Best martial art?

I'm thinking about starting Kendo. Does anyone have any experiences with that or would you recommend it?

Kendo is great if you like rules that will help you become more aware of chivalry in your everyday life. But it does tend to be rules heavy and doesn't lend itself to a free spirit type personality. I personally don't think it teaches one enough of swordplay to be effective in real combat. It's an external martial art with heavy emphasis on the internal.

If you are looking for something useable on the street while also training the spirit I would suggest Wing Chun. Depending on where you live it may be hard to find a lineage teacher.

And finally, if you just want the be the largest threat on the field you could try out Krav Maga. It is a medley of several martial arts. However the focus is on survival/winning so not much there for the spiritual seeker.

I don't know every martial art out there. But if you haven't already, rent some martial arts movies. IP Man series, anything with Sammo Hung, the Seven Samurai, The Protector, oh man the list could go on forever. Just watch the forms and see yourself doing them. Find a teacher for it and good luck.

As Bruce Lee said " no one style has all the answers, you must seek out many styles, get many answers. Take what works for you and discard what doesn't."

It's all about what you hope to take away from the style you learn. From Tai Chi, I learned patience because it was so slow and I wanted to learn everything and how it could be used in defense. When my teacher actually showed me the moves sped up, I was amazed. From Kung Fu, I learned to control my body because quite a lot of it requires certain postures and is very Confucian in nature as things have proper places and timings. Come to think of it, the name Confucianism comes from the original translation of K'ung-fu-tzu (pronounced 'gongfoodzuh'), so it only makes sense that Kung Fu takes this nature. As the Bruce Lee quote points out, learn all you can from as many styles as you can and use only that which suits your needs.

Frost wrote: I did karate for a year, about three years ago and I am therefore well aware that the instructor plays a huge role so suggesting a specific club could be the best way forward but any info is appreciated.

Anyway, I've decided I want to reach and then maintain a high level of fitness so I joined my local gym (finally making use of my student discount), I only managed to go for a week though before I sprained my ankle last weekend down at a local park. So whilst I'm bored waiting for the swelling to go down I'm just planning what I'll do when I get back and I am interested in starting a martial art again. Basically I'm looking for something that is focused on dexterity, endurance and mental strength. If it's any help I live in the South West of England.

Anyway I think this is my first proper post so, yeah, hello everybody and thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Dexterity, endurance and mental strength you say? Why not give parkour a try. Urban free flow (if it still exists) has a pretty good write up on the philosophy of parkour. I am kinda knowledgeable on it so if you have any questions just ask or shoot me a pm.

Drunk style

The best martial art is the one you train in. Its going to be 1000 % more fun, useful, and beneficial than the ones you dont.

Check out some schools, take some free classes, and pick the one you like best.

I guess it depends on how you define, "best". If best just means the martial art that teaches you dexterity, endurance, and fitness then you may not be looking for a martial art at all (Aikido maybe). Yoga, Pilates (I have no idea how prevalent this is on your side of the pond), Kick-Boxing, or maybe join a jogger group?

I'm personally interested in Judo because it has always struck me as the least violent and most realistically helpful type of martial art (for someone like me). Lately, I've been wanting to get into it because it would help me get into shape, stay fit, and develop some physical discipline.

Ve-Lo-Zi wrote: I'm thinking about starting Kendo. Does anyone have any experiences with that or would you recommend it?

I have been practicing Niten Ichi Ryu style Hyoho (in Niten Institute, here in Brazil) since I was 17 (I am 22).
Try it! It will be a unique experience!

Extreme thumb wrestling...

Ethan ... *sigh* :dry:


Best martial art ... I wouldn't know. 'Go', perhaps ... ?

Like others have said: there really is no "best" martial art. It really just depends on what you're looking to get out of it and how well it suits you.

Personally T'ai chi is one of my favorites. At the introductory levels its not about attacking or conflict at all; it's about learning to center yourself and build a powerful understanding of movement and form. Over time you begin to develop your form and your muscle memory becomes saturated with the art. It allows you to proactively respond in almost any physical condition better than you would without that training. In this way I'd suggest T'ai chi as a very powerful companion to any other martial art - it builds an excellent foundation that greatly improves your focus and progression in any martial arts form.

