Martial Arts Training: Help Me Choose!

[skb12172]

All the major styles are available here in town, including Krav. At this point, I'm leaning towards either Krav or TKD. If anyone has a good reason why I should not go with one of those options, I'm all ears.

I must say that one thing I always appreciated about TKD, was it's "boxing" style approach. Very similar. It complimented my later activities quite well.

[TabascoKid]

How about Ed Parker's American .Kenpo? Kicks are generally waist leve or below and is about 50/50 between hand/foot work. It gets you into practical self defense faster than TKD, IMO.

[Fill]

It's all about the instructor - not the style.

Don't forget to include an MMA place or two, but I think your best bet is to sit in on a couple classes and get to know the instructor. Finding one that you vibe with is going to be the critical factor in choosing a style.

[rightisright]

It's all about the instructor - not the style

Absolutely. Stay away from places that cater to kids and/or have a lot of women's kickboxing classes...

[SeekHer]

Like JAG2955 said, what is closest to you and again what others have stated check out the instructor(s).

I'd favour Krav Magda and then like Erik suggested Aikido.

My daughters all have taken TKD but that's because it was taught as an extracurricular course at school twice weekly (Mon & Weds) since Grade three--age nine minimum...Had it been Karate or Aikido or Krav then they would have taken that...They also have taken fencing, again twice weekly (Tues and Thurs) but none pursued it further then elementary and in middle and high school they substituted ISSF/UIT 10M air rifle and pistol.

In the past few years there has been a Filipino and a separate Japanese cultural/community centres build fairly close to us and they are now offering Eskrima/Arnis stick fighting and Karate, Aikido, Kendo and Kyudo archery lessons afternoons and evenings so I'm taking the latter two again and when I get in a little better shape, Eskrima--languishing about after two major stomach operations makes doing certain techniques out of the picture; turning sixty is another.

The Jewish Centre is completely on the other side of town from me and while they do offer Krav Magda the hour and a half drive--each way--puts it completely out of the picture.

[SeekHer]

It's all about the instructor - not the style

Absolutely. Stay away from places that cater to kids and/or have a lot of women's kickboxing classes...

Unless that is all that is available in your town/locale--so it's that or driving for hours or trying out the VHS/CD/DVD instructional tapes/discs from your local library.

[Nicodemus]

Well, you didn't say what is important to YOU which is the most important in recommending someone something. Do you want something flashy and fun, learn about another culture, focused on health and wellness or effectiveness in likely self defense situations?

Here is what I recommend as a combatives-focused instructor:

Jeet Kune Do (Concepts preferably): Look for guys who came up under Dan Inansanto or one of his students. Avoid instructors who have made it their life's purpose to worship Bruce Lee and emulate everything from his training background to the noises he makes when he practices.
Pros: "counter assault" method of self defense. Interceptions. Interceptions. Interceptions. Many great principles and methods from other successful combat arts have been incorporated. Striking advantage on the street with just about anyone, JKD Concepts schools will have a very practical weapons program including knives, sticks and usually firearms as well.
Cons: A lot of schools use took Lee's philosophy and training background and made a style out of it. Taking Wing Chun Kung Fu, Boxing with some Fencing footwork and mediocre Chinese Wrestling
and sticking too it not realizing it is beside Bruce's whole point behind creating JKD.

Kenpo/Kempo: GREAT striking base. Great footwork and use of angles without exaggerating and over thinking footwork and angles. Like JKD takes what works from other arts making a hybrid system. Different instructors have a different emphasis on specific styles like Kara Ho takes a lot from TKD and Aikido, American Kempo has a more "classic" kickboxing feel with a bit of a harder edge to it as does Hawaiian Kempo, Kajukenbo has more of a street conbatives mindset.
Pros: You can square off with just about anybody and have the tools to win in either striking or dirty striking. Very rich roots with a strong sense of inner-circle pride.
Cons: Big holes in the ground game from some schools but grappling has been embedded just about everywhere by now so don't be surprised if this isn't the case.

Systema: Russian military art that emphasizes use of an adversaries actions like judo and Aikido but with a more vicious delivery style and in my opinion effect as well. Has much more striking than either Judo or Aikido. Looks kind of awkward and abstract when you watch other people practice it but when you experience it yourself it's effectiveness is clear.
Pros: Very fluid and dynamic. Appears to be more similar to Tai Chi or Indonesian Kung Fu than a modern military art but the Russians aren't "russian" to cross train their special forces in any other military combatives style.
Cons: High level instructors with genuine credentials aren't common in the U.S. and a lot of our ideology of how things should be done conflict with theirs so if you have to be open minded about their approach, principles and concepts about things.

Krav Maga: Modern military art of the IDF. Another hybrid system, emphasizes brute force and raw aggression for self defense. Easy to learn, easy to apply and includes common modern weapons in it's training.
Pros: Proven in real combat. Dynamic and comprehensive regarding being able to address common real world situations.
Cons: Poor fundamentals and attribute development (I know, probably not going to be popular for this). The problem with starting off with real world combatives training is that attributes such as speed, timing, power, reflexes, etc. are sacrificed. Even though this is made up for with effective techniques and cultivating killer instinct, my opinion is this really is best for crossover artists. People who have enough time in training in other arts to develop the attributes listed above will be able to make the best use of Krav Maga. I have seen martial artists from other arts neutralize Krav Maga students pretty good in fair fight training situations like full contact continuous sparring. I know, Krav Maga isn't to be used with a fair fight mindset, but the arts mentioned above eye gouge, groin kick and headbutt just like krav maga and I believe attribute development is important because all techniques are delivered with speed, power and timing.

[skb12172]

My priorities are, in this order...

1) Real life application

2) To legitimately attain a "black belt" or equivalent. I imagine that even the gi-less arts like Krav must have a ranking system with a recognized black belt equivalent, right?

[Fill]

belt rankings are a way for studios to make you pay for your pride.


There are really only 2 belts - White and Black, Student and Instructor.

To delve a little deeper into your other answer, what situations to you think you'll encounter that require unarmed combat?

[Nicodemus]

My priorities are, in this order...

1) Real life application

2) To legitimately attain a "black belt" or equivalent. I imagine that even the gi-less arts like Krav must have a ranking system with a recognized black belt equivalent, right?

Yes. Typically there is something similar to: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Instructor. Some go as far as having beginner/instructor, intermediate/instructor advanced/instructor which kind of makes the distaste for a traditional belt system ironic.

My school should be open by April providing no hitches between me and the operators of the building I am leasing. I use the beginner-intermediate-advanced format because my "ranking" is based on demonstrated ability to fight rather than knowledge of history/culture and ability to perform forms or break boards and such so dividing things up into more than three levels just makes things more complicated than they need to be.

Beginner is ALL striking/clinch/grappling/stick&knife. Basically, you learn all the principles, concept, technique that is needed to fight. The curriculum is centered around combat sports and is heavy in sparring, skill drills, conditioning and perfecting technique. This is where attributes are developed and the mechanics of martial arts are learned.

Intermediate is taking all of that and adjusting the attributes and techniques for quick and dirty self defense. A lot of combatives drills and studying real world violence.

Advanced is self perfection. You are still training because you like to train and I get into exploring alternative viewpoints and styles of execution. Lots of energy drills and a free format where the student uses me to explore what they are interested in. Students at this level help me train those in the other levels and I stop charging them money. Iv'e given them what they need to know, I have made my money as their instructor, they could do what we do in this level without me if they wanted so it's my opportunity to pay them back.