Newbie interested in Martial Arts...

[Fendrix]

This really is an age-old question, I know...

And yes I've searched the entire forum for information regarding which martial arts are good/effective and they're all completely biased, so don't yell and scream for me to search the forum to find my answers, cause I've been looking for hours now...

But anyway, I'm 19, excellent physical shape, and I'm interested in Martial Arts to learn for self-defense and for a good workout. Basically, I know that if a group of guys was to come after me, I'd take off, but if I had to defend myself against one person I'd love be able to beat the hell out of him.

I'm about 5'9, 170, which rules out Muay Thai because it's pretty grusome training and I don't have those long kickboxer legs to knock people out. Brazilian Jujitsu seems to be the most effective, but I'm not all that interested in grappling up with strangers in sex like positions all day...

I've looked into Kenpo on a few websites, and I'm not sure which origin is best (Chinese, American, etc.) but it looks pretty badass and I was wondering if that would be a good first martial art to learn. I saw some videos on it and it seems to have most things a martial art should have like combos, grappling, locks, etc. and so I was pretty interested and wanted to know if it was a good "street" useful martial art, like if I ever had to kick somebody's ass in a real life situation, would it be a useful style for me based on my size. Jeet Kune Do is also pretty badass, especially since Bruce Lee is my hero, but I'm not really sure if any places near me offer it. So what do you think? Kenpo? Yay? Nay? I'd really appreciate it if you could say what is an effective style for someone my size. Thanks.

[SergeTk]

Where are you located ?

[Bjjexpertise@be]

This really is an age-old question, I know...

And yes I've searched the entire forum for information regarding which martial arts are good/effective and they're all completely biased, so don't yell and scream for me to search the forum to find my answers, cause I've been looking for hours now...

But anyway, I'm 19, excellent physical shape, and I'm interested in Martial Arts to learn for self-defense and for a good workout. Basically, I know that if a group of guys was to come after me, I'd take off, but if I had to defend myself against one person I'd love be able to beat the hell out of him.

I'm about 5'9, 170, which rules out Muay Thai because it's pretty grusome training and I don't have those long kickboxer legs to knock people out. Brazilian Jujitsu seems to be the most effective, but I'm not all that interested in grappling up with strangers in sex like positions all day...

I've looked into Kenpo on a few websites, and I'm not sure which origin is best (Chinese, American, etc.) but it looks pretty badass and I was wondering if that would be a good first martial art to learn. I saw some videos on it and it seems to have most things a martial art should have like combos, grappling, locks, etc. and so I was pretty interested and wanted to know if it was a good "street" useful martial art, like if I ever had to kick somebody's ass in a real life situation, would it be a useful style for me based on my size. Jeet Kune Do is also pretty badass, especially since Bruce Lee is my hero, but I'm not really sure if any places near me offer it. So what do you think? Kenpo? Yay? Nay? I'd really appreciate it if you could say what is an effective style for someone my size. Thanks.

I say take Muay Thai. Thai boxing isn't necesarilly for people with long legs. Go ahead and go to some Muay Thai schools or clubs and ask if you could watch one of their classes. If you don't like it then look for something else if not then go ahead and give it a shot.

[Tameo]

I would take GM Cheung'sl wing chun if you have it in your area. The system teaches you how to deal with larger opponents than yourself and how not to use force to beat your enemy, it focuses on positioning and getting an advantage during a fight.

[Tameo]

I would also cross-train in mui thai or do some heavy bag workand cardio to improve indurance and power with your strikes.

[Jab902]

Fma?

I'd say Fillipino martial arts it has Combos, jointlocks, weapons(knifesand sticks), and is reality based and problably One of the best for beating someones ass. check it out. I don't suggest Kenpo, it promotes force on force blocking and it's the same as karate (not EXACTALY so nobody yell at me) or boxing would be a good idea.

[Killuminati]

Art is only a tool; It's you who fights and it's your spirit that ensures the victory!

[npk9]

I'll be straight with you. If you're looking for self-defence & nothing else. I suggest Krav Maga. It's a martial art designed by the Israeli Army. The purpose of Krav Maga was to be able to teach anyone (man, women, child) to learn effective defences in the smallest amount of time. There workouts and training are top notch. Now they're system isn't designed for full-contact sports fighting - that is different. This is SELF DEFENCE. Again they have techniques just like traditional martial arts (such as defences against knife, gun, stick) but they also have techniques such as hostage situations. Being the hostage and 3rd party protection - as well as defences against submachine gun, rifles - sling or w/o sling. There is system is valid w/todays world - because there of the nature that there country is in now.

