New with a ? about styles

[Lenny]

I’ve never taken a martial art before, but have always wanted to. I think I’m finally going to take the plunge and I’m very excited. And I would like a little advice. I have a few goals I would like to achieve with my martial art: self defense(main one), exercise and discipline.

 

I’ve kind of narrowed it down to Judo or Jiu-Jitsu. I’m a little worried because I’m not a very aggressive person. To be honest, I would be very afraid, at this point, to get into a fight with someone. That’s one of the reasons I want to do this, not to go pick fights but to be ready if something happened. What would you guys/ladies recommend? I want a good practical self defense, nothing fancy, for a rather non aggressive person like myself. I’m fairly athletic, tall and slim, if that helps or hurts with certain styles. Judo or Jiu-Jitsu…or what? I'm gonna start visiting a few schools in a few weeks and I'm just doing a little research now.

 

Thanks for you input.

 

Edited November 17, 2004 by Lenny

[Shane]

I think that Jujitsu would be good for you. Judo is also a very good style and it is similar to some forms of Jujitsu since it was developed from Jujitsu, but it can also be very different from a few forms of Jujitsu out there. Even a Mixed Martial Arts school that uses a program based off of Jujitsu would be excellent for you.

 

Good Luck in your searches

[Lenny]

Thanks for the reply. I'm interested in BJJ but I'm a little afraid of it too. I'm sure it gets a bad rap, but I hear a lot about it being very aggressive...almost brutal. I'm sure it's a case of a few bad apples?

 

One major factor is the BJJ schools here are about $100-140 a month and the Judo school I'm looking at is about 40. Unfortunately I have to look at price.

 

Thanks again.

[Ottman]

Well, BJJ is the hot style in UFC and mixed martial arts competition right now, so it probably attracts the more aggressive guys who have dreams of making it big as an Ultimate Fighting Champion or some nonsense. I'm not knocking BJJ, I take it currently, and it is a great style for defense, but the inflated prices must be due to its popularity. Just make sure you meet with the instructor and let him know what you want to get out of your martial arts training. If the instructor seems like he's willing to help you achieve your goals, and is focused on his students development, then go for it, it's probably a great school. Definitely talk to some of the other students and get their opinions of the school as well.

 

Good luck in your search.

 

On a side note, if you're looking for a more passive aggressive style, look into Aikido, which also was developed from Ju Jitsu. It's definitely a more peaceful art, but just as effective for defense, and might not cost as much either.

 

Happy hunting!

[Lenny]

On a side note, if you're looking for a more passive aggressive style, look into Aikido, which also was developed from Ju Jitsu. It's definitely a more peaceful art, but just as effective for defense, and might not cost as much either.

 

Happy hunting!

 

Thanks for the input. I really like the way Aikido sounds but I hear it takes years to become adequate at it. I would prefer to take something that I could apply if needed a little sooner. It's too bad, there is an Aikido school about 2 minutes from my house. I may drop in and see what it's about anyway.

[SloMo]

My advice is to try a couple of different ones. Not every art is for every person. We don't even let people sign up to join our school until they have tried it for a couple of weeks.

 

It's also more than about the style. Did you feel comfortable at the school? Did they seem to teach in a way that you can respond to? Some people like the drill sgt method, others like a softer approach.

 

Just don't get locked into the "style". All martial arts are effective if used properly. Find one that excites you in a school that you feel comfotable in.

 

Hey, I actually wrote this without plugging TKD! oops

 

Good luck!

 

Mo

[rb]

Self defence

 

Judo is a huge sport worldwide and is taught as such. In practice and competition there is no striking. A win is achieved by throwing an opponent forcefully onto their back or submission by choke, armlock, or by pin for 25 seconds. Since there is no striking you can stand square to your opponent which would otherwise be ripe for getting struck. However all the other techniques for throwing and ground submissions are meant to be practiced at full speed. Most clubs will have a large empahsis on live sparring which will allow you to pull off techniques under stress. In my experience against untrained people, once they latched on I could easily maintain my balance while putting them off theirs. I was also able to use some lower amplitude throws to minimize damage to them and gain control them on the ground till the situation diffused. Although I don't recommend this, there are variations to the throws which land people on their heads, or break limbs in the process.

 

BJJ and judo share a common heritage and therefore share a large portion of techniques. BJJ however while having sport divisions still roots itself in self defence. All the banned techniques of judo are openly practiced in BJJ, including spine locks/cranks, leglocks, wristlocks etc. The few throws learned in BJJ tend to be higher percentage moves and will have some emphasis on striking from them. The forte of this system however is the ground control. Most clubs have no holds barred type training or specific striking classes as well. The high prices for some clubs can be deceptive as they are often unlimited classes per month. If you are enthusiatic about training and have the time you should compare the per hour values. Obviously if you trained BJJ once a week it wouldn't have a good ratio of economic benefit.

 

Exercise

 

Judo is a great workout - tough I'd admit. You say you have a good athletic base so that will help. Most people that haven't exercised in a few years will take a few months to shape up. New people doubled over after the first hour is common but I've only seen a couple of throwups. Classes will consist of warm up, throwing drills, ground technique drills, lots of free sparring standing up and depending on the club varying portions of groundwork. Other things that might work in class are gripfighting, kata (for blackbelt promotion), and how to fall. Learning how to fall is actually very important in the first few months.

 

BJJ IMO is less intense but requires good stamina for the long haul. Judo has match times of 5 mins so training is often geared for those short periods. BJJ has less empahsis on time and sparring with someone for 30 mins is not unreasonable. Classes in BJJ warmup, do technique demo and drills afterwhich is free sparring. If you want something less hard on the body but still a tough workout I'd recommend BJJ.

 

Discipline

 

BJJ has a short bow in for the beginning and end of class and otherwise a slap of hands before sparring. Judo has a bow to start and end class as well as when you meet a new partner for any type of practice. Both systems are otherwise fairly informal. However there is respect for each other as the techniques have potential to cause lots of damage.

 

I'd recommend either of these systems for a non aggressive person. Aggression does help but it can be overcome by good tactics. New people tend to spar in a very uncontrolled and wild manner. This tends to waste energy and doesn't always put you in a advantageous position. Watch the more experienced players and you will see they are relaxed, loose and are more than likely already setting up a few moves in advance. This is more of grappling chess.

[judoguy]

If you are not an aggresive person then I will recommend BJJ. Stay away from judo. Other then that, rb gave an excellent analylisis of the two arts. Great job rb. Not much to add onto from there.

[Lenny]

Thanks everyone. I would consider BJJ more but I just flat out can't afford the clubs around here.

 

I say I'm not an aggressive person, that's not to say I'm a pansy. I just don't have that beat their face and break there arm mentality. Not that you guys do. Once I get going, like in basketball, I'm as competitive as the next guy. After Thanksgiving I'm gonna visit a Judo/JJ school and see what's what. I really do appreciate everyone’s help.

[VinnieDaChin]

nooo no no. yes, BJJ is one of t he most brutal when applied, but in class its, i think, one of the safest martial arts to learn. in fact, you get to roll

 

(the grappling version of sparring) every day because youre not taking hits and beating yourself down.

 

and hey- theres nothing wrong with that beat their face in and break their arm mentality if youre being attacked. thats what gets you out alive.