Undecided between 3 martial arts.

[pocoloco]

I have no previous martial arts experience and I'm 19, small, and light weight and I live in Richmond, BC. I'm looking to take a practical martial art that will also help me stay fit and possibly compliment any weight training.

These are the 3 martial arts that I'm interested in studying but not yet chosen.

Kyokushin Karate - http://www.fightingart.ca/ , http://www.kyokushin.ca/

Hapkido - http://www.hkd.ca/

JKD and/or BJJ (you can mix em together, 1 class of each per week i believe or 2 of one) - http://www.creativefightersguild.com/newindex.htm

I want to choose one before the month of May so I can get started for summer, please help me decide. Please post any comments, questions, and suggestions. Thank you.

Edited April 24, 2005 by pocoloco

[mattyj]

id say you have a good mix of 'no nonsense' arts there...

karate- mabye do it if you want some 'traditional' stuff thrown in

bjj- would complement weight training well, very physical

hapkido- mix between aikido+tkd, id do this because its a mix between striking and 'real-life' grappling (thats just me tho)

hope this helps

[Meguro]

More than anything you'll get from us, you've got to spend some time with the instructors and the students and get the right vibe. Ask yourself if you want to hang with the students and instructors. Look at the senior students and instructors to see if there are any abilities or traits you'd like to acquire yourself. As the three schools are different styles of martial arts, ask yourself what you want to get out of your time and money spent.

Personally, I'd go with Kyokushin Karate. The school you picked is part of the biggest Kyokushin organizations. The instructors are former and current knock-down competitors. The idea is bettering yourself by conquering your opponent, or at least trying to.

[italian_guy]

I'm with Meguro on this one. Take a look at the school first, speack with the head instuctors look at the classes, take a test lesson each and then decide.

I don't know hapkido but both JKD and Kyokushin karate are good arts.

Enjoy.... and keep us posted

[Osu No Seichin]

I know Sensei Tats at the Kyokushin Dojo well. He is an excellent instructor and does it full time. Go and talk to him and see what he says, get a feel for the class and him personally. A very dedicated karateka....Also check out https://www.kyokushin.ca dojos richmond and go talk to Shihan Stuart Corrigal another top notch Kyokushin instructor in Richmond. good luck and hope to see you at a Kyokushin function in th enear future.

OSU

[traz]

hey there pocoloco! How interesting, I'm from Richmond BC myself, and I have some sort of experience with each of your options.

I actually take Hapkido at Lok's Hapkido School, and I enjoy alot. I really like Hapkido and all the aspects it has to offer.

In addition, I also take BJJ once a week at the Creative Fighter's Guild. Trevor (my instructor) is an awesome teacher, and he really tries hard to make you improve, not to just make money.

As for Kyokushin, I have a great friend who does Kyokushin, however he goes to the Sea Island Dojo, which will probably be closer than the Vancouver one. There are pretty much 3 Kyokushin schools in the area I think...Richmond (South Arm), Sea Island, and Vancouver. I've seen both the Richmond and Sea Island one train, and I personally think the quality is much higher at the Sea Island Dojo. It trains you very hard, and makes you a very strong fighter.

What you pick is up to you...what do you want to get out of your martial art? I love all the different things I learn in Hapkido, so thats why I do it. However, I feel the ground aspect lacks a bit, so I chose to crosstrain it with BJJ. Kyokushin is great at conditioning your body and teaching you how to be a strong, agressive, solid fighter.

Anyhow, my advice would be to check them all out, as each school has quite a different style of teaching. See what you like, good luck with your choices, and I hope I've helped a bit! Lemme know how it goes.

[CadetRay]

bjj + tkd mix it up.

[TJS]

Kyokushin will make you tough as nails standing

BJJ will make you a shark in the clinch and on the ground.

me personally I would choose BJJ but you cant go wrong either way.

[pocoloco]

Thank you and much appreciated for all your responses.

[y2_sub]

The informations posted up there are much valuable , however , i would like to say what i have in mind :

Kyokushin is a strong and hard style of karate , that makes you a solid fighter , however , you will basicly learn how to strike , BJJ is a great grappling and ground fighting art .. personally i prefer to cross train in both .