Martial Arts Advice

Recommended Videos

Stormcloud23

New member
Aug 15, 2008
562
0
0
Hey guys, I was thinking of starting to practice a martial art and need a little advice. I'm a big guy ("6' 3", 200lbs) so i don't think I'd be very good at a soft martial art. I was thinking maybe Muay Thai or some variation of Sambo but i know less than shit about it. If anyone has any good advice i'd love to hear it. And i'm not some internet toughguy just trying to act tough, I really want to learn one.
Thanks in advance
 

Trace2010

New member
Aug 10, 2008
1,019
0
0
A grappling art would be good for you to help you use your size. Striking arts can help you develop good balance and precision, but rely on quickness to be effective (much like boxing).
MMA is solid, but finding a good school to give you the philosophy is hard. Weapon based arts are nice as well. Depends on your preference.

Remember: Martial arts mostly discovery about oneself as well...not just about beating up the other guy.

A good idea would be to go into several schools and check out a class or two- if you like what they are teaching see if they have an introductory rate. Many schools in the spring offer free classes to gain new students.
 

Seldon2639

New member
Feb 21, 2008
1,756
0
0
My friend takes Taijutsu (which is the martial arts part of Ninjutsu, but the two aren't really the same). It's a lot of locks, body control, and quick strikes. The different forms are pretty varied, so if you get good at it, it's a very versatile art. The big downsides for someone your size (about my size, actually) would be that a lot of it is about controlling both your own body, and through that your opponents. Lots of movement, and the power to the motion is usually done through either up/down motion, or forward/back motion.

Similarly, TKD is all about up/down power. Muay Thai is roughly the same (though much more destructive). Sambo would work well for you, so would Krav Maga. But, if you're also looking for a style more on the "art" side than the "martial", I'd suggest Shotokan Karate (which is what I practice).

Most of the power comes from your hips, which will work well for someone who probably has very strong legs. It's an older style than Sambo or Krav Maga, so you get the more spiritual side of the training, as well as the self-discovery. It's a pretty well-balanced art, with a good focus on the quick and dirty side of combat, in addition to the more civilized kata and sparring.

I did forget to mention, though. The arts you seem to want to take are much more aggressive, and of the "hurt them before they can hurt you" mindset. If that's what you're interested in, Shotokan might not make much sense for you. It's a primarily defensive art, with more counters (similar to Aikido) than pure attacks
 

Ursus Astrorum

New member
Mar 20, 2008
1,574
0
0
It depends on what you want in your martial art. I'm a guy that attacks primarily for self-defense, so I took Aikido. You might want something more aggressive, however.
 

cleverlymadeup

New member
Mar 7, 2008
5,256
0
0
i'd say either bjj or muay thai, tho you can try going to the straight blast gym, they are a functional jkd school, which means they use stuff that actually works against a real opponent
 

KungFuMaster

New member
Aug 14, 2008
319
0
0
Hard Akido (yes, there is a difference). It's what Steven Segal does, scoff if you like, but it's tailored towards big dudes; a solid base with almost no kick attacks, but using your arms and upper body to your best advantage and your center of gravity against your opponent (like Judo, but different). Of the myriad types of martial arts I've studied, this is the best that works well with a big frame, and being six foot and 285 myself, I can vouch.

As a hard Akido school is hard to find (I had to go to New York), Krav Maga, Tai-jutsu, Judo, or even a Street Fighting (yes, it's a real discipline) course would do you well.

On the off chance you live in Southern Minnesota, I'd be willing to teach you.
 

Bulletinmybrain

New member
Jun 22, 2008
3,277
0
0
Big heavy guy? Heres how your self-defense should go... Lock some part of their body, wail on them. Bloody pulp will be the end-result.

Stormcloud23 said:
How about Judo vs. Sambo, anyone know the main differences?
Sambo is more heavier then judo.
 

Clashero

New member
Aug 15, 2008
2,143
0
0
The only martial arts I have any knowledge (I mean practical knowledge, as in, having practiced them) and Tae-Kwon Do, and boxing. I found TKD to be quite dull actually, though a lot of people love it. I just think it all looks so choreographed compared to other, more natural-looking and more effective martial arts.
Boxing, now, there's something I love, and that anyone, no matter the size, is going to most likely enjoy. Fun, exhausting, great way to build the upper body. Same goes for Kickboxing, except that it works the entire body.
 

Drake the Dragonheart

The All-American Dragon.
Aug 14, 2008
4,606
0
0
I have found Muay Thai and MMA to both be very good, especially with some Judo and jiujitsu to complement. My advice is find what you like and stick with it, and also be open minded, and learn any technique you can. versatility and increasing your options can only benefit you.
Finally while not a martial art per se, I have found enormous benefit in Thai Chi.
 

jh322

New member
May 14, 2008
338
0
0
not reading posts, sorry for repetition if there is any.

at that size, just go for straight up Muay Thai. If you like it, after you get to grips with it pretty well, take on greco roman wrestling and brazilian jiu jitsu.

that worked great for me, after spending a really long time trying to find a martial art that worked for me (even spending time in china to get to grips with authentic kung fu), I've found the best balance. It's (relatively) easy to find adequate training, and you get out what you put into it. Work hard, you'll get a lot from it. Good luck with it.
 

