Originally posted by: Orsorum
Originally posted by: Jehovah
FBI/Air Force has their own hand-to-hand stuff ready; besides, how/when the hell would you be able to use your martial arts skills in the Air Force? You gonna jump outta your plane and karate chop their plane?
You asked the question yourself - why should you study the martial arts? To be able to subdue a suspect, to be able to fight (which is COMPLETELY different from witholding a person), for the discipline, for health benefits, for competition, etc., or for all of them?
You need to look at several factors;
-What you're looking for (like mentioned above)
-What you're capable of (physically and financially - don't be stupid and be realistic on this one)
-What/How much you're willing to commit/dedicate to learning this style
-What is available around your area
Say, for instance, you're small, overweight, outta shape and can't walk up three flights of stairs without taking a break for the love of god (not necessarily saying that you are), looking to kick ass within three months; you're prolly not going to have much luck taking Aikido and being able to kick ass in three months - rather, intensive training in Juijitsu, Muay Thai or Boxing might do the trick (of course, intensive training in any combative style will do tha trick): but, if you look around and Aikido is all you have, well, you're SOL there buddy (Technically, there are different styles of Aikido, and a lot of them are very aggressive and combative, so I'm generalizing here).
Of course, even if you find the style you're looking for but aren't willing to spend more than an hour a week training, well, good luck trying to get anywhere . . ..
Too many variables to list - first of all, how fit are you, what are you looking for in martial arts, and what is your (conservative) estimate on how much time you are willing to spend training in said martial art?
Wow, that's probably the best answer (well, response) I could've hoped for.
Here's the thought: I'm out of shape, currently, could stand to lose about 30 lbs; I'm starting a new exercise regimen on Wed.; this is not a short term change, and that's what I'm trying to work with: this is not something I want to approach in three months, this is something I'm thinking of working into my life and growing with, in a sense.
What I want right now is information - yes, I would like to be able to someday work for the FBI, and that would require knowing how to subdue a suspect, but that afaik is taught to agents. I'd like to learn about what is available and what would be useful for self-defense and personal growth. Dependant on the style, how much time is required each week? Etc etc.
The best answer that I could give you [the best that a complete stranger over the internet on a message forum can give, I suppose] is to research what's available around your area - and don't kid yourself -
any martial art is going to require some amount of physical/financial/chronological investment - like everything else, the more you invest, the more you'll get in return.
If I may make some conjectures, sounds like you're in a university setting - an ideal setting for beginning martial arts students if I do say so myself - often their rates/fees are cheaper, and in dealing with college students (take that as you will) they are more often laid back about things - but then again, it all depends on what kind of club you're talking about - if you inadvertantly walk into a club that's been at the university for years and is steeped in tradition, well, you're going to get your ass chewed out for the smallest disciplinary faults - college kids are passionate about things that way sometimes . . . or the other way around, liek previously mentioned.
Basically, you need to look around campus for more information, even if you're not interested in university sponsored clubs (say, you're like faculty or something), you still need to look around your area, or might even set up some kind of private lesson deal; regardless, I do NOT know what is around your area nor do I know who you are/what kind of person you are (Believe it or not, some martial arts fit some personality types much better - look around each clubs and you'll get a certain 'vibe' for what the style is all about)
Basically, look around, and ask the questions you've asked here to them in person - of course they are biased, and they'll try to sell you their style as being some kind of *Wonder-Style* that somehow has all these things you were looking for - make a list of all the schools you'd like to visit, hell, even visit some schools you wouldn't want to join - you never know (This particualr style of Kung Fu I'm in right now - when I first met the guy, I told him straight up "I can't train with you because I've been training in this and is too busy" - well, call me wrong, I guess: I've been training with him for three years and I'm his head student now)
Check out all of the schools and then make a decision.
Like you said, you're planning on investing four/five years of your life doing this - it's a big investment, almost like a university - go and visit all the schools, and then make a decision. Some additional tips:
-Most schools let you train initially for a week or so for free - take advantage and work out with them! Just sitting and watching vs. actually participating is comepletely different!
-After you look at what's available, THEN research what the style is all about - heck, if you PM me, I might be able to help you out a bit!
-Be weary of instructors trying to push things on you - you're not theirs until you sign that little dotted line; YOU'RE in charge until then.
-You might be suprised at this, but also look at what kind of people are in the club; certain types of people attract similar people, so their students are a good reflection of the instructor: besides, you're going to spend a lot of time with them, that means you'd better like them too, right?
Good luck (it's late and I'm going to bed)!
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