Karate Anyone?

Talk to the instructors of the different martial arts places around you and find out which one has the most discipline. It's not about finding the best type of Martial Arts in general but about find the Best Martial Art for you (what your looking to get out of it) Self discipline is one of the most important things in life. I've always also thought integrity had alot to do with self discipline,(doing what is right when you know no one is wathcing you.)

 

Well if you are looking for something challenging and intellgent you won't find a better martial art than Gracie Jiu Jitsu. If you have ever seen the Ultimate Fighting Championship then you have seen Gracie Jiu Jitsu in action. The art uses timing, technique, and leverage to defete an opponent. So you don't have to be fast or strong. Unlike alot of "martial arts" these days it works as advertised. The Gracies have been developing there form of Jiu Jistu for over 80 years. The techniques they use have been tested in real life situations. If a technique didn't work in a real situation they would modify it so that it would, or it would get tossed out. Just yesterday I was at a tournament with my kids, were they all got bronze medals. Jiu Jitsu is a grappling art so you use throws, joint locks, and chokes to defete your opponent. Competition is like a chess match, were both competitors know the basic same moves and are trying to submit one another.

Now if you are more into the rock'em sock'em type of martial art then Muy Thai is what you wanna get into. It is a striking art so punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and headbuts, are use to defete an opponent.

In my opionin todays "karate" is more of screaming gymnastics than it is a martial art. They do all these fancy jumps and flips, breaking boards, and fighting with the air (or as they say "forms") while yelling as loud as they can. It may be a nice show, but won't do very well at winning a real fight. Gracie Jiu Jitsu (a.k.a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and Muy Thai (a.k.a. Thai Boxing) are the best bang for your buck. I like both of these martial arts because they are no nonsence and right to the business of defeting the other person. If I have to chose only one, Gracie Jiu Jitsu hands down.

 

I did martial arts for over 7 years. I started out in a Tae Kwon Do school for about a year and a half, but my family ended up moving. I got extremely lucky because we moved to a small town, but it had a dojo that incorporated techniques from many different styles.

My advice, which I find the to be the most important aspect of all, is to try to find a school in which you learn several different techniques. Going to a single style school is, imo, a waste of time. Sure it can teach you self-discipline, etc, but otherwise a single style to me is useless.

In my class, we learned such arts as Kickboxing, Mui Tai (which was one of my favorites), Jiu Jitsu, and Aikido. We even had a professional heavy weight boxer come to class regularly to teach us how to box. I was very lucky in that my teacher was learning Aikido from the grand-master of china at the very same time, and he would come back and teach what he was learning to us at the same time.

Just remember that in terms of fighting, there are several different 'ranges' that must be taken into account to do it properly. There are the kicking, punching, elbowing and kneeing, and grappling ranges for instance. If you cannot fight effectively from any one (or more) of those ranges (or the others I didn't mention) you are at a serious disadvantage if you are ever unlucky enough to be forced into a street-fight.

 

I have knocked off for about two years, but made it to Purple II in Tae Kwon Do. Alot of fun. It's a good workout while you learn enough to get yourself hurt in a fight if you ever need to use it!

 

Kung Fu is good. I even studied Do Fu in my younger days. Now I study Pi Tae Da Fu under the great master himself.

 

I ordered Billy Blanks Tie bow, now I have a triple black belt, all in three weeks. I am going to Thailand next month to compete for the thai title.

I will be at a thai resturant for lunch, Maybe I can try my skills on the waiter.

 

I recommend Kenpo. I have practiced for over 20 years, and have been an instructor for 9 years. It means "law of the fist". Very good street practicality. Great discipline, and very "circular". I assume from your post that you aren't looking for "street fighting" skills. so basically any martial art will teach you fluidity, grace, discipline and some physical strengthning. Of course, talk to a few teachers, find which one you like the best. Gracie Ju Jitsu is a very formidable fighting force. A lot of wrestling, joint manipulation, no offense, I wouldn't recommend if for a woman, for her first study. I disagree with the gentlemen who said "learn more than one". Most styles have taken years and years, hundreds of years in many cases to perfect and develop. It's arrogant to think you could master one of them, much less many of them in a few years. Of course, if you are looking for nothing but how to kick butt in a street fight, then maybe you should study a few different styles and pick and choose, however, if you are looking for discipline and mental serenity, I'd pick a classical style, and stick to it.
good luck

