My search for a Martial Art, continued input appreicated

[USMCKoontz]

So I posted in one a Karate board here and got some good help... I spent today calling and searching around to see what MAs were available in my area. Here is what I found that interests me..(I posted this here because the differant MAs listed) Also I have two kids (8 and 7) who want to take Karate, so something they could do also

Tang Soo Do

Hapkido

Kindai Karate (I believe this dojo also offers Chito-Ryu and Tai Also)

Shotokan Karate

Shotokai Karate (also instructor said Kempo (or Kenpo cant remember the spelling)

American TAI Karate

Chun Kuk Do

Any input on each one of these would help me narrow it down. Looking again for myself and my kids. Would like any info on them you have Since the only MA I have really seen in person at a Dojo is TKD (which I did not like all the kicking), I dont know anything abotu the styles I listed and their differances.. Hard or Soft, Competition or Sport, Full Contact or Knockdown, or just for point spar, or straight up self defense, etc...

thanks

[Nidan Melbourne]

Well Tang Soo Do are Korean Martial Arts, not sure about Chun Kuk Do Though.

The others are Japanese Martial Arts.

each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Probably go with Shotokan as it is quite a strong style of Karate. If it is a JKA (Japanese Karate Association) affiliated school then it will be fantastic!

I am a Goju-Ryu Practitioner and my style is hard and soft. Whilst Shotokan is more hard.

[guird]

Well Tang Soo Do are Korean Martial Arts, not sure about Chun Kuk Do Though.

The others are Japanese Martial Arts.

each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Probably go with Shotokan as it is quite a strong style of Karate. If it is a JKA (Japanese Karate Association) affiliated school then it will be fantastic!

I am a Goju-Ryu Practitioner and my style is hard and soft. Whilst Shotokan is more hard.

chun kuk do is the style chuck norris founded. his base was in Tang Soo Do, hence the korean name, but he has influences from Judo, bjj, american kenpo and some styles of japanese karate. I'm told it's a bit of a chuck norris fan club, but other than that is a great style.

Also, I understand the art has a strong connection to Christianity. If you like that, you could train there, if you think it might get annoying, don't.

[Harkon72]

Here's my penny worth;

Tang Soo Do - Korean Karate based on Shotokan. I'm not a fan of Korean arts, maybe because they are quite rare here in Wales.

Hapkido - Korean style similar to Jui Jitsu, again I don't know much about it as I do not know of any clubs local to me.

Kindai Karate (I believe this dojo also offers Chito-Ryu and Tai Also) - Never heard of it. Chito-Ryu is unknown to me and Tai is something also I have never heard of.

Shotokan Karate - No doubt the most popular style of Karate in the world. Our local clubs have a good reputation, tough but honest.

Shotokai Karate (also instructor said Kempo (or Kenpo cant remember the spelling) - Shotokai is a traditional Karate style, not so well known but well respected. Kempo is a generic term for stand up striking arts from the far east. Kenpo is a style of Karate developed in America from mixed sources by Ed Parker and others.

American TAI Karate - As I said, never heard of it, maybe an American invention.

Chun Kuk Do - Sounds Korean, could be anything.

Good Luck, at the end of the day, anything could be good if it's taught well.

[ps1]

Tang Soo Do, Shotokan and Chun Kuk Do will all have some similarities. Because TSD is derived from Shotokan and CKD is derived from TSD, they are a family. There will be some huge differences as well.

American Tai Karate is an "American Karate" system. Someone put several styles together and called it their own.

Hapkido has alot of similarities to Aikido. It also has a Korean sword component. Of what you listed, this would be most interesting to me.

In the end, you just need to visit them all and see which you like the most.

[Archimoto]

Good Luck, at the end of the day, anything could be good if it's taught well.

So true. That's why visiting the schools and taking a few samples classes is paramount in my opinion.

[bushido_man96]

Lots of good information offered here so far, so I won't rehash it.

What I will suggest is that you start visiting these schools yourself. I'd do two visits, one with and one without the kids (go without first). Since your two kids are a consideration, then you want to check and see how each school approaches training for kids. See if they offer kids only classes, or mixed classes. See if they offer different curriculum for kids and adults. Check into all those kinds of things, and see which one is going to fit the needs of both you and your children the best.

It would be easy for us to single out each of the styles you listed above, do a Google search, and then paste links next to each style talking about the theory of the style, technique, etc. But, what you will only get by visiting each school, is a feel for how the instructors teach, what their teaching philosophy is, and how they approach the classes. That's what you need to see when you visit schools.

[mal103]

Also look at the costs, someone recently asked about joining my club and let slip that the local McDojo wanted nearly 3 times what we charge...

Getting a good instructor and school might be more important over style but I am Shotokan so will let you know - as above - that it's a hard style with strikes and kicks, some high kicks are involved but when you get down to the applications most are aimed low, they are just trained high.

I would also boast that Shotokan includes everything you will ever need, including grappling, floor work, joint locks, self defence etc. it just has to be taught properly!

[guird]

Also look at the costs, someone recently asked about joining my club and let slip that the local McDojo wanted nearly 3 times what we charge...

Getting a good instructor and school might be more important over style but I am Shotokan so will let you know - as above - that it's a hard style with strikes and kicks, some high kicks are involved but when you get down to the applications most are aimed low, they are just trained high.

I would also boast that Shotokan includes everything you will ever need, including grappling, floor work, joint locks, self defence etc. it just has to be taught properly!

I never saw any grappling when I trained shotokan. The occaisional standing joint-lock in the bunkai and the occaisional throw, but no grappling.

[mal103]

It's all there in the kata, you just need to learn how to read it or be shown....