Need help on choosing martial arts

[EmptyneSs]

And like the guy said above me with xma, that sounds like something I might like because I would like to learn how to do the backflips and handstands and that jazz too.

matt blake? tkd person?

[benevolentdemon]

Ok, well it seems that muay thai is good for self-defense and I think I'm going to choose that but I can't seem to find any schools or teachers near me, maybe someone can help me fine, I live in Algonquin, Illinois, 60102, preferable a place that is within 30 minutes of me would be nice. Also if nobody can help me find one or I can't find any either, I would like to know other martial arts that are similar and as effective as muay thai, but I would really be happy if I could learn muay thai though, so help would be appreciated, thanks.

[7r14ngL3Ch0k3]

Ok, well it seems that muay thai is good for self-defense and I think I'm going to choose that but I can't seem to find any schools or teachers near me, maybe someone can help me fine, I live in Algonquin, Illinois, 60102, preferable a place that is within 30 minutes of me would be nice. Also if nobody can help me find one or I can't find any either, I would like to know other martial arts that are similar and as effective as muay thai, but I would really be happy if I could learn muay thai though, so help would be appreciated, thanks.

Have you considered joining your highschool wrestling team?

You mentioned you wanted to learn how to take people down when attacked? Wrestling is great for that.... The practices will get you in really good shape and help you develop your competitive mindset...

[13ang]

I would suggest starting with taekwondo. Its easy to find a decent school in your area, and a great martial art to start your training. It is an arial form of the martial arts so you will be learning the fancy stuff as well as some basic down to earth self defense.

Starting with a grappling art isnt a great idea in my oppinion, and muay thai is almost impossible to find a decent school, especialy in illinois I would imagine.

[jubaji]

Starting with a grappling art isnt a great idea in my oppinion, .

..................Why?

[Teharesudar]

well beneloventdemon...

A lot of people will say something like kung fu is useless in a fight... but if you're not interested in self-defense it can be very fun

for self-defense i recommend a standup striking art to begin with (muy tai, tkd, kempo) and then supplement it with grappling art (jiu jitsu, judo, etc)... or do mma for a combination of both

This "lot of people" are SOOOOO WROONNGGG. I live in the Chicago area like benevolentdemon. As a young Hispanic kid from the "hood", the only martial art available when young was boxing. Yes. It is indeed a sweet science. The body positioning and footwork skills developed are far superior to any other art. However, as sweet a science as it is, it is limited by the rules of the sport (i.e. no clinching, punches below the belt, leg strikes etc..).

While in college, I started taking Wing Chun kung fu. The trapping skills and efficient blocks learned were phenomenal. in fact, with the combined skills acquired from both arts, I made my income during the latter college years and law school working as a bouncer in several chicago night clubs.

Now, as an old man with three rugrats, I have started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I am slowly, but surely, adding an additional dimension to the previously acquired skills. I must add, without any hesitation, that BJJ is perhaps the most grueling martial art, and for good reason. On the ground, you are leveraging your own weight from a most difficult position, and also an opponents weight.

Bottom line, as another poster stated, Benevolentdemon, you are far better off to invest the time sufficient to learn one art very well, then move on to another art. There are no shortcuts wherein you could acquire mutliple skills simultaneously. Particularly if you are weightlifting 3 times a week. Even at your envious testosterone raging age, recovery is just as important as muscle breakdown. Any and all martial arts have their limitations and weak points. But, when one trains enough in ONE martial art to become proficient, it usually supercedes what the general population is capable of.

Thus, Benevolentdemon, your choice is limited as follows. Take the best instruction available, given your geographic location and financial limitations, possible. Later, in your more dollar daddy years, you can always supplement. Do not make the mistake of going to a half ass school just because the product they sell seems to be a cure all martial art.

You might end up like Napoleon Dynamite and his brother attending a joke school.

i will post some info for GOOD schools near Algonquin.

Peace Out

Uncle Rico

[13ang]

..................Why?

For the same reason they use kung fu for martial arts movies rather than BJJ. Its just more fun to learn/practice/watch, especialy for a beginer. Also alot easier to practice by yourself.

[jubaji]

So...because you think grappling isn't fun enough? That's your reason?

[Teharesudar]

Hi I am new to wanting to learn martial arts, I am 15, 5 foot 7 and I weigh 110 lbs, I lift weights on mondays wednesdays and fridays and I do 50 crunches and 50 leg lifts almost everyday.

