Which martial art?

[donlogan]

Hi Guys,

This is my first post.

I'm looking for one martial art to learn in my life. As a kid I did boxing, karate, judo and a small amount of jujitsu. I stuck at them for a few months to a few years, and probably did karate the most attaining a blue belt in shotokan karate, if memory servers me correctly.

I just want to get into a decent martial art, stick with it and learn it; instead of becoming a martial arts buff and learning various styles.

So ... I have locally MMA, KM and JKD. I have all the rest too muay thai, karate, wing chun etc. But I'm after something that is both practical and has a good element of sparring preferably.

Any ideas what the best system is given I don't want to know 300 katas, or learn to leap 5ft in the air and do a flying kick? Or attack someone with a large sword?

Cheers,

L

[Garland]

I feel that this is an important question, and one that probably has no real definitive or correct answer. If you are looking to study one art comprehensively and for the rest of your life, I feel that there are only three important criteria; 1) that the art is something you CAN practice all of your life, 2) that the art be functional, and 3) that the art you choose reflects and resonates with you and your personality, preferences, temperment, philosophies, and abilities.

So...

A martial art is not just a method of defense or combatives...even RBSD and WWII combatives people usually have a worldview that it's adherents prescribe to...in other, more traditional arts, there are more metaphysical and philisophical, if not religious and mystical undertones to an art. These things would probably tie into what you would want to subject yourself to for the remainder of your days...there has to be a proper fit...and it is different for everyone.

The other thing is that, I'm assuming you want an art that works for fighting as well as on the other levels. If not, doing tai chi in the park is a wonderful exercise. It really is.

The last thing is that you are a person, and person's bodies and abilities deteriorate as they get old...so remember that (inmho I'd avoid tae kwon do and capoiera...which are pretty arts, but probably hard to practice as your hips go). However, people like Helio Gracie have shown that you can roll all your life with jiu-jitsu. Mas Oyama and Ginchin Funakoshi were throwing reverse punches and axe kicks until the days they died. It's not uncommon to see old boxers turn to becoming worldclass trainers, the same with muay thai fighters...and FMA practitioners are the same way, Sonny Umpad was dancing and swinging those bolos until he finally passed, Leo Giron was the same, and Dan Inosanto is still going strong taking up new arts as a white belt and teaching the plethora of other arts that he's mastered.

If you want to pick an art to practice all your life...
You ARE a martial arts nut. Join the club, you're in good company.
May as well cross-train in my humble opinion...find what works for you on your own terms instead. There is not a "one size fits all" suit, especially when your body and tastes change. That, I think...may be a basis of Jeet Kune Do.

There...I've said my peace.

[Akira]

If you don't want to learn katas or weapons I would wholeheartedly suggest you give muay thai a go. But definately shop around.