 

I practiced Taekwondo for 6 years. Earned my second degree black belt when I was 14/15 (don't remember). Excellent sport, I originally dropped b/c I was ahead and needed something more than he could offer. Haven't done martial arts since though. But if you want something that incorporates discipline, honor, self defense, etc. Taekwondo is the way to go. You can go to ataonline.com . It's the largest Taekwondo association in the world with over 700 schools I believe.

I'm looking to get back into martial arts though. I would love to try Kung Fu and capoerra (sp?) (Brazilian martial arts, its like dancing but has martial arts hidden in it).

 

I feel extremely underqualified to post after fanatic1... credentials like that are hard to argue with and I fully agree with his post.

My 15 year old daughter is a 1st Dan Black Belt in classical TKD. Certified Instructor, etc. It has done here a WORLD of good (basic confidence, learning discipline, etc) and I would strongly recommend it for any kid or adult. VERY structured and geared towards mental focus.

However, having attended national level tournaments over the past few years, the real attention is going to the showy, gymnastics-infused routines, meaning the purer traditional styles are getting harder to find in local schools (too many schools simply going for trophies to attract more students.)

We drive over an hour for my daughter to train with a traditional school... and there are likely 30schools within 10-15 minutes of us.

However, were I going to start martial arts, I would NOT being doing it for the structure, but for the skills and conditioning. We have a local school here (run by a MD highway patrol officer) that bases their style in TKD, but teaches a fusion of different techniques (some from Kenpo, others from Ju Jitsu, etc) styles to give the students the "real world" skills they need to use in all situations. No tournament prep, not tightly structured. So it depends what you're looking for...

Bill

 

That's very true, but what he was talking about was more learning different elements. I'd consider it arrogant to think you could master any martial art if you have a day job, and much of what is extremely helpful doesn't come until much later in the career. Practicing a style that is more a melding of various elements of many styles is highly rewarding and seems to move faster.

He and I (we're twins) practiced the American Open system - which was just that - a style that drew on many. We learned different techniques, and that helped our minds to be able to switch from style to style depending on the situation.

Going for mastery is a great goal, but be realistic in that it will be hard to acheive. Getting a black belt means you're only part of the way there.

That doesn't mean that you should focus less or be less disciplined, you can still be just as disciplined as your sensei/teacher if thats what you want.

It's all up to how you handle it.

 

I agree with this and would like to add a couple things. First, my strongest belief is that it is very important that the style and school fit your mental makeup. For example: your level of aggressiveness--you probably would not beneift aso much from a style that has either too little or too much aggression, etc. Also, you might have a cultural preference, like for the Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, or other "vibe."

Investigating the qualifications of the teacher is good. Be bold but respectful on this one. There ARE some shady people out there and people how have too much desire to be a big shot out.

Also, how involved is the head of the school with the actual teaching, or has he/she delegated too much teaching responsibility to unmatured students? To what degree is the teacher motivated by money? Does the teacher teach out of a love of the art or as a business?

Your age and flexibility are also very important. Judo or jiu jitsu might be too painful.

If you're interested in weapons, I think Filipino MA is very cool. I have observed lots of respect among those people. And BTW, respect for self and others is one of the great payoffs of MA.

My kid's teacher taught a combination art of Tae Kwon Do, Karate, and something else but has closed the school and is just studying Chinese Wing Chun and another Chinese style called White Eyebrow (not kidding.)

In summary, my suggestion is: look for what suits you and an approriate teacher.

 

First let me preface by saying that I have 18 years in Okinawan (Shorin-Ryu), Karate, and have been instructing children and adults for the last ten years. I have some Jui-Jitsu experience as an adjunct to the Karate, as they go really well together. I have studied inder Okinowan masters, and under westerners who have lived in japan and Okinawa. Currently studying under a NYC ESU (SWAT) detective who uses what he teaches to stay alive on the job.

