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  • Advice of many experienced Martial Artists coincide in the point of "go, read, look around, ask---then decide"

  • Which Martial Art should I study
    That's a question that only you can answer, maybe with a little help of your physician (in determining whether you should practice martial arts at all).
    • While some people advocate that "my style fits any individual", it is very debatable if any single individual would adapt to *any* style.
  • It depends heavily on your objectives, but remember, these may change with time. Many people who begin martial arts training strictly to learn self-defense become quite interested in other aspects as their training progresses.
  • What are you looking for?
    For instance, if you are looking for on the street self-defense training Taiji or Kendo might not be your first choice. Some choices: Jujutsu, Hapkido, some Gongfus, Karate, Ken(m)po, Baguazhang, Tang Soo Do, Muay Thai, Tae-Kwon-Do, Ninjutsu, Kali/Escrima/Arnis, Silat, or Xingyiquan.
  • If you are looking for meditation and philosophy Western Boxing is probably a poor choice as well. Some choices: most Gongfus, Aikido, Taiji, Kendo, Kenjutsu, or Iaido.
  • If you are looking for a sport and competition, Shao-Lin Long Fist would probably be a bad choice. Some choices: Fencing, some Karates/Gongfus, Judo, Boxing, Kendo, Tae-Kwon-Do, Savate, or Shuaijiao.
  • If you are looking for intense body conditioning and muscle development, Aikido is probably not the style for you. Some choices: some Okinawan Karates, Judo, some Gongfus, Muay Thai, Tae-Kwon-Do, Capoeira.
  • Now these are general guides- in truth any art can be taught in a manner which promotes any of these things- Taiji masters have competed, some Aikido schools have rigorous workouts associated with the class, etc. The way to find out is to look at three things, only one of which is directly linked to the style.
  • The basics of the style (what does it teach, what is it used for)
  • The skill and the teaching style of the teacher
  • The purpose and the logistics of the school.
  • See - "How do I choose a School" - for the answers to the last two questions.
  • Also remember that more "complete" arts (ones with more techniques) naturally require longer periods of time for a practitioner to achieve a given level of proficiency. This is neither good nor bad; there are good points on both sides of the debate. This is simply another facet to account for in your decision.
  • As above the teacher and the school have as much to do with what you will learn as the style. Check out the styles in your area. Go see some classes of the different styles and see what interests you and what you think you would stick with.
  • Many people change from one style to another. While this is a common practice, accepted as a means of development, it is known that the first style is normally the one that leaves the base, the more profound "marks". Try to choose a style that suits your needs and at the same time offers you a kind of "challenge" to go on learning.

  • Disclaimer and Copyright Notice Some answers given may reflect personal biases of the author and the martial arts FAQ listing's contributors. The answers contained herein pertain to discussions on the rec.martial-arts group, and are by no means exhaustive. The martial arts FAQ list owes its existence to the contributors on the net, and as such it belongs to the readers of rec.martial-arts. Copies may be made freely, as long as they are distributed at no charge, and the disclaimer and the copyright notice are included. -- Matthew Weigel Research Systems Programmer mcweigel+@cs.cmu.edu