Martial Arts?

[McNinja]

I take Tae Kwon Do, but there's also some jujitsu and Hapkido thrown in there. Also do some knife work, and other weapon shenanigans. Great workout and practical.

 

[Lazzi]

Searchbutton-fu.

Must you be such a blatant ass?

 

[The Gardener]

What do you want to do? Competition, realistic defence or exercise?

If you answered all of the above, Krav Maga (rare in most cities, though), Brazilian Ju jitsu or Muay Thai, which I must admit is a completely brutal martial art not for the faint of heart.

 

[Sevre]

I have been doing some research on classes near me but here's another question. What about MMA or Mixed Martial Arts? Is that any good for a beginner?

 

[KamachoMcSagget]

A while back I took lessons from World Champion Rod Batiste

 

[Shycte]

I have been doing some research on classes near me but here's another question. What about MMA or Mixed Martial Arts? Is that any good for a beginner?

I would recomend having some solid ground to stand on before you try MMA. Mixed Martial Arts is a very personal sport and no fighter is another one alike. Everything depends on what you first trained.

Basicly, it all comes down to you and what kind of fighter YOU are.

On the topic, I do Judo.

 

[Cairo]

Kickboxing is a martial sport, not a martial art. I took Chung Do Mu Soo Wan, which is an old form of Hapkido. I'd say find something similar. MMA is alright, but you might want to train in a form first, as that would give you more of a foundation. If you can find it, train in Krav Maga (or, as I like to call it, Jew Jitsu). It's the Israeli defense force's form, and it will ruin people. Hard.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

its not the art its the person

nope there is definitely an issue with certain arts, i can show you tons of moves in both karate and kung fu that will NOT work in a real situation

 

[slyywiskers]

I took karate for a very long time. I actually advise against it because it puts an emphasis on basic strikes (at least where I learned it). It kind of seems like it is the style that every other style trains to fight. "If he throws a straight punch like people in karate do, use his momentum to set him on fire with your chi and throw him into a wall."

in my experience of karate it was pressure points to uh....set them on fire with your chi.... kind of small people being able to take out much bigger people...although in my opinion the best form of defense is kick em' in the crotch and hope like hell its a dude.

 

[Pyre00]

Derringer.

It works better.

Unless it's for excercise.

Then there's "jogging".

 

[Damien the Pigeon]

I took karate for a very long time. I actually advise against it because it puts an emphasis on basic strikes (at least where I learned it). It kind of seems like it is the style that every other style trains to fight. "If he throws a straight punch like people in karate do, use his momentum to set him on fire with your chi and throw him into a wall."

in my experience of karate it was pressure points to uh....set them on fire with your chi.... kind of small people being able to take out much bigger people...although in my opinion the best form of defense is kick em' in the crotch and hope like hell its a dude.

What I was saying was basically this:

Karate = straight punches and kicks, and hope that it hurts enough to make them fall over.

Other styles = Do the whirling puma technique to throw them three countries over.

My main point is just that karate seems much more basic, whereas other styles have defined techniques and seem very specialized.

 

[Abedeus]

Serpent style.

Hit eyes, then the groin, chins, then finish with a knee to the stomach. And when he lowers to greet the ground, use the other knee on his face.

 

[matteo123]

I've been in Taekwon-do for six years, and I'm testing for my black belt next year. It's great fun, and I really enjoy it. I would really reccomend you join.

 

[garfoldsomeoneelse]

Searchbutton-fu.

Must you be such a blatant ass?

I insist upon it.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Brazilian Jujitsu, Kung Fu, Hapkido, Kenpo Karate, Escrima, Arnis, Muay Thai and Aiki-jujitsu all seem good to me. I've done a bit of a lot of things, including fencing, Tae Kwon Do, Escrima/Arnis, Aikido, Kung Fu and JKD. I recommend any of them except for Tae Kwon Do. Aside from really grounding me in the basics of kicking, I didn't learn much from that.

Really, it depends on your body type and interests. You can easily find a good instructor to teach you practical self defense in any art you want, as there are strong martial artists in every style... It's just that they aren't always the most highly recommended or popular instructors. Just don't enroll at a "McDojo," where they give 6 year-olds black belts and make you pay through the nose to learn any little thing.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Depends on what you want to do. Some are more practical, some are more showy-offy.

And don't buy into most of the spirituality crap. -_-

Kickboxing, as far as I know, is decent in terms of self defense and there should be lots of competitions. Stuff like Jiu Jitsu or Judo are nice too, but different.

And, if you want somewhat hard to grasp but potentially effective in one on one fights martial arts, try one of the "soft" martial arts with a ton of throws, joint locks and similar things. Judo is sort of like that in terms of locks and throws, but hapkido and aikido is what I'm speaking about. But it's often hard to find a serious dojo that actually practices some of the soft martial arts (soft as in inner opposed to outer)... if it's filled with a bunch of old people trying to work out, don't bother. But if people are serious, you're in for great fun. I've been doing aikido for a couple of years, though I quit about a year ago. If you get some serious partners for hardcore training (I mean, simulating actual fighting instead of going through the motions - because that's pretty much how you learn all the techniques in things like Aikido) ends up in lots of fun... and potential injury.

Kickboxing and Taekwando are solid too. My brother is going for blackbelt in Taekwondo in a week =)

actually the only one out of all those that you mentioned was good, is Judo

the only reason that is due to the fact that judo has the randori, or sparring against a live resisting opponent and since it's judo at full force. that is the key to a good martial art that is functional and by that effective.

most are just effective, meaning yes you could possible hurt someone with that, but not functional, meaning it will work in a real situation most of the time, i won't say all cause well a fight is never 100%. the key to finding a functional art is one that will spar with full contact, using protection of course, against a fully resisting opponent

here's actually a way better description of how you should train and the why behind it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoFwwxnM5QM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu-HisrvSq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-g6JTQDWNc

his name is Matt Thornton and i've trained under him before and he's a super cool guy and a tall freak (6'11) and yet he's about as agile as someone that's 5'10 and he's a huge zombie movie fan and a video game addict too

 

[October Country]

I practice Kickboxing and really like it, but I mostly do it for the workout. For a more practical martial art I would reccommend Jiu Jitsu which teaches you how to deal with many basic scenarios that you're likely to encounter in a real life fight.

 

[Steve Dark]

I practise Steve-jitsu. It's never been bested in the ring of honour.