Karate question?

Question

I want to get into karate and I was just wondering what type of karate or marshal arts can you do you get a great workout to get abs and biceps? Also whats the best karate or marshal acts to take so you could defand your self like if someone has a gun or a knif to you then you can do a move to get it out of their hands? I want to go into a karate that i can learn to defand myself like with powerful moves please put me in the right path.
Thanks

Answer 1

Some Martial Arts do focus on knife and gun defenses like Hapkido or Krav Maga (just a couple that do focus on this, but many Martial Arts studied with practical application in mind can be used to disarm an opponent), but this requires working with your timing to perform whatever technique you'll want to use against them.

it's a personal choice of which discipline YOU want to study, there isn't a "best" Martial Art. Only YOU can Make the decision about which one is best for YOU and what you want to get out of studying Martial arts for your personal benefit.

more confidence, fitness, sport, a hobby, self defense, perhaps it's for personal enrichment (ie becoming a better person through learning discipline and respect) or enlightenment?

again each person who studies Martial Art has to figure out for themselves what they want out of the discipline they choose, no one can tell them which discipline will work for them.

ANY Martial Art has strong attack and defense techniques; it's just in how or when they're used, but some focus more on the strength of the techniques whereas others focus on the ability to evade or defend against the attack and use the opponents own attack against them (like Aikido).

ANY Martial Art can help you physically because it's a good cardio workout and it can also help you by helping you tone up your muscles, but it won't "give" you better abs or better definition in your biceps; only by strength training (weightlifting) can you achieve this.

If you're looking for a purerly physical workout, then a Cardio Kickboxing class would be more to what you're looking for (but you also mentioned that you're looking for a self defense as well)

All you can do is research what Martial Arts schools that're available to you wherever you live, pick three schools that interest you the most; and then watch some classes from each one to make your choice as to which one you like the most out of the three you picked.

once you've done this, find out if they have any trial classes to see if you really like the class, if you do, then enroll in the class. If not, then you'll want to try your next chioce in line.

because the problem is that a lot of people here have a bad habit of blurting out Martial Arts disciplines that may not even be available to you where you live.

There are dozens of Martial Arts disciplines out there, but only a handful of these disciplines may be established nearby.

You just need to find a Martial Arts School that will provide a safe, friendly, "family like" environment for you and that the instructor(s) are going to help you become the best Martial Artist that you can become.

The discipline you may wind up studying DOESN'T MATTER because there is NO discipline that is better than another, because they ALL have their strengths AND weaknesses

What matters is that you feel comfortable in the classes (and like the classes) and feel comfortable that the instructor (and the instructor's TEACHING style and not the discipline itself) can properly teach you self defense without the "smoke and mirrors" .

to find the Martial Art that will "best" suit you is to research the local Martial Arts schools in your area.

Answer 2

Even though Rikkar and Bushido somewhat contradict each other, they are both right. Your question is about getting a good workout for abs and biceps and any martial art will do that.

I would stay away from the ones that claim to teach knife or gun defense. Yes, you will see pictures in magazines of guys doing some move that swipes the gun or knife out of the opponent hand. There's an old expression that says "you don't bring a knife to a gunfight". If the guy has a knife, you are 99% likely to get cut. Gun defense is even worse. The techniques you see are not very realistic. They practice with rubber guns. Why don't they use pellet guns? Because you will get shot. If the guy pulls a gun, he wins. Period.

Grab a phone book. Look up Martial Arts (make sure you look up Martial and not Marshal). Check out the schools in your area and take any free classes they offer. There's no point in signing up for a class you don't like just because some guy in Yahoo Answers said it's the best. Take the class you enjoy. You will stick with it longer.

Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I cannot answer the question. Oh, it is "martial" not "marshal".

You need to do your legwork and decide what YOU wish. All of the Arts develop the muscles, all Arts have powerful moves. Some Arts focus on striking, some on grappling, and so forth.

Also, "Karate" is not an art. There are many styles of Karate.

