Which form of martial arts is the best to learn?
441949
Martial arts is a very personal thing.  Each style and type will appeal to different people.  Obviously you should try out several styles before making a decision.\n\nAs a general rule, Japanese martial arts are very "straight line" and "to the point".  Meaning they attack, attack hard, and don't waste much energy trying to look pretty.\n\nChinese martial arts are less direct, utilizing many circular movements.  Just as effective as Japanese arts, they also give a lot of emphasis to physical training and spiritual development.  \n\nI can't speak much about Korean or Thai martial arts.  But both Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing are very popular arts.\n\nMy favorite Japanese martial art is Aikido.  It is a defensive martial art.  There are no attacking moves.  But if anyone violates your "circle of control" you will easily and quickly toss them on their ear, literally.\n\nMy next favorite Japanese martial art is Judo, particularly the Brazilian flavor. There is an Afro-Brazilian art called Capoeria which is very physical and will keep you in great shape.\n\nMy favorite Chinese martial art is Kung Fu.  There are many types of kung fu, so you'll have to do some online research to find the type that appeals to you.  Wing Chun is a popular style, once studied by Bruce Lee.\n\nMy favorite American martial art is Jujitsu.  This is one of the best martial arts ever invented.  It has a little bit of everything in it - ground work, kicks, throws, punches, you name it.\n\nKempo is an American martial art that is quite popular. It has many elements of similarity with karate and judo.  Throws, striking, kicking, etc.\n\nIf you want to get involved, just find the closest school or dojo and give it a try.  If it doesn't feel right, try another.  You'll quickly find the one that fits you.
940932
Any discipline is good to learn, what you have to do is find a school that has a good atmosphere (friendly, everybody gets along well both with the instructors and each other) usually family oriented.\n\nsecond of all you should be comfortable with the instructor's(s) style of teaching. find you a few schools that may have trial classes and see which one interests you the most\n\ncheck your local phone book or searchengine to find any schools or schools websites. for schools that're up to maybe a 15 mile radius of where you live, you may wind up with a bit of a drive, but it could be worth it if you can get most of what you're lookin to get out of it.\n\nmostly the two main types of disciplines that use the throwing aspect is Aikido and Hapkido, Hapkido is the more aggressive of the two but still very similar to Aikido.\n\nIf you can find a school that teaches a type of Kung Fu, then go for it, but usually there's very little throwing aspects that're featured, not to mention sword techniques, but it is possible to find a school that does it, but it's gonna be difficult.\n\nas for learning sword techniques, possibly Ninjitsu ( some of the higher techniques incorporate sword techniques) and it too has excellent hand to hand fighting techniques, or Kendo/Iaido for the sword techniques.\n\ngood luck and good training.
427281
Wow, you just opened a can of worms with that question. There's always a big debate about "which is the best style?" and "is there such a thing as a best style?"\n\nI am of the opinion that there is no best style, but some styles are better for certain goals than others. Tae Kwon Do is good for those who want to take up martial arts purely for sport and competition. But I wouldn't pick up TKD if self-defence is your main goal. \nAnd just a note, usually, how you get along with the instructor is much more important than the style. If you plan on taking up any martial art, see what you think of the instructor, and then move on to the following steps (choosing a style, etc.)\n\nEvery style has its benefits, so why not tell us what your goal is, and we could help you out.
288238
What do you mean by "better"? \nNeed to defend yourself and want to have skills for all possible scenarios?\nThen what you need would be something like Kajukenbo:\nKA (from a Korean style of karate) JU (from judo and jujitsu) KEN (From kenpo) BO(from Chinese boxing, kung fu) \nThis style has developed a reputation as "the perfected art of dirty streetfighting" \nThe second factor of the kajukenbo philosophy is the notion of taking what works and not being afraid to try other martial arts styles. \nYou learn to do anything it takes to win. \nEven if you have to bite, scratch, and kick, there are no rules. You have to fight like an animal if necessary.