My bias . . . I don't think so - because I'm a tradionalist and Krav Maga doesn't teach values like other Asian martial arts - It's a great supplement to add on or to have a foundation of.

[Tom Yum]

Now they're system isn't designed for full-contact sports fighting - that is different. This is SELF DEFENCE. Again they have techniques just like traditional martial arts (such as defences against knife, gun, stick) but they also have techniques such as hostage situations. Being the hostage and 3rd party protection - as well as defences against submachine gun, rifles - sling or w/o sling. There is system is valid w/todays world - because there of the nature that there country is in now.

What kind of self-defense are you talking about?

Mike Tyson is a full contact fighter. Do you think he can defend himself? Actually he has taken on 4 thugs at a time and beat them all down. It was in the news about 2 years ago.

Ok, not everyone is Tyson...fair enough, some guys with as much as 6 months training and sparring in muay thai can defend themselves decently.

Defense against submachine guns and rifles???? That's not realistic.

I'm not putting down Krav. I think its up there with realistic self-defense (minus the submachine gun and nuclear bomb self defense ), but to say full contact fighting can't teach you self-defense is wrong.

[Fendrix]

Thanks for your help/advice so far...

I'm in the Atlanta area and I've done a little bit of research and heard that Tiger Academy had a great defense program where they teach about 80% Muay Thai, 10% Jiu Jitsu, and another 10% about Wing Chun all in a day's work. I was really impressed by that and I think y'all would agree that sounds pretty good. Also, after so many weeks you can switch and say I really like ______, so I'd like to study that 100% instead. Hopefully I'll be able to visit a class soon and see how it looks, but a guy I met (at the phone store actually lol) said the head guy was amazing and had some sick undefeated record to demonstate his skills, but said he was also a great teacher. So I'm gonna go check it out cause that sounded great to me. What do you think? Thanks for all the replies.

[npk9]

What kind of self-defense are you talking about?

Mike Tyson is a full contact fighter. Do you think he can defend himself? Actually he has taken on 4 thugs at a time and beat them all down. It was in the news about 2 years ago.

Ok, not everyone is Tyson...fair enough, some guys with as much as 6 months training and sparring in muay thai can defend themselves decently.

Defense against submachine guns and rifles???? That's not realistic.

I'm not putting down Krav. I think its up there with realistic self-defense (minus the submachine gun and nuclear bomb self defense ), but to say full contact fighting can't teach you self-defense is wrong.

Traditional martial arts doesn't address todays weapons. You have to understand that in Israel they have those types of weapons. Believe me - I think that defenses against HK5 or AK-47 are pointless in the US. But over there. . its an every other day occurence. Traditional martial arts takes a long period of time to develope. Heck I know for a fact that kung-fu does even have defences against situations where person is on you up against a wall with a gun to your bottom of your back.

Now - I'm not saying that people with other backgrounds in martial arts can't defend themselves but to address this thread - he's looking for self-defence, he didn't say what specifically if it was against unarmed or armed assailants - but I was assuming that he needed something that he needed something that emcompassed everything. Unfortunately tradional asian martial arts styles have not changed with the times - or that most of us believe these styles to be the word of the gospel

[npk9]

I'm not putting down Krav. I think its up there with realistic self-defense (minus the submachine gun and nuclear bomb self defense ),

You should research the subject matter and then post - not understanding the background of a style and making remark is novice

[Tom Yum]

You should research the subject matter and then post - not understanding the background of a style and making remark is novice

You're right, I am a novice.

[jubaji]

Believe me - I think that defenses against HK5 or AK-47 are pointless in the US. But over there. . its an every other day occurence.

I think you missed his point.

[Tom Yum]

I think you missed his point.

Yep, but its cool. I think He/She was trying to rag on me for not knowing anything about KM and truthfully, I only know about it from a few folks who've done it and from what I've read.

It seems to be taught at alot of female friendly places that also include cardio kickboxing. That's good, because Tae-bo don't cut it despite the video testimonies that say it does.