advice on choosing a fighting style

[danaf1]

Ok, I've been in many street fights when I was younger(none that escalated to a fight over the last few years though), but I have never taken the time to begin learning a true, disciplined style of hand combatives. I have been interested in learning for years and I am ready to make the commitment. My question is what would the best style for me based on my physical build and natural style?

I am 6'6" about 215(very lean) and while I like styles such as bjj, many people that have seen me fight or spar told me I should learn a style based on striking due to my reach, mentality, and my size is not cut out for ground fighting. Any suggestions on this and specific styles I may fit into well?

 

[Kane Fan]

if you like a grappling style try it
but I wouldn't go straight grappling
with your reach and leanness you should be able to be a good dodgy fighter jabbing the shit out of people
an MMA school would be great
reason being it would offer (or at least really should offer) Boxing MThai and some form of Grappling (usually BJJ which is what you mentioned an interest in anyway)
Boxing is good cus of your reach jab and cross and your leanness should allow you to move away pretty well
MThai is there for you mainly for Knee strikes for if someone does Clinch you up
and then BJJ so you are not lost if someone lands a takedown
also the Low kick is probubly a good option due to your height, you should have enough reach on it that a simple jab wont work a cross would be required to counterpunch your lowkick
I like the idea of MMA schools because you can specialize in whichever aspect of fighting you find yourself performing best in
if you go to a Judo Club or a Boxing Gym you'll probubly get good at Throws and Grapples or Strikes respectivly, but you won't get to specialize in what you happen to be good at
alsoat 6'6 I really dont' recomend Judo, you are a throw waiting to happen with that Center of Gravity

 

[thelion2005]

If all you want to do is fight, just learn to box and add a front and low round house to it. With your reach and leg advantage, you'll probably do very well.

If you want to be part of a tradition with a sense of family and accomplishment, try karate. If you have natural flexibility and power, I'd recommend the Korean styles. If you enjoy the beauty of movements, try Kempo. If you want low power, the Okinawan and Japanese styles are great.

So much depends on the Instructor.
My Isshinryu Sensi beat on the students.
My Chinese Kempo Sensi was humble and terrific.
My Tang Soo Doo Master was the best!

Good luck.

 

[danaf1]

Thanks guys. I will check some of those out. I am not looking to just go out and fight though. I like having something to always dedicate myself to and I don't feel as though weight training does it for me. That is great for staying in shape but I don't get the same sense of accomplishment as some people do from bodybuilding or power lifting. I am hoping I found what I needed in martial arts of some sort. I also hit you with some k for the posts.

 

[-SD-]

If you are looking for a straight up art with tradition and belt advancement/tournaments and a badass workout, I would recommend BJJ. It is also effective as a fighting style in its own right once you are experienced. Im sure there are striking arts that fit the same criteria but Im not familiar with much escept muay thai. If you want to be a striker then muay thai is your best bet.

 

[Judo Tom]

i would def recommend finding a good instructor first then look at styles

look what is offered in your area and what you might be interested in and def go watch some classes before joining

i would also recommend taking something that has a sport side or competitions as this can server for greater motivation to build up your skills faster.

boxing,wrestling,bjj,judo,samob,MT all of these styels have a sport side

 

[Kane Fan]

I also like Sport styles because the techniques are proven every time two guys go in to face each other
all the stuff that just plain dosn't work (or is too difficult to get to work) gets tossed aside)

I'm not sure MThai is his best bet
many TThai guys have lackluster punches and with his range he may be able to Klitchko people...
Jab them to death

 

[Judo Tom]

also w/ live sparring there is not hiding of the skills you know exactly how good someone is when you roll for real w/ them

when doing drills or pre arranged exercises you really have no idea

also live sparring allows you to develop your own techinques and modifications by exposing you to situations you would never come across in drills..

judo calls it randori or free practice.. you are not suppose to spar like it is a tournament all the time. there are times to do that but you must also try your worst moves, try moves on your bad side, try your opponents best move try your senseis best move, work on your worst move, work on basics, etc etc etc

this builds on judo's principle of mutual welfare and benefit. meaning that if i only fought the kids like it was a tournament i woudlnt get any better cause i could just crush them they would only get better at falling.. but if i fight them closer to there ability they will improve very fast and get confidence by throwing me and tapping me out. I will get better because i am using different techniques, focusing on the basics and things like that. so we both get better as opposed to just fighting where no one would really benefit.

 

[danaf1]

Thanks for all the advice. I am having trouble finding any instructors for virtually anything over here(Germany) but I know there has to be several around. Is there any style that I could learn the basics of on my own? I know I need to spar to build my skills and tryly know what I am doing and capable of, but like I said it is hard finding an instructor in the area.

 

[Kane Fan]

are you near a big city?

 

[Saintinistic]

Ok, I've been in many street fights when I was younger(none that escalated to a fight over the last few years though), but I have never taken the time to begin learning a true, disciplined style of hand combatives. I have been interested in learning for years and I am ready to make the commitment. My question is what would the best style for me based on my physical build and natural style?

I am 6'6" about 215(very lean) and while I like styles such as bjj, many people that have seen me fight or spar told me I should learn a style based on striking due to my reach, mentality, and my size is not cut out for ground fighting. Any suggestions on this and specific styles I may fit into well?

How about listing what is available in your area. If there are hundreds, list some that you think you would like and then your fellow members cqan rate them based on experience, or lack thereof.

 

[Judo Tom]

another thing to think about is that when you fight someone if you are much taller and have a huge reach advantage then a good fighter would be silly to fight you at striking range and would look to close the distance and grapple..

its also more fun, cooler and gets you more chicks.. this is proven!!!!

j/k