I need help choosing style!!!!!!!

[mjc62]

ALthough each person reading this probably has their own bias, I wanted to solicit some help anyway.

I have access to three dojos all withing walking distance from home. They offer Kung Fu, Karate (I-ryu, G-ryu), Aikiedo, and Judo.

As I choose what will most likely be the start of a long,long journey, I want to understand and know why I am choosing which one.

While many styles have there own unique advantage, which style(if it exists) would be the most well rounded? I am facinated by the loint/lock throws of Aikeido, the throws and grappling with Judo, the strikes with Karate. From my limited knowledge, I understand that in picking one of the above, it will lean towards one area;they each seem to be lacking in what the next one may offer...

Is there a style that is an awesome blend of the three above, that is know by name? Vs. one dicipline & Dojo that will teach me their homecooked hodge-podge?

And/Or, if I had to choose from the ones available in walking distance (Kung Fu, Aikeido,Judo, Karate) which one has a comprehensive fighting diversity "from day one"? I hope to aviod getting the blend in peices or steps over the years. I.e, I probably wouldn't learn joint lock throw equal to Aikeido with Karate "from the start". It seems that w/ karate, that stuff is condidered advanced??? And while I'll learn kicks punching early on with karate, it won't be exposing me to throws,grapple, joint throws early on....

If martial arts is like a 4-course meal-with years to advance to the next course, where is the style that serves a much smaller, beginner portion of all 4 at once? With the idea that as you grow, the portions and difficulty get bigger as you go? To get the entire picture at once, albiet entry level would be great, and more comprehensive....

Help!!!

[JaredExtreme]

The style you choose really depends on what you want. Do you want to get in shape? Do you want to compete? Or do you want an emphasis on self-defense?

If I were you I would go watch each school in person and ask yourself if what they're teaching is really what you're interested in.

For example, you may go to the judo school and really like the throws and competition, but realize that judo lacks striking and therefore has a deficit in self-defense.

You may like the Aikido joint locks, but you should also understand that 90% of Aikido schools don't spar whatsoever, and therefore it's hard to relate the techniques in a self-defense situation where your opponent is resisting and may want to KILL you.

Kung-fu and Karate may have striking but waste too much time on forms and kata.


So definetely go check out each school. Talk to the instructors, and then choose which school you feel most comfortable in and suits your needs.

Unfortunatly there is no one all encompassing martial art, if there was, there'd be no such things as McDojos !!!

[Tom Yum]

Like Jared said, it depends on what you want. Sounds like you are looking for comprehensive self-defense from the start. People begin with an idea and as their training continues, they favor certain things and their idea evolves.

Some things to consider is your time commitment, current level of physical fitness, what you feel comfortable doing and what you want from your training. Do you want competition (TKD, karate, judo, wrestling or boxing), self-defense (hapkido, wing chun, Philipine MAs), a combination of both (BJJ, Muay Thai, San Shou, Sambo etc.) or for health/excercise (Tai Chi, Wushu, Capoeira) The more involved in competition, demands for fitness are higher.


See for yourself. Go visit a couple of different schools, talk with the instructors and see what you like.

[mjc62]

THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT. YOU BOTH QUICKLY ARTICULATED WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CONVEY. CONDITIONING IS IMPORTANT TO ME FOR SURE. HOWEVER, I DON'T HAVE ALOT OF TIME TO DEDICATE PER WEEK, BUT CAN OFFER THE COMMITMENT OF THE LONG TERM. I WAS A BIT BORED WITH THE KATAS FOUND IN KARATE. I HAVE READ SO MANY POSTS HERE THAT AIKEIDO SEEMS NOT TO BE WHAT I WOULD WANT. THAT LEAVES KUNG FU AND JUDO (LAST 2 OFFERED IN MY TOWN - ANN ARBOR,MI) SINCE I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK TO THE DOJO. I AM LEANING NOW TOWARDS JUDO, HOPING I WILL GET SOME EXCERSIZE, AND LEARN AN EFFECTICE TECHNIQUE THAT WOULD BENIFIT ME.