What I would suggest is decide how far you are willing to travel to train and be able to keep it up. Research all the Dojos/Dojangs/Daguans in your local area. Sit in on an open class to watch, speak with the instructors (you probably shan't be able to speak with the head instructor... that is rare), ask around the community about the reputation of the school and its instructors.

If you want to get into the martial arts to defend yourself, be prepared to work at it and work at it for a long time. You are not going to just pick up those skills overnight. It takes time, training, and dedication. I have known not that many straight "I want to learn self defense" people to make it. Some do, most do not. But then, most who walk off the street do not make it either.

If you want quick results, you are looking in the wrong direction. If you want just self defense and muscle building, take a GOOD self-defense class (and repeat it at least once a year) and go to a gym. Martial arts is much more than either, or both. of these.

Answer 4

Karate / Karate-do is from Okinawa and is one of many Japanese systems that derive from the peasent class who were not allowed to be armed.. not the Samurai. This echos around and around in the art which is why I mention it. A translation I like is "The way of the empty hand" People usually don't mention this, but you should be in reasonably good shape before entering a training program. Even if large people train: You should be able to walk a mile or two and not really be more than 20 lbs over weight or you are asking for serious trouble. In that in being pushed to excel, you can very easily ask too much of your body. Karate-do is a "do" art which strives to improve your mind, body and spirit instead of just training you to be a fighter. But many of the "jitsu" arts also have this goal. traditionally it is a striking art .. with punches and kicks. You will first be tought the basis, then some corographed moves (forms or kata), then your club might do sparing and might do contests - but this is not universal. Some organizations think that sparing improves training. Other organizations just love the sport aspects and don't care that it improves training. Still others eschew the sport aspects because they feel it ruins the attitude of the student and ruins their art for self defense. If you are interested in this sort of thing .. visit the classes .. talk with students and instructors .. learn about the art and its traditions. If you like it .. give it a few months or 1/2 year before moving on. It takes awhile to see if you want to stay. look into karate, tae kwon do, Kung fu, aikido, judo, jujitsu, tai chi ... See what is available, are you compatible with the class, with the art , and less technically: what floats your boat.

Answer 5

Take something like Kyokushin, Eshin, Seido, Shidokan or other karate that's splinter of what Mas Oyama taught. Those styles tend to be very successful due to their full resistance training and sparring. It's better if you look for karate school that compete against Muay Thai/Kick boxer or at least fight full contact karate, not point/tag sparring.

This should be the type you want to take:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_contact_karate

As for defense against weapons, don't get your hope too high. Person with weapon will always have huge advantage over those who doesn't no matter what. beside that do you really think you will honestly want to try fight someone with weapon if you see it? Or do you think you would be too scared to try? I know I would do ANYTHING to avoid fight someone who have weapon.

Answer 6

My style is Tae Kwon Do, & I highly reccomend it to anyone. Find a traditional school.

As many (including me) have said here many times, there is no "best" Martial Art. There are many very fine styles, what really matters is to find a good instructor. It's the artist, not the art.

Answer 7

Hi,
I think you should consider Uechi Ryū.
It is the style i practice.
It is good for self defense and is a more of a "street fighting" style
as in has none of the frills of other styles.
No matter what style/type of martial art you choose if you work at it you will become stronger.

:P i hope you enjoy whatever you chose.

Answer 8

yout looking for self-defence try jiu-jitsu i would'nt recomend karate i'm sorry but i think karate is just a dance the fighting style of karate is basically point fighting witch is no good in the streets plus all karatekas are flat foot fighters so there's no real power there.
take jiu-jitsu it's a great art to get out of trouble

Answer 9

bushido is totally right, go with freestyle karate, its varied and since i started 4 years ago i have really developed in confidence and endurence, i have asthma and its actualy made it alot better! infact im above some of my non-asthmatic friends its a great work out and develops all muscles in your body

Answer 10

freestyle karate,freestyle karate and freestyle karate.or just karate in general.i do appoligise for the misinformation these (not all)other people are giving you,if they were actually martial artists they would realise your a lady asking for some serious advice.any ma will help you with your fitness as to specific muscle building that would be something to work on at home or a gym.or you could cross train in muay thai.karate for self defence and muay thai for fitness.