Martial Arts
 

I am quite interested in doing some type of martial art but I am not sure what to do. I have an interest in Aikido and karate but I am not sure which one I should really go with also I have no idea where I would learn Aikido from.

:vsign:

What are your goals?

If you want to become super tough and have the option of competing in the ring I'd suggest Boxing, Muay Thai or Kyokushin Karate (or any other type of full contact, sport karate). I heard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is pretty tough as well as Judo if you're into grappling over striking.

If you prefer to learn something traditional or spiritual then Aikido, Tai-Chi (or any other type of Kung-fu) might be for you.

Otherwise if you want to learn something Acrobatic and dynamic then Wu-shu, Capoiera or TaeKwondo might be your thing.

I did Aikido and it was great its basicly stretching of the joints and there is alot of throwing (At the class I did anyways) But I would suggest Aikido ^^

I do Taekwondo, kickboxing, and ground fighting. Those are all great. If you want to learn alot of diffrent kicks, go with Taekwondo, if you prefer your hands go for boxing, ground fighting(MMA style) is great if you ever wrestled, or just want to try it.

Martial arts are good for you mentally and physically.

One suggestion though, don't just go for any school, look into it, research it. There are some schools that are better than others.

it really up to you look around see what look good to you rite not im TKD and Judo but ived done muay thai

even though people say aikido is very spiritual. If you practice it enough that it becomes muscle memory then you will probably incredibly strong without moving so much...lol

the reality is aikido, alot of chinese martial arts, ninjutsu, and most koryu (old school) STRESS, and when i say stress, i mean STRESS technique. Whereas karate, taekwondo, muay thai, pankration, karate and such, might have different moves, but they don't stress technique nearly as much.

MMA i don't like so much...Its made for competition, not for outside battle. Me and my friends used to "spar" but really actually trying to ascert our surpiority over the other so we actually were trying to hurt the other person into submission. If you asked me which i'd choose, I'd say pankration, and/ or muaythai...that's it...brazilian jyu jutsu and japnese jyujutsu just have different airs, but i don't liek how it STICKS to the ground, like you belong on the ground, even though your supposed to stand up. I'm more like the person that if i go down, I'm breaking a hinge joint, simple. Now because people are seeing what is what and how, in and octogaon ring, makes MMA more popular, i don't see why...Yes its awesome, loved it until noone had no new styles, in which case i was like fuck this...

what i really want to do, but can't for reasons that are distrubing are ninjutsu, as my base, northern mantis, ba gua or taichi, piqua and baji....o and aikido or aikijyujutsu...but that'sjust me...lol

Aikido!

-releases tension
-increases flexibility & endurance
-establishes camaraderie among aikidokas
-non competitive (key is harmony!)

well... for the 3rd time today i'll say it again that aikido is really good... lol :D

I've always wanted to do some form of martial arts. Either that, or boxing. People just take the piss though because I'm a little girl, so I've never really got into either. When I say I want to do it people are just like LOL and if everyone else is like that there, then I expect I won't be so comfortable.

I don't know what you mean... plenty of girls practice martial arts and are really good at it, too! (yeah, even little ones xD)

Myself, I practiced Kung-fu for 6 years, and I'm starting Kendo classes next year.

To the OP, my advice is that you go and watch a class of every martial art you're interested in as an spectator, and then choose from there... You can't really go wrong, almost every martial art is good, you just got to find one that suits you.

I know. but round my area no-one does it, and if I say I want to do it they just find it funny >.< Which isn't the best encouragement around.

Then be the first one :D ! Who cares what other people think? Just do it!
You might even start a trend or something :p

I do BJJ and Taekwondo and both do really well for me. If anyone actually asks what style I do I actually say Jeet Kune Do. I DO practice it but, more so than that I take what works for me from several other styles. While I take classes on BJJ, TKD and JKD I study other arts like Tai chi, Shaolin, and Judo.


Essentaly you can teach yourself martial arts. But 90% of the time it's better to train with a master.

And don't worry about what other people think. Martial arts is a very personal thing. It'll change your lifestyle if you take it far enough.

I'm doing Aikido. Think I'll join in with the Aikido Rules! group we seem to have here....
But, on a more serious note: its about preferance. I do Aikido becuase its not competitive. You don't 'fight' in it. However, if you like sparring (and have seen most any martial arts movie) then go for one like that. It'll be good for you, whichever one you choose.
MissMisa: which part of the UK you in? If your dead certain about wanting to take one up I'll ask around a few friends and see if they know anyone local to you that does something.....(note: too nice for my own good at times)

martial arts
 

well first you must decide why you wanna use martial art is it for self defend or hurting some one ,karate is basic use for hurting opponent and aikido is some thing else in aiki you'r have option ,my suggestion is Ki aikido ,its relaxing its effective develops good posture and balance and require a use of brain :D

Those who dismiss your interest in martial arts as a joke don't understand martial arts. Dere is right, there are many women of all sizes and ages that are skilled various martial arts. There are at least two excellent female teachers here. Both of them compete in several different paths of study.

When I was fencing, I wanted to take up kendo. An injury sidelined that, but since then I done a little bit of Tai Chi and plan to phase in more of it as I phase out some of my dance classes.