WHILE I DON'T PLAN ON GETTING INTO FIGHTS (@ 40, TOO OLD, AND GOT THAT OUT OF MY SYSTEM LOOOONG AGO) IT IS COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE INVESTING YOUR TIME INTO SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BREAK DOWN IN A 911 SITUATION. AND COMPETITION DOES NOT INTEREST ME. TOO BAD THERE IS NOT A PHILLIPINO STYLE OR A (SP?) MAV CRAUVE?? IN MY TOWN...

I HAVE FOUND MOST EVERY WEB SITE ON VARIOUS STYLES TO BE DISSAPOINTING. HEAVY ON PICS AND COMPETITIONS AND LITE ON GOOD READING/ADVISEMENT

THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK

[Shane16]

Hey everyone,

I'm a 16 year old male...6' tall and a mear 130 pounds I'm not muscular by any means so i tend to get picked on quite a bit. occasionaly I get beat up because 5 guys is 5 too many so i was wondering if Karate would be right for me. I would really like something that would boost my self esteem and give me a good workout. Karate is the closest option i have ..every other style is too far away. So i what I am asking here is if that karate would be worth the the time? Thanks to anyone who replies!

Sincerely,

Shane16

[Tom Yum]

What's up Shane, what style of karate is it or who is teaching it? 5 guys picking on you - single 2 or 3 out when they are alone and talk to them; what gives?

Some styles of karate are a little stiff and old-fashioned (Shotokan) but this is my opinion. Others are more flexible and encompass a modern approach - Shorin Ryu, Ishin Ryu, Kenpo etc.

If karate is the closest to you and most feasable, go for it!

---------------------------------------

MJC,

Sounds like self-defense and safety is your no.1 concern. I would learn judo or jiujitsu (especially Brazillian). About getting excercise, buy a jump rope - make sure its not too long but long enough for your height, do push ups, pull ups, sit ups etc. There are a lot of work out routines in the physical training thread. Good luck.

[huey]

i agree with many of the points above for both of the people asking which style with a couple of "should mentions"
first off i have never taken judo but have a very good friend that is a black belt in it. we would converse about our mutual interests and during such conversations i had inquired about the ranking system of judo and how he would move up in rank. for the school he attended (and again not being a member of the organization this may be wrong) and all others you have to compete to get rank.
i feel the whole 'i'm to old to fight' thing but you don't have to start one to be in one. i would like to believe that all young people respect people of advanced ages (i didn't say old) but they don't. i have seen the aftermath of guys in their early twenties punching 50 year olds for no reason other than the time of day. sensing and seeing and hearing the trademark standouts is a good tool to use and more of a weapon than many people give credit, but sometimes that is not enough.

to tom yum and jared extreme i have only posted a couple of replies on this forum but have read several of yours. you guys and i have very close views on many things. From what i have read it seems that you guys are level headed thinkers and realists to a high degree. have you studied long because the questions and points you raise lead me to think that you have studied for ten or more years?

and shane it is good that you are interested in the martial arts and with that i mean so many 16 year olds around me want to hang out and do nothing. if the nearest discipline that you can reach is a karate school and you find that you like the teachings then by all means jump in with both feet. learn everything you can in that style, take it as far as you can, but don't forget that there are more things out there for you to learn. more instructors that you may find you have a connection with and that can take you in another direction or improve on what you have learned. i was like that in many respects with the first style i learned and again with the second. i have been in my current art for more than 15 years but have crossed trained in five others off and on for four years or more.
jump into the learning pool and you won't get wet feet, just a sweaty brow. take care.

[Madchat18]

Also Shane, I've found that Muay Tai can help you in a group situation. If the 1st aggressor charges in, grab the head down with both hands and knee straight up. Be careful, you may (80% positive that you will) break his nose and/or jaw, so maybe don't use the all out force. Look up some Vanderlei Silva fights, he's got one of the meanest knee strikes in the business. Also, you're built kinda like I was in school, I was 6'2" 155, Use your reach!!! I love sparing boxing with my short friends. That brings up another point, find someone who has a trampoline and use it to practice grappling, don't do throws on it tho. I've found a trampoline will help you learn to get out of mount and into guard or mount yourself because you have more room under you. It makes some of the moves easier because of the extra room, letting you practice said move more.

