i want to get into martial arts. what style should i take a class at a dojo for?

Question

like akido? tae kwon doe? karate? also im interested in learning how to use swords and stuff. whats a good style guys? thanks

Answer 1

If you want to learn sword and weapon techniques then go with Aikido. Bokken and Jo staff are common in their curriculum.

Answer 2

"What particular style is a good style?" is a relative question to whomever you may ask. It all depends on what you are interested in learning. If you want to move in straight lines and use a lot of hard kicks and punches then I would say take a karate style. If you want softer more rounded movements then what would be a softer style like aikido, or some kung fu. Chan Quan is a long circular style that is pretty neat, Wing Chun is a close rapid short movement type, So you can see that even "Kung fu" has different styles within the blanket term. What I would reccomend is that you take a tour of as many different schools, and look for any private teachers in your area. Go to the advanced classes as you will get more of what that school has to offer when you're there. If you just want to do something that's flashy and want to be able to do flips and such I would say go to a Wushu school. Well, let me know if you have any other questions, hope I could be of help.

Answer 3

I've said it many times before. Before you pick any style your first step is not deciding on what to take but looking at what is avaliable. It's no good chosing to start practising Choy Lee Fut if there is no Choy Lee Fut school near by.

Then you have to do research on those schools around you. Look at their wikipedia articles, sit in on a class, take one if you can. Then chose which is best for you.

As for using swords, consider cross training an unarmed style with kendo. Or come schools will do it, some karate, wushu and ninjutsu use weapons. But as I said, first things first: Find out what is near you.

Answer 4

The thing most people dont realize about aikido/aikijutsu is it teaches iaido the quick draw skill of using the katana[sword] and two man kata of sword versus sword /jo versus sword the jo is a 48 to 52 inch staff and solo jo kata.
However you wont be learning that right away as most concerned and legitimate sensei are a bit leery of those who want to learn weapons mainly.

Answer 5

Both kindred and ca have good answers there and I would add that many instructors that teach weapons usually don't teach weapons to beginners or a bladed weapon first if they do. Do some shopping for a school that teaches weapons and inquire if they teach the sword? You will find that some don't or that they won't until you have learned other skills and weapons first.

Answer 6

any karate that also offeres kobudo as that is weapons training

some ju jitsu schools also offer kobudo

those are 2 things that will get u using a sword

Answer 7

i think if u wanna train inswords, try kung fu