I am so out of shape, yet want to do MA. Advice in starting!

[JusticeZero]

Southern Style: 5 Animals, Nan Quan (Tiger - Crane)

Northern Shaolin Long Fist

These are, IIRC, fairly standard external gungfu styles.

Chin Na

Techniques of joint and muscle manipulation - focusing on using anatomical knowledge, lots of grabbing of muscles and twisting of arms and wrists and things.

Bagua Zhang

Internal style - usually softer and gentler which, depending on the teacher, can be good (Efficient!) or bad (Lazy!) - that focuses on footwork.

This is, of course, coming from someone with limited knowledge of CMA styles.

[ravenzoom]

If the dojo seems good, as well as the instructor, I'd go with Kempo. It's a fairly well rounded martial art and you should get enough exercise in it to get in shape.

[Shazkar]

Perhaps I'll check Kempo out, though at this point I was leaning towards TKD kind of.

[ravenzoom]

Well if you're looking self-defense-wise, Kenpo should be a better choice.

[Spirit At Choice]

I fell into Cuong Nhu. I feel fortunate that it is such a good fit for me. My primary reason for choosing it was as a continuation of my self-defense skills.

My suggestion to you is to go visit the dojos. Just sit in on some classes. Get a feel for the instruction and the senseis as much as for the style. Be sure you know what you're getting into. Some senseis are emotionally brutal in class, but very pleasant out side of class, so don't just go on an interview basis-- watch the classes.

Get an idea for what you want. My dojo fits me to a T. They are serious about their art and about their school, but they are not drill sergeants. I've been there five months and I only ever see upper ranks get yelled at. But I figure that's part of the curriculum. If you are going to learn how to be a very dangerous person, you better be able to control your ego and emotions under stress.

Best of luck to you! I am out of shape too, but enjoying getting stronger, leaner and faster. Keep us informed on your progress.

[Shazkar]

Well if you're looking self-defense-wise, Kenpo should be a better choice.

Yeah, I'm not too concerned about the self defense aspect. I'm more in it for the other stuff. Thanks for the suggestion though. I'll base my decision mostly off of the dojo/dojang rather than style.

[SBN Doug]

As a GENERAL rule:

Kenpo = Majority of (fast) hand strikes with some low kicks

TKD = Majority of (fast) kicks with some hand strikes

Watch The Perfect Weapon with Jeff Speakman. The fight scene in the gym shows Kenpo vs. TKD. Don't use it to comapare them, just to see the techniques used (after all it is just a movie).

I repeat, that's just a general description. It is by no means accurate for every school. You'll have to sit in and watch a couple classes to be sure. However, it gives you something to think about and decide what you think you're more comfortable in.

If you decide to watch a TKD class, try the one that's not Olympic first. (IMO)

[Shazkar]

As a GENERAL rule:

Kenpo = Majority of (fast) hand strikes with some low kicks

TKD = Majority of (fast) kicks with some hand strikes

Watch The Perfect Weapon with Jeff Speakman. The fight scene in the gym shows Kenpo vs. TKD. Don't use it to comapare them, just to see the techniques used (after all it is just a movie).

I repeat, that's just a general description. It is by no means accurate for every school. You'll have to sit in and watch a couple classes to be sure. However, it gives you something to think about and decide what you think you're more comfortable in.

If you decide to watch a TKD class, try the one that's not Olympic first. (IMO)

Ah, well, I already called and am gonna look at the Olympic one tomorrow, but I plan to look at several places before I sign up anywhere so its no big deal.

Oh, but why is that exactly?

[SBN Doug]

Olympic will most likely focus on Olympic style TKD, which means a "focus" on point sparring. Training you to fight by the rules of the Olympics.

Traditional style TKD will be more focused on self defense. Some even incorporate some Hapkido-like grappling.

[Shazkar]

So I visited the Olympic one, and here is what I saw:

- The head master is an ex-olympic competitor and coached on both the south korean and nigerian teams...

- The costs seem expensive, but I have nothing to compare to, 140 a month for 3 classes a week, 160 for unlimited classes a week.. and like 200 bucks for just ONE private lesson.

- The class I saw was small and they gave the students a lot of individual attention. (It was a class of basically all yellow belts and one older black belt guy helping. 3 teenagers, and a mom and her young young daughter).

- They started with 20 minutes of stretching, then some blocks and strikes, then did kicks, then strength stuff.

- All the instructions and counting and stuff were given in Korean basically.

- The guy said they would be doing self defense and stuff, I dunno.

Uh, anything else I can say so you can help me out?