Martial arts: which one, and why?

[The Rock]

Well, the unthinkable has happened: I've begun exercising. And its going well. Now I have a friend or two who are into martial arts, one is a Ju-Jitsu black belt, one Karate black belt. I'm considering taking this exercise thing to the next level, so I'm considering taking some martial arts classes. But I have no idea what one. I'm only in it for the health and exercise; I DO NOT want to beat people up, I have no chip on my shoulder, so I'm wondering what path I should follow. I've pretty much ruled out Karate since everyone I've met thats involved seems to be a macho idiot (not stereotyping, just fact based on the few Karate folks I've spoken to). I'm heavily leaning toward Ju-Jitsu, but I wanted some opinions from the most intelligent forum I know (read: YOU). Enlighten me! What martial arts do you practice, and why?

[Wombat]

Dancing.

Hey, martial arts certainly have their merits, for both the mind and the body. But I dance ~3 nights a week. It's good for me, tons of fun, and I have a friggin huge social circle because of it.

[The Rock]

Of all the responses I expected, "dancing" was not one of them. I don't dance, and will never dance, even at my own wedding. I plan to marry a quadraplegic just to ensure this never happens.

[Wombat]

Hey, don't knock it. I just spent a weekend in St. Louis. And with friends like this:
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No wonder I was tired!
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[Jammrock]

I know you said you're only in it for the excersize, but if you're going to learn a martial art, might as well pick a good defensive one that will do you good "just in case" a time comes that you need to use it. Most martial arts in their pure form are defensive. They are later turned into more offense arts as more and more people come in who want to learn how to kick someone's ass. However, there are still some that are pure defense.

People who I know, who know martial arts, say you should always start with a good grappling base in something like Judo or Akido. Most street fights do not involve two guys dancing around exchanging punches. They normally go to grappling and wrestling within the first 10-30 seconds. Without a good foundation in grappling, you're screwed in anything but competition sparing ... unless you have the god-like reflexes of Bruce Lee.

Grappling is kind of like wrestling with a martial arts twist. Grappling is the best body strengthening martial arts there is. Other martial arts may look buff and mean, but they all fear a good storng grappler.

Each major martial arts country has a form of Judo, but pure Judo is the most popular and easiest to find. Many community colleges even offer it ... and often times a lot cheaper than going to a dojo.

With a good base in a grappling art, go on to whatever fits your strengths the best . Go around to local dojo's and ask to watch a class of black belts, or equivelant, and see if you can picture yourself doing that in 5-years (assuming you keep up with it). Even if you are just doing it for excersize, it's always good to know what you're getting yourself into in the long run.

Just my advice from talk to people who (used to) do this stuff.

Jammrock

[xortam]

I would also advise Judo, or Tai Chi. I trained in Judo in my college days and I was in the peak of fitness during those times. Its great for building upper body strength and it spiritually, really centers you. I recently had some session on Tai Chi by watching a video tape and I plan on making it a regular, life-long habit of workouts. Judo is very taxing and you need to workout at least three times a week (along with other exercise the remaining days) in order to maintain an adequate fitness level. Judo means "gentle way" and its mostly about controlling your opponent's force against themselves. There are some choke holds you'll learn as you advance but there aren't any blow techniques until you reach the highest levels ... which I never approached.

[Sasq]

In the early Jurasic period, I studied Ju Jitsu.

I have fond memories of spending the first few months learning how to fall and not hurt myself, as well as roll.

If memory serves me right, it would do well on a flexability point.

[xortam]

Originally posted by Sasq
... I have fond memories of spending the first few months learning how to fall and not hurt myself, as well as roll. ...

That's all you do in the beginning with Judo ... I seem to recall its called "Ukemi" practice or some similarly sounding word. Its amazing how much time you'll find you have while falling as your senses and experience develops. I landed up breaking a toe because I was over-prepared for a fall from shoulder height ("Ippon Seranagi" or some such thing, one armed shoulder throw).

[Brian R.]