1145651
That depends on what you want out of it. They are all different. They all have strengths and weaknesses. I teach and train in Karate but that's because it's right for me, not necessarily for you. Here are some brief descriptions of the major arts.\n\nKarate - linear punching and kicking (similar to boxing and kickboxing)\nJudo - ground work, grappling, locks and throws\nTai-chi - slow beautiful movements used for exercises\nTae-kwon-do - A lot of kicking (and shouting)\nAikido - Circular movements with locks, holds and throws (non aggressive)\nKung-Fu - Chinese art that is very flashy and great for tournaments.\n\nThe best thing to do is to find an art for you, go to different Dojo's and watch classes. Most Dojo's will let you take a free class. Find whats best for you and work hard. Later you can add another art that compliments your first one.
135200
There are a few things that you need to be aware of before going down this path. There are lots of people who will try to convince you that system X or system Y are the most effective, and that you can learn these systems in days or weeks. Not to put too fine a point on it, but these claims are utter horse poopoo. If you want to be skilled in a system, it is going to require some effort on your part. That being said, it is quite possible to become quite effective in relatively short order IF AND ONLY IF you are willing to put in the effort to get there. Also, before I go any further, please understand, I'm not saying these systems are better than others. Some systems have a different focus than others. That's not better, it is just different. Much like comparing apples and bananas, one isn't better than the other, they're just different.\n\nOk, with that out of the way, let's dig into the meat of your question. The first thing you need to decide is what is  it you want to get out of it? Are you looking to be able to protect yourself and others quickly and effectively? Or are you interested in competing in full contact fighting? Or are you just interested in doing it for yourself because it is something you think you'd enjoy? How you answer the above questions will dictate to some degree the best answer for you. \n\nIf you are strictly interested in effective self defense, there are some suggestions that I would make based on my personal experience. The Filipino systems of Kali, Escrima, and Arnis really hit the ground running, so to speak. They, along with the countless flavors of Indonesian Pencak Silat (pronounced pent-jahk see-laht), and some of the Chinese systems such as Wing Chun, Chung-I Chuan, and San Soo, are very much focused on turning you into a multi-faceted fighter in relatively short order. I prefer these systems because they don't focus on just one particular area. They incorporate bare hand techniques, weapon techniques (sticks and daggers are particularly common), and grappling techniques. If you are interested in primarily bare hand techniques, you could also include Muay Thai (aka Thai boxing). The big difference between these systems and similar systems is their overall philosophy. One of the systems that I do personally is Taiji Quan. Very, very effective combat system. However, the guiding philosophy is that they expect that you'll be studying Taiji for the rest of your life. As a result, though you do become extremely effective in combat, it comes with time and isn't a major focus from the start. The systems I mention above, though, focus on making you at least competent in as short of a time as possible. \n\nIf you are interested in full contact fighting, then I would recommend going in the direction of something like Shootfighting or Brazillian Jiujitsu (aka Gracie Jiujistu). I've known people who practiced both of these styles and can attest to the fact that they became relatively skilled rather quickly. The big distinction between these styles and the first group of styles that I mentioned is that the self defense oriented styles include many, many techniques that would be patently illegal in full contact fighting. \n\nI hope this provides some information that you will find useful. Again, I can't advise you strongly enough to avoid the systems that will tell you that they will teach you to become a whirlwind of death in 30 days or similar nonsense. Anything worth doing takes effort and practice, and if it was easy, everyone would do it. I've spent most of my life in the martial arts, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It has been a great experience for me, and I hope it will be for you, too. Good luck!
572950
Depends on where you live.A friend of mine has a school that teaches all types of swordfighting.
