What's the best Martial Art to take up??

by dorayakii 21 Replies latest jw friends

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  Twitch

  Tai chi short form is excellent as a fitness regimen and is kinda like meditation for the body as well as the mind. The principles of balance and directing energy in "slow motion" kinda appeals to me.

  I dabbled a bit in hapkido as well with an emphasis on self defense techniques; grappling with a lot of traps and joint manipulation. It doesn't require a lot of strength to take down someone if you grab them the right way or know how to react to how they grab you. And the end result can be rather crippling.
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  zagor

  Personally, I think Kung Fu kicks ass to everything else
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  Forscher

  Been there, done that Zagor
  I dabbled in tiger and snake. Those who've seen me say that my personal style looks enough like monkey than anything else, though I haven't had any training in that style. But my zodiac sign is the monkey, so maybee there just is something of that in me. Who knows? To get on with it. Hwa Rang Do is the korean version of ninjitsu and is said to go back to the ancient Korean kingdom of Sulla, whose crack soldiers practiced it. It is a high enrgy style and has some thachniques I like. It was taight to our Rangers and Special forces at one time, but after the instructor, Michael Echannis, was killed in a plane explosion in Nicuragua, the Army switched to Brazilian Jujitsu when one of the Gracie brothers offered to teach it after One of them kicked Butter Bean's ass and took the Ultimate fighting championship crown.
  Which leads us to Brazilian Jujistsu which was mentioned earlier by somebody else. It is a combat oriented martial art instead of a sport and is excellent for street defense.
  I didn't mention the "super karate", that is Tae Kwan Do, because the version of it taught in the US is a sport with some self-defence applications rather than a combat oriented martial art. It began as the combat art of the South Korean army and that version of it is an excellent art for self-defence if you can find somebody who was trained in the military version and is willing to teach it to you. However, that is rather hard to do. The Koreans want an olympic sport which they can dominate. so in order to do that they had to convert the art from as combat style to a sport which would be acceptable to the olympic committee and market it extensively world-wide. Although one trained in it can defend themselves against folks with little or no training, The Style is so well known that if they run into somebody trained in a serious combat style or who has extensive street experience, they are in for a world of hurt.
  The trick is first decide exactly why you want to learn a martial art and what pupose you want it to serve for you and then do your research. Then you will be in a position do decide which art is best for you.
  Forscher
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  kerj2leev

  My son is currently taking Koryo Gumdo (Samurang sword of Korea). It teaches mostly sword fighting with some hand to hand combat.
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  freedom96

  I have studied martial arts for nearly 18 years. Many benefits to them, and it simply depends on what you want to achieve. Peace and relaxation, then Tai Chi might work well for you. If you want endurance, then perhaps Tae Kwon Do, involving sparring. If it is purely self defense, I have seen nothing that touches San Soo Kung Fu. Absolutely devastating. Though anyone training in that, I would recommend some sort of previous martial art experience first.
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  monkeyshine

  If it's straight up street fight, bar fight, ass kicking you want, then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
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  jaguarbass

  I'm thinkinf of taking up Kendo...... but lots of people have been advising Karate, Taekwondo, Jujitsu, Judo and Aikido to me...

  Martial arts is something to do. Its a good hobby. It can give you self confidence. Hopefully you will never have to use it.Except for fun and in tournements. I studdied shotokan Karate. Karate is the open hand. Karate is where they break boards with thier hand and head. That is just one aspect. Another aspect is teaching self defense which could involve judo, jujitsu and aikido. Self defense is what gives confidence, I think more than breaking boards or doing katas. Karate has katas which are movements in a routine. You have to learn the katas to get your belts. I dont know what kendo is. Tai kwan do is a kicking martial art vs karate which means open hand. I would think a karate school would teach some ta kwan do and a tai kwan do school would teach some karate. If you ever get in a fight most likely it will end up on the ground and thats were the judo and jujitsu comes in. I would think a good Sensai would teach you all of it, mine did. Aikido is using someones movement and redirecting it against him. A sensai is the teacher who runs the dojo. Oh yeah, you have to take your shoes off when you enter the dojo. So wear sandals or flip flops.
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  Confucious

  To begin with, Tae Kwon Do is a joke.

  It's the Soccer Mom's choice of Martial Arts for their children.

  I took it for years and even reaching brown belt, it's pretty worthless in real life.

  All the mixed martial artists that do Tae Kwon Do get their asses handed to them.

  As mentioned above, Brazillian Jujisu is perhaps the best.

  I'm a fan of Pride Fighting in Japan and some sort of "grapling type" MA is best.
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  crankytoe

  Depends on what you're looking for, - Here're my conclusions based on experience,

  San Soo is the most bratal and explosive martial art

  Brazilian Ju Jitzu is very effective against one attacker

  Muay Thai is very effective and will get you into awesome physical shape

  Aikido is great for standup grappling situations

  I've heard good things about Ishinryu (probably mispelled) Karate

  Tai Jitzu is very effective

  I hear Judo is great for standup grappling.
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  What-A-Coincidence

  the best martial art is here http://www.the-gallery-of-china.com/