A good first art

[DJNunez]

I want to start doing martial arts. I would like to focus more on street fighting and not doing competitions.

I live in Pembroke Pines, Florida. About 30-40 mins from Miami. I've always wanted to learn Muay Thai, BJJ, JKD and Akidio.

Is there a good school that teaches those arts and focuses more on street fighting. Also, which one would be the best to start with.

Thanks,
DJNunez

[Szczepankiewicz]

IN all seriousness I suggest you take some Yoga or Tai Chi before you do anything else. Learn how to breath and move your body in a balanced fashion.

After about 6 months of that you might look into some BJJ and Muay Thai crosstraining .

On top of that I suggest you read up on some reality based martial arts for getting your mind right with regards to self defense.

I would stay away from Aikido unless you intend to incorporate a lifelong pursuit to the art.

[DJNunez]

Can you explain Tai Chi to me. What is it all about and what does it focus on?

Does anybody know any good school around my area?

[lssanjose]

tai chi teaches you about balance, flow of breathing, and sensitivity. but more importantly staying calm and loose

[Lost Ronin]

Don't wanna burst anyone's bubble here... just giving my opinion. I think that you should start training athletically (cardio and weightlifting is a good way to start). Some good arts to start with would be Boxing, Muay Thai, JKD, Wrestling and Brazilian Jujitsu. If I were you I would start out with Muay Thai, if you start to grapple first you usually end up having to really work hard to learn to strike, while if you strike first, you usually can learn to grapple easily, as long as you have the right mindset.

You sound serious, so I also recommend Krav Maga, it's a very good style and can enhance your overall skills. I live in Jacksonville, which is about 6 hours away from Miami, so I don't know any good schools (obviously), if I were you I would check out the phone book, if not, run a search on the net, you usually find anything that you are looking for ( I located a Wing Chun fight club this way.) Hope this helps, if you have any questions feel free to ask.

[DJNunez]

I already work out regulary and do a lot of cardio.

Thanks for all the input, I just need to start reseaching good schools around here.

[Lizard]

BJJ, MT AND JKD? I think you should start off just learning two MAs, you don't want to get confused or learn so many techniques that you don't have time to learn them properly. MT and BJJ.

[Tom Yum]

True. I think striking and sparring provides you with natural instincts when transferred to grappling, you just have to change your mindset into technique and leverage instead of power.

[CHOKE UK]

Re: A good first art

Originally posted by DJNunez
I want to start doing martial arts. I would like to focus more on street fighting and not doing competitions.

I live in Pembroke Pines, Florida. About 30-40 mins from Miami. I've always wanted to learn Muay Thai, BJJ, JKD and Akidio.

Is there a good school that teaches those arts and focuses more on street fighting. Also, which one would be the best to start with.

Thanks,
DJNunez

Akido ??????????????

Tai chi??????????????

What about tiddly winks ?


Djnunez,
It all sounds great when you start doing self defence.

But you have to decide how much reality/hardship you want.

If are sure you want a tough one,
then choose muay thai or bjja.

If you just want a less challenging one choose karate or kung fu types

If you want less challenging choose things like akido

And if you dont want to learn to fight, choose tai chi.


But you wont really know what you are suited to, until you try.

I have seen many times big hardened bouncers refuse to get into the muay Thai ring anymore.

So the theory may sound great.
But when your shins have golf balls all over them that have been hit time and time again so that the golf balls are bleeding, and youve taken so many roundhaouse to the thighs that your leg has gone a deep shade of moave,and your ribs have just felt the full force of a spinning back kick, and theres still another round to go...........then thats reality !
Put you off yet ?

Many people are simply not suited to this.

Djnunez, your problem is that you dont seem to have ant experience at all, so its unchartered territory.

My kids have done jui jitsu and muay thai since they could walk.
So it is natural to them.

The rough and realistic arts have very high turn overs,
and I am never suprised when new comers have a great appetite at first but soon they arent hungry anymore !

SO YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE AND TRY THEM OUT,
DONT MAKE YOUR MIND UP TOO QUICKLY.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Could have done without the rest of it... but this quote is right on the money.

SO YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE AND TRY THEM OUT,

[CHOKE UK]

Originally posted by Szczepankiewicz
Could have done without the rest of it... but this quote is right on the money.

Yeah, I suppose it was a bit too much,
to ask mummy to read to you !

[Ha_ari]

I second the advice that you try krav maga. There's a KM Ft. Lauderdale location opening up shortly. I'm pretty sure it's already on the web.

[CHOKE UK]

There is a krav maga forum somewhere,
I've been on there.

And all I could see them saying was,

"you dont wanna go to ground with a bjja fighter, you wont sand a chance"

and

"You dont wanna have a punch/kick fight with a muay thai boxer"

So if the guy cross trains, how will you fight him ?

Simple say "I'm a lover not a fighter, fancy a quick shag mate ?"

[Thai Bri]

Originally posted by Lizard
BJJ, MT AND JKD? I think you should start off just learning two MAs, you don't want to get confused or learn so many techniques that you don't have time to learn them properly. MT and BJJ.

Yeah. Thats right. Don't confuse yourself by starting out with one art. Start two instead. Another brilliant idea from lizard brain.

[Szczepankiewicz]

You forget,

he is right if he thinks he is right.