461807
Ninja is another form of martial arts, you learn this like any martial arts student, except for a novice person, the instructor usually does not teach all the concealment and secrets, these are taught to those who deserve to be top of the class.\n\nAnyway, for commercialize school, maybe you won't learn that much or learn to be like those in movies.\nhttp://www.neopets.com/island/fight_training.phtml\nhttp://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/archive/news/2002/02/20020221p2g00m0dm998000c.html
1171772
The name of the school won't always reveal what martial art a school teaches or the number of styles they offer. Asking what kind of martial art someone teaches is not a stupid question. There is a styles directory on www.martialartssites.com that will describe many different styles of martial arts to you. www. wikipedia.com is also good.\n\nHere's an old answer of mine that might help:\n\nHere's what I would do:\n\n\n1. Get a sheet of paper and write down exactly what kinds of benefits you wish to obtain from studying karate/martial arts. It's a good idea to know exactly what you want to achieve.\n\n2. Go to www.smartpages.com and look up MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTION in you city and state. It will tell you what martial arts are taught in your area and where the schools are located.\n\n3. Once you know what martial arts are offered in your area look up their definitions on the net. Note the similarities and differences between each. A good place to do that is www.wikipedia.com.\n\n4. Visit the schools in your area. Ask for a free class. Make sure you find a Master Instructor who is overseen by a larger governing body.For example: Many Tae Kwon Do schools belong to the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Verify your instructor's credentials.\n\n\nSome Martial Arts:\n\nTae Kwon Do and Karate will provide you with a great cardiovascular workout. They will also tone you. For the best results go to class around 4-5 days per week and at least 20-30 minutes a day at home to practice your moves.\nKoei Kan and Isshin Ryu are two good styles of karate. You can also look up Kenpo.\n\nKrav Maga, an Israeli style of self defense, is a superb physical workout. Around 4-5 days of Krav with transform your body. I've watched it happen. Fair warning! The workouts are intense! Take a look at Jennifer Lopez in the movie Enough. She's doing Karv Maga.
1152112
Most martial arts will provide those benefits so it really depends on what you like.  I would suggest sitting in on a class at several schools and see what you think you would be most comfortable with.
676512
while i agree muay thai is a very good art, i don't think any one art by itself is as effective as cross training in various forms. hence mma (mixed martial arts)\n\nin my humble opinion the best combo is muay thai and brazilian ju-jitsu\n\n most ufc, pride fighters train in those two as well as boxing and wrestling
38548
Hopefully you'll find someone more knowledgeable than myself, but in case you don't:  Kung-fu is the most varied and most difficult style to learn, and probably the most successful from an offensive point of view.\n\nAikido is a martial art that relies on flips and twists and might be considered the most successful from a defensive point of view.\n\nTae Kwan Do is basically glorified kick-boxing.  Not very advanced, but a good way to exercise.\n\nThis is the extent of my foolish knowledge.  The ancient masters are probably crying in despair now.
716200
Quicksilver8676: \n\nBEST ANSWER!! Totally agree with every word. I've studied martial arts for over ten years. I teach self defence mixing Taekwondo and Ju Jitsu techniques. Cross training is the way to go but knowlege snf training in ANY martial art will be useful in a REAL situation.\n\nHood_12: \n\nDumbest guy you'll ever meet. Every post he makes is negative about TKD as he was screwed over by his instructor/school. It does happen sometimes. Most people notice they are been taken for a ride after a couple of lessons. Not this moron tho. Took him five years LOL
1107688
Tae Kwon Do\nHwa-Rang and Choong-Moo
637242
The goal of any martial art is not to get a black belt, but to learn what the heck you're doing.  Aikido is a way of life: self defense, inner peace, peace with all creatures and nature, and peace with the world.  Some schools will not award it until you've practiced for at least 10 years, others will award it much sooner: but it all depends on how fast you're able to learn.  Aikido for most people, is considered the most difficult to master of any martial art.  In my aikido dojo, there are only two belts, white and black.   Don't go for the destination, but the journey.
