Which martial art is best for beginner

i posted this just normally but was the requested to post it in this groups forum

recently iv taken up a sort of introduction course to judo in school and i really liked it and this got me thinking about starting to learn a martial art on a weekly basis so i can have a basic idea of how to get out of a sticky situation. im not that big a person but im pretty strong and fit and i would just like to learn how to use this to my advantage so i was just wondering what martial arts would you guys study and would you recommend it to me?

Kick boxing is good for self defense (although not as good as krav maga) since you learn to punch propley (uppercuts) , blocks and how to kick people in the face. Also if its a mixed martial art you will get taught how to do locks on the floor and take downs.

Also you might get to hit people with a big stick.

thanks its a good site, i was recommended krav manga which looked really good but the nearest club is a while away and i dont have the time to travel far. I was also recommended kick boxing but im not to sure i think it might be a bit formal and not really 'street' enough for me. what do you think of kick boxing?

so i guess its really down to personal taste because one Comrade Joe says kickboxing is good and Ulster Socialist says its not that great

i think it also depends on your personal physique as well. Some MA's put the emphasis on punching, some over kicks. So if your arms are weaker than your legs (like me) you might prefer to opt for a kicking based MA.

im definitely stronger in my legs but i can pack a pretty strong punch (so iv been told) and im relatively fit so i spose its really whats most convienient and what type kinda suits me, so probably kickboxing?

ye it looks pretty good but it really limits you in what you can do to defend yourself or attack an opponent

kick boxing is good all purpose method. It seems to be the main style of the UFC which says a lot anyway. Wouldnt do it myself though, i find all the swinging kicking rather ineffectual. If i'm going to boot someone i'll give em a good knock over with the flat of my foot to the solar plexus or ribcage. No nonsense.

We get taught to do that.

i suppose it doesnt matter if you're always attacking at maximum range- those guys seem to be able to handle themselves quite well.

good point il reconsider it

most effective fighting sport is MMA/Free-fight whatever you call it. They combine the most effective fighting techniques and form it into one. You have 3 stages: stand-up fighting they mainly focus on kickboxing techniques. Takedowns are mainly wrestling and judo. And ground fighting has a lot techniques from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I would recomend you a school that focusses on sparring because I've you never find out how it is to been attacked you probably can't throw out your techniques when it's needed. For self defence systems I've heard lot good stories about krav maga, but watch out because a lot of cops also are in Krav Maga classes.

sounds like a good reason to avoid KM.

dammit!!! it looked so awsome

it's a possibility, there are certainly no nazis in a KM class.
It just means you should watch out with what you say. And I believe KM also practice trough sparring and or real life situations so you know which sparringpartner you have to pick .

i've read that some stupid german antifa's campainged to get an nazi's kickboxer (inc. big ass KKK tattoo's etc) banned from fighting tournaments, what an pitty, i would have loved to get him to holland and program some fight for him (in holland allmost all KB gyms are very multicultural)

btw, i would encourage kickboxing as an beginner, espacely if you want it to have some use on the street, if that is not availeble try kyikoshin-karate (but only if its full contact)
i dont know how it is around yours but here MMA is not an beginners sport.

^^^ye kick boxing seems to be the general advice. now i just have to find a club near me!! thanks for the advice

Doesn't really matter all that much.

Main thing is that you get fast reflexes and
learn to stay cool under pressure (i.e. when
attacked, or when attacking)

I have been an amateur boxer from age 16
until 35. (at 35+ you are not allowed to
compete anymore in amateur boxing)

Another thing; Get street smart! Street
fighting 'techniques' together with basic
self defense techniques are paramount.

Of course its always a BIG plus if you have
spent time in the armed forces.

ye thats the thing iv never really gotten into a proper fight iv been in scuffels now and then but nothing serious so it would be a huge advantage if i actually knew what i was doing when the inevitable comes along

ye thats the thing iv never really gotten into a proper fight iv been in scuffels now and then but nothing serious so it would be a huge advantage if i actually knew what i was doing when the inevitable comes along

First step: Get a 'Selfdefense' instruction film (buy or download).

Second step: Learn the basic techniques and practice with a partner
until you know them and can use them without thinking.

Third step: Best is of course to take martial arts classes after that.
You will get into shape and get: Speed of body & speed of mind.

Fourth step: Get street smart. Ask the advice of people who know
how to handle themselves and follow it.

thanks i appreciate the advice i think with that advice and also with experience ill do fine...thanks

i think it also depends on your personal physique as well. Some MA's put the emphasis on punching, some over kicks. So if your arms are weaker than your legs (like me) you might prefer to opt for a kicking based MA.

Most boxers don't have incredibly strong arms, even though boxing is probably the best martial art as far as being able to punch hard and powerfully goes. Almost all of the power in a punch comes from your legs and core.

Anyway, I would recommend boxing and wrestling or judo or, if there is a school near you, sambo. Concrete hits a lot harder than your fist or foot can, and many of the takedowns and throws used in wrestling/judo/sambo cause serious injury when done on mats, let alone concrete. Boxing is also good because it teaches you footwork and good evasive techniques and how to punch hard and fast. Sparring is also very heavily used in boxing programs, so getting hit in a street fight isn't going to cause a shock or surprise.

Kicks definitely have a place in a street fight, particularly those that Ulster Socialist was describing, but I would not recommend those TKD type martial arts because it is very rare that you would have the time and proper distance to pull off something like a spinning heel kick to someone's head.

I would also not recommend Krav Maga as I have trained in it before. It could have just been the school that I went to, but I feel the same way about KM that I do about mixed martial artists training in MMA as opposed to the styles that make it up. You generally get a watered down version of techniques borrowed from other martial arts that when used properly and learned from a qualified instructor in that specific martial art can prove very effective.

I really hope to be able to train in sambo once I move to a city because there are no schools for it around where I live.

Edit: Another thing that I would advise against is putting a lot of faith behind ground grappling MAs like BJJ. They're a lot of fun to do and they're useful in the cage or ring, but the last thing you want to be doing in a street fight is rolling around on the concrete unable to see if that guy you're fighting has any friends that may want to stomp your head in.

Edit 2x: I would hope that everyone here's arms are weaker than their legs, otherwise they're either incredibly disproportioned or one of those guys that does nothing but bicep curls at the gym and thinks they're strong because their arms are big.

I would hope that everyone here's arms are weaker than their legs, otherwise they're either incredibly disproportioned or one of those guys that does nothing but bicep curls at the gym and thinks they're strong because their arms are big.

i know guys like that, they're fucking idiots

Any style that has full contact sparring/rolling and alive training.
personally im partial to kyokushin/bjj/judo because i look good in a gi.