what martial arts can you recommend for me?

[Zauriel]

I have studied Arnis for one semester and I've forgotten most of the moves including grappling ones. I remember only the basics of Arnis.

 

What martial arts should I take and please give me your reasons why I should study your recommended martial arts?

[steveb]

Why don't you tell us what is available in your area?

[Zauriel]

Arnis/escrima, Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Judo and Wushu Kung Fu may be available in my area. Jiu-jitsu is also possible in the area, too.

[ncole_91]

Like many people might tell you, there is no "best" Martial Art. Maybe you should go and take a visit to the Dojos, meet the instructors and talk to them. You could also take price as a factor as well, because you do not want to be paying high prices, but only going once a week. You might also want to look into how close each dojo is, that is, if transportation is a factor.

 

Maybe do a bit of reading on each type of MA and decide which you like the most because you might want to do a very traditional MA, but that also depends on the dojo also. We cannot tell you that one type of MA will be traditional or it is a Mcdojo. Well at least I don't think it would be fair to. Like I said before, go to each place, talk to the instructor, maybe some students, find out a bit of the curriculum, see if they do sparring, go into tournaments, all that stuff and that should give you enough information to decide.

 

Anyways, good luck with finding information, and hopefully you pick a dojo that you will enjoy.

[Zauriel]

I see. Thanks for your advice. I will check as you suggested.

 

Plus: I forgot to mention there are also aikido dojos in my area, too.

[Khan]

I wouldn't recommend Aikido or Tae Kwon Do. I used to do Aikido, and I found that it was too defensive, and pretty much useless in street situations. No offense to anyone who does Aikido, but I found its moves and slowishness to be, too defensive for my liking. Also, Tae Kwon Do focus's too much on kicks, it looks cool, but any fight your in usually starts at talking range, where your fists would be the most applicable tool. Most street fighters are experts at this range, and can get in close where your kicks will be useless, and 90% of your martial art style as well.

 

I'd choose Jeet Kun Do/Karate, as these teach you two ranges, I'd only do one, and go in for Judo as well. Never know when grappling will be usefull.

[ncole_91]

You can judge a Martial Art in general, but you can not say a specific attribute for one school that might do TKD or Aikido. It depends alot of the instructors. For example, Shotokan in general doe snot have lots of work on the ground, doing break falls or anything, but my Shihan decided it would be useful, so he incorporated. Lots of instructors use a bit of different MA into one, even if it is almost all one type, there can be readjustments.

 

Also, maybe Zauriel does not want MA as a self-defense, maybe just for fun to go int some tournaments. Then TKD would not be a problem at all.

 

Like I said before, go to the schools and meet the instructors, find the prices etc... It is the best way to do it. So good luck to you and I hope you find the right Dojo.

[Zauriel]

Thanks for the info., Khan, ncole.

[monkeygirl]

I'll move this to the Getting Started in the Martial Arts Forum. Even though you're not exactly "getting started" for the very first time, I think it will be more helpful there.

[SloMo]

I say try each one and find a school you are comfortable in and enjoy.

 

I totally disagree with anybody who says this style is only good for this or that. Or states that a style is not practical in a "real" fight.

 

I think that any style can be effective if the person studying it is serious. Some may make you more effective in the short term and some may take longer. I never studied Akido myself but I visited a school and was very impressed with what I saw. All I kept thinking was, "If I let one of them get a hand on me I'd be in trouble!"

 

Every style has strengths and weaknesses and I would be wary of any style that claims not to have any. A good instructor acknowledges the weaknesses and learns how to compensate for them.

 

So, go out there and try a bunch of them out, whatever you enjoy the most will be the right one.

 

Mo