Stormcloud23

New member
Aug 15, 2008
562
0
0
KungFuMaster said:
Hard Akido (yes, there is a difference). It's what Steven Segal does, scoff if you like, but it's tailored towards big dudes; a solid base with almost no kick attacks, but using your arms and upper body to your best advantage and your center of gravity against your opponent (like Judo, but different). Of the myriad types of martial arts I've studied, this is the best that works well with a big frame, and being six foot and 285 myself, I can vouch.

As a hard Akido school is hard to find (I had to go to New York), Krav Maga, Tai-jutsu, Judo, or even a Street Fighting (yes, it's a real discipline) course would do you well.

On the off chance you live in Southern Minnesota, I'd be willing to teach you.
Sorry, virginia. One last question, what do you guys know about Krav Maga
 

KungFuMaster

New member
Aug 14, 2008
319
0
0
Oh well, such is life. Krav Maga is an Israeli discipline that focuses on survival more than beating your opponent into submission (weapon disarms, escape tactics, etc.) which serves well for someone who wants to learn a defensive art. If you're looking to actually go out and start a fight, it's not for you.
 

Stormcloud23

New member
Aug 15, 2008
562
0
0
KungFuMaster said:
Oh well, such is life. Krav Maga is an Israeli discipline that focuses on survival more than beating your opponent into submission (weapon disarms, escape tactics, etc.) which serves well for someone who wants to learn a defensive art. If you're looking to actually go out and start a fight, it's not for you.
Really what i'm looking for is something to do with my friends. A couple of them know some fighting styles and i just wanna be able to spar with them. Not trying to hurt each other, just something active to do. Could you recommend the best thing for that, keeping in mind my size and etc.
 

Giovanto

New member
Jun 3, 2008
203
0
0
Being a Martial Artist who belongs to a Dojo doing multiple things myself...I recommend finding something that has multiple Martial Arts.

The best Dojos are not sport either, you want to avoid Sport Karate. Also avoid a Dojo that views its students as ATMs. Tae Kwon Do is notorious for that.

Ju Jitsu, Aiki Jitsu etc. are often focusing around grappling, and turning force against the enemy WITHOUT becoming a wrestling match. Ju Jitsu translates to "The Gentle Art" with the idea being using a lock to painfully take someone down, but they can get up, shake out the joint, and feel better in a minute or two.

Karate is more of a focus on one shot one kill. You hit someone, they fall down. Period. It often focusing on hitting very, very hard in vital places. It sometimes involves a lot of conditioning. Obviously condition by hitting a board all damn day to make your knuckles ugly isn't widely used today, especially with the amount of kids we have. If we had them hitting a wall all day it would screw them up as they grow. In our Dojo we usually substitute conditioning by teaching to hit vital organs.

Now, American Kenpo is the "Scientific Art of Self Defense". This basically means every single technique is pre-programmed and has a concept. E.g., you kick someone in the groin, they bend over, thats the reaction. Then you hit them in the face as they come forward, which knocks them back. Then you sweep them since their body is already going in that direction.

Judo is generally grappling, and by that I DO mean a wrestling match. Really, you want to look around to find the right Dojo for you. What area do you live in? I might be able to recommend something.
 

Stormcloud23

New member
Aug 15, 2008
562
0
0
Giovanto said:
Being a Martial Artist who belongs to a Dojo doing multiple things myself...I recommend finding something that has multiple Martial Arts.

The best Dojos are not sport either, you want to avoid Sport Karate. Also avoid a Dojo that views its students as ATMs. Tae Kwon Do is notorious for that.

Ju Jitsu, Aiki Jitsu etc. are often focusing around grappling, and turning force against the enemy WITHOUT becoming a wrestling match. Ju Jitsu translates to "The Gentle Art" with the idea being using a lock to painfully take someone down, but they can get up, shake out the joint, and feel better in a minute or two.

Karate is more of a focus on one shot one kill. You hit someone, they fall down. Period. It often focusing on hitting very, very hard in vital places. It sometimes involves a lot of conditioning. Obviously condition by hitting a board all damn day to make your knuckles ugly isn't widely used today, especially with the amount of kids we have. If we had them hitting a wall all day it would screw them up as they grow. In our Dojo we usually substitute conditioning by teaching to hit vital organs.

Now, American Kenpo is the "Scientific Art of Self Defense". This basically means every single technique is pre-programmed and has a concept. E.g., you kick someone in the groin, they bend over, thats the reaction. Then you hit them in the face as they come forward, which knocks them back. Then you sweep them since their body is already going in that direction.

Judo is generally grappling, and by that I DO mean a wrestling match. Really, you want to look around to find the right Dojo for you. What area do you live in? I might be able to recommend something.
Northern Virginia, DC Metro area
 

Klagermeister

New member
Jun 13, 2008
719
0
0
Try taking shotokan. It's a good basic start to self-defense.
It;s a "hard" style of karate, but you learn to take down opponents simply and quickly.
You're taught how to break legs, rip off testicles, and snap necks easily.
Sounds right up the alley of someone who's 6'3" and 200 pounds, am I right?
 

Giovanto

New member
Jun 3, 2008
203
0
0
Virginia..not sure then sorry. If you were in PA we have several Schools here and my Master wants to open a third in the not-too-distant future.