Which martial arts?

[I3igDmsu]

I am in school right now and I have the opportunity to take any of the following MA's: Aikido, Judo, Karate, Kendo, Kung Fu/Tai Chi, TKD.

I am not looking for a 'flashy' MA to impress people. I just want some stand up skills or grappling. BJJ would be ideal but isnt offered for grappling. I also think Muay Tai is great but I also do not have that choice.

I am a beginner in MA's, so don't have much experience. Out of these, which do you recommend I start with?

[Szczepankiewicz]

If it were me I'd do Judo and Tai Chi.

Judo for the hard core training and the grappling.

Tai Chi has benefits including tensile strengthening and breathing exercises. Plus Tai Chi doesn't teach you any corny 'self-defense' that will get you killed.

Karate/Kung Fu/ Taekwondo will teach you how to hurt yourself or get yourself hurt by someone else.

Enjoy.

Spanky

[Sean Dempsey]

Karate/Kung Fu/ Taekwondo will teach you how to hurt yourself or get yourself hurt by someone else.

omg, thanks for the new sig. that's gold.

[I3igDmsu]

so Judo is basically a grappling art? is it based on holds, takedowns and things like that?

anyone have a good definition of what Tai Chi is? the club says that Kung Fu/Tai Chi is combined.. does this make sense? are they the same type of style?

[Szczepankiewicz]

https://www.judoinfo.com

THE best source for Judo on the web.

[Szczepankiewicz]

I'd like to clarify my statement:

Karate/Kung Fu/ Taekwondo will teach you how to hurt yourself or get yourself hurt by someone else.

As I've discussed at length on this and other forums I like to avoid terms such as 'always' and 'never'.

I know of and train with some kung fu/karate folks. I've seen some impressive TKD guys. My point is that each of these arts shares common principles with many others. The advanced practicioners who remain open minded and practical can turn their training into very strong self-defense abilities.

However, the times I have witnessed classes that teach karate/kung fu/taekwondo/aikido/judo and just about everything other art, to include watching classes in my own school I become very concerned with what's going on from a Self Preservation perspective.

That is why I am very hesitant to recommend TMAs to anyone seeking self defense training.

I'll post more on this later.

I'm going to bed.

Spanky

[MrPoopy]

Spanky, if they were teaching self preservation, they wouldn't be teaching martial arts at all. If you got into a brawl with some drunk fool in the street and figured your great martial art was going to save you, only to have that thought blown away by his hand gun, then clearly the drunk slob had self preservation in mind.

Seriously, how much "martial arts" do you really need to preserve yourself?

Most traditional martial arts are heavily based on tradition, and not much else.

I'm not bashing them. I'm getting ready to go to a little Judo tourney in an hour

I think people need to clearly seperate self defense, tradition, and sport.

[BadgerFu57]

Judo is great for grappling, and will teach you throws, footsweeps, armlocks, chokes, and pins. If you want to do Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Judo will provide a good foundation.

Tai Chi is mostly about improving your health. It is not a fighting type of art, but will benefit your health and help prevent injury.

Aikido is a very spiritual art. It is not about being a bad mo' fo', it is about becoming a better person.

TKD/Kung Fu/Karate schools vary from place to place. Basically what I take is, they aren't the greatest for fighting however they are about a "way of life." I am sure Tae Kwon Do tournaments are fun too.

Basically, for self-defense you need two things. Resisting opponents, and a brain. The brain you have to come up with on your own, but as for improving physically.... Judo, Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, even Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (or even some schools of traditional jiu-jitsu) are the way to go. I also know that some aikido schools do randori (free sparring, similar to Judo/JuJu). Try out the schools, find one you like, and take a class for a few months. Try to watch out for hidden contracts and such. Any contract over 3 months is NOT worth it.

[BadgerFu57]

Kendo wouldn't be very practical in this day and age, but who doesn't want to play with swords?

Kendo is like Japanese fencing. It might be fun. Just because it won't make you the next Mixed Martial Arts champion doesn't mean you should rule it out.

[I3igDmsu]

Thanks, I think Judo seems like the best decision for right now. I can learn some of the takedown and grappling techniques and then hopefully move on to muay tai or boxing for some standup techniques in the future.