Matial Arts, need help picking a style for classes?

I am 28, in pretty good shape. I am looking more towards hand-to-hand rather than grapling. I do want to learn throws as well though.





I need help choosing the best fit for me. I am leaning towards Kung-Fu. My basic hope for the class is for fitness (both mind and body) and learning some new kick-*** manuevers. I really want to learn how to handle a sword as well. Any help you could offer would be much appreciated! Email/IM me for more info or questions to help narrow down the search. THANK YOU!

Matial Arts, need help picking a style for classes?
Any discipline is good to learn, what you have to do is find a school that has a good atmosphere (friendly, everybody gets along well both with the instructors and each other) usually family oriented.





second of all you should be comfortable with the instructor's(s) style of teaching. find you a few schools that may have trial classes and see which one interests you the most





check your local phone book or searchengine to find any schools or schools websites. for schools that're up to maybe a 15 mile radius of where you live, you may wind up with a bit of a drive, but it could be worth it if you can get most of what you're lookin to get out of it.





mostly the two main types of disciplines that use the throwing aspect is Aikido and Hapkido, Hapkido is the more aggressive of the two but still very similar to Aikido.





If you can find a school that teaches a type of Kung Fu, then go for it, but usually there's very little throwing aspects that're featured, not to mention sword techniques, but it is possible to find a school that does it, but it's gonna be difficult.





as for learning sword techniques, possibly Ninjitsu ( some of the higher techniques incorporate sword techniques) and it too has excellent hand to hand fighting techniques, or Kendo/Iaido for the sword techniques.





good luck and good training.
Reply:I don't know, my friend Tyler (who I'm in school with right now) takes Kung Fu, but we have KumDo classes where I take Taekwondo. (KumDo is sword class). Report It

Reply:The best answer seems to imply that Kung Fu has no sword techniques. That's really not true. Virtually all Kung Fu styles deal with lots of weapons, including several types of swords, sticks, and some exotic weapons like walking canes, flutes, and fans... Report It

Reply:Do you watch fighting? the guys on top are wrestlers.
Reply:dude if you want to learn Kung Fu then go for it... what you stated as the things that you want will all be covered in CMA's... as to their reliability..... you can debate that for years... Also look into AIkido or Hapkido for throws and such... those are nice....





don't fall into the McJujitsu fad that's going on. Try something unique if you are looking for the things you listed.





Lobo: why is it always about men wrestling and who's on top with you? Im kinda starting to wonder....
Reply:there are many style to choose from and each school is different. i have studyed a few diff styles..but stuck mostly with tae kwon do. what u need to do is find out what schools are in ur area and visit each one and watch a full class and talk to the