Okinawan karate is excellent. I have studied it for more than 5 years and it is much more than a fighting art. My style Uechi Ryu (named from the founder) is derived from three Chinese shaolin styles (dragon, tiger, and crane) which the founder studied in China and brought back to Okinawa. I am only 4 sensei removed from the founder of this art and it is taught very basically as the founder learned in China. The Chinese developed and taught these styles to first become balanced in health, mind and spirit, not to fight. I would recommend this or another of similar Chinese martial arts to anyone who wishes to grow.

http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/023/eng/009/001/

[The Rock]

Originally posted by Wombat
Hey, don't knock it. I just spent a weekend in St. Louis. And with friends like this:
No wonder I was tired!

Don't get me wrong, I can see the benefits, and I certainly don't knock people who enjoy dancing. Its just one of those things that has never appealed to me. I just don't see how it could be fun. I think I'm dance-phobic.

Keep the suggestions coming. I DO want to learn some technique here, and while exercise is the main concern, I don't do things half-assed, so whatever art I chose I WILL get into heavily. I'm just not interested in competing, or even sparing. The grappling points make a lot of sense from a defensive perspective. However, being able to train my body to do high-flying kicks sounds like fun (even if its completely impractical and useless in street fighting), just for the physical challlenge alone. I haven't been in a fight since grade 6, and I plan to keep it that way. I was also thinking learning some weapons would be interesting, just for fun and for the sharpening of reflexes (bo staff, etc). Right now, I have no idea what I want and I'm trying to narrow the focus down a bit. Just talking to some students will be a big help.

[KRSESQ]

Of course, Gung Fu (aka Kung Fu) rates a 9 or 9.5 on the coolness scale...

http://www.shaolin.com/page.asp?content_id=972

Kevin

[Tjalfe]

I just signed up for dancing lessons with my girlfriend. We have been twice so far, and it is great exercise

I did judo back in the days.. say 20 some odd years ago, and I can still remember the basics for doing falls etc. It can come in handy

Fighting... good thing being 6'8" means that people don't want to start anything

[az]

I've heard good stuff about Systema - a modern russian martial art that focuses on breathing technique, IIRC. I think it also teaches how to use and defend against makeshft weapons (woodstick, ballpoint pen, etc.).

Wing Tsun is what all the macho idiots here learn, and then go around to other dojos shouting they could kick anyone's ass, but they won't, because they don't want to kill the opponents (WTF!) - of course, this must not mean WT is not a good martial art, it's just learned by lots of idiots.

If you're going to learn Judo, might as well learn Jiu Jitsu - the grappling base is the same, only the latter also involves kicks and punches, which Judo doesn't.

Arnis Escrima also looks interesting.

Tae Kwon Do or Capoeira also look interesting.

Me, I wanted to do Kendo, because I find it fascinating. The initial investment is higher than with other MAs (though you don't get to wear the armor for the first year or so, so no need to buy it earlier). Make no mistake: Kendo is a sport, it does not teach you to really fight. It is a very very fast sport however, so, like fending, it teaches your reflexes, and it is very taxing because the armor and the Shinai (the bamboo sword you use to hit the opponent, or poke him in the voice box) are heavy, and you have to be fast, and you have to jump.
I couldn't do it, because there is no dojo nearby


AZ

[az]

Oh, forgot: Kendo is PURELY a competitive sport. One on one, a round lasts only a few seconds.

Iaido is the art of drawing and using the Katana, this one is never practised with a partner. Kendo also simulates using a Katana, only you don't use metal blades and you have armor.

AZ

[bERNIE]

I've been learning Aikido now for about 9 years, so... I'd definitely recommend Aikido, it's a purely defensive Martial Art and traditional Aikido has no competition at all if that would also be a concern.

Judo... Not so sure, we get a lot of ex Judo players joining our dojo and all but all of them have bad knee's from taking the falls in Judo. The ukemi (rolls / falls) in aikido are usually done differently from those in Judo to the point that you can throw me over your shoulder and I won't make a noise when I land on the floor. Although being an uke (the one who recieves the technique, the one who gets thrown around) is probably my favourite part. I am considering learning Capoeira too however in order to see what I can take from that back into my Aikido ukeing and ukemi.

We have a pretty big club over here in the uk - http://www.phoenix-aikido.com

Regards,

John.