Question 1. What do you do ( or have you done) to build a solid aerobic base? Your weightlifting routines and general overall conditioning, would benefit far better(produce better results) if you start out with a highly developed aerobic base. And contrary to what others might induce you into doing, this means that for about 10-12 weeks, you have to skip the weights and train 3-4-5 times a week at a lower heart rate than you might be accustomed to. This will not only produce greater results while weight training, but assist any athletic endeavor you might partake in.

Question 2. What, and how often do you eat? At 5'7", 110 lbs means you have to gain mass. And NO, this does not mean buying crap mass gainers from GNC. Eat clean, eat healthy, but just more often. This means lean protein, low glycemic carbs (EXCEPT, after a workout) and getting a full ration of vitamins and minerals, and THEN SOME, to take into account the extra body busting,

Question 3. What does your weightlifting routine consist of? I need to know to provide advice,

Arnold

[Tom Yum]

Arnold?

Is that you?

Arnold Schwarzenegger ? You rock, man!

[13ang]

If you dont enjoy your martial art, you will wind up quitting. I have seen SO many guys join up with a MMA or grapling school and then quit in the first week/month/year because they simply didnt enjoy it.

For a 15 year old I dont think 5'7" 110 is too horrible, just means he is a little skinny. He will most likely fill out naturaly within the next year or two.

[jubaji]

and btw, an awful lot of people end up quitting tkd - not fun enough?

If you dont enjoy your martial art, you will wind up quitting. I have seen SO many guys join up with a MMA or grapling school and then quit in the first week/month/year because they simply didnt enjoy it.

You don't think grappling is enjoyable enough? That's your reason?



An odd and subjective outlook.

[13ang]

well, compare the amount of movies based on kung fu with the amount of movies based on bjj

Movies are about entertainment. Im not saying I personaly dont enjoy it, but I think it requires you to look a little deeper than some of the more 'flashy' arts such as kung fu and taekwondo.

Completely depends on the person, but I would be willing to be the average beginner would be alot more compelled by a taekwondo demonstration than a grappling demonstration, wich they most likely wont be able to tell appart from high school wrestling.

[jubaji]

You are a nutcase.

[benevolentdemon]

Question 1. What do you do ( or have you done) to build a solid aerobic base? Your weightlifting routines and general overall conditioning, would benefit far better(produce better results) if you start out with a highly developed aerobic base. And contrary to what others might induce you into doing, this means that for about 10-12 weeks, you have to skip the weights and train 3-4-5 times a week at a lower heart rate than you might be accustomed to. This will not only produce greater results while weight training, but assist any athletic endeavor you might partake in.

Question 2. What, and how often do you eat? At 5'7", 110 lbs means you have to gain mass. And NO, this does not mean buying crap mass gainers from GNC. Eat clean, eat healthy, but just more often. This means lean protein, low glycemic carbs (EXCEPT, after a workout) and getting a full ration of vitamins and minerals, and THEN SOME, to take into account the extra body busting,

Question 3. What does your weightlifting routine consist of? I need to know to provide advice,

Arnold

1. Eh, I don't totally understand the question, so probably no, I guess?

2. Yeah I actually don't eat much, maybe twice or three times a day and it consists of cereal in the morning, burger or subway sandwhich at lunch, and then a carl budding beef sandwhich or two after school. But I don't starve myself, for some reason I am able to run off of low amounts of food for many hours, but then again that might be bacause besides lifting weights and doing abdominal muscle excersises I'm not very active at all.

3. I used to do lightweight lifting which consisted of:
Benchpress: 3 sets, 10 reps, 80-90 lbs.
Curl: 3 sets, 10 reps, 40-45 lbs.
Wrist rollers: 3 sets, 10 reps, 40-45 lbs.
Military Press: 3 sets, 10 reps, 50-65 lbs.
Bentover Row: 3 sets, 10 reps, 40 lbs.
Toe raise: 3 sets, 15 reps, 40 lbs.
And i think the last is called a half sit or something and that is: 3 sets, 12 reps, 30 lbs.

But now since I feel I need to gain some weight (in muscle of course) I've been doing this workout for the past month or so.

Benchpress: 3 sets, 6-7 reps, 115-130 lbs.
Curl: 3 sets, 6 reps, 60-65 lbs.
Wrist rollers: 3 sets, 6 reps, 60-65 lbs.
Military Press: 3 sets, 6-7 reps, 70-85 lbs.
Bentover Row: 3 sets, 6-7 reps, 60 lbs.
Toe raise: 3 sets, 8-10 reps, 90-100 lbs.
And i think the last is called a half sit or something and that is: 3 sets, 6-7 reps, 50 lbs.

Well there ya go, hope that helps.