I also study Aikido and saber fencing, and I'm looking to expand into WMA/HEMA (historical Western martial arts) one of these days as well. In both my fencing and Aikido however I've noticed an improvement from studying T'ai chi. Yoga behaves in much the same way as T'ai chi as well - by grounding you, building stamina and resistance, and helping you maintain a meditative presence under pressure.

My suggestion? Study T'ai chi and yoga concurrently with whatever other martial art interests you the most, and you'll find that your training goes much smoother (though it will be a lot tougher if you're doing all three to begin with every week). Pace yourself. Don't reach for rank or anything, just settle in and practice a little every day. Ok, now I'm preaching, lol.

It may sound a bit arrogant, but I believe that every Jedi should know at least basics about swordsmanship.

Jeet Kun Do, FTW

Zeph wrote: It may sound a bit arrogant, but I believe that every Jedi should know at least basics about swordsmanship.

Its not arrogant to say or think that, however an explanation as to how you have come to that conclusion would be great. Many Jedi say this, and I am not sure as to the motivation.

In the Sith path, martial arts is not a requirement, or even a suggestion.

I myself am a bit obsessive about martial arts, but that is my passion, other Sith have interests that lay well outside that, and it is more encouraged that one realize there passions wherever they are as opposed to to preset criteria, especially of the martial variety.

Now, within ones passion, they should seek not only to pursue it, but pursue it with the focus deserving of the title of ones passion.

So I am interested as to why Jedi should know swordsmanship on any real level, especially if its not even an interest.

Khaos wrote:

Zeph wrote: It may sound a bit arrogant, but I believe that every Jedi should know at least basics about swordsmanship.

Its not arrogant to say or think that, however an explanation as to how you have come to that conclusion would be great. Many Jedi say this, and I am not sure as to the motivation.

In the Sith path, martial arts is not a requirement, or even a suggestion.

I myself am a bit obsessive about martial arts, but that is my passion, other Sith have interests that lay well outside that, and it is more encouraged that one realize there passions wherever they are as opposed to to preset criteria, especially of the martial variety.

Now, within ones passion, they should seek not only to pursue it, but pursue it with the focus deserving of the title of ones passion.

So I am interested as to why Jedi should know swordsmanship on any real level, especially if its not even an interest.

Hello!

I mentioned swordsmanship because many so-called "Jedi" are simply obsessed with lightsabers, and that "curiosity" could be the gateway to a great tool for personal growth (martial arts, fencing).

Am not familiar with the Sith doctrine, so I will not speculate anything about Sith;

From my point of view (about the Jedi) harmony and balance with the Force are the main objectives (it is explicit The 21 Maxims).

Martial arts, alongside practices like yoga or gymnastics, are the most effective way (as far as I know) to obtain harmony with your own body.

If there is no corporal conscience and harmony with our own body, and perception about the functioning of our mind (analytical meditation; various meditative process) there is no practical application for the Jedi teaching or any other kind of “spiritual” teaching, and you will never understand anything about the Force beyond what you come to read or listening based on other people's experiences.

Can be harmony with the Force when you can not even achieve harmony with your own body/mind?

Meh, the best martial art is the one you plan to use when words fail. AND THEY DO. It is good to have an option that is not shooting someone.

If you are not planning to use it for defense or attack, then it is not MARTIAL. Might as well study a "martial sport"

Andy Spalding wrote: If you are not planning to use it for defense or attack, then it is not MARTIAL. Might as well study a "martial sport"

Well that's kind of the problem with martial arts in the West though, right? Much of what is called "karate" or "taekwondo" and all that hogwash is actually just cheap imitation made for the purpose of competitive sport. The stuff they teach you in the average "dojo" isn't the kind of thing you would want to know how to do in a hand-to-hand combat situation.

The best strategy for when things go hand to hand is to fight dirty, end the fight quickly, and not to use excessive force. You must win the fight, and defend yourself without ending the other person's life, or disabling them permanently. No fight will be pretty, but if you know how to win quickly, then no fight will be a disaster

Yea, nowhere did i say that any martial art would suit. However everyone is different, and i am not going to tell someone their art is BS... I will however SHOW them.

Yea, McDojo's and 10 year old black belts run rampant around my parts. How do you know if your art carries water? Test it.

I am not saying go pick fights at the local pub, but one should set up sparring bouts often. Outside of one's system... and in uneven matches.