Martial Arts for the fat?

Question

Heheh...

Anyway, my wife and I are both overweight and thinking about doing some sort of martial arts to work the weight off. What would be the best to start with considering, um, we're fat? :D

We're not hugely obese. We can chase the dogs around the yard and throw each other around regularly (just wrestling like kids). Just thought I would clarify.

We're not hugely obese. We can chase the dogs around the yard and throw each other around regularly (just wrestling like kids). Just thought I would clarify.

Answer 1

Hi! Your best bet is to visit as many martial art clubs around your local area and watch them.. See which one you (both) like and join in a class. Most reputable clubs will let you try it out. If not, think: what are they hiding?

You will find martial art classes listed in your yellow pages phone-book, newspaper classified section, local leisure/community centres etc.

All the best!

Answer 2

Our society is really off the mark when we talk about fat. Today fat is anything over 7% body fat. 20 years ago it would have meant an eating disorder. That aside, if a person wants to decrease their body fat any increase in activity will do, and no body type disqualifies anyone from doing any martial art. A large person will have an obvious advantage in any physical encounter, just as quick people have their advantages. Each traditional martial art has subsets of techniques and stratagies that can be exploited by different body types. You are just like anyone else. Find an art that appeals to you and give it all you got! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I am also overweight, (BMI of 31) am 33yrs old and have been studying martial arts for nearly 2 years. I have lost weight (about 5kg) and toned up a lot since I started. But I have gained huge amounts of confidence and am learning new stuff all the time. The style I study is called Bushin Ryu. It is an Okinawan based Karate with ryuku kempo and juijitsu elements. My husband is a black belt (has been training for 15 years on and off) and we love training together, the common ground has also strengthened our marriage and family as our daughters are now studying too.
I began with taking aerobics style martial arts combination class (kinda like Tai Bo) for a bout 6 months before I had the confidence to join the traditional classes.
If you want to lose weight then you need to look at your diet aswell as your exercise and martial arts are not necessarily the best for weight loss. Taekwondo and kickboxing are high cardio workouts, but if you are not interested in learning an art then tae bo classes would be just as good!
But if you want to learn an art then go for it, find something you like the look of, find an instructor and dojo near you and visit, try out some classes see if you gel with the instructor and benefit from the classes before committing yourself. Martial arts is a huge committment, a way of life.... so choose wisely and remember in life there must always be balance :- Yin and Yang :-)

Answer 4

I lost 20 lbs. doing kickboxing (muay thai) at the gym!

I should tell you (I wish someone had told me) that there is a big difference between classes you take at the gym vs classes you take at a dojo (or school of martial arts). My experience has been that classes at a gym tend to focus less on technique and more on cardio - you work the bag and maybe do push ups and sit ups, etc. The words "bootcamp" or "conditioning" means that the class includes more of an emphasis on increasing cardio and losing weight. The disadvantage of this is that these classes tend to vary greatly by teacher, and that you won't necessarily learn proper fundamentals or technique - or you'll have to stay after class, ask the teacher on your own, maybe take a few personal training sessions.

In addition, gyms vary according to the quality of their classes. 24 hour Fitness, for instance, is not a class-oriented gym - I tried their kickboxing class on a vacation once, and it was horrible. Bodies in Motion, on the other hand, emphasize classes - and their kickboxing classes are great.

If you take classes at a dojo on the other hand, you will pay more and definitely learn better fundamentals and technique, but the classes will not be as aerobically or conditioning-oriented, unless they are specifically bootcamp or conditioning classes. You'll definitely get a work out, but it may not always be consistent. In addition, classes at a dojo will probably include sparring, which means contact with someone - the classes are more partner-focused instead of just kicking and punching a bag.

At this point, I am a member of both a gym and a dojo - precisely because I need to keep up with my cardio and conditioning, and because I want to keep learning technique and sparring. Also, most places give free trial memberships, so try them out, and see what you think.

Most of all, kickboxing is FUN!!!

Answer 5

Hello, I am a Martial Arts instructor. I dont think she is, but my faince claims to be big. She is starting to learn martial arts under me. What you need to consider when starting a martial art is several things. 1, your health, do you have any special medical needs. 2. How determined you are to get into shape. 3. What choices you have around your area for studying. 4 What their workout regimine is like. And 5. What kind of time you are willing to put into this. I can safely say, I would recommend styles like Karate and Tae Kwon Do. To doing Tae Bo/Cardio Kickboxing. I would not however recommend Muay Thai. Not at this point. Not saying to not do it. Muay Thai is one of the best styles out there. But the thing is, is that Muay Thai is one of the hardest to do. It is one, among others, one of the deadliest styles known. And I know you have probably heard this around a lot, but check around your area and see what is available. If you would like, I would help you find a place around where you live. And to clear something up, whoever says kicking takes more effort than punching, isnt punching right. For the way i teach my studetns, they are working just as hard on hand techniques as they do with kicking. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

With all the good suggestions posted above, allow me to give my two cents worth. I personally saw a 300 pound guy slim down to about 175 pounds in a year and a half of Aikido training. Contrary to popular belief, Aikido is as physically taxing as any other martial art. Your whole body and all your joints gets such a workout that by the time your class finishes, you could wring a pint of sweat off your Gi. And the best part is that you can practice at your own pace and you still get a workout. The Ukime practice alone will sweat a few pounds off of you and the breathing exercises will help you relax and cool down. The Seiza or traditional Sitting position is great training for proper posture. And the Shikku or what we refer to as the Duckwalk is one of the most intense carbo-burning and stamina building workout i have experienced. Just make sure you join a legitimate dojo and not one of those "package deal" clubs.

Answer 7

Hello!
My advice is that if you are thinking of joining a martial art school, please think again. M. arts imply a lot of work and dedication. If you want to join a MA school don't do it to loose some weight, you could have better results by trying other sports...But if you do join ,you will get bored very fast, you will start to see results after a lot of time, and you - and your wife will fast be disappointed... In my opinion the best thing to do is to try to do cardio exercises ( run, walk, swim ) and eat a little bit less. The best exercise is to exercise in eating less. If you do this you will see the benefits of breaking the habit of eating a lot. Eat just 3 time/day and do some running around the park/block, while listening to music, this can be fun for both of you! and you will stimulate each others, you will see:) this is the best exercise ;)

Answer 8

Any martial art will assist you if your weight is an issue, to my horror I am also overweight that think on the wall at the gym must be wrong, I thought I was just fine. Karate as it was on a night I had free and close to were I live,but the very best ofluck with your new training

Answer 9

Congratulations on your decision. I think you would do just fine in any martial arts, you may be comfortable with stand up style like Tae Kwon do, or Karate. Find a good sensei tho, that makes a big impact on you both mind and body. Go around and watch some classes, talk to Sensei, and how you guys would feel. Then stick with it.

Answer 10

Jujitsu is great. I can tell you with some technique being fat provides a good advantage. I wrestled a guy in a tournament one time that was like 300 lbs. I had him in my guard and he wore me out just by posting his body weight on me. Also it didn't help that it was my fourth match. It is an advantage because your opponent has to work hard to escape your positions.

Kickboxing and other stand up arts you will be at a disadvantage because you just won't be nearly as fast.

Oh by the way you will trim down with jujitsu as well it is hard work. Plus it builds muscles.