Thinking of picking up a martial art, should i start with Jiu Jitsu, Muay thai, or Something else completely?

Question

Obviously to become a completely balanced fighter you need striking skills as well as ground game, I've looked up schools in my local area and it basically boils down to one of the following styles:

Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Wing Chun, Jiu Jitsu, BJJ, or Muay Thai

All the schools are about a 20-30 minute drive, I've checked most of them online and most of them seem pretty legit, ofcourse it all depends on the teacher too so i may sit in on a few classes before i make a decision.

Right now tho I'm just divided on which style to study, I took tae kwon do for a few years so I think i'll move onto something different, also to be perfectly honest I dont really want to waste my time practicing patterns or memorizing ancient history, I just want to learn how to defend myself.

Answer 1

jiu jistus its better

Answer 2

if your lookin to be an mma fighter, start with a grappling martial arts. that includes judo, sambo jiu jitsu, or you can even take just plain submission wrestling. then add strikes to your arsenal. you can take boxing, muay thai, etc.

Answer 3

Japanese jiu-jitsu,wing chun or Boxing  I'd suggest :)***

Answer 4

Japanese jujitsu or muay thai would be good to start with. All the styles you listed have a lot to offer, sometimes it has more to do with the teachers then the style.

Answer 5

If your intent is to become a complete fighter then the disciplines you should take up are pretty obvious.  Start with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (a staple for all conceiving fighters) and once you have reached your desired level of proficiency cross train with Muay Thai.  I chose BJJ and cross trained with boxing, this path complemented my wrestling background nicely and makes me feel like a monster, in my stand up and take downs, when I spar.

Answer 6

You seem to know what you want (except which martial art To choose) and how to go about getting it. first let me say this: you have to know what is the purpose for leaning a martial arts system.. you say for self defense.  Most styles teach self defense some more realistic than others.

If you want to learn how to defend your self in street situations i suggest that you study an art called chin na. it will be a good base to move unto  another style if you decide it's not for you.

if you want to be good with your hands and feet than i suggest muay thai

if you want to be good at all, than i recomand kung fu san s****.>
you will learn locks take-downs punching, kicking and  street self defense.

Answer 7

Ok, my 2 cents...

You've already been down the TKD road, so let's scratch that.

You've hit the nail on the head, how much you learn depends on the quality of your instruction.  I am a Krav Maga instructor, but I don't push Krav Maga, people tend to gravitate to something that looks good to them.

You've had experience, see if the schools will let you try out a class or few, see which one you like, see how the instructors interact with the students.  Muay Thai is very direct, most MT schools will have you in the octagon from day 1 on.  

I have seen some really awesome BJJ workouts, at my school they are only 1 hour.  At some schools the BJJ workouts are 3 hours a class, lots of sweat and rolling.  I learned the triangle and kimura in 10 minutes at one school, run by a friend of mine.  His school also has MT all day long.

MT has very little tradition, BJJ has virtually none.  Krav Maga has none, we just do PFT and then we train.  

At my school I give a week free to decide, some schools give a week, some give a class or two for an intro, so take advantage of this.  Try on a few hats, see which one fits.

I hope you find what you are looking for.