1045089
I just picked up an article from a web site regarding the benefits of martial arts,hope this article can answer your question promptly.\nWhat are Martial Arts?\nMost of us are familiar with the term martial arts, whether it be from personal experience or from watching television shows or movies featuring the moves of this dazzling sport. Technically defined, martial arts are systems of combat and self-defense. Developed in various countries including China, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines, martial arts systems have been around for centuries. Martial arts are now becoming more and more popular, especially amongst North Americans. Practiced not only as a way to learn self defense, martial arts allows followers to increase personal fitness, reduce stress, and improve mental health.\n\nHealth Benefits of Martial Arts\nMartial arts aren’t just about self-defense anymore, although this can still be a major benefit to practicing these sports. Instead, more and more men and women are turning to martial arts because of the vast array of health benefits associated with these fitness systems. Some of the health benefits that regular practice of a martial art can bring you include:\n\n\nincreased muscle strength \nheightened stamina \nweight loss and weight maintenance \nimproved flexibility \nbetter posture and balance \nimproved agility\n\nWhen combined with a healthy diet, regular practice of a martial art can even help to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. But the benefits of martial arts aren’t just physical – these sports also work wonders for your mental and emotional wellbeing, helping to:\n\n\nreduce stress \nimprove concentration \nincrease self confidence\n\nWhat Is Involved in Martial Arts?\nEach system of martial arts is different, however, most combine some of the following features:\n\n\nForms: Most martial arts involve the practice of various forms, which are poses or movements performed in a routine. These routines can be practiced alone or with a partner and may involve kicking, jumping, or punching. Forms are typically non-combative. \nSparring Most martial arts feature some type of sparring, whether it be light, moderate, or heavy contact. Sparring involves fighting with an opponent while protected with foam padding and other protective gear. \nSelf Defense: The major goal of most martial arts systems is self-defense. The moves that you will learn will increase your ability to defend yourself against another person’s advances, and help you to deal with physical confrontation.\n\n\nTypes of Martial Arts\nThere are dozens of different martial arts systems that you can become involved with. Here are a few of the most popular martial arts:\n\nKarate\nKarate is perhaps the most well known of all the martial arts systems. It is also the most widely-practiced martial art in North America. Originating on the island of Okinawa in Japan, karate literally means "open hand." This is because all of the movements involved in karate use the hand as the main weapon. In karate, participants focus all of their energy into one contact point in order to overcome their opponent. Most karate movements involve striking with the hands, feet, or elbows, however, the sport also involves some grappling. Karate is excellent for those who want to increase their overall fitness levels and improve their upper body strength and fitness.\n\nJudo\nJudo was derived from the martial arts system, Jujutso, and literally means the "gentle way." Judo teaches students how to use the strength and ability of their opponents in order to win the advantage in a match. It typically involves grappling, throwing, and rolling the opponent. Judo is excellent for those who are looking to improve their fitness levels without bulking up too much. It is particularly well-suited to women and people of smaller physical stature.\n\nTaekwondo\nTaekwondo was created in Korea in the 1950s as an offshoot of karate. It emphasizes kicking t
931169
No Martial Art is superior to another. They are all basically different paths to the same place. Tai Chi is a martial art that focuses on flowing movement and direction of the Vital energy (Chi). It includes very effective self defense techniques and powerful strikes and counters. Modern Kung Fu ( Acquired Skill) or Wu Shu (Martial Art) is based on the fighting of the Chinese monks. It also uses very effective counters, powerful strikes, locks and manipulations. A skilled martial artist from either discipline will arrive in the same place. In kung fu we start by working at the physical aspects, A strong punch a fast kick. Later on we begin to direct our chi energy to produce more effective techniques banish our fear and improve our health. A Tai chi practitioner will start with a focus on their Chi energy using movements that naturally stimulate it's growth and build your awareness of it's movement. After time these movements will become devastating punches and nearly impenetrable defenses. A great Master I know of is my Sifu. He has studied Kung fu his hole life. He moves as powerfully as a tiger and as nimbly as a monkey (the two main animals in our style). But more impressive is his mastery over chi energy. When one of us has been injured in class he has repaired the damage. He escapes from holds just by breathing.