Martial Arts Fitness (((AND I DONT MEAN TAEBO!)))

mahoganybrowne

Does anyone know any good Martial Arts Fitness?

LKArgh

I do not understand the question. If you are looking for a generic fitness class that uses moves from martial arts, then something like tae bo, tae box etc is the answer. If you are asking which actual martial art to look into learning, that is personal preference, all are going to give you a good workout.

jimmmer

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

Does anyone know any good Martial Arts Fitness?

What are your aims/goals?

granturismo

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

Does anyone know any good Martial Arts Fitness?

Yes.

mahoganybrowne

jimmmer wrote: »

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

Does anyone know any good Martial Arts Fitness?

What are your aims/goals?

I really don't know. But I know, I don't want to do TaeBo because I have the DVD's already. I want to learn a good Martial Art. For self defense purposes.

Lofteren

For self defense and fitness I would recommend either MMA or Krav Maga. If those aren't available, Sambo, Judo, Pancrase, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai are also very good styles. Check out several schools and watch to see which schools train the hardest and have the best students. Also remember that the practitioner is more important than the style.

Lofteren

I have also seen gyms that taught wrestling and boxing which could be a good pair as well.

rumijs

I second Krav Maga. I used to practice at a Martial Arts studio that offered kickboxing, krav maga, and every type of MA. Different classes on different days. There was a program where you pay for 33 sessions and you could mix match. Show up for Krav one day, TKD the next, and so forth. I found that I liked Krav and kickboxing the best and used the rest of my sessions on those. Many MA studios work like that -- at least in my area. I'd say go to a studio, talk with the instructors, have them work you into a couple of trial sessions so you can see what type of moves/sequences you like and then go from there.

_runnerbean_

If you want it for pure self defence then martial arts that involve grappling like judo or jujitsu are your best option (most street fights go to the floor very quickly). If you want something for confidence and fitness then most marital arts will fit the bill if you have a good instructor. I used to to taekwondo which has a lot of kicking and punching- I had a great teacher and was very fit and confident after a few years of practice ( daily practice!)

DoctahJenn

Any martial art will give you skills for self defense, and if you train daily any will help you get in shape. The style you choose is all about personal preference. Do you want to build speed and agility? Taekwondo is all about that. Do you want to learn moves that promote strength and precision? Judo or karate are excellent choices. Do some research, watch some YouTube videos of spars, and most importantly, go observe a dojo/dojang. A good school will let you watch a class before signing up to see if it's something you're interested in. Some schools use padding to spar. Some don't. You may be more comfortable with those that do. Or, like me, you may hate all that bulk around you and appreciate schools that teach and enforce control.

Mof3wc

You'd have to look around at what is offered in your area, and decide where your comfort level is. Things like Jujitsu/MMA/Krav Maga are very hands on, close contact type classes. My kids and I belong to a gym that offers a cardio kickboxing class, its a great combo of learning the moves as well as getting a killer workout. Usually the teacher alternates one set of kicks/punches, and one set of situps/pushups/burpees etc.

millerll

Honestly, most martial arts aren't going to give you the skills you need for self-defense unless you study them for many years. A common misconception is that a few months in the dojo will give you mad ninja skills, and it doesn't work that way. If you want self-defense, buy a gun and learn how to use it.

Having said that, if you want to study martial arts for their own merits, I'd recommend Tae Kwon Do, Karate, or Ju Jitsu. All are good styles for general fitness and to help improve strength and flexibility. TKD is a bit more kicking-oriented than karate, while JJ is, as previously, primarily grappling and throws. Which style you choose is strictly personal preference. Pick the one that appeals to you for its type of movement versus self-defense capabilities.

Disclosure - I study Okinawan karate because its traditional style appeals to me. But I harbor no illusions about my ability to use it to defend myself. With luck, I might be able to get in a good punch or block, but the best defense is to avoid situations where you might be in danger, if at all possible. I have a concealed carry permit, and I use it.

Good luck, and I hope you decide to study martial arts. The benefits, physical and mental, are tremendous. Just be realistic about the practical uses.

Alatariel75

Taekwondo has changed my life. Lots of kicking, punching, and coordination work. It's made me fitter and made me want to work hard to be fitter. I could never get into going to the gym for its own sake, but now I work out to help with my TKD training.

mahoganybrowne

I love all of your answers... they are all great!

mahoganybrowne

I will have more questions later...

jimmmer

For quickly learning some self defence, an art with an emphasis on a lot of practical sparring from the get go will be good.

MMA studios can give you a good mix of arts that can get you out of trouble: something for groundwork, some striking, kicking, locks, throws. And they have an heavy emphasis on getting in the ring and putting stuff to use.

Having said that, sometimes it's not a particular art. More the atmosphere/culture at a school, how good the teacher is and whether you enjoy it enough to keep showing up and getting better.

