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Getting into Martial Arts

Bardeaux

Bardeaux

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Jan 6, 2008
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I've been interested in dedicating myself to a martial art. I've been reading and reading and reading but I'm still unsure about how I want to get involved.

Firstly, I am turning 21 this month. I am unemployed, but do little jobs on the side to have some spending money. But I have absolutely no direction in life and nothing seems to interest me at all. I dont have any friends, dont know any girls, I'm just pretty much baseline. I feel like I need a good kick in the ass and one option is the military. But because of personal reasons I do not want to join that institution at this time.

I want to be trained physically, mentally, and philosophically. This is a pretty broad request when seeking the correct path in martial arts. My question is to those who have any experience in the practice. Which form(s) do you study and have martial arts affected you strongly? And lastly, how would you suggest I approach such a demanding task?
 
I did Shotokan karate for 3 1/2 years. When I first began I was fucked up looking to channel all my problems into a better path than destruction. For the first 2 years I just wanted to fight-I forgot to see and appreciate the art of gracefulness, discipline, skill practice and persistence.
I wanted my sensai to be harder on me as I wanted to do the whole hardcore thing, but it was a university karate club so, like in the community you probably get a whole different mix of people so you had the people who didn't take it too seriously, the uncos (I was too at first) and so on so the sensai had to pitch it to a broad level which didn't always mean I got what I wanted.
Still it was an awesome experience in life and I pushed myself further than I thought I could.
 
Find a friend who can kick your ass and explain how he did it. Then hang out with him and smoke lots of joints together as you discuss the finer points of sparring.
That's probably the best training you can get.
 
The violent aspect doesnt really interest me really. I'm looking for something to shape me from the pile of goop I am now into a block of stone. As of now I am trying to completely turn myself around and find something that requires dedication and will give out some critical rewards,
 
Bardo5 said:
I want to be trained physically, mentally, and philosophically. This is a pretty broad request when seeking the correct path in martial arts.
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On the contrary, from what I know, most martial arts teachings will cover all 3 of those aspects of training equally. My boyfriend was a national-level judo champion in his day, and knows a fair bit about most forms of martial arts, and as a result I too have wanted to get in to it. After researching a few different disciplines, I decided that from what I gathered it would be better to start with a more defensive art like aikido or krav maga, as opposed to an attacking art like karate. I think essentially, whatever you choose to do, as long as you start from the basic level and gradually work your way up, without being too hasty to learn to "fight", making sure you learn the entirety of the discipline, you will reap all the benefits :)
 
^I mean its a broad question when asking which arts cover these things, seeing that all of them do. My goal is to narrow it down to just one.

Judo is the art of grappeling correct?
 
Bardo5 said:
Judo is the art of grappeling correct?
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Correct :)
The training is very intensive in terms of fitness, if that's what you're after. But then again, most martial arts require intense fitness training.
 
I did Shotokan Karate for 4 years until the club closed, took the opportunity a year later to start anew at a Budo club, studying Karate (Okinawan), Aikido and Iaido to shodan (still studying). Also got into Kyusho.

The philosophy behind Aikido is one of non-violence, something that I think would do you a lot of good. It takes a huge amount of dicipline to dedicate yourself to a martial art, but for me at least, Aikido is worth the time and effort.

Also, as a tidbit- karate isn't just about attack... nor is Aikido just about defence...
 
Salvinorin_A said:
Also, as a tidbit- karate isn't just about attack... nor is Aikido just about defence...
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Oh of course! I think all the martial arts cover elements of both attack and defense, and some are more swayed to one side than others, right?
 
I study krav maga and kickboxing, and have taken karate (and tiny bit of judo) in the past. But then again, I train solely for the physical element of it (becoming better at self-defense and street fighting skills), and don't really care to get much of a philosophical (or Eastern) component out of it.

In terms of the hardest I've ever been pushed/punished, krav takes the cake for sure. If you want something that will practically save your behind if anything goes wrong in life, krav is the penultimate martial art. But embedded in krav is an anti-philosophy which essentially minimizes any and all mental/philosophical component and focuses on the practical. To me, I really like this. But it does not sound so much like something you'd like.

