Martial arts suggestions?

[Le Pirate]

I'm thinking about starting up. mostly to get into shape, but I've always wanted to get into it.

when I was a kid, I took moo duk kwan classes for about a year and really enjoyed it.

my options around here are:

Judo & Jujitsu
Aikido
Kung Fu
Tang soo do

(these are all taught at the local YMCA)

There is also a MMA/ Thai Kickboxing school here, but it's quite a bit more pricey, and I'm not really into the whole UFC sceen (I here all the guys who train there want to be fighters). I really enjoyed the moo duk kwan classes when I was younger....and the judo looks like alot of fun.

any suggestions/opinions?

[somegirl]

Lots of difference between all of those styles.  Is there anything in particular besides getting in shape that you are looking for?

There can also be a huge difference between different schools / instructors.

If they allow it, I'd recommend sitting in or at least observing one of each class, and see what appeals to you the most, and where you get a good feeling from the way the instructors are working with the students.

[IZ]

Try them all out and see what fits best.  You should get a free class or two.

I've been doing Aikido for about a year now.  I really like it!  It depends on who you go to though.  My current dojo seemed kind of slow in comparison to my first school In Seattle but I was happy after I started going to advanced classes.  I really get a workout some days!  Plus, you get to where a hakima and learn the way of the sword!  BONUS!!   We also do knife takeaways and work with the jo.  Very fun stuff!   

A lot of people say it's all show and and say "people don't really flip like that" but..that's the way Aikidoka train.  Believe me, I got a taste of it my first month of training.    If you DON'T flip or take "ukemi" properly..you'll seriously get messed up if your partner knows what they're doing! 

Lots of youtube clips..this is one of my favorites.  I kow Segal is a cheeseball but he is a 7th Dan and was the first non-Japanese to teach in Japan. 



Here is an example of a more combat/street style. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN7yn0XOSMQ&feature=related

Aikido was originally intended to be a gentle and defensive art.  The art of peace.  It's all about blending with the attack and taking the person down without getting hurt or hurting them. 

Judo would be fun to learn.  I guess this is the first martial art you should start kids in.  I would love to take it up!  My kid will definitely be involved with both Judo and Aikido. 

MMA..would be fun but I've had back problems in the past.  You never know what's going to happen when you're training like that.  I don't want to get messed up again.  Plus..like you said..the gyms can get expensive.  Sinister is into MMA in Seattle.  Talk to him. 

I can't remember who is into TKD..someone up in the NW too. 

Also, Kni..claims to be some kind of ninja.   
Whatever..Red Warrior.   
I'm sure he got his belt from Rex Kwan Do's Urban Ninja Academy 

I don't know anything Tang soo do?! 

[Le Pirate]

Lots of difference between all of those styles.  Is there anything in particular besides getting in shape that you are looking for?

There can also be a huge difference between different schools / instructors.

If they allow it, I'd recommend sitting in or at least observing one of each class, and see what appeals to you the most, and where you get a good feeling from the way the instructors are working with the students.

This might sound kinda silly, but other than getting into shape, I want something that can get my mind off of everything else. I've gotten the impression from people that the Shaolin Kung Fu involves a lot of mental discipline and training. That appeals to me, though I'm sure all of these have some aspects of that.

I don't know anything Tang soo do?! 

From what I've gathered, It's a Korean style somewhat similar to the Moo Duk Kwan I did as a kid. Hands and feet, no weapons.

The Aikido and Judo do look like a lot of fun though!

[hbliam]

Great vids IZ.

The aikido and krav maga would be the two I would look into. Real world use.

[IZ]

I've gotten the impression from people that the Shaolin Kung Fu involves a lot of mental discipline and training. That appeals to me, though I'm sure all of these have some aspects of that.

From what I've gathered, It's a Korean style somewhat similar to the Moo Duk Kwan I did as a kid. Hands and feet, no weapons.

The Aikido and Judo do look like a lot of fun though!

Check out the Shoalin Monks..Circle of Life.  Good stuff!  I saw them in Tempe a few years back.  The bonus CD shows their training techniques.  Yeah, tough mental discipline!!  

