Help me find a MA that is right for me.

serbstyle1

I have taken TKD when i was younger but havent done it in years. Im not interested in doing an MA that is focused on BS blocks that you will never use. I wanted to do something like kickboxing or boxing, but i model, and cant have my face or my entire lower body bruised to . I would like something that incorporates punches and kicks, and I am especially interested in increasing my speed, accuracy, reflexes and flexibility. I would like to be able to have confidence, if i happen to get into a street fight.
I was told by a friend that hapkido is what i am looking for, but im not sure what it is all about. I dont plan on entering any competitions.

Drij

take tae bo!!! ... j/k take muay thai, but muay thai fighters can take a hit and most likely your gonna get hit when you spar or if you actually get in a fight. So like it or not your gonna get hit man!! Especially in the legs and face.

Big Rick Rock

The only way to become effective in any MA is to spar against a resisting opponent, there is no way around it dude, you are going to get hit and bruised. I would suggest Muay Thai for everything you described except you will get some marks when you spar, I guess you can just go in and hit the bags and stay away from the ring if you like.


PS: You remind me of this kid I knew who use to play Paintball for a good amateur team in SFL, he became a stripper he quit playing since he didn’t want to get all bruised up… Good freaking player.

serbstyle1

Dont get me wrong I aint no , and i actually want to do alot of hard sparring. I just dont want boxing because of all the face hits, and i dont really like Thai, because i dont know how ed up calloused shins will look. I am not really open to boxing, but if you guys think that muay thai is really good, than i will have to sacrifice my shins.

I also believe in inner strength, not the supernatural way, but being able to use all of your strenght on command and in a focused way. I heard that meditation and other things could help you better acheive this. I was wondering if this was real or bull.

Also, does anyone know where there is a good Muay Thai school near the northside of chicago.

One more thing, I workout at Ballys, and they now have a well known and strongly accredited TKD and Hapkido Master teaching in a linked program. I could join this for very cheap, and i have heard that Hapkido is also a good MA. I wanted to know, what you guys think of Hapkido.

Drij

i swear man join tae bo or something at ballys if that suits your needs you know what i mean. if you don't want to get hit or bad shins especially if you can't get them bruised but that takes time and u won't get any bruises. I don't nemore! don't really know much about hapkido.

digger

I understand the "why get scars to avoid scars?" mindset. MT isn't for everyone, fellas.

Hapkido is sort of a "Korean Judo" (I'm waving my hands wildly here, even though you can't see it.) You might prefer one of the Japanese styles, maybe isshin-ryu. Light contact, good emphasis on style and speed, and the blocks aren't quite as silly as the ones in beginner's TKD. You don't sound like a bar-brawler, so it shouldn't matter that it's not the style you'd want for a cage match.

Big Rick Rock

How about you try to find a good Krav Maga Gym?

time2getbig

how about jujitsu?

serbstyle1

Actually, fighting is not something i look for, but going out to clubs 5+ days of the week, fights find you.

jujitsu is great one on one, but what happens when you take some one down and one of his friends kicks you in the face. Also cauliflower ears arent the best looking things.

Im not sure what Krav Maga is, but ill check it out.

Hapkido was just really convenient and cheap, thats the only reason i was thinking of it.

I am most likely going to take Muay Thai, I have always like kickboxing, and have heard great things about Muay Thai.