Where to start...

[Seth]

Okay, I decided I wanted to learn a martial art, but I don't know where to start. I turned 18 yesterday, I don't know if age plays a big role in choosing the right art, but it might be too late to start with some of the arts I guess.

 

I have read somewhere that length also matters in some arts. I am close to two meter, does that mean that some arts might prove a problem for me?

 

Sorry for these basic questions, but I really like to know what I get into. I have postponed signing up for a martial art until this moment, it is something I wanted to for a while longer now. But before I do so, it would be best to try and find out what arts would suit me best I think .

 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[ This Message was edited by: Seth on 2002-08-02 10:27 ]

 

[ This Message was edited by: Seth on 2002-08-02 10:29 ]

[The_Yak]

I don't think its ever too late to start any martial art. I'm 19 and I just got back into karate. I've taken american kempo and yoshikai karate both have been very good for me.

[LeaF]

The best advice I can give would be to go around to the dojos in your area, ask questions and find out which school best fits your needs, and which atmosphere you feel comfortable in. I study Goju Ryu karate-do and in my experence hight or size is not really a big factor, you find people barely 5 feet tall and people who are 6 foot 5. I also don't think age is a huge factor either, Some people start when they are very young children and others don't join till later in life, so you being 18 should not be a problem...

 

 

[Kensai]

Well, I am also 19, and I have jumped through a few MA's over the past 3 years, and finally settled with Aikido.

 

First Question,

 

Do you like Striking or Grappling?

 

Second Question

 

Do you like External or Internal MA's?

 

Third Question

 

Do you want competition?

 

Fourth Question

 

Do you want to train with weapons?

 

Fifth Question

 

Do you want Kata?

 

Answers

 

Remember that this is only my opiniuon

 

1

 

For striking I would do you Gojo Ryu Karate, Traditional Kempo, and Wing Chun Kung Fu. If you like using your legs more then perhaps Tae Kwon Do, or Crane Style Kung Fu. Shotokan karate is pretty good at both.

 

Grappling

 

Aikido,Ninjutsu, Brazilian Jujutsu, Jujutsu, Sambo and a little Judo

 

2 Internal Martial arts

 

Aikido Aikido Aikido Aikido Aikido!

 

But I also like Hsing-i and Ba Gua.(Chinese Styles)

 

3

 

Good competition MA's are most Karate and TKD styles. plus Judo. Most of the more locking and breaking MA's like Aikido, Jujutsu dont do many formal competitions due to the nature of the moves.

 

4

 

Wing Chun

 

Butterful knives

 

=others

 

Aikido

 

Bokken= Sword

 

Jo= 4ft staff

 

Tanto=knife

 

Ninjutsu

 

DOES ALL WEAPONS (well all the japanese ones, Sickle and chain is pretty good fun)

 

Some styles of karate,

 

Dont know which, but do uniques stuff like

 

Sai= trident knife

 

Kama=a little sickle

 

5

 

KARATE!

 

infact most styles, Aikido has very little.

 

 

[Seth]

Aikido and jiu-jitsu are the ones I like best until know. I am not really interested in getting into competition etc.

 

Just more interested in learning the techiniques, improving myself, and learning some of the philosophy behind it .

[Seth]

By the way, what is the difference between interal and external martial arts?

[Kensai]

Internals are more, Ki/Chi/Qi orintated. The technqiues use Ki to work properly. Its a very complicated subject. But it really does work, but its one of those things you really have to see for yourself. Internals get MUCH better with age.

 

External or Hard Martial arts are like Shoalin Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate etc. These require, great technical and physical abillitys.

 

I personally dont like competetions mainly because it detracts from the art, thats only my opiniuon though.

 

Well Aikido was started just after the war, the techniques are soft and circular. The Grand Master Or "O Sensei" is called Morihei Ueshiba. He studied Daito Ryu Aikijutsu, as well as some of the chinese internal arts, and these created Aikido. Aikido means the "Way of Harmony". The current Grand Master of Aikido is the Doshu (Master of the Way), he is O Sensei's grand son.

 

Most of the techniques involve very little strength, but the focus of the mind and the body. We (aikidoka) believe that physcial violence is wrong, and all our techniques leave very little long lasting damage. However, our techniques, especially later on, can cause horrific injuries, should you choose to do so. This may sound like it goes against our priniciples, but it is harmonous for a lion to kill a gazel, there is always pain and suffering, but we should do our upmost to prevent it.

 

The teaching itself, is split into the basic techniques, such as a grab on the arm, shoulders, lapples, from behind, then attacks from 2 to 8 people. There are a lot of Ki exercises that focus the mind. Also counters against, punchs and kicks. We also do alot of break falling or Ukemi, which is very important

 

We also study Sword, knife and staff.

 

Thats Aikido in a nut shell. There are a lot of good books about it on Amazon, although my favourite is by Koichi Tohei.

 

Web sites

 

http://www.aikidojournal.com/index.asp

 

There are lots of others, try google and type Aikido.

 

Good luck in what you study.

 

 

[BlueDragon1981]

Look at the styles around you and see which one you think fits you the most. Go with your instincts. After a while if you dont like that one move to another one. No art is better than another but one may fit you better. Its up to you to choose. (watch the classes and see which you think fits you...oh and watch the instructors. Some are bogus and even an untrained eye can see them if they really look)

 

[Seth]

Thanks for the tip BlueDragon, and Kensai, that was a very helpful post. I know a bit what jiu-jitsu is about, because one of my friends practiced it, but I knew nothing about aikido.

 

Anyway, me likes aikido so far. I'll have to shop around the different dojo's in my new hometown in a few weeks I guess.

 

Thanks for the advice .

[Kensai]

Any time.