Best to try out a few free tasters here and there and see how things are. You may end up learning traditional family-style Tai Chi or something more exotic and weapons orientated like Indonesian Silat. Or something more nuts and bolts like good old fashioned boxing. Until you try a few, you won't know what you like.

Adherence trumps everything at the end of the day. People endlessly say that art X is better than art Y. But the person who gives a decent effort over a couple of years to Y will be far superior as a martial artist than the person who gave 3 lessons worth of effort to X. And all such comparisons are ultimately meaningless. Good martial artists and teachers are good because they are genuinely interested in getting better and put in the effort over a long enough period to make it so.

Drewlssix

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

I will have more questions later...

Situational awareness and a firearm are the best possible means of self defense. The latter depending greatly on where you live and what you are willing to do. It's worth noting that in the US it has been recorded that well over 90% of all armed self defense situations end with no shots fired and no one seriously injured. Most people when confronted with a firearm simply seek softer prey, I for one though a larger strong male would rather turn someone away without hurting them or my self rather than take the risk of almost certain mutual harm should I resort to brawling.

mahoganybrowne

Thank you very much @Drewlssix‌

mahoganybrowne

So what about some good stretches? I'm always doing the normal stretches before I workout... I'd like to do some martial arts stretches as well... any suggestions? Like... any basic martial arts stretches before I start?

Drewlssix

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

So what about some good stretches? I'm always doing the normal stretches before I workout... I'd like to do some martial arts stretches as well... any suggestions? Like... any basic martial arts stretches before I start?

I don't know that there are any specific MA stretches but my self, I don't typically stretch unless I'm feeling sore or stiff in a particular joint. I like a bit of a run or even a walk to loosen up and if needed I will do lighter variants of whatever movements im doing that day. I don't do yoga either but it seems like a good choice for improving your mobility before a strenuous exercise.

granturismo

granturismo wrote: »

mahoganybrowne wrote: »

Does anyone know any good Martial Arts Fitness?

Yes.

My son does TKD, and I use some of his warm up stretches. How about going to or watching some classes in whatever styles are available in your area and choose a class that you feel suits you.

ninpo_guy

I will say, that as far as fitness in the martial arts, it is up to you as the student, not so much the art, though I do believe that some schools will have a stronger emphasis on fitness than others. I have studied everything from TKD, Kenpo, Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu, Aikido, several different styles kung fu, Krav Maga, and finally, my current love Kuntao Silat. So far , Kuntao Silat, is the art that has forced the largest change in my body, both in weight loss, strength, flexibility, as well as mental and physical toughness. This could be due to my mental focus, the class dynamics or just where I am in my life, or the teacher and the art, or some combination of the above. I train in my teachers garage, not a school, and it has been some of the best training I have ever done, as far as actual effectiveness for my body and mindset. I would highly recommend trying multiple arts/styles and teachers, and there are so many variables involved when choosing an art/teacher/school. I have truly enjoyed training in the many and various arts I have tried over the last couple of decades, for different reasons for each art. I am at a place in my life where, I feel that, besides concealed carry, which I am a huge fan of, I want the biggest bang for any movement that I have to make in a combat situation. It could be maturity, or possibly a mental defect, but the Kuntao Silat that I do now, has helped me feel like I could end a life threatening situation quickly and efficiently, in a more decisive manner than any of the other arts thaI have studied.. That is not to discount the other arts I have studied, as I may have just been a poor student or was lacking understanding, as for my teachers, their art was the most effective for them, and I would not give up the time I spent training with them for anything. Sorry for the long post, in short, you can learn some amazing things from martial arts, but martial arts are about helping you become a better and more well-rounded person, and they give you tools and support that you can use to accomplish your fitness/life goals, but ultimately it is up to you to use what you are learning, to accomplish your goals.

tedioustrainingap

The thing is, any movement learned, has to be repeated over and over for it to be available to you as a response in any situation requiring defence. This is where MAs can provide a useful grounding. My MA is Wing Chun (or Ving Tsun) and I qualified as a self defence instructor through it. In future, I'd like to take Wing Chun back up and also Ba Gua, for something little different.

CSARdiver

Lofteren wrote: »

For self defense and fitness I would recommend either MMA or Krav Maga. If those aren't available, Sambo, Judo, Pancrase, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai are also very good styles. Check out several schools and watch to see which schools train the hardest and have the best students. Also remember that the practitioner is more important than the style.

This is excellent advice. All great schools/teachers I have encountered first informed me of their teaching line before anything else. They also introduced philosophy and drill the importance of "the only rational reason to master violence, is to abolish it". If you're shopping for schools and they promote a package deal to get you to black-belt - seek your fortune elsewhere.

Great self defense teachers will incorporate a lot of scenario construction and role play - involving a lot of sparring. Great teachers will be flexible enough to draw from other styles.