tell me the price for the tests up front, and with each test, the cost was higher. My black belt test costed something like $600! They told me that the association is the one to blame for the high costs. Then after I got my black belt, they tried to get me to teach the classes that I was paying for.

Interesting. I gave TaeKwonDo a shot twice. The first time when I was 17, the second when I was 26. I thought maybe immaturity at 17 kept me from sticking with it, but I felt the same dissapointment with the way it's taught the second time around. I can appreciate tradition, but I don't think the traditional teaching format makes sense with our American culture. My free time is very limited, so I have to make the time count that I can afford to spare. It's difficult to feel like you're getting the most out of your time when a 10 year old is teaching you and it's ok because he has a higher rank.
 
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