The "usual" question...which martial art...?

Question

I had been leaning toward either aikido or MMA, for lack of any better ideas, but I got some interesting answers on my last question, so...

What art is street-effective, yet fairly safe to learn? By that, I mean I won't come home missing teeth or with broken ribs, from learning how not to lose teeth or break ribs. I'm pushing 40, fat, and have had a pretty sedentary, high-stress lifestyle. I've observed a couple different classes, so far, including aikido, taekwondo, and a kind of MMAish judo, jiujitsu, kickboxing class. I have begun to seriously wonder if taking something like MMA or jiujitsu might cause me to break loose a clot or something and kill me, or worse, so I thought at this age maybe it's better to train a bit more gently? Thing is, will gentler training still help me on the street? I don't go around looking for trouble or anything, but it has occurred to me that people get attacked a lot lately and at this stage, I probably wouldn't survive an unarmed encounter.

Answer 1

You need to consult a doctor before you start any sort of training. Even the ukemi of aikido can hurt you when you're learning it.

Most people seem to have this belief that MMA is the way to go because they like what they see on television. Aikido, taught properly, can show you how to safely defend yourself easily, without expenditure of a lot of energy. So can Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu. We cover everything (if you're in the Bujinkan and haven't yet, keep training). Striking, grappling, joint manipulation, ground fighting, seated attacks, weapons (ancient and modern), escapes from holds and chokes, and other things that, god willing, you never need to know. We get a bad rap (largely due to the "ninja boom" of the 1980s), but I strongly believe in its teachings and honestly believe I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for my training.

Your age won't be an issue. Your weight and your level of stress need to be addressed before you take on a martial art. If you were attacked, even if you survived the fight, the stress may give you a heart attack. Once you're certain that you're safe to train (in any martial art) do not be timid about hitting and being hit. Take hits in the dojo so that you're not afraid of being hit on the street.

Be careful and good luck in whatever you choose.

Answer 2

People take martial arts for many different reasons. First, ask yourself, what do you want to accomplish from martial arts?

Do you want to train to be prepared and survive a streetfight?

Remember this, you fight like you train. If you are used to practicing forms and such, that won't help you in a real fight.

Do you want to learn a martial art?

Any martial art will help you with your physical conditioning, although some better than others.

A wonderfully beautiful martial art that will help you with health and will not cause too much exertion would be Tai Chi. I dabble in Tai Chi when I was in my early twenties. It moved pretty slow, and was low impact. It was still a workout, but not overly taxing.

If you want to get in shape fast, a martial art like muay thai or jiujitsu will help you sweat. The only question is, whatever martial art you take, are you willing to presevere, make sacrifices and stick with it?

Good luck.

Answer 3

i would definitely go with Aikido: there is almost no chance of getting hurt (unless the guy you're practicing with is an idiot, which is the same for all martial arts) because one of the first things you learn is how to fall in such a way as to avoid injury. Emphasis is placed on using the attacker's momentum against him and controling him, NOT using brute strength to beat the living daylights out of him. This means that you dont have to be strong or particularly fit to practice it. This will therefore provide the 'gentler training' you're looking for, but still give you the skills to defend yourself.

Many techniques get you to the point were it is possible to do serious damage to your attacker (smash elbow, dislocate shoulder), but not neccesarily.

Another big advantage over other self-defence martial arts is that it is can be applied to weapon attacks (such as knives).

Whatever you choose, good luck, and i hope you never have to use it!

Answer 4

best to learn for street fights is muay thai followed by boxing.

if you dont want to get hurt, probably bjj, though theres always the risk of getting something snapped there.

Answer 5

First consult your doctor before taking a martial art, second if your looking for self defence there is'nt one martial art that covers it all (brazilian jujitsu covers ground fighting, wing chun covers striking and trapping....) so if you do want self defence try to be a mma artist.

Answer 6

What streets are you walking that jiujitsu would not save you?

Answer 7

To be honest.. the best one is the one that doesn't  pressure you to fight , you should not fight until you are ready. I fought mma style  for 20 yrs ( it wasn't called mma back then) once you feel secure in your defensive skills and can control your offense then you are ready.

Answer 8

Joezz, Do Okinawan Karate!

Answer 9

tang soo do is a good martial arts is a good art to look into. you get to learn things like ground fighting, weapnons,kickboxing and i variety of other things. you make physical contact but you are also geared up when you make any kind of contact in any way.

Answer 10

You want a Martial art that won't kill you to learn but at the same time is still effective?

Try Bagua Zhang or  Hsing Yi Quan They are mellow like Tai Chi but have not been watered to a health dance like many Tai Chi Schools have. Tai Chi is also a good one if you can find a combat oriented instructor.

Good Luck