What martial art is right for me?

Hello,


I'm 16 years old and was thinking of taking up a martial art to use up some of my free time. What is most important to me in a martial art is self-defense application. But a very close 2nd on my list is some cultural aspects. I could stand to lose a little weight (I'm 6ft, 180lbs), but it's not too big of a concern. Basically boxing and MMA stuff doesn't interest me as much as some Chinese martial arts, for example. So I went on the internet and started doing shallow research (thank you wikipedia+youtube) on a bunch of different martial arts. I still had a tough time choosing though. Everything from Tai Chi and Ba Gua (internal arts seem really interesting) to Northern Shaolin, Aikido, Judo, Jeet Kune Do (even though its pure combat efficiency philosophy seems to contradict what I said before about culture, I'm too big a Bruce Lee fan to disregard it) interests me.


What would you guys recommend for me?

What martial art is right for me?
If you want street application it would be best to master a striking art but also learn the wrestling defense which works for virtually all takedowns, which is a sprawl.





Reason being is that striking is the best weapon to use in a street fight. If you watch to much UFC and decide to go into a guard position in a street fight you've pretty much screwed yourself over. Purposely taking the fight to the ground in a street fight, especially with multiple attackers is a big no-no. If the other person has freinds, they get free shots on you all day. Also if you need to bail out for whatever reason (don't be afraid to run away in a street fight if it means life or death) your gonna have a hard time trying to run away with your legs wrapped around someone. A good sprawl will keep you on your feet ready to keep striking, with your opponents face in the pavement.





Not that there's anything wrong with grappling, but your main priority to start off with should be striking as it also takes longer to cultivate good striking habits rather then good grappling habits, which one can obtain in a few years.





Jeet Kune Do will teach you all ranges of combat but its a little too advanced for a beginner. If you want to be able to be sufficient in a street fight, take; Kyokushin Karate, Wing Chun, Boxing, Ba Gua, Tang Soo Do, or Mauy Thai.





With all that said, just remember that if you take a powerful art that you also need a good teacher to back it up. And just having a good teacher isnt enough, you need to be a good student.





It is not the art that makes a name for the fighters, but rather the fighters are what make a name for the art.





Good luck with your training and be prosperous.
Reply:style doesnt matter at all.... especially at the begginner stage..... find a school, and more importantly an insructor that you like (maybe even a cute girl there) and apply yourself to it.... work hard and enjoy the results... good luck man
Reply:Doubtful that you have access to any style based on location. Pick what fits the bill for you that is close to you and try it out. If its not to your liking change schools. Remember also that not all schools will be truly representative of their style. Be wary.
Reply:Your extra weight will "fall" off with the hard work outs in a "good" school.(that's the key)





I often suggest Kenpo,(Kempo),Karate.You should consider researching this style,it fits what you are looking for.
Reply:Practical tai chi.
Reply:Jiu-Jitsu will shed pounds, very good for self defense and spritual if you want it.
Reply:If you're a big Bruce Lee fan and at the same time are interested in Chinses Traditional styles try Wing Chun, that's where Bruce Lee got his start and he never stopped training it either, his whole system is based around Wing Chun.





In fact one could question whether he would have broken away from the system as much as he did if he was alowed to learn the rest of the system, ufortunately he was banned from learning any more because he had been teaching westerners.
Reply:research research and more research...sit in on classes , look in the phone book use wikipedia, i personaly practice all the internal and external shoalin arts as well as san shou and chinese fast wrestling....dont join a class too hastly...take your time and start gettin into shape before join, maybe start jogging 2 weeks prior to class and stretch
Reply:Hi,





I will tell you just like I tell everyone....... the only art that is right for you is your OWN art (Hint Hint!!!!).





First of all, you need a base art from which to build a foundation upon.





MAs that offer realistic and effective training include





Jeet Kune Do


Nippon Kempo***


Combat Hapkido


Krav Maga





The ideal martial art to train in must offer all ranges of combat, simulated situations that endorses a high adrenaline rush, as well as anything that is practical for self defense compared to flashiness and things that can't actually work on a moving opponent. Those are arts you want to avoid.





After you get a base art down, you then take a group of principles that work for your body structure, proven effective for street combat, and fits your way of creative expression, and combine them together. This way, you will have all of the base principles that you need in order to make your techniques work for you, because let's face it, most arts are fixed patterns and don't allow individual expression.





Even if you don't become a black belt or higher, by going that route you will be on the path of a true martial artist, because it will all be your OWN UNIQUE expression of combat rather than doing it someone else's way.





Martial arts is a constant process, so be free to take any art that interests you and then modify it to make it work for you. You can use any technique in the world that you want to, if it works for you and the current situation, but the main thing is to have a set of tailor-made base principles down.