Choosing and Learning a Martial Arts Style

Question

I am a teenager wanting to learn some Martial Arts.

I am thirteen, and I really like the idea of having a second hobby and being able to defend myself.

I am in good shape from rock climbing and I am small for my age in both height and weight.

I would like suggestions for a style of Martial Arts to choose and then how to learn that style. I am not stupid, I work very hard and am really willing to put work into learning the style.

So, suggest a good style for my age and physical ability. Give me tips on learning the style, personal tips, websites, etcetera.

Answer 1

Tae-kown-do is very good for fitness, flexibility and discipline

Answer 2

I would take jui-jitsu or muy thai.  It the two dominant in mixed martial arts.

Answer 3

taekwondo. a guy who is small can be very good at it. watch some vids on youtube.

Answer 4

Jeet Kune Do..

It's the martial art that bruce Lee practised and perfected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeet_Kune_D...

visit wikipedia and read more about this style.

I wouldn't recommend this style right away, try to integrate it into another style after you've mastered it. Maybe go with karate or whatever and integrate this style into your current.

Jeet kune do basically means that you block an attack with an attack or with your fist. This allows you to counter and hit them more often instead of blocking.  (intercepting fist style)

Answer 5

I suggest Tae Kwon Do because it's mostly kicks and a few different punching forms. It is very practical and has A LOT of self defense. The morons who say it is not very good for self defense and is only for show have never done it and probably never even seen it. I would also try to learn hapkido pivots, those will save your life MANY times.

Answer 6

Ok I could recomend the style I take, or one I have heard about, as the others have doen so far, and others probably will as well, however I wont, because I do not know you, and I do not know what is availible in your area. I also beleive that the style you take is far les importent then the quality of instructon you have and how the schol trains it.

If I were you here is what I would do:

1) Search the questions and answers on here on how to find a good school and what to avoid. Another alternative is to go to www.bullshido.com, where they have an excellent list on finding a good school.

2) Search online and the yellow pages to find all the schools in you area, and using the list as a criteria, visit each one, and watch a few classes.

3) Using the list, added to what you want and which school will give you more of wht you want, make your choice.

In the end a style is just a tool, what is done with it is up to the user.