I have seen too many online "fights" over who's system is best, yadayadayada to get too deep into this discussion, but I will say this:

Look around. Find a school that you are comfortable with. BUT avoid schools that brag too much about how awsome they are, as that is attutude, and your don't need that when you are a beginner.

As to any school or system's claims that they will always defeat another system, it is all bunk. It is really more about the fighter than the system. There are TKD guys that will crush Karate guys and vise versa. There are BJJ guys that couldn't fight there way out of a wet paper bag, and then there are the one's who could wrestle King Kong to the ground.

In the end it is about you and what you are comfortable with.

also, Don't be afraid of leaving a school or instructor if you are dissapointed.

Can't really think of anythng else to say that hasn't already been posted, but email or PM me if you have any questions.

 

I agree 100%, it's all about what you're looking for not what they tell you you'll need.

 

I'm glad this subject came up... I've been looking for a martial art style to learn but don't know what to seek information on.

I'm not interested in punching/kicking/bone-breaking offensive moves - I'm interested in learning smoothly-flowing circular defensive/redirective moves. Which martial arts discipline does this describe?

There are so many different versions, and so many of them seem to overlap in so many ways.

Thanks!

Patrick W. Heinske -- [email protected]

 

You have two choices: Aikido and traditional Jiu-Jitsu. I am a proponent of Ju-Jitsu (I actually train in an Aikido Dojo, we use their floor). It is my impression that Ju-Jitsu is a bit more aggressive. Both do basically the same thing, but ju-jitsu uses small movements, while Aikido uses large movements.

Check both out if you can. They are bit harder to find that TKD or some of the other "sport" martial arts.

 

Go buy a Gun

 

I am glad this came up - because I too am a bad as$.

 

ROCK ON!!!!!

 

I've seen some good comments on this thread. I thought I'd jump in with a few more.

I've been practicing Shaolin Kung-Fu for a few years now. It has been much more than I thought it would be when I first walked through the school's doors. Not only have I met many physical hurdles I would not have imagined, I have gained valuable mental and inner spirit (chi) development too. It is a path, for sure. I am fortunate enough to go at least 5 days a week, about 2 hours a day. Were I younger with less immediate responsibilities (fiance, job, etc), I would probably go much more. But balance is important.

Qualities of Kung Fu? Time and Energy. Dedication. Humbleness. Respect. Honor. Strength. (Extreme) cardio fitness. Mental fortitude. Pain management. The list goes on.

I have found Shaolin Kung Fu to work for me. I chose after "researching" the issue, and decided that - generally speaking - other MA applications grew through the roots laid down by this ancient style. I like the hard work involved in anything from basic stance work and chin na (joint locking) to weapons use and sparring. I leave every day absolutely drenched in sweat from the effort; no kidding, it looks like you were dunked in a bathtub!

The "feel" of the school, the attitude and people that make up the school are very important. Also, as previously said, keep away from those "make a buck", "sign a contract", or "pay for belt" places. Do they do the right thing? Is the instructor body (Master/Sifu/etc) there for the enhancement and teaching of the actual art, or just show and fluff? Are they true?

Anyhow, good luck in your endeavors. I have found mine to be continually rewarding. I have attached a couple of pics for fun when I was Blue.

Have a good one,
Eggman.
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Kung Fu.

 

I would love to try that. I'm not sure though where to find it in NJ. Just curious, how much are lessons?

 

Thank you! That's exactly the sort of direction I was hoping for - it sounds like Aikido is what I've been trying to narrow things down to.

 

I would like to add something. Yes it does depend on what you wanna get out of the particular martial art you chose. For me is was because I wanted to learn how to fight better. The thing that I really liked the best when I went to my first leason was what they said, "Here we teach you how to be the best fighter you can be. If you are looking to find some sort of spirituality, or enlightenment, that is what church is for. Here you we teach you how to fight." That my friends, told me that the Gracie Jiu Jitsu was exactly what I was looking for.

I will leave you with a little saying I came up with.

If you don't want the get your ass kicked, you must learn to kick ass.
In order to learn to kick ass, you must first get your ass kicked.