Any Martial Artists Here?

[Obsessed]

I've been toying with the idea of trying a martial art, largely because it's much easier for me to keep fit if I'm actually doing an activity rather than trying to slog through workouts at the gym. Muay Thai looks like it could be fun, although I have a feeling my shins might disagree. Someone suggested BJJ to me, but I'm not sure I'm interested in a grappling art like that. I took boxing classes about ten years ago and loved it, so that's another option. Obviously, A big factor is finding a place that is (a) decent, (b) convenient enough to my home or office so I can actually get there, and (c) suitable for out of shape beginners in their 40s, not just aspiring MMA fighters or MMA wannabes.

Krav Maga looks cool but I've heard that due it is burgeoning popularity, at least in the New York area, there are a lot of bogus instructors out there and one has to be really careful choosing. (I know in NYC there are a lot of classes supposedly taught by "former Israeli special forces" guys, a lot of which probably aren't. )

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[bad-bryce]

I do both Muay Thai and BJJ and they are both awesome martial arts. Muay Thai is great work on your cardio and slims you down really well. I have played b-ball and soccer when I was in High-school and College and nothing compares to Muay Thai. Took a while for my muscles to get use to it but now I am good.

BJJ is awesome too but tired you out so fast when you roll with another person. BJJ with Gi is so technical. There are so many things to be aware of.

I love them both!!

[bad-bryce]

GO for Muay thai!! Yes your shins will get sting a little bit but after a good two weeks of not quitting. You could kick for hours and you would not feel a thing. Plus Muay Thai works your entire body and way harder on the cardio because of the kicking.

I've been toying with the idea of trying a martial art, largely because it's much easier for me to keep fit if I'm actually doing an activity rather than trying to slog through workouts at the gym. Muay Thai looks like it could be fun, although I have a feeling my shins might disagree. Someone suggested BJJ to me, but I'm not sure I'm interested in a grappling art like that. I took boxing classes about ten years ago and loved it, so that's another option. Obviously, A big factor is finding a place that is (a) decent, (b) convenient enough to my home or office so I can actually get there, and (c) suitable for out of shape beginners in their 40s, not just aspiring MMA fighters or MMA wannabes.

Krav Maga looks cool but I've heard that due it is burgeoning popularity, at least in the New York area, there are a lot of bogus instructors out there and one has to be really careful choosing. (I know in NYC there are a lot of classes supposedly taught by "former Israeli special forces" guys, a lot of which probably aren't. )

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[Goober]

1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (Korean) Started in high school and got up to Brown Belt. Finally got Black belt at the age of 42. Haven't worked out in several years due to injuries and work, etc.

[BrewCommando]

Been active in one martial art or other for 20 years.

As has already been wisely mentioned, if I could give one piece of advice it would be to pick an instructor, not a system.

I've been training with my current instructor (and best friend) for five years and have had the privilege to train with him during his journey towards creating his own solid curriculum gleaned from thousands of hours (and dollars) spent training with high level guys from a wide spectrum of disciplines, from Wing Chun to Kali to Silat to Kenpo to many others. Interestingly, the top guys in many of these systems teach out of their houses and don't have formal studios.

My journey began with boxing, which still pays dividends to this day. The footwork and body movement that was drilled into me all those years ago is useful in almost every other art I've studied. Not to mention the ability to take a punch and stay level headed. I was a bouncer for six years in England and attribute the fact that I am still alive today to my boxing skills and a few well executed Ninjitsu rolls (when piled on by gangs of football hooligans for example!)

I then moved on through various systems over the years, my favorites including: Ninjitsu (Masaaki Hatsumi), Shukokai and Shotokan Karate, Kenpo (Tracy System), Muay Thai, Shootfighting. Also tried out some of the more modern derivatives such as Ki Fighting Concepts and the Tony Blauer Spear System.

No one system has it all, but I've learned great things from each and every one. This is why I'm incredibly happy to be studying the current curriculum that's based intelligently on some of the core fundamentals of classical systems. This afternoon I'll be training for an hour on some basic knife drills before sharing some 21 year old single malt

Back to finding the right instructor - this is not as easy as it sounds. We were recently involved with a very prominent and high level martial artist with an interesting modern system, but after a very promising start, he turned out to be a raging egomaniac and we're no longer training with him.

If I were to be pressed to pick a system right now for general fitness and effectiveness, I'd say you couldn't go too far wrong with Muay Thai. Excellent cardio workout incorporating kicks, punches, knees, elbows, footwork and body movement. Two of the most powerful strikes I can throw are the classic thai kick and a thai elbow.

[TheVez2]

ITF Taekwon-Do. I studied for a couple years when I was about 10. I bounced around a few different styles in college, depending on what was available but never liked anything else. I had the opportunity to train in TKD again when I was deployed and loved it. I plan on finding a TKD school in Albuquerque when I move there next month.

[JimP]

Goober - 1st degree BB in TKD here as well; have not trained in that in years however.
Been doing "combatives" throughout my Army career, even before there was a combatives "program". Spent some time doing BJJ-- enough to be a danger to myself. Last couple of years trained in Aikido. Got to 5th Que and need to get back into it but nothing nearby. Got a good Jui-Jitsu school nearby that I may go try for this next year.
Bottom line - do something....anything.

[zeeman]

Did Kung-Fu and Thai boxing for 15 years now I'm fully into MMA, I keep the stubble on the face though as its really rough and irritates my opponents when we grapple. :-)

[Doc4]

Master Seagull has taught me a wide variety of neat tricks.

You can kill a herring without ruffling a feather!