Aikido is something that you practice well into your golden years.  Look at O'Sensai..the founder of Aikido   FitTV had a good special on it.  Similar to Human Weapon series..but was done a few years before that came out.

Just hands and feet, eh?  I'll have to check and see the differences between that Korean style with TKD.  

Thanks Hbliam.  I looked into KM up in Seattle but I wanted to learn more about he Japanese culture along with Aikido.  The Human Weapon episode on Krav was pretty good! 

[hbliam]

Just hands and feet, eh?  I'll have to check and see the differences between that Korean style with TKD.  

Thanks Hbliam.  I looked into KM up in Seattle but I wanted to learn more about he Japanese culture along with Aikido.  The Human Weapon episode on Krav was pretty good! 

I'm interested in krav maga from a work standpoint. I think Aikido would work great too.

[He Man]

Im a Muay Thai whore. So i am bias. Akido is pretty damn cool though

[erkishhorde]

I'm a kung fu guy, well, was. Stopped once I went off to college. The mental aspect of a style depends strongly on the teacher. My teacher was very casual. Just forms, a little application and some lion dancing around Chinese New Year. For the group that I came from, self defense wasn't a main element of the class. That was more something that you had to think about on your own. This was largely due to the fact that it was a community center thing and they had full contact rules. As for getting into shape, that all depends on you and how much effort you put into the class.

The Tang Soo Do kinda looks like Tae Kwon Do but w/ more hands. I'd go for the Kung Fu.

[Le Pirate]

I'm a kung fu guy, well, was. Stopped once I went off to college. The mental aspect of a style depends strongly on the teacher. My teacher was very casual. Just forms, a little application and some lion dancing around Chinese New Year. For the group that I came from, self defense wasn't a main element of the class. That was more something that you had to think about on your own. This was largely due to the fact that it was a community center thing and they had full contact rules. As for getting into shape, that all depends on you and how much effort you put into the class.

The Tang Soo Do kinda looks like Tae Kwon Do but w/ more hands. I'd go for the Kung Fu.

The guy who does the Kung Fu here is supposedly very into the culture of it. I've talked to a couple people who do the classes and, apparently, by the time you've been in there a couple years, you're just about fluent in Mandrin.

I think I might go with the Aikido, after talking to some folks taking it. Partly cause it looks fun, partly because it'd be somewhat useful (maybe) in normal life (I know I'm never going to show down with a band of ninjas), and partly because it's the cheapest to join 

[somegirl]

Have fun, let us know what you think after you've been there a while.

[Oldfisti]

I am a big fan of the internal arts. We have a great instructor in our area who teaches fully comprehensive Tai Chi. (meditation, flexibility and fighting) If we can get some more people interested he will bring back his Ba Gua and Hsing-I class. Ba Gua is neat because it makes you very elusive. Everything revolves around circles. (think Barry Sanders 360 move, but not only did he slip away... you're also on your ass too!) Not much experience with Hsing-I except I know it's very linear. (strike, retreat)

Also I can't resist slipping this in....   

[metallimonster]

I know its not on your list but I've always wanted to try Krav Maga.  Seems like it would be really fun and have actual real world applications.  If I wasn't working full-time and going to school full-time I would be trying it myself. 

[He Man]

I know its not on your list but I've always wanted to try Krav Maga.  Seems like it would be really fun and have actual real world applications.  If I wasn't working full-time and going to school full-time I would be trying it myself. 

From what ive seen (they teach it where i take MT) its about 80% cheap shots to the eyes thoat and nuts. the super secret squirrel elite stuff about it is awesome, but most classes dont focus on that part of KM.

[Le Pirate]

I know its not on your list but I've always wanted to try Krav Maga.  Seems like it would be really fun and have actual real world applications.  If I wasn't working full-time and going to school full-time I would be trying it myself. 

I looked it up. Interesting for sure, but I'm highly limited to whats available here. I don't live in a huge city (more medium, 110k), and I'm 2 hours to the closest large city, so I have to stick to what is taught here.