Martial Arts.

[white_wolf]

So I'm planning on taking a martial arts class next semester and if I like it going on from there to actually try and earn a black belt, and I was wondering which style DU would recommended? I was thinking of either Judo or Karate, but I'll take any suggestions.

[OmahaBlueDog]

1. American Kenpo

One of the first martial arts advertised and taught as "Karate"

[white_wolf]

2. I know Karate is kind of a generic term for any marital art

but isn't there any actual school of marital arts called karate, that originated in Japan?

[mythology]

3. I think it depends on what you want to get from it.

Some are more "functional" some are more of a workout and some are more/less traditional.

Personally I like capoeira, but it's certainly not for everybody. You rarely go for contact, and it takes forever to begin to feel competent at it, but it did hook me. I wouldn't go into it looking for the equivalent of a black belt though as it takes years and years of some pretty intense training.

[white_wolf]

4. I'm more interested in something "functional"

I don't intend to go getting to fights or anything,but say if for whatever reason I needed to defend myself it would be nice to have something to fall back in and I might like to compete in tournaments.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. I dabbled a little in Kenpo Karate before I settled on Judo and earned a Black Belt.

Judo, contrary to Austin Powers and the "Judo chop", doesn't rely on strikes/kicks. Judo is what I like to think of a more scientific version of wrestling.

Judo, to me, seemed less violent and fit my temperament. Not that Karate is studied by violent people but the idea of "eye gouges" and such never appealed to me.

I could never figure out how one knows if he is properly gouging another person's eye without really doing it. :shrug:

I liked that I could train/practice/compete Judo at 100% full force and actually know what I was doing worked (not that an elbow strike to a head wouldn't work_. Also, I liked the scientific (leverage etc.) aspects of Judo.

[white_wolf]

6. Yeah that is why I'm interested in Judo.

I like the idea of throwing someone 100 pounds heavier than me across the room, as is that an exaggeration of what someone who knows Judo can do?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. Well I don't know about across the room but some of the first throws ...

... you will learn are some pretty effective foot and leg "sweeps"

[white_wolf]

12. The class I'm taking teaches both judo and Jujitsu.

From what I've read they are very similar but Judo is more a sport whereas jujitsu is the more combat oriented style, is that correct?

[white_wolf]

7. Oh and does anyone know anything about Kung Fu?

I'm watching the remake of Karate Kid and Jackie Chan makes it look awesome.

[Orrex]

9. Study the one that has the students who insist that it's the only "true" martial art.

Oh wait, that's all of them. :evilgrin:

[MilesColtrane]

10. Jeet Kune Do

Don't be thrown (heh) by Bruce Lee's movies.

He made a very strong distinction between what looked good in the fictional world of cinema and the practical art of self defense.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeet_Kune_Do

[Dogtown]

11. 100% agreement.

:hi:

[RT Atlanta]

13. Muay Thai & Jujitsu (Brazilian)

I trained in both and they are very complimentary for each other. Either art, however, is worthwhile to study on their own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_thai

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu

[white_wolf]

14. The course I'm taking offers Japanesse Jiu-Jitsu

I'm assuming Brazilian and Japanese Jiu-Jujitsu are similar?