choice of two MAs : Kuk sool won vs Kyokushin

[13thwarrior]

Hi Guys

 

I am 40 years old, good shape, into the Chinese MAs. Want try something new. My choices are Kuk sool won,( about 1 1/2 hourdrive one way) or the Kyokushin Karate ( taught by well- known Japanese instructor: in itown. So far , only mild exposed to the KSw. l.But old neck injury makes mes somewhat wary, of being thrown improperly., even thus my doctor gives me the ok. I love the combo of techniques in KSW. Kyokushin is very imressive, but I am 40. Any input is a definitely appreciate

[Mu Ryuk]

I'd go with Kyokushin personally, an hour and a half is quite a drive, and I'd go with Kyokushin either way...but it's worth looking at the Kuk Sool Won school.

 

Good luck!

[krzychicano]

If you can put up with the drive and get dedicated to that I would go with Kuk Sool Won..I have been taking it for a while and it is awesome. A complete System instead of a single art is great. If you can't put up with the drive then I would go with the art instead...eventhough KSW is obviously better!

[Dijita]

Wow, that's so weird that the two styles you chose are the only two styles I've done/currently doing.

 

I trained in Kuk Sool Won for about 2.5 years. I really enjoyed it and the only reason I left was because I was starting to compete on a more professional level in my mountain biking and therefore it demanded a lot more of my time. Kuk Sool Won consisted of a lot of forms, and A LOT of throwing/self defense techniques. We often times spent 30 minutes each class simply doing breakfalls in order to teach us to fall and be thrown properlly to avoid injury. As far as tournaments go, where I trained, there were a lot of different categories to compete in. There was always a self defense division, a forms division, and point sparring.

 

Now I train in Kyokushin. I honestly have to say, personally I enjoy it a lot more than Kuk Sool Won. It is a lot different. I find the classes to be much more physically demanding as there is more cardio involved. Kyokushin conditions your body to being hit and it trains you to learn different fighting combinations. The nice thing is that even though there is a lot of fighting focus there is also a very traditional element about it. We do Katas which is just like forms. Kyokushin focuses a lot more on striking and blocking than I found Kuk Sool Won to do.

 

If I were you, I would try and watch/participate in both classes and then pick which one suits your needs. Oh and one more thing, don't use your age as crutch. I believe you could do either, equally as well. It just takes a lot of training to condition your body for either.

[Osu No Seichin]

Don't use your age as an excuse. Explain your neck injury to your new instructor and go for it. I am and have students alot older than 40 and as long as you work at your own pace and keep at it on a consistent basis you will be fine. Kyokushin is an all round martial art when taught the way it was meant to be taught. Good luck.

[senna_trem]

As someone who commutes only one hour a day, that drive is not going to increase your drive to attend training. Go with kyokushin, I swear that's not a biased answer.

[italian_guy]

I agree with senna_trem 3 hours (back and forth) are definively too much... and I think Kyokushin is a very good karate style.

[aefibird]

Yes, one and a half hours is a long drive to go and train. You'd have to be really comitted to training there.

 

The best thing for you to do, though, IMO, would be to go to each place and try out a few (take more than one or you won't get a feel of the place) lessons.

 

Just out of interest, are KSW and Kyokushin the only MA's available to you, or are they the only ones you'd be interested in training in?

[13thwarrior]

Thanks everyone. I started taking KSW, ( because it i closer due to my job training( 5 months) at the moment . I enjoy it > I did mention to my KSW instructor about the dilemma of the distance. He mention the possiblility of training with one of his KSW brown belt / black belt when I move back home. I am not too confident about this . Thus I will enjoy the KSW for now, seems to be lot littlle hapkido from what I can see, The forms ( hyungs) appear shorter than what I am used too ( SPM , BAJI CHUAN BACKGROUND),but I am not complaining only a observation. I will probably go with Kyokushin when I move back home. There are a much of TKD, MMA, schools around Memphis. There is BJJ, Japanese Ju jitsu ( maybe a good combo with Kyokushin), aikido, wushu/internal ma( you know tai chi, pa kua, hsing yi), muay thai, and possible remote Pak mei ( white eyebrow0.

 

Thanks again