What type of martial art would you recommend?

Question

I was thinking of doing boxing but they dont allow you to kick. I thought about doing kick boxing but I want to be able to learn to grapple and throws. I tried ju-jitsu and then kung-fu and neither of them helped me. Not that I get into alot of fights but ju-jitsu and kung-fu dont really train you for a fight you may get into in the street? What would you recommend?

Answer 1

i would try good old traditional karate,there is no piont in throwing and grabbing when one punch puts your opponent out of action, and what if there were two opponents? would the second one casually wait like a gentleman while you wrestle his mate? i think not. i dont knock the others as sports, but id rather just one blow and walk away than have someone holding me whilst his mate plays flesh art with a bottle. karate is a way of life to me, so my view is probably heavily biased,but the reality is in these days, there is no time to look beautiful in a fight, in a ring with rules, yes,but on the street there are no rules, and always someone who will jump on you if you win, no matter how innocent you are, please choose wisely my friend and take care

Answer 2

I used to train Kung Fu with some guys who would talk endlessly about how they understood the true purpose of Kung Fu, and how everyone except them was doing martial arts for shallow reasons.

Once they progressed to a certain level, they started having fights with people on the street over, from what I could tell, were mainly drunken encounters. The majority of street violence they engaged in was completely unnecessary and could have been avoided had either party been big enough to back down.

The chances of you "having to" fight someone on the street are utterly minimal unless you live in a particularly rough neighbourhood, in which case you would need to pick a martial art which covered what to do if you were threatened with a gun or knife.

The closest I came to fighting was when I once had a handbag stolen whilst on holiday. My friend and I chased the thief into a bush, and he threw the bag back at us then ran away!

In general street fighting is all just a big load of testerone, whereas martial arts is supposed to be more meaningful than that. By the way, I do kickboxing and BJJ (a good rape deterrent for women I believe).

Answer 3

Hi there

Lots of people will recommend this n that but in the end its down to you. Styles suit different people and at different times in their life. Best to try a few more clubs in your area. Check out the yellow pages and sports centres to see whats out there. You should know after the first lesson if its for you or not. Another point to remember don't give up on kung fu or jutusu just yet there maybe someone out there that can get the point across better than the classes you have attended.

Oh and don't go looking for the ultimate fighting style. its like searching for the holy grail there just isn't one. Its all about how you move and apply what you know.

regards

idai

Answer 4

I have studied various martial arts, some more than others, and would have to say that it is a mistake to limit yourself to just one style. Try to find a school that has an instructor trained in a few martial arts and make sure they know what works on the streets(my instructor was a bouncer for a number of years.) If I had to just pick one, I would say not just jiu-jitsu but brazilian jiu-jitsu. Although bjj derived from jj , they are quite different now and brazilian jiu-jitsu is strictly grappling on the ground. The basic principle is that 99 percent of street fight situations end up on the ground so that's where you train plus it requires minimal strength and flexibility. The moves are based on leverage more than strength so it makes an especially good martial art for women to train in. But if that is not your style then definitely try kung fu or tai kwon do.

Answer 5

To Small people and women, San Soo without a doubt. It is based in leverages and pressure points, not strength and speed.
To MMA fighters, a base in Wrestling add Western Boxing and BJJ.
To people wanting health, Tai Chi.
To those wanting athletic ability, Hwrang Do combined with Shim Gum Do ( Samurai arts) you will kick ****
To those wanting weapon skills that can't be beat, Ship Pal Gae
To those wanting to watch movies of the Pharohs and the Pyramids , Hikuta is best.
To those from the Gay community Billy Blanks offers some great workouts.
Ah yea and last to the Movie world, AiKiDo Steven Segal style.

Answer 6

classic question
I think in checking out many martial arts you've taken a good start. and that's what you'll have to keep on doing till you find the one that's right for you. As with anything a lot of people have their own opinion but that doesn't mean that that one's the same as yours. Choose for yourself what is best for you. BTW if you think that kung fu does not teach fighting you probably haven't seen much of kung fu. Kung fu is a term that encompasses all styles of Chinese martial arts. Many of these styles are extremely well applicable and known for their lightning speed. such greats as Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Jet Li are all students of Kung Fu and great examples of it's applications. Myself I have studied Aikido for years and greatly enjoyed it since it's really an outsider within the martial arts, since a few months I've taken up Capoeira and again found great fun. In the end that's what you have to be looking for in martial arts: enjoyment. If you get into it to "learn to fight" you'll never have the disciplin to carry through the long process of basic training before you get a descent result.

Answer 7

Firstly I have to disagree!!
Being an ex jiu-jitsu coach and former bouncer I know jiu-jitsu works and works well ,you obviously haven't applied the golden rule of jiu-jitsu in real situations and that is to administer a pre-emptive strike or strikes before attempting any form of jiu-jitsu be it locking,throwing,grappling or escaping.
You have either been taught wrong or haven't listened properly.

I'm talking from many years experience in real live fights facing bottles,knifes and multiple attackers.

Sorry if this offends but it needs to be said!!!!

Take care and good luck

Answer 8

Boxing is the best form of street fighting, however there are alot of martial arts that teach purely for self defence reasons. The best martial arts for kicking is taekwondo and if you find a traditional instructor you will be taught good self defence. Aikido is also an excellent form as it teaches only defence not offence. In order to be proficient you need to find your own way and stick with it. Trying many arts give you a preview but in order to be competent you must stick with it.
Any form of martial arts will give you awareness and confidence.

Answer 9

San-Shou is perfect for you but your arrogance will get you nowhere perhaps for you the best style is none. If you'd really want to join a style you should be more open minded. Stick with an art you wont be a master in a month, a year, or 10 years. But it will pay off if you stick with one

Answer 10

Traditional Karate for me. However as I haven't had to fight anyone in the street for over 25 years I cannot say for sure how effective it would be.