I'm planning to take up a martial art sometime soon. I have some very basic knowledge of a mix of them but need a better starting point.

I'm mostly doing this for fitness and discipline. Silat has always been appealing to me, but i figure something like Muay Thai would be a better place to start.

Any advice or recommendations?

If you want fitness and discapline open up your phone book and start scouting out places to train. If they wont let you take a few free classes then dont bother with them. The class you get most smoked in would then be your best bet.

Take BJJ.

Best one IMO.

Whatever you do, don't join a MA that has some bullshit "BLACK BELT IN THREE YEARS GUARANTEED" nonsense. Black belts are to show skill, not how long you've fucking been there.

I was writing an answer to this and realised I'd spent 200 words saying "Kyokushin".

I'm too much of a fanboy, I need to start training in other disciplines.

PS: Kyokushin. Teaspoon of concete for you right there.

I was writing an answer to this and realised I'd spent 200 words saying "Kyokushin".

I'm too much of a fanboy, I need to start training in other disciplines.

PS: Kyokushin. Teaspoon of concete for you right there.

Goju Ryu is superior.

BJJ and thai boxing are good for building aggression and world class conditioning, as is MMA. However you have to realise the limitations of these sports, MMA has a set of rules which it must comply too, in a self defence situation there aint no ref or no mats and someone most definately will take a running kick at your head, soccer style if its on the floor for too long. However this doesn`t stop MMA, etc being a great way to test yourself and learn some techniques that will work. Just dont go in for the shoot if some guy asks for your wallet.

The same problem with traditional martial arts, originally most of these "arts" were just an additional fighting skill for a soldier. Generations past and most have eventually become a dance of what they once were.

Grappling is severly overated when it comes to simple street defence, too many fan boys and so called experts believe that street fights are like heavy sparring.

Same with the traditional arts, all this dim mak, chi gung, kime shit. You got people telling you they could kill you with one blow too some secret clusyer of nerves. Maybe... i can almost guarantee you none of them have done it for real.

Then theres the soldier of fortune, krav maga, combat brigade, saying that what worked for the special forces will work for the civillians. Perhaps that is true, however you need to remember that the soldiers who were learnt these techniques were full trained, more than physically capable, aggresive soldiers a far cry from the "Target audience" such claims aim to seduce.

I apologise if this post offended anyone, i know someone will hound me for saying this, probably telling me how much they spar full contact, kill bulls with one punch and a currently being scouted for the next series of Ultimate Fighter.

I just dont want people buying into lies that a lot of martial artists have done before, its immoral and dangerous.

*sighs*

The dude said he wanted fitness and disciple. A wide spectrum of styles can accomondate that. You dont need to revive a thread because you want to start bashing styles. Especially when its just a lousy opinion or two.

I dont know about "soldiers being fully trained" Israeli troops are given a couple weeks block of instruction, and have to recertifly annually, IIRC. Similar to the US Army. Most recruits are in no sort of fighting shape. They are weak, pathetic and afraid. Good training can help you overcome that. Plus, combat soldiers have many other skills that need to be trained besides h2h stuff.

Krav Maga does what it was designed to do, and quite well.

Grappling is severly overated when it comes to simple street defence, too many fan boys and so called experts believe that street fights are like heavy sparring.

If it's one on one I can promise you they'll end up on the floor with a broken arm or getting their eyes gouged from a side mount.

Goju Ryu is superior.

Isshinryu beats ya both.

If it's one on one I can promise you they'll end up on the floor with a broken arm or getting their eyes gouged from a side mount.

Unless they get checked with a knee to the face during the takedown.

Unless they get checked with a knee to the face during the takedown.

Very rare for that to occur I'd say.

Very rare for that to occur I'd say.

Perhaps if the training isn't there, or instead they offer their head on the outside, setting up for a guillotine at the takedown. I've seen it and performed it plenty.

Perhaps if the training isn't there, or instead they offer their head on the outside, setting up for a guillotine at the takedown. I've seen it and performed it plenty.

Of course. I'm not saying there's no risk involved with it simply that in a one on one situation with someone on the street the odds of them getting taken down (mainly due to lack of any training) are far higher than the odds of: them stuffing the shoot, using a knee, securing the choke etc. Even working a throw/sweep from a clinch could well work.

There's always going to be that probability factor that states you're going on your ass this time but I'd say as high as 9/10 it works first try - they'll end up on the floor.

Take BJJ.

Best one IMO.

Whatever you do, don't join a MA that has some bullshit "BLACK BELT IN THREE YEARS GUARANTEED" nonsense. Black belts are to show skill, not how long you've fucking been there.

this.

This thread has already turned into a pissing contest.

I was simply putting forward my views in a constructive manner, it seems obvious that quite a lot of you are close minded. Im not style bashing at all.