What's a good type of Martial Arts for me?

Question

I'm kind of a short guy (5'7") and have a wide/large build. (Short and wide). I can think very quickly and am planning to be a cop in the next few years. So I'm looking for something a bit more defensive and maybe a way to restrain an opponent who is wrestling me on the ground. (Which seems to happen every time a criminal wants to fight a cop)

Anyone know a good style of Martial Arts that would suit me?

Answer 1

I would go with mixed martial arts to equally learn some stand-ups and grappling since both elements are very important and can come in handy in certain situations. But I think taking some Judo and Jujitsu would be a good idea to both defend against some guys with good stand-up skills, or to defend against guys who knows how to grapple. But if there's multiple attackers, you definitely need to know some stand-ups. So ultimately, I thought mixed martial arts would be a good idea. Although I like Muay Thai more, I think it's best for you to take up MMA.

Answer 2

I was an explorer with a Metro Atlanta Police Dept. and they train their officers in a mixture of Aikido and Brazilian Jujitsu. A lot of officers continue their martial arts training and go on to learn Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, Judo, and one officer trained in a taught Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) and he is now my Shidoshi. Police officers can't use any technique they want. They have to use what the department taught them because they are medically sound techniques that won't kill anyone. If they did a jump spinning back kick and knocked someone out then the department would not support their actions and they'd be in trouble.

Answer 3

Judo or Shuai Jiao, BJJ is a bit more of ground fighting and Judo is more throwing and subduing, so perhaps that would be better.... you shouldn't rule out BJJ though because it's a little more of a fighting art rather than a sport like Judo.... Shuai Jiao is intended to be a killing art so it's a little harsh, but you wouldn't exactly regret it if you were forced to break a bone or two.

Answer 4

'What you need is information from someone with REAL experience as a cop.

Karate can be  excessive force. Go to the ground and you can get stopped to death by the suspects buddies. Now what?

You need to talk an experienced officer who has been in the trenches, both on the street and in the courtroom. Don't risk  your life or finical future on advice that may or may not fit your needs. Not to mention that every state has different laws and seemingly different criminals.  

Good luck...

Answer 5

If you're planning on becoming a cop, a grappling martial art would be best because punching / kicking may be considered overly exessive force

Answer 6

If it's joint locks and limb restrain, you can't get any better than Brazilian Jiu Jitsu..

Answer 7

as a cop you dont need to focus on striking techniques mostly. you can't just walk up to a suspect and throw punches.

i'd seriously recommend something "tactical" in nature...as it'll be more like what you'll be doing on the street as a cop.

www.hockscqc.com ...hock was in the army, and was a cop who logged more than 1500 arrests. he's good, straight to the point, and real.

Jim Wagner also has some good stuff out, he is a police officer..former anti terrorist agent i think.

turtlepress.com also has some police type videos.

on the traditional front, i highly recomment hapkido, it is the whole ball of wax. it has the strikes of karate/taekwondo. the joint locks and throws of judo/and jujutsu. and a definate element of aikijujutsu as well.

and it was one of the first traditionally based arts to be taught in a "self defense format" so to speak.

no kata or anything like that.

just a few techniques and a billion ways to use them.

some brazilian jujutsu, or sambo would be great too, even if just as a suppliment. because they address groundfighting.

*note...those 'tactical' systems cover every range, and every scenario you can think of. guns, knives, multiple attackers...etc

the gracie's also have a self defense program for police.

hope that helps.

Answer 8

Brazilian jiu jitsu, sambo, judo, wrestling,

Answer 9

karate, mostly strikes blocks and punches

and not alot of going on knees rolling

Answer 10

jui jitsu for ground fighting.

otherwise just look wats close and affordable.

Answer 11

Definetly Jiu Jitsu!!! Alot of grappling & if your short & stocky, on the ground is where you want to be!!!

Answer 12

People can argue this all day, but not one martial art is better than any other. Punching is punching, kicking is kicking, everything else is just emphasis. I believe it matters more about who is teaching you, more than what kind of martial art. You should look for an instructor that can tell you why things work the way that they do, not just show you that they do. Principles are the most important part in any martial art. If you understand why things work the specifics matter little. Find someone who can answer your questions and who will seek answers to the questions they don't have an answer for. Also, if you plan on using this art, as it sounds like you will, you will want a class that is interactive. I have been to many dojos and have had many people come to mine and, not all, but most had never really been hit before. I have been hit so hard, enough to take the wind out of me and knock me off my feet, that i know what to expect from a real hit so, say if I was a cop, I would be able to take hits easily and not be too shocked or stunned. It is important to be able to know how a hit will affect you as well as your opponent. I study isshin-ryu, although I believe that it is my Sensei's dedication to wanting to help us to understand our martial art that has got me to where I am. Isshin-ryu uses punches, kicks, blocks, pain lines, and any type of joint locks you can imagine. Hope that Helped.  : )

P.S.  Your build shouldn't matter in any martial art if your arms and legs are normal length.  : )