What is a good martial art for girls to learn? Any recommendations?

by True North 19 Replies latest jw friends

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  True North

  Does anyone have have any experience with martial arts? My daughter is interested in trying to learn one and I think it would be a good idea both for physical training and for self defense. I know there are a lot of different styles to choose from and I'm not sure which would be the best for her. I've also read that it can take years of training before a girl/woman actually becomes skilled enough to truly be able to defend herself: is this true?

  Someone I knew who was heavily involved in competitive martial arts back in his college days once told me that he thought Aikido would be particularly good for girls to study. I've looked into Aikido online. it sounds very good but it also seems that there can be a quasi-religious or heavy life-philosophy aspect to it that makes me a little leery of it. (Don't want to be going from a religious cult into a martial arts cult after all.)

  Any suggestions or information?
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  ApagaLaLuz

  YES! YES! YES! Do it! I studied Muy Thai for a little over a year. (my room mate was the National Middle Weight champion and trained me for free) It is a great workout. Muy Thai is a combination workout of punching and kicking with emphasis put on the form of your knees and elbows. It really adds to your self confidence. I think every female should take some kind of training in either self-defense or martial arts. It's a a wonderful experience. I know for me too, I didnt feel quite as threatened being out at night, or staying in teh house by myself
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  myauntfanny

  Well, I tried Aikido once. There was a girl there about 17 and she had studied since she was young and was very confident. BUT...I thought it was very culty, you have to bow to this picture of the guy who started it and I really thought the people had that smug, self-righteous, not-of-this-world look. I didn't go back. I tried taekwando for a while and it was full of guys with David Caradine Kung Fu fantasies, very violent. I tried karate for a while and that was good. They were very careful to warn the woman not to get overconfident. I'm going to have my daughter to judo or ju-jitsu. I also think those classes that are just about basic "disable long enough to run" tactics are good for kids, because they get someone padded in there to practice on and that lets the kids really feel their own strength, which doesn't happen I think until much later in a martial arts class.
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  ColdRedRain

  Kickboxing, it's simple, it's effective and it's a good workout.
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  rekless

  Savate! pronounced Saw voute One son is a black belt.one is brown. They teach all the disabling and kill points.
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  shera

  I would say kung-fu or a marial arts that isn't so hard on the joints.

  I took Tae kwon do for 4 yrs,even though I loved it and it taught me well.I wouldn't recommened it.I know so many black belts with no cartlidge left in the knees. My knees have had it.So if I ever join another martial arts,I'll stick to something more fluent for the joints.
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  shotgun

  True North

  I'm taking Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido right now and love it..

  They're are as many women in the classes as guys and they are just as effective in every aspect because it's not about strength..in fact I have sat and watched several classes of tiny Tigers which is kids 4-6 yrs old, they're enthusiam is fantastic.

  I also talked to several parents who said how much they're kids love it and how the discipline and respect learned in it have made them better kids.

  So far there has not been one single thing done in the class which I was lead to believe would happen by being raised a dub, no prayers, no trances, no levitating....and so on and so on.

  From talking to Paul who is taking Aikido there seems to be alot of use of weapons taught in his class, don't know if that's the norm.

  Tae Kwon Do is more about kicking and striking while Hapkido is joint locks and submission holds. Grueling workouts with alot of emphasis on proper warm ups and stretching for greater flexibility and less injuries.

  She'll love it, it seems to be a good parent child thing as well..
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  shotgun

  Damn shera...thanks for telling me that after I join..in my class there are several guys and girls who have been going two to three times a week for 7 to 12 years with no major complaints...maybe it's that Nova Scotia Tae Kwon Do...ya know...where you drink two shots of Captain Morgan first.
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  Elsewhere

  I agree, Aikido is an amazing martial art. I particularly like it because there are no offensive techniques... it is pure defense. It is also very graceful and composed of mostly circular motions.

  Regarding the "religious" part... all martial arts have a "philosophy". Aikido's philosophy is one of achieving harmony with your opponent as opposed to trying to resist him. They also have a strong emphasis on obedience to the sensei... which is why I could not continue studying Aikido myself... the obedience part reeeeally bugged me after my JW experience.
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  Descender

  I was going to have Bill teach me martial arts, but he's been killed. Around my area, there are basically two choices for martial arts, taekwondo and karate. I studied Taekwondo for a few years when I was 9 and 10 years old, so I was thinking of taking up karate. I'd like to become a black belt in a certain martial art before I croak, so I guess it's going to be karate.