Best martial art for me?

Question

I'm thinking of starting martial arts and was wondering if someone could provide suggestions for my situation. I'm a tall and thin teenager, in good physical condition and quite motivated. For now, the most time I could dedicate to it would be two nights of practice a week with some time spent at home. I'm pretty sure I would either like to study a stand-up or ground fighting style. I wouldn't like it to be too high impact, although I would like some form of contact to be involved. My goals with this are increased fitness, self-discipline and self-defense skills. Ideally, I would like an asian martial-art, for some reason this appeals to me. Finally, nothing too obscure, as I may not be able to find a school for it. All answers appreciated, please back up your responses to some degree.

Answer 1

Any art is potentially suitable to you, but the more critical factors in your decision will be what is close, what is affordable, what has a class schedule that works for you, and what do you feel an affinity for. Noone on this forum can answer those questions for you.

Your best bet is to identify the schools in your area that meet the location and affordability criteria you have, then spend some time visiting them. Chat with the instructor/s, watch the classes you will engage in if you join, talk with the other students in the class, and if it's available, try out the class for a small fee or free.

This is the best way to find the instructor, school, and discipline that you will actually enjoy going to. You'll spend a lot of time with your new instructor and class mates - so finding the ones you'll look forward to seeing on a weekly basis is far more important than finding a discipline someone on this forum will suggest to you.

Good luck

Ken C
9th Dan HapMoosaKi-Do
8th Dan TaeKwon-Do
7th Dan YongChul-Do

Answer 2

Based on what you're saying, I would not take a standup/striking art if you don't want it to be high-impact. The only way to learn how to kick and punch effectively is to kick and punch at full speed in unpredictable situations (sparring). Punching the bag and doing drills just won't cut it. As for ground fighting, there will be plenty of contact, just not striking. BUT that doesn't mean it's not painful or won't cause injury. It's a lot of bending joints the wrong way and chokes. Judo would be good, but it's not exactly low impact either, because it involves throws. So, if you want to try something Asian, I'd look for Jiu-Jitsu, or Aki-Jitsu. You could and should consider Judo too, and learn to deal with the throws. Those will all be beneficial for self-defense. If you're willing to consider non-Asian, consider Brazillian-Jiu-Jitsu (derived from the Japanese kind) or submission grappling. Again great for self-defense. Any grappling art is going to be a WORKOUT!! Trust me. You will get in shape if you work hard. The one thing that throws a monkey wrench into it all is the two day a week thing. To really and truely progress, you need to go three days a week, or have someone to practice with that third day and make it as hard a workout as class is. Not sayng you won't get anything out of it, but you will have to make those two days really count. This website has a directory of grappling schools, so check it out. I'm not sure how many Asian Styles are in it. (www.grapplearts.com)
Good luck, God bless and have fun! I really wish I had started as young as you. Stick with it. Don't ever be embarassed when someone gets the best of you in class, pay attention to the details and be patient. You'll develop self-discipline and the self-confidence to go with it.

Answer 3

Martial arts ans sport are 2 totally different concept. They by no means are equal. The 2 look different and are practiced different. Unfortunately many today do not know the difference. Many are being taught a sport and never learn the art. Therefore people with no knowledge of the arts see a weak version of a true art and gauge everyone according to their knowledge of martial arts and they don' have any knowledge. I love how pugspaw, sensei scandal, stillcrazy put it. I have nothing against those that play games. That is great for them. However, I am interested in having the knowledge and ability of self defense. I'm interested in budo. I do not even want to use the term martial with sport. The 2 does not go together. One is a game. The other is war. There is nothing better than when attacked knowing how to position yourself in a manner that the attacker can't do anything, but is exposed to everything that will stop the threat immediately. When I was a child I played tag. I don't play that childish game anymore. We used to trade punches in grade school. I don't trade punches anymore. If I hit you I mean to stop you. I do not look for a referee to say you tapped out. I'll know you are out when the lights go out and you go limp. I'll know that you surrender when I hear or feel the joint snap. I'll know you can't use that limb right now to attempt to harm me or my family.

Answer 4

I would suggest going to every martial arts school in your area and asking about a free trial lesson. Almost every school does this (my old dojo offered 2 weeks free!). I recently switched styles and tried out 4 places before finding the best fit. The style does not matter as much as the teacher, the other students, the general atmosphere of the place, the class schedule, and the price! After you try out a few different places I would bet that one will stand out in your mind and your choice will become clear.

Don't worry about "high impact" for stand-up arts. Any decent school will start you out with light or no-contact drills and sparring, then slowly increase the power as your skills and toughness increase.

Answer 5

I have been grappling, for seven years. I have found that grappling or jiu-jitsu is the best well rounded martial that I have ever experienced. Jiu-jitsu is not only for fighting in MMA but for street defence as well. As far as your situation goes(being able to go to class two nights a week) that would just depend where you live and what kind of schools are offering jiu-jitsu. I would really recommend no-gi grappling which is pretty much the same thing, no gi grappling is more suited towards mma fighting as well as street defence. jiu-jitsu is more of a traditional martial arts, in that they have lots of patterns, and drills and so on. If you live in lets say California the ther are many Gracie shools (Royce Gracie, renzo Gracie just to name a few) that you can attend. The best thing to do is to pick a few schools that will let you try them out with out having to make a commitment, then you can decide for yourself if thats the route you want to choose, as far as stand up type martial arts, IU would have to say try an dfind a place that isnt really focused in one particular area like just boxing, or just kick boxing. try and find a place that wil include many different types of stand up training. Like kick boxing for the knees, elbows, the clinch stuf like that, as well as boxing for the jabs the straight punches, the hooks (left and right) and crosses. Century fitness has an awesome dvd, I think its called "The ultimate training camp, it has people from the UFC such as Randy Couture, Jehns Pulver, Pat Milletich, and Frank Shamrock. That dvd would give you a really good look at what I have been telling you, and if will show you what I mean as far as no gi grappling

Answer 6

I study Kung Fu witch is a Northern style Chinese martial art.
Based on what you said your looking for I think Kung Fu is perfect for you because it Will teach you self discipline and it
will increase your fitness level and it has many easy self defense moves that anyone can do. I base this all on
personal experience. I love this martial art and I plan on sticking with it for the rest of my life so I hope you'll at least look in to it.
Hope this helps,good luck! :)

Answer 7

Judo-the break falls and basic holds you will learn will help you going forward with any other style. Once you have learned how to fall down properly, you can get up and start learning any other style. You may stick with judo, or you may move on to something more esoteric. Either way, you need to learn how to walk before you run therefore judo is always a good choice.

Answer 8

If Ground fighting is what you like then go for Brazilian Jiu Jitzu or Sambo.

Try an Okinawan art. Japanese Karate. They have kicks, blocks and punches with some ground work.

Answer 9

Do reasearch and go with your heart. Only you can decide hat is best for you. Look around and then decide like I've said over a dozen times to others what works for us may not work for you.

Answer 10

Wow! Pretty picky. Tell you what try beauty school.

Nah! Just kidding.