What would be the best martial arts class to take? There are so many out there I can't make up my mind.?

Question

Karate, Jujitsu, Taiquando, Tai chi?

Answer 1

Depends....If you want it for self-defense, then Karate or
Jujitsu would be okay... Judo will also work if you do not
want to hurt someone too badly.
Taikwando is usually a little trickier than those above, and
uses a lot more feet work. Gung fu and Kempo are other
styles you may consider.
Tai chi is great for the mind also, it is one of the best martial
arts for the whole experience.
Most places will offer a free class, so take 1 of each and
decide which one is for you.
Also, the sensei (teacher) is a big factor.

Answer 2

while each of these disciplines are good and there is no BEST type of Martial Art out there, they all have their strengths and weaknesses, the best place to start is check out a couple of local schools near your home, that will narrow it down to a few choices, check if they have a trial week or a trial month to see if you like the class.

usually in some classes they'll have a week or two to see if you like the class without signing any binding contracts, and if you don't like it; you won't have to waste any further time.

another thing is you have to find out what'll suit you best: you may be able to handle the physical training of Karate or Tae Kwon Do because they are "standing game " disciplines, meaning that you'll be on your feet.

but Jujitsu for example, is more of a "ground game" like wrestling (greco roman, usually a high school and olympic sport, not WWE) that uses joint locks and arm or leg manipultion to cause your opponent to
"tap out" or submit, or at worst they pass out from a well employed lock. that's more physical than a "standing game" because you have to think more while under pressure, if you're not a more physical person, then jujitsu may not be the best discipline for you, though I have seen some women practice it

Tai Chi is a martial art, but it's a very subtle martial art, more to the point of relaxation and some body conditioning as yoga does.

look at several schools nearby to find out what might interest you,
take a few introductory classes to find out what you like, and then make your decision from there.

good luck

Answer 3

There is alot of difference in the major martial arts. Some are for excercize (Tai-Chi) some for tournaments (Tae-Kwon-Do, Kung Fu) some for ground fighting (Brazilian Ju-jitsu) some for everyday self defence (Krav Maga, Karate).
Figue out what aspect of martial arts your interested in and what you want to get out of your training. Go to some local schools and watch classes. Don't get suckered into signing a one year contract and don't pay more than $90 a month.
If you're looking for real life self defence then I would suggest you look into an art called Krav Maga. Karate is also a good real life art but Krav Maga is easier to learn and better against weapons.
Find something that interests you and go for it. Remember to have fun.

Answer 4

Anyone who tells you that their style is best is not what I would consider a true martial artist. Each person has to discover their own path, and that may include several styles over time. Determine what you want to get out of your training before you start. Here's my breakdown of the tendencies of some styles (each still has self-defense components):

Sport / competition: Taekwondo, Karate, Kung Fu
Fitness/stress relief: Tai Chi
Self-Defense (with a competition slant): Muay Thai Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts (MMA)
Self-Defense (potential real-world situations with weapons/etc): Krav Maga, Hapkido, MMA

Good luck. If your potential instructor is not open-minded to what other styles have to offer, RUN, don't walk out of there as fast as possible. A good instructor will want to see you excel at not only his/her style, but others as well if that is your intent.

Answer 5

Well if you don't have your heart set on any particular form, taking a couple of classes in the various disciplines is beneficial. You also should consider how comfortable you feel with the instructors philosophy, the availability of classes convenient to you and whether you feel comfortable going to them. Because even the best form of martial arts won't help you if you don't go to the classes because its inconvenient or you don't like them.

Been studying Shaolin kempo (karate) for 3 years.

Answer 6

The best style for you is the one that has a quality school in your area.
Many people make the mistake of studying a style because they like the appeal that comes with it.
After 13yrs of training, I have discovered a universal truth in the martial arts. That is that the quality and frequency of your training far outweigh your style.
Look for a good school. If you are wondering what constitutes a good school please review some older questions on Yahoo as this is asked about once a week.
One hint for you, if you are paying for rank testing the school is fraudulent. If you are signing a contract, the school is fraudulent.

Answer 7

It really depends on what you want out of it. I'm only "qualified" to speak about two.

Tae Kwan Do - don't bother. I haven't taken it, but a boyfriend did. It's a nice form of exercise, but as for practical fighting skills, not so much.

Jujitsu - I took this for two years. Although there was a certain amount of the spiritual to it, and there were some forms to learn, it was mostly just practical stuff. What to do if someone grabs you here or there, how to get out of holds, etc. There isn't as much punching and kicking, but you do learn that as well. I would definitely recommend this for self-defense.

Answer 8

It depends on your goals. More depends on the teacher than the style, really. But as a brief run down:

Karate (most of them, anyway) will get you ready to fight in a very short time.

Jujitsu will prepare you for self defence in a year or a little more.

Te Kwon Do will get you ready for Te Kwon Do competitions in about a year.

Tai Chi won't teach you to fight, but you can figure it out for yourself from the moves after about 20 years.

Kung Fu will teach you to fight over the course of two or three years, and give you a very good all around excersize.

Figure out what you want to do, then go to a school that stresses that. Do you want to fight on the street? Go to a street fighting school. Do you want to compete? Go to a school with lots of trophies. Do you want exercize? Go to one that gives a good work out.

Answer 9

Start with the one that has classes at the right time to fit in with your schedule and is at the right price. This might seem a bit mercenary but I have heard it from lot of people as to why they swap schools/ styles, and its how I got started in karate. Getting started is the hardest bit but worth the 'new subject' anxiety so go for it

Answer 10

I have a black-belt in tae kwon do, Been taking wing chun for a couple of years I believe wing chun is the best, at least for me, You really just experiment with different style until you fine one you like, And most important is finding a good instructor.