Question for martial arts people

[ChocoFace]

i for one believe there is no such thing as a "best style of martial art". It's all in the person, his/her skills, practice and natural talents. For self-defense, almost any martial art will do, preferably one that can deal with multiple attackers simultaneously.
Some people present weird ideas, that you'll shoot the attacker with a pistol, or lol a freakin shotgun? have fun carrying those around. Also when it would come down to it, you probably would not shoot at all and if you would, in a less fatal spot....i say this in hope that you can at least aim the weapon

 

[Caliostro]

Personally I think it comes down to availability. If you're on a tight schedule, go with Krav Maga. If you have plenty of time and dedication, go with the "full-MMA-training", so to speak.

Right that's more or less conclusive now. Everyone seems to be ending up with Krav Maga. Tell you what, good on the Israelis. They seem to have come up with something the whole world agrees is pretty badass. I'm sure I can forgive them for the whole terrorism against the British Empire thing pre-1948 but hey, water under the bridge right?

Uhh...? What's this about Israelis not having enough bad [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Eagle] ass [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzi] stuff [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavor]?

The thing is, if I got into Capoeira it wouldn't be for the kick-ass, it'd be for the kick-ass acrobatics and the weird dancing sport that it is (caution: may or may not kick ass). I actually remember seeing an MMA match involving a Capoeira fighter; he looked impressive - until the other guy got a solid punch on him, and it was lights out (it should also be noted that for all his cool hijinks he didn't land a single blow). But you've confirmed what I suspected for all the styles so thanks for the advice. With the time I have to waste I'll now choose between MMA and Capoeira - or both.

Cheers. And hey, if you have the chance, best idea would probably be to try both... Start on both and drop whichever you find less adequate to yourself... Or keep both.

 

[PsykoDragon]

Carry a can-o-mace at all times.

But seriously, Wing-Chun sounds alot like Aikido, where you use the opponent's movements against them & break their bones/dislocate their joints with subtle, soft moves done at high speed. I don't think that's for you.

There's always street-fighting which, as gam-ey as it sounds, is actually a legit fighting school. They teach you the right ways to respond to attacks, the right ways to throw your fists, grab people, & even when & how to kick. Unfortunately, I dunno whether street fighting is its actual name, or there's some other name for it, but you should ask around.

 

[zen5887]

I'd quite like to take up some form of martial art. Primarily for physical fitness but self-defence in realistic situations would be a major thing as well. I'm really really not into learning the history of something and not really a believer in spiritual stuff.

I'm not naturally a flexible or agile guy but I am naturally very strong. I was looking for something that might fit me (I'm never going to be able to do flying reverse jump kicks!).

So you're looking for a fighting style rather then a Martial Art and you're not interested in improving your flexibility/agility

Boxing

Just get out there and punch people =D

 

[Spacelord]

I'm voting judo! It's a sport you can really go all out with, compared to most martial arts (where there's usually a certain measure of restraint necessary so you don't accidentally knock eachother's teeth out), and because it's one of the most intensive sports I've ever come across: after a 5 minute fight, you're knackered

Also if you're training with girls you get to touch them.

 

[Cheesus333]

I'd quite like to take up some form of martial art. Primarily for physical fitness but self-defence in realistic situations would be a major thing as well. I'm really really not into learning the history of something and not really a believer in spiritual stuff.

I'm not naturally a flexible or agile guy but I am naturally very strong. I was looking for something that might fit me (I'm never going to be able to do flying reverse jump kicks!).

I was actually thinking about straight up amateur boxing but a lot of that is now about rapid hitting for point anyway. I was also thinking about Krav Maga but finding a club is difficult in NW London. I dig the whole mechanically designed fighting style thing.

Suggestions?

Semi-Freestyle Shotokan Karate!

It's the awesome, and I would know - I'm a black belt in it

 

[Spacelord]

There's always street-fighting which, as gam-ey as it sounds, is actually a legit fighting school. They teach you the right ways to respond to attacks, the right ways to throw your fists, grab people, & even when & how to kick. Unfortunately, I dunno whether street fighting is its actual name, or there's some other name for it, but you should ask around.

What about Yoga Fire? I want to learn Yoga Fire.


Ps. sorry for double-posting.

 

[Silver]

You want easy, and you want good without the spiritual parts? I advice staying away from asian styles altogether.

Savate or Systema, the first one french, the latter russian. Savate is more of a traditional martial art, while systema is just combat ability, both are very good for your fitness.

Personally, I've always found the whole "Martial arts should be tough, you should be so tired you can barely walk, you should be so sore you want to cry like a little baby" pure bullshit. It's just ridiculous. Sure, it had it's time, and yes, you'll do some physical training that will be very exhausting, but just wearing the body out all the time is an outdated form of training. It might toughen you up a bit, sure, and you'll feel cool telling your friends about it, but that's not the important part.

 

[vxicepickxv]

I'd suggest taking up boxing - people do tend to overlook the fact that it is in fact a martial art as much as it is a sport.

Boxing would be a good choice at your size, so would Greko-Roman wrestling.

 

[axia777]

I'd suggest taking up boxing - people do tend to overlook the fact that it is in fact a martial art as much as it is a sport.

Boxing would be a good choice at your size, so would Greko-Roman wrestling.

If he is going to do boxing he might as well go all the way and do Muay Thai. Mix Muay Thai with wrestling/judo/jujitsu and you will have some serious combat skills.

