Style for beginner?

[sam5935]

Hello

I am looking to start classes in a martial art. My main goal is to find a style that will relatively quickly enable me to enhance my skills at defending myself in a real-world situation where someone assaults me. I am also looking for a physical/spiritual fitness component as well. Can anyone give me their opinions on where I should start looking as far as styles? Thanks!

[Tom Yum]

If you're looking for good self defense and mental/spirtual aspects of martial arts, I would recommend finding a traditional martial art school that teaches jiujitsu, Korean Martial Arts (not TKD), chinese kenpo or maybe gong fu/chin na.

Jiu jitsu is a combat method created for the warrior class in Japan. It has elements of throwing and finishing techniques - reason being that on heavily armored opponents on the battlefield could not be defeated by empty handed strikes.

Korean Martial arts come in different styles - Hapkido, Kuk Sool, Tukong Musool, Hwa Rang Do and Ship pal gi to name a few. All of them are trained in the tradtional style with an emphasis on teaching self-defense, breathing excercises, form practice and general conditioning.

Chinese Kenpo is a system of karate that originated in China that is well known for its circular hand strikes and ability to flow from technique to technique. Chinese kenpo practicioners can hit extremely quick and have excellent accuracy.

Gong fu is a general term for Chinese martial arts. There are thousands of styles that go into depth about learning styles of movement based on various concepts. The self defense applications are in chin na (grabbing and seizing) and are a set of viscious techniques taken from the system of movement.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Tom Yumsfelt: Poet, Warrior, and Official Walmart Greeter.

http://www.martialresource.com/

This site will give you an idea of what each art has to offer.

Be wary of practicioners of Bul Shi Tsu...

[Tom Yum]

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz
Tom Yumsfelt: Poet, Warrior, and Official Walmart Greeter.

...I am official now? WOO HOO!!

[Szczepankiewicz]

Don't be so modest. I know you've already got the uniform...

[Tom Yum]

I wandered into the store in a drunken stupor one evening with a navy blue toga and I leave with a job! It doesn't get any better than that!!

Since the drunkeness wore off and my speaking ability returned to its "polished and coherent" form, old man Burns has been keeping a watchfull eye on me. He's concerned that I might overperform and make him look bad, so off to the drunken stupor I go

[Szczepankiewicz]

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.