Lookin to take up in a fighting style, any suggestions?

[BlackSmoke]

I say pick a martial art thats out there that you like the most. I will not post the list of martial arts since even if I did your judgement might be altered of popularity, but martial arts has helped me with discipline and not underestimating anyone.

 

[leanchic]

what is everyones opinion on Tae kwon Do??? helps with strength??? good excercise?? is it ver hard to learn?? i was thinking about trying that out

 

[Judo Tom]

TKD is fun, will make you faster and teach you some basics but many people would agree that with due to the lack of takedowns,submissions and groundfighting it is not the best for self defense.

i took it for a few years in high school and loved it then moved onto different styles.

 

[PICK3]

Id go with boxing straight up, just my opinion though

If you can't fight on the ground ... you can't fight.

Most street fights end up on the ground.

 

[abarlament]

Learn how to fight on the ground, like others have said, I think BJJ is tops for ground fighting, then learn a stand up style that is meant to take them to the ground. Some kind of kickboxing/judo or even a wrestling "shooting" their legs style.

 

[Sy Ali]

I picked up Systema because I like the idea of being able to work out without much fear of being hurt. I like being able to go to work the next day and still be sore, but "good sore". I think it's interesting that I'm more ready to defend myself after a class, as opposed to being too ruined to have the strength.

I like the idea of being able to train for years and be in better health instead of having worn joints or other subtle injuries from, say, shadow boxing. Ask practitioners about their shoulders and knees.. they're like war wounds which people are proud of. Wierd. I've talked with some guys who have had previous injuries greatly helped through their training. It's quite inspiring to work with someone who is much older than me and who is in fantastic shape.

The workout itself is interesting. Using bodyweight and slowing things down as opposed to repetition. Focusing on proper breathing and posture to make everything more effective. Staying relaxed and keeping movement economical to waste less energy.

Psychologically, I found a few benefits.

Without ranking I don't have to feel judgemental about where I am or what I know. I can work with anyone at any experience level, and have even trained with instructors without knowing they were instructors. A battle of egos ends up being more about how much one person can help another than what rank a person is or who can kick who's butt.

Freely working with multiple partners gives me exposure to different body types, personalities, preferences and skill levels. Big guys, little guys, women, people who like kicking a lot, people who like wrestling, people who are tense or relaxed or injured.

Without kata or rituals, I don't have to do a lot of memorization. My memory is spotty at best, and I find it very stressful to learn a lot when what I need is a good fun workout and some experience. Beginning with formlessness and training towards a kind of naturalness is also quite interesting.

Fun. Yes, training is fun. I can smile and laugh, and it's not a bad thing. Sounds small, but it's very important to me. I am recharged at the end of a class, physically and emotionally.


So of all the choices I read about, I ended up picking Systema.

 

[Kane Fan]

i want something that is functional in life (i.e. if i need to use it it will help a lot) and also something that will help me get in good shape and increase my cardiovascular strength as well as physical strength.

what kind of wrestling options are available to you
wrestling will certainly help you rcardio

boxing is pretty damned good honestly
the real problem with boxing is if you send a face punch or headpunch at someone barefisted you very well may wind up harming your wrist or hand
so you'd want to on the street stick with soft tissue body punches
but ifyou are outnumbered grappling isn't realy a good option so you have to take the hits of barenuckel fighting
it's good to have at least some kicking tho cus if you do land a good solid punch and hurt your wrist, you may be 3x the fighter of the other guy but you only got one hand now

 

[Kane Fan]

big guys should get into judo IMO

i would definately recommend that no matter what you go check out a few different classes before you join any one gym/dojo

the way the class is structrured, the students and the instructors can greatly change the way a style is taught

for example.. most people think judo guys dont do much groundwork.. which is true at a lot of schools .. however my last 2 instructors but focused heavily on groundwork and both instructors IMO were LIGHT YEARS ahead of the other grappling instructors/schools so i stuck with them

but i have to plug judo especially for big guys and especially if you would think about competing down the road

its fun you will meet good people, generally there are no attitudes, its a fun safe life long sport, throws look cool and are fun, chokes are cool, armbars are awesome..

sorry i am just totally addicted to it in every way..

and i have a tournament in less then 72 hrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

why do you recomend Judo for big guys?
I am 270 lbs big and have been wanting to get into Judo some

 

[Kane Fan]

what is everyones opinion on Tae kwon Do??? helps with strength??? good excercise?? is it ver hard to learn?? i was thinking about trying that out

I was in TKD for 3 years
a lot of my current martial arts friends are down on TKD but I think it was cool
it's pretty good excersise but I'm going to tell you right now the same thing I tell most women I hear call Tae Bo a martial art
unless you do some sparring, and I'm talking about at least light contact not that point sparring the foot got near me so you get a point stuff
then do not think you are a competent fighter!
I don't say it to make you feel bad I say it cus I know what happens when someone thinks they are a fighter and they are not

 

[Kane Fan]

If you can't fight on the ground ... you can't fight.

Most street fights end up on the ground.

yah
most street fights end on the ground alright
one guy is on the ground bleeding and the other is either kicking him or leaving

grappling is great one on one but in a street fight you can't garountee a one on one fight and outnumbered grappling is sometimes worse then being untrained