What to do????

[William K]

First off, thank you for reading and hopefully responding to this post. I am an new member and very confused at the current moment. I know this has been discussed many times, ad nauseum, on this site, but it is different for everyone. What I would like to do is tell you what I would like to get out of martial arts and with all of your experience I would like, if possible, is get some experienced recomendations. Thank you in advance.

I am 32, live in Central Virginia. I have a wife, 2 girls (4 and 1.5 yrs old), I am a former athlete. I am 6'1" tall, 220 lbs. I took Karate about 10 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn't take it for very long due to work, and other issues. I am now looking to take MA for the following reasons, this could be solved by other sports but I think MA is the way:

1. Get in good shape (this will be my sole aerobic exercise)

2. Mental strengthening (stress, kids, depression, etc.)

3. I need a sport/competition that has a goal

4. I am fascinated by the Japanese culture

5. I truly enjoyed the karate years ago

6. I want to learn self defense for my family

7. I need, and this is important, added flexibility. I have a bad lower back and flexibility is the best solution. I can stick with the physical therapist.

So, given all of that please give me some help and I would prefer a MA answer not just go look at a bunch of dojos. These are my choices since I live in a small town:

1. Karate

2. Tae Kwon Do

3. Aikido

4. Judo

I am very intrigued by Aikido and at this point am leaning towards Aikido.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

William

[Jiffy]

Given that you have a bad back, I would probably rule out straight away Aikido and Judo. While these are fantastic arts and will give you the culture and the other things you are looking for, the rolls, breakfalls and loading up may not do your back any good. (by that I mean it will be LESS DANGEROUS than the other arts.... not safe).

Tae Kwon Do and Karate are not that different except for TKD's extensive use of kicks. But, if you are particularly interest in JAPANESE culture, that only leaves Karate because TKD is Korean.

Personally, I would say, if you enjoyed Karate, stick with it.

[William K]

jiffy,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the back is bothersome, 2 bulging discs, but I seem to be able to work with it and it gets better the more exercise I do and the more I strengthen it and the more I stretch it. I mistyped earlier. I can't stand the Physical Therapist. Oh, the boredom.

I truly think that the more I work it and beat on it the better it will be. Aikido could be troublesome due to the falls you are correct. Thank you. I hadn't thought about that.

I do love the Japanese culture, without question, but I am not tied to that style.

What I am really looking for is a style that I can do, forever, that I learn the mental, physical and self-defense benefits of MA and a style that is comfortable and warm that makes me want to come back to on a daily basis. I don't want a sweat shop where there is a bunch of yelling and barking of orders. I want a traditional Japanese environment where I feel that I am transcending MA and I am becoming part of the Japanese culture and learning MA the way it was meant to be, in Japan, not America, i.e. Karate Kid.

I hope that helps and I didn't ramble. I want the ancient experience, the flexibility, the aerobic workout and the mental strengthening. There may not be an MA that does all of these but I would like to know.

Thanks,

William

[DragonMike]

I think that with TKD and karate you will get the benefits that you are seeking. Both of them are part of a very deep and beautiful culture. In addition they both will provide the mental toughness, aerobic workout and flexibility that you are looking for. I would say since TKD features high kicks it might offer more flexibility training.

I know its not the answer that you wanted, but you should check out the dojos and see if the instructors ephasize what you are looking for.

[William K]

Ok. Thanks. I am going to go watch a TKD session at my local dojo. I just looked in the phone book and, unbelievably, there is no Karate dojo in my area. Only Judo, TKD and Aikido. I guess I just assumed there would be a Karate dojo. Does anyone know of a Karate dojo in Charlottesville, VA? If so, I would appreciate the help.

William

[Jiffy]

At the end of the day, look at the TKD and Karate (if any) schools in your area. While you now know that you are better sticking to one of these, the culture and other things you are looking for come down to the individual school.

When you do go, ask lots of questions!!

[Mr. Mike]

http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~myosim/

http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~shotokan/

http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~uechi/

http://scs.student.virginia.edu/~uvatkd/

those are at the University in your town.

http://www.aikido-of-charlottesville.org/

7 Tigers Tae Kwondo

 

2335 Seminole Ln

 

Charlottesville, VA zip code Phone: (434) 296-9933

The 3 Emperors

 

Charlottesville, VA 22903

 

(540) 433-8402

 

http://www.innerstairway.com/

Hope that helps some.

[William K]

Could y'all do me a favor and look at these 2 sites and let me know which one looks better? I am not looking to be a Cobra Kai, like in Karate Kid, but rather learn the art around nice well grounded people. I visited the 2nd one and the people seemed very nice. the first one looks like they spar quite a bit and the 2nd is non contact.

http://www.7tigers-jidokwan.com/html/aboutus.html

http://www.ibbcv.com/

[JusticeZero]

Also, don't just look at the phone book. Most MA schools can't afford to be in the phone book and use word of mouth. Drive around, ask people, look in the community center's event catalog, and so on. There is no Capoeira in the phone book anywhere in Alaska, and yet there are two other teachers in my area other than me, near Anchorage. I think that most of the kung fu styles I know are around are also not in the phone book.

[William K]

i took my first TKD class today. It went well. Instructor and the class was very helpful. It was a good aerobic workout and I did well with the moves. I do have to admit that all the forms, etc. are quite a bit more confusing than Karate (from what I remember).

I do have a question though and it is not a big deal. I have to have 110 classes I can test for my next level of White Belt. Then like 230 total before I can get to Yellow Belt. That will take forever for me to ever get to the upper ranks. Years, like 5-8 years. Is that normal or excessive? The dues in this dojo are expensive $75 and I had to do a 3 month commitment. Is this normal or am I in the wrong place?