Best martial art to learn for a 24 yr 6'1 220 male?

Question

i have been wanting to learn a martial art all of my life but sports and work never allowed me to pursue this interest. i have recently finished my football career and i want to learn a martial art but i do not know which would be the most beneficial for me. i have played football for 13 yrs and i wrestled in high school for 2 yr and was pretty good. i need to learn how to fight on my feet and how to counter rather than relying on taking my opponents down ( ground is my strong point.) any advice or any martial arts or training to help is what i am looking for. i don't need to learn it for protection or anything like that i just really want to do a physical activity on a regular basis, plus the whole discipline and uniting mind body and spirit are very appealing to me. ideally i would love to live in an easter country where the arts originated and learn how to fight as well as about the cultures of other people but that would be in a perfect world.

Answer 1

any striking art would serve you well. its how good a teacher you have that will determine the results. along with how hard you work.

boxing, kickboxing, and muay thai. i'd say for a more "non traditional" appraoch to standup fighting. (or mma)

for more of a traditional art, okinawan or japanese karate would be good.

one of the great things about boxing and kickboxing (including muay thai) coaches is they can teach you how to "fight tall"...use your height to your advantage against various opponents. alot of traditional schools dont or cant.

Answer 2

Sissy.

Answer 3

We could discuss all day the pros and cons of various styles of martial arts, but the real "best" martial art training for you will come from the best school in your area.  Just because a place advertises Juujitsu, or Tae Kwon Do, or Thai Kickboxing or Shotokan Karate or whatever, will not tell you how well the school is run, how much of it involves drills vs sparring and the quality of the other students.  Since you seem to know what you are looking for in an authentic martial art, not just streetfighting skills, but part of the more holistic philosophical package, I think that you will be very well equipped to view classes at the various schools in your area and you will know which of these schools offers what you want.  A good school should not mind having visitors and you should not feel uncomfortable or unwelcome there.  I think that by visiting several schools you will discover that the biggest difference is quality, not style.

Good luck, and I think you're taking the right approach to this.

Answer 4

tae kwon doe

Answer 5

Brazilian jujitsu or if any schools have it, go for mixed GojuRyu karate with jujitsu.

Answer 6

If you want to have practical fighting skills that you can use in a real fight.

BOXING

Martial arts look really cool, but my money is on the golden gloves boxer every time.  

Answer 7

Go with kickboxing.  Preferably, a Muay Thai school that has competitive fighters there.  You don't have to mess with all the dumb stances and forms you'd learn in a Tae Kwon Do school.  Boxing would be my second choice.  Though, when Muay Thai and boxers match up, typically the Muay Thai guys dominate because your legs are stronger than your arms (think squat vs bicep curl).  If you watch UFC any, you'll see what I'm talking about.  Most boxers get their asses kicked for a couple of years until they learn how to kick and how to work on the ground.