One of those choosing a new style/school things...

[Du Hast]

I'm moving in 5 weeks, only about 30 - 40 minutes travel from where I'm at now, but I plan to start at a new school when I move, as my contract is up at my current school in 8 weeks. Over the years, I've dabbled in a few different arts, but never really stuck with anything for more that a couple of years at a time. Mainly I have done various types of Karate, and Ju-Jitsu. Where I'm moving, there are about 20 schools within a 5 minute drive! I plan on taking a trial class at the ones that look the most promising.

Some options available to me:

Bagua Zhang/Xing-I Chuan/Tai Chi. I've always been interested in the Internal styles. I've had a 3 or 4 week parks and rec Tai Chi class, and some lessons from a Ju-Jitsu instructor who did it a bit. The fact this place teaches the Xing-I and Bagua makes me think they really will teach some martial applications. I'm skeptical of how practical these arts are, but I'm curious.

"Non-traditional" Tang Soo Do and Ju-Jitsu. Sounds good - I have done both of these arts a bit, and honestly sometimes I feel "non-traditional" can be a very good thing!

Aikido. I've never done it, but it might be interesting. There are a couple of schools in the 5 mile area. I'm pretty interested in this.

Karate and TKD. Lots and lots of this. One very near my future house teaches TKD and Hapkido. I'm interested in Hapkido more than TKD. I'm pretty much ruling out Karate or TKD unless a school just seems too good to pass up.

Within a 15 - 20 minute drive there are 3 or 4 schools that teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. I have to admit I feel these arts are very, very effective from a practical standpoint. I've never done either one, other than some Thai elbows and kicks mixed in with kickboxing I have studied.

For some reason BJJ doesn't really appeal to me, but I guess I should check it out while I'm looking.

I'm mainly looking for exercise and fun. Something being very nearby is a major plus! A couple of these schools are within walking distance, which would be great. Every now and then I feel I should really concentrate on self defense, but honestly I have to admit it isn't my first or even second or third concern when picking an art.

Like I said I'm going to try out a buch of these schools. I'm going to be busy trying them out for a while!

There are a lot of other arts nearby that I didn't mention - lots of Kung Fu, and some other stuff. I was hoping to find some Silat, but no luck. Also, strangly enough I didn't see any Judo - but maybe Judo doesn't really advertise?

[White Warlock]

What?!?!? no ballet schools?!?!? pfft

[JusticeZero]

Judo usually isn't advertized in my experience, but it's not hard to find. The BGZ/XYQ/TJQ may or may not be martial depending how it's taught.

And I wouldn't mess with those ballet people, they're scary hardcore.

[Du Hast]

Hehe..yeah, no ballet around my area.

The Bagua Zhang/Xing-I Chuan/Tai Chi school also teaches Olympic style fencing, which I thought was pretty interesting! I'm also interested in fencing - I did it for a semester in college and was really, really bad at it - but I'm still interested in it...

[White Warlock]

Aye, fencing can teach you plenty, especially if you were bad at it. I recommend seriously considering it. It can open up a whole new avenue of understanding.

[Du Hast]

Aye, fencing can teach you plenty, especially if you were bad at it. I recommend seriously considering it. It can open up a whole new avenue of understanding.

When I did it before the thing that messed me up was the whole concept of priority. I was doing a lot of point karate at the time, and of course there it is perfectly acceptable to attack as your opponent attacks, to block or evade in the middle of your attack, etc. as long as you score a point and they don't. I also had very fast reflexes around that time, and they really worked against me with the fencing. When the opponent moved forward with an attack- that was when I would attack, of course in fencing, that is a mistake because of the priority. I would end up attacking before I realized I was attacking, and I would lose every time I did this. It didn't help that fencing was the class right after karate.

Enough excuses, I just need to try it again, I think. I was truely crappy at it when I did it before, so I can only get better.

I did foil when I fenced before, and I understand the rules of priority are different with saber. They teach all three weapons at the school I'm talking about. I'm curious about all of them. I don't know if I have time to do fencing and an unarmed martial art - I barely have time for 1 thing now! but I'm really looking forward to checking out this school.

[ninjasteve]

Try to find some kung fu schools.

[Kajukenbopr]

Pick

Bagua Zhang/Xing-I Chuan/Tai Chi. I've always been interested in the Internal styles. I've had a 3 or 4 week parks and rec Tai Chi class, and some lessons from a Ju-Jitsu instructor who did it a bit. The fact this place teaches the Xing-I and Bagua makes me think they really will teach some martial applications. I'm skeptical of how practical these arts are, but I'm curious.