need advice

[true_practioner_of Kokoro]

Ok I'm currently a brown belt in Goju Shorin Karate and will test for black in 3 months. I wanted to do a little cross training once I get my black belt in Judo or Muay Thai. Which one would make me a more rounded practioner? Or is there another style you guys think would make me more well rounded?

[username8517]

well if you're wanting to be more well rounded I would say take Judo over MT. MT and karate primarily focus on striking, but Judo is more about takedowns, locks, and chokes. This would help fill some gaps that your karate training might be lacking.

[lordtariel]

I agree with bearich... I don't know how much your dojo focuses on grappling and ground work, but it's always good to have some fundamentals so you can at least work your way back up from the ground if you wind up there.

[ps1]

Yup...definitely judo

[french fri25]

out of muat thai and judo... go for the judo. if you want more of a grappling style though, try to find a jiu jutsu school around. i think jiu jutsu would go great with your karate training.

[granmasterchen]

if your only options are judo or mt i would definitely go with judo like everyone else has said. Look at your current trainin in karate and ask yourself what areas you would like to improve in. If you need work on throws pick up judo, if you feel that your cardio and striking are lacking then pick up muay thai. But genereally muay thai and karate are both considered hard art forms and striking forms. If this is the case pick up judo. Also if you are a bigger guy with lots of raw power or strength then you will definitely appreciate judo. If you rely on speed and cardio then you may like muay thai, but it all depends on the instructors at each school and how they teach, some are more traditional then others and some incorporate newer training methods and aspects from different arts to appear more like a mixed martial arts school....i would suggest that you sit in on a few classes at each school and see what they have to offer while critiquing yourself to see what you would like to work on.

[AikiGuy]

I agree (conditionally) with everyone who votes Judo if you are seeking variety and well-roundedness. However, there is one reason to do the MT. If you really like striking and would like to become not just good, but elite at this or want to compete, then do the Muay Thai. It is a very hard, intense style. They do little or no "touch" or "point" sparring, much like in Boxing. Plus there are fewer rules to make it more realistic like a real fight (or at least the stand-up portion of a real fight). For example, in Karate, you usually can't kick your opponent's leg out or use knee strikes to the face. Both of these are legal in Thai. It's like a Karate match if you could fight dirty (lol). Anyway I dabbled a little in MT and all the guys there like that it is a hard contact style. Plus the school I went to also taught MMA so you could learn ground fighting too if you wanted. Check out your MT school to see if they offer this as an option. I don't prefer to spar real hard all the time, so if I did not already know a grappling art, I would probably pick the Judo. Just wanted to share my short Muay Thai experience if it helps at all.

[baronbvp]

What they said. The nice thing about judo over BJJ, for instance, is the throws and takedowns. BJJ focuses more on mat work. You need to add clinching and ground work to your striking to be well rounded.

That said, I love Muay Thai more than karate. I plan to add BJJ next month to round myself out.

[learning kempo-karate]

Hello, JUDO...you will find this a very effective art! Yes BJJ focus on the ground work, so does JUDO!

BUT Judo is about takedowns and throws, the keys in Judo is taking your attacker OFF-balance and taking them to the ground with the throws.

You will find those who practice against Judo guys rather not fight anyone with good Judo skills vs someone who does not. (coming from some BJJ.)

Judo may be all you need? ........Aloha

[marie curie]

Judo will allow you to be more well-rounded, but a warning: your instincts will have to change a little because they are so different