 

[Economist]

This might make it even harder for you to find a place to practice Krav Maga, but if you're gonna train it should at least be the real deal. There are a lot of different Krav Maga organizations out there, and some are just teaching a watered down McDojo version.

If it's affiliated with the IKMF, it's authentic.

 

[Hearthing]

spiritual stuff.

I am naturally very strong. I was looking for something that might fit me

You mentioned boxing, I would go with that. A martial art, most of them anyway, are about agility and balance, more than strength, for example I'm quite a weak (Arms ways anyway) short person, but I guarentee you if you can put someone off balance and apply pressure to a "pressure point" you're going to seriously hurt them.

If you want the best one for real situations, Judo teaches a lot about disarming someone with any kind of weapon. I remember practising with rubber knives and BB guns, again though was more about balance and speed rather than brute force, ofcourse if you can smack the person who's threatening to kill you hard enough to make them unable to injure you in the process then strength is the way.

I havn't read all the replies and I do appologise for that. But for personal fitness, Tai Qi is probably the best... but also the most spititual. If you prefer more agressiveness, but usefulness in situations you may well encounter, Judo with it's disarming properties could be better...

Like you, I have rugby players legs, I'm a winger, and judo doesn't involve much kicking. Ofcourse it has all the usual things you'd see with kicking (My favourite being the double roundhouse ) but it also has a lot of "Spacial awareness" and blocks for punches followed by repostes. It was the only primary self-defense thing I would ever employ. (The... 4th Kata in Judo begins with two kicks, following by sweeping of the floor with your feel (Moving glass out of the way, if you where being attack in an alley or anything... You don't want to land on glass.)

Again, sorry for not reading all the replies. Personal fitness, Tai Qi, but if you want a self-defense that isn't so spiritual... Head for Judo classes.

I just saw something, by the way:

Plus you're going to have to be pretty damn good at kicking to knock over a 200lb guy with a kick. Legs as far as I'm concern are controlling you and your opponent, kicking is for street fighter characters!

Don't underestimate balance... When I was just a second white in Judo, I thought the same. Dummy with one leg, draw you to that side, move the same leg and hit them with the heel. It's really detailed stuff. Ofcourse, you can just pelt them pretty hard too, for example a drop kick, one of them to gut will send you to the ground or atleast stumble you. (Judo has a LOT of fighting on the floor (Several katas devoted to it and indeed a lot of time spent learning ground fighting)Meaning if he'd drop kicked you he could easily get to you again pelt you in the back of the legs.

Sorry if it's a bit long winded, hope this answers your question.

 

[theklng]

I have to say (and that's mainly because i practice it myself) that Aikido is really a good choice. It doesn't necessarily need the Strength you're talking about, but it's a great workout, and really helps bring balance to yourself.

Aikido is all about being in balance and neutralizing your opponent without hurting yourself or your opponent. That's what i find the most interesting about it, defeating without hurting.

i used to practice aikido, but i decided to go my own way and figure out a style that works better for me. that being said, i can recommend it, since it teaches you some decent locks (iwama-ryu school).

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Not to steal rossatdi's thunder, I have the same question but instead of being a big guy, Im 5 fot 10 and 125 pounds. Im about as slender of a build as you can get what martial arts should I look toward.

That's alright! I'm 5'10 and 200 pounds, so no flying spiral kicks for me! I'm actually quite fit (5km runs a few times a week) but just naturally solid. Fortunately people always guess I'm a lot lighter, so I guess I carry it well. (I must be made out of bricks or something).

Well, muscle's heavier than fat by quite a bit, so...
I guess you could go with boxing, Judo, Jui Jitsu (sp?), maybe all three, mix 'em together and all. In fact, if you actually did become adept at those three styles, coupled with your muscle, I reckon you'd be quite a formidable opponent.

 

[leugim789]

krav maga my friend its as real as it gets the moves are all base on surving and walking away from dangerous combat scenarios and it keeps you fit, and unfortunately edgy as you wait for that one asshole to pull a gun on you so you can make chinese mustard out of them.

 

[Molten Discharge]

To be honest mate it's more about the club you go to than the art itself. I went to a Taekwondo club but we covered some ju-jitsu/judo on the side aswell as military-style knife/gun defence. The main attraction though was that the people were a laugh but they were also very dedicated and respectful to the trainers. The trainer also has a good bullshit detector so there was none of this pansy meditation stuff! I recommend going to every damn martial arts club in London until you find with people you fit in with and who you respect the skill of (i.e. don't go to a karate club).

 

[Molten Discharge]

Bullshit. Nigh on 7ft russian dude went to my club and I floored him with a jumping reverse turning kick to the head in an in-house comp (through a headguard). If you have the choice always fight at kicking range.

 

[axia777]

Hell yes, there is a reputable look Krav Maga school here in Portland.

I want my nine year old daughter to take this so I don't have to worry so much about dick heads trying to pull stuff on her when she gets older.

http://www.kravmagaportland.com/default.html

 

[Archereus]

Just looking on youtube and wiki Wing Chun looks really cool. I like the whole controlling the other person with simple arm movements and then just going for a weak spot.

I think kicks are over used in most martial arts (short period doing some karate) but the Wing Chun focus on efficiency seems awesome. Actually looks like a useful way of defending yourself from a punch too.

i would go muai tai good art not much flexibility needed just need to have good knees and elbows a very powerful art