drunken.master

Hello- Looks like this is the place to introduce myself... For a little history, I began training in 1984 in Kenpo Karate. I studied a few years and then took a long break through college. Getting back into it, I achieved Black Belt and became an instructor. I am currently 2nd Dan in Shaolin Kenpo and preparing for my 3rd Dan test. I teach classes 3 days a week and train every day. I will most likely open a school in the next few years to continue our style. I love training and study many styles, though I do not go for rank in the other styles. I believe knowledge is power. Also, I am a huge fan of the "Classic Kung Fu" movies and started a little website dedicated to them (to occupy my time!). I look forward to learning from everyone in these forums as I grow in Martial Arts.

There is some great advice here, karateka477. I have been an instructor for 3 years and like these people are saying: practice and don't try to go too fast. Make your goal mastering your material, rather than trying to get the next rank. In mastering your material, you will achieve rank and be a better all-around martial artist. I see too many people trying to "walk through" the motions rather than grasping them. It is the students that want the knowledge and perfection in their forms, combinations, health and honor that seem to achieve the most. These are the students that stay with the system. I wish you great fortune in your training. Train hard and learn.

I would pick karate. I am biased towards it as I have been practicing since 1984, but it is a great all-around art. Strong with defense and most schools will teach you many weapons as you go up in rank. I have been using many of the Wushu weapons for over 10 years through my school. Mainly though, the decision is yours. You get out of it what you put into it.

Second Dan in Shaolin Kenpo (testing for 3rd this summer)

Like Aodhan, I was enlisted in the USAF. We received no hand-to-hand training, but I was sure to find a local school where ever I was stationed to keep active. (Being a computer programmer, I guess there wasn't much of a need for hand-to-hand!)