Whoa, I would stay off advice like that. You need to know how to kick and punch properly. Half the people I taught THOUGHT that they know how to hold a fist, but most DON'T. If they punch with those "FIST", they will end up losing all fingers

THOUGH, it is true that once you learn the basic, you can practice yourself and master certain technique. Martial art is an exercise AND a sport, but an exercise that empower you to defend yourself. The art of "Fighting" is about mastering the basic technique and combine them together, while applying a strategy to it....

DO GET YOURSELF A QUALIFIED TRAINER IF YOU WANT TO TRAIN IN MARTIAL ART.

What martial art to take, thats a personal prefernce, and depend on what you want to do. Your size, speed and power is all relevant, so you have to take these into consideration.

What my meaning was was that while it's true that you can teach yourself how to fight. You want to have a master or a sensei or a trainer or whatever.

I think that we where saying the same thing just in different ways. Maby I should have explained my point differently.

I practice no martial arts sports.
However, if I were to choose to learn one, it would be either Muay Thai or Kyokushin Karate. I have great respect for both.

@MissMisa

TalnSG is right. Don't let your peers effect your decision to learn a martial art. It's a commitment; important, life-changing knowledge. Anyone who considers martial arts as a joke simply doesn't understand it.

I'm sure there is at least a few people in your area that practice some form of martial art. And if they can do it... You can do it.

You have our support.

MissMisa, have you considered starting with something simple while you search for a good teacher? Though my discpline is lacking and I don't practice nearly enough, I have a good video lesson for Tai Chi exercises and there are even better ones out now on CD. If you have that and a full length mirror you you can begin learning the set of movements on your own until you find a teacher. Then you will probably need some corrrection, but you'll be closer to your goal.

Both extremely deadly art :) Good choice, the interesting thing is that, with both Muay Thai and Kyokushin, because its heavily emphasize on "true combat", they really know how to train you. Its easy to start and pickup, but very very difficult to master.

Kyokushi was originated from Koryu (I think MOST or ALL Karate is from Koryu), but they don't do too much of the meditation or the forms.....

The other one is Shoto Ryu which have a lot of kicks that resembles Muay Thai kicks.....

I'm Training to be a Muay Thai boxer, it's difficult, but exetremely rewarding.

MMA is un-challenging? Its either you are really gifted/talented or your teacher is not teaching you anything

Nooooo!!!! Bajiquan! Bajiquan!! >.< It feels so gooooooooooooood.

I did self defence when I was little. It was strange, and I can't remember much (apart from being beaten up by my sister) ^_^ To be honest, Taekwondo is the one that appeals most. I'm thinking of taking it up soon, though I'll most likely die from my unhealthy diet and general unfitness :P

I can't believe you could teach yourselves these things though, definitly need a master :D

Yeah, but the problem is you can't even find a real authentic school that teaches Bajiquan

TKD is great if you are flexible.... otherwise the stretches will kill you.. I never stopped training in TKD, been training for about 14 years now, trust me, the stretches kill me everytime :)

Brilliant. Bad thing I'm not flexible :D I guess it's good to push yourself sometimes though!

Exactly what location are you talking about? o.o

But... Bajiquan isn't exactly a good starter. Some people take basic karate as a starter, and then build around that.

I know I have to stretch - It's important in any martial art... But I hate it immensely. lol

What you can do is "throw" your leg up but I suspect you can't control it. I'm somewhat the same... I can "throw" my leg up past head height quite easily but when it comes to transitioning from one kick to another or when throwing multiple kicks with the same leg I lose height on the subsequent kicks because I'm not as flexible as I'd like to be.

You don't nessesaraly "have" to stretch. But if you're going into really complicated kicks or manuvers that require you be flexible, it's a good idea, it can avoid injury so it's not totally without merit. But Tenchu has a point in that streaching dosen't automaticly make your limbs powerful.


It's simple anatomy. Streaching your muscles frequently makes them longer and springier. Meaning you can extend, twist, contract, or move with them better. Now there are millions of ways to do this. But the key to becoming flexible is time and practice.

Now just becouse you are flexible,it does not make your techniques perfect. And it does not give you the technique, mental power and raw physical strength that you have to combine with flexibility, that makes your techniques sharp. But Stretching, if you do it conventioanally, or if you just thow lots and lots of kicks and punches, over and over again. Is very important. Anyway you look at it.

I see.. well if you're happy with your ability then that's fine as your kicking will maintain you flexibility but it won't improve it. Personally I find high kicks are beautiful and while Asakura is correct, flexibility is but one factor in the equation, it's a factor that needs to be improved in my case nonetheless to achieve the results I want. Therefore for me stretching is important in training.

I understand what you mean.

In my case, however, some of my training involves various dodging maneuvers that require a significant amount of flexibility and control to perform. Therefore, it is essential for me to stretch.
Muay Thai fighters (like yourself) generally don't flip or roll during a fight, so it's somewhat understandable that you wouldn't emphasize stretching to the same degree.

Different martial arts may encourage stretching at different levels -- but recognition of it's importance exists, nonetheless. It provides many of benefits.

~ But that still doesn't change the fact that I hate doing it, of course.