I want to start martial arts?

Question

Okay, I want to start doing martial arts, but I have some questions.

1. What martial art should I do that is fun and keeps you fit?

Here are the things I want for the martial art. No mma. I want one that have probably an equal or good amount of girls and guys so it isn't too weird. Grappling or striking is fine.

Answer 1

Get in shape first; work on strength and endurance, then start martial arts.

From Chinese martial arts history, the tradition was to get any prospective students in shape first before they did any martial arts and there is a very good reason for this.  Its a matter of common sense; an unfit person practicing martial arts will be sloppy and messy with the forms, a fit person on the other hand will be able to endure practice and therefore perfect the techniques much faster.  So, in other words man..... get in shape first, and take at least 6 months to a year to do it.  If you are still a teenager, time's a plenty, and besides, you can take that year getting in shape to seriously consider what style you wish to study, as following a fitness regiment will let you know of your body's strengths and weaknesses.

However, ones last thing; do not, please do not listen to ignorant people regarding fitness, people who say that running is the way to "get in shape."  Now I agree; you need cardiovascular fitness but running is only a PART OF a fitness system, not a fitness system in and of itself.  To be fit, you need to meet the following criteria;

1)  You must be strong, packing, roughly, 20 to 30 extra lbs of muscle, look forward to roughly 4 tubs of whey protein consumed per month if you want results in a hurry, 1 tub if you are willing to be patient, and go for the "long stretch."

2)  You have to have endurance, able to run the mile anywhere from 5 to 7 minutes flat, depending on the way you are built.  You can't expect someone like Bob Sapp to run it in 5 minutes anymore than you can expect an average guy to bench press 600 lbs I mean come on.  Depending on how you are built and what you think you can do at your fittest, set that time as your goal.

3)  You must have the flexibility, to do the majority of poses in Yoga, sans the backbending ones because they are dangerous for men.  Women can get away with doing the back bending poses without fear of harm because their spinal column is generally shorter for one, and second, it is naturally more flexible because it needs to be for pregnancy and of course birth.  Indeed; the health of an unborn baby, is largely dependent on the condition of a woman's nervous system so while this may be off topic, for the first month, a pregnant woman should visit a chiropractor often.  Ask your chiropractor, or any your doctor reccomends, for safe spinal stretches, and do them on a daily basis, as they help with fitness goals.

4)  Finally, as part of fitness, you must have focus.  You must be able to "empty" your mind, completely free of thought, image, sound or emotion, for at least 5 minutes.  Try doing it for 5 seconds; its tough as nails.  You have to engage, throughout your fitness plan, in lotus, or half lotus meditation, for at least 20 minutes a day.  First just focus on relaxing and breathing, then, after you can easily relax and breathe deeply, focus on not taking your eyes of a point on the wall and then after that, empty your mind, and after that, visualize yourself as "small," that way you cultivate humility.  Humility is important because it helps  you learn faster.

In other words your fitness plan must encompass strength, flexibility, endurance, and focus.  For strength, the strength regiment of your choice; be it cals, atlas, weights, whatever.  For endurance, hey, go out and run.  For focus, the meditation.  When you are ready to take up a martial art, just replace the running with the martial art you are practicing, for your "cardio."  Who knows you may even get so fit, you'll still run anyway.

The point is; dude, don't repeat other's mistakes, GET IN SHAPE FIRST.  You go to a GNC or even contact the "Body for Life" people there are plenty of people out there who will help you.

good luck.

Answer 2

Rob B said it best !!

The only thing I would ad is to not be overly concerned with the school.  Don't be blinded by fancy schools that have lots of toys.  The instructor (and your attitude) is the key to any good martial arts training.  I trained in a garage for the first 3 years I was in martial arts.  Good Luck!

Answer 3

Don't sweat the style, it's the school and instructors that make the biggest difference.  Talk to people you know who take martial arts and visit their schools.  Visit other schools in your area.  Take a month of classes to see if you like it.  If you don't like one school it doesn't mean it's bad, it just doesn't fit you.  Try another one.  You'll eventually find one that fits you.

Answer 4

do tai kwon do and hapkiedo

one is completely strike based and the other all grapple and submission

perfect combination

Answer 5

Check out your local Yellow Pages to see what is available in your location.

Check out the schools and sit in on a class at every school that looks like it might be of interest.

I would suggest:

Taekwondo,

Judo,

Japanese Jujitsu,

Karate,

Tai Chi (someplace that does push hands.)