I think kickboxing is a great accompanying martial art for something else as your primary focus. Especially if you get a few years under your belt, and take it in the Muai Thai direction. It's not really anything special on its own, but you do learn to kick harder, build stamina, become more flexible, and such.

Honestly, based on what you've described, I think you'd do best with karate or jujitsu as your primary study. You'll get all three components from those. The only problem with these, again, is that they are mainly stage arts, and won't necessarily save you in the street (in krav, for example, we learn how to intercept "performance-based attacks" from various martial arts). Though again, I'd suggest taking kickboxing to back up whatever you decide as your primary focus.
 
Certainly N3o, as you have very appropriately said- karate is more swayed towards offence than defence, but really, only very slightly. I was always of the predisposition that karate was soley offensive, that was until I started my Kyusho studies- I realised, once going through and dissecting kata and basic moves that what could be seen as offensive was also defencive just as easily, and ofcourse vice versa.

Even Aikido, often considered to be one of the more... gentle (for sincere want of a better word) Martial Arts, once looked at in more detail can reveal offense- especially in the intricacies of some of the more subtle moves can be shown to be nor only present, but effective!
 
I studied Kenpo, Shotokan and Tai Kwon Do Karate and Wah Lum Kung Fu for about 10 years in all. I believe that every martial art has something to offer. What's most important is that you select a school that is compatible with your objectives. I've been to places where they were mostly into training fighters and having a bad ass reputation, where they just wanted your money, and where they were genuinely trying to promote physical, mental and spiritual growth. Find someplace you can get to easily. Sign up for a trial period and get a sense of the school. Then be prepared to commit yourself. Good luck!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm pretty much leaning towards aikido as a door into martial arts. I was a wrestler years ago so I'm familiar with using an attacker's momentum as a weapon against them, and this seems to be a staple in aikido as well as other 'grapple oriented' styles. If it turns out to be something I find really positive I might take up something a little more offensive as well, like karate.
 
Like I said joining a dojo is nothing compared with having a dedicated training partner you can bond with. Jeet Kune Do ftw!
Aikido is really sweet though. That would be good to learn from a master.
 
I recently got back into 'Martial Arts' after a break of about 10 years. When I was a lot younger, I trained in Shotokan Karate which was amazing for building my confidence as a kid, plus it kept me busy.

Fast forward 10 years and after wanted to get back into it for so long, I made up my mind and took the plunge. I started around 2 months ago and am doing Muay Thai Kickboxing for stand up and Brazillian Jiu Jitsu for ground. I am so glad I took the first step as I love it! I train most nights now, it keeps me fit, confidence has soared again plus my body is in awesome shape.

I would highly recommend either of those styles although Brazillian Jiu Jitsu is really hard to pick up quickly. Muay Thai kickboxing may be the way to go - is really good fun and will get you into really good shape with a lot of confidence to defend yourself.
 
^Me and a mate have just signed up for Muay Thai classes. They all seem to have a weeks trial so will try a few places first before choosing which one.

My biggest concern is my flexibility.... I'm awful. So awful I can barely touch my toes. Any advice on how to improve? I guess just keep stretching and stretching?
 
Portillo said:
Try Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling...
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Word %)

Bardo5 said:
Thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm pretty much leaning towards aikido as a door into martial arts. I was a wrestler years ago so I'm familiar with using an attacker's momentum as a weapon against them, and this seems to be a staple in aikido as well as other 'grapple oriented' styles. If it turns out to be something I find really positive I might take up something a little more offensive as well, like karate.
Click to expand...

You used to wrestle so I'm sure you are aware that in MMA the most successful fighters are the grapplers: wrestling, judo, and jiu jitsu coupled with a decent standup. But it sounds like you want to do it more for the philosophy than the fighting skills. If that is the case, maybe akido is the discipline for you. That coupled with your wrestling ability could be a great combination.

Good luck.
 
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