[kengar]

Isshinryu Karate or Judo. And if there is some way to do them both then that would be great for you.




Ken

[jubaji]

I wonder what he finally chose?

[jubaji]

That would be a good choice.

[Tant01]

That would be a good choice.

I tend to agree.....

[TigerClaw]

Kung-fu ...may have striking but waste too much time on forms and kata.

Without proper stance training and forms you won't be able to fight properly, in my opinion. You will end up a kick boxer or become sloppy and unbalanced, with many other difficulties in movement. I also refer to the two man sparring forms in Kung Fu that are needed for form fighting and stance movement.

I know this is an old post, but I thought I would post for the record

[KenshiRyan]

Without proper stance training and forms you won't be able to fight properly, in my opinion. You will end up a kick boxer or become sloppy and unbalanced, with many other difficulties in movement.

Honestly.....

do you really need to constantly mock other martial arts?

You truely are self concious about your ability,
I mean to pull down so many good martial arts over and over again...

I can actually tell with almost certainty that you have never trained in any style outside of kung fu, you've also never actually had to use your skills in a REAL situation, you've placed so much time and effort into kung fu; the thought of you being beaten by somone from another style scares and worries you, and so you re-assure yourself with bullshit idea's about how the other style fails and how you can beat them without ever actually applying these ideas, you then spout this crap over the internet in hope's that people will agree with you adding to you self created reassurance,

It's really quite sad, although this would explain alot about why you are so self deluded.

[TigerClaw]

Honestly.....

do you really need to constantly mock other martial arts?

I am not mocking. You are the one who seems to be mocking me.I do rebuke others who attack kung fu and things of traditional kung fu that I teach. but that is not wrong to do. You assume i am attacking their style, not so. I rebuke the men, specifically, the liars and mockers and false assumers. They get in a huff and attack me back wrongly many times.

Kick boxing has its place and it is still a fighting method. But If a person wants to study, lets say Kung Fu, there are many movements that are specific to that style. if they practice them right, they will be doing kung fu. But if they don't they will become slopy and looser and their style will no longer resemble Kung Fu. It still may work for them, but it won't be the styles they learned. I believe that so many , many people have gone on this path. they start out learning a style and forms and they get discouraged because after a few months of learning them they think they cannot fight like that. So they turn to a more loose style of fighting, kick boxing. But i am trying to encourage others to continue their forms training and try to use the moves in real combat. Work hard on stances and repeat techniques that work for you , over and over and over, and with two man applications as well.

You truely are self concious about your ability,
I mean to pull down so many good martial arts over and over again...

You are wrong as usual when attacking me.

I don't put people down, I provoke them to actually work harder at the traditional fighting style and not to abandon it for a sloppy style of fighting. That is my opinion and experience and what I teach everywhere. If i do rebuke some for their rudeness and false assumptions about me and my styles, they usually deserve it. If they are rude and arrogant towards me ( which many , many are) i correct them, and it make them more arrogant, sadly.

You have no idea how very wrong you are about me and your false judgement of me. I come in with good intentions and honest discussions and others are the attackers often.

I can actually tell with almost certainty that you have never trained in any style outside of kung fu,

Wrong, I have. You can't tell hardly anything about me it seems.

you've also never actually had to use your skills in a REAL situation,

Wrong again as usual. I have.

you've placed so much time and effort into kung fu; the thought of you being beaten by somone from another style scares and worries you, and so you re-assure yourself with bullshit idea's about how the other style fails and how you can beat them without ever actually applying these ideas, you then spout this crap over the internet in hope's that people will agree with you adding to you self created reassurance,

LOL, very wrong as usual, lol. By the way i am not attacking all other styles. I find good things in many styles. Even in Kick boxing at times. but I teach kung Fu and that is my passion as far as martial arts go. So yes my mindset is on Kung Fu. It it broad enough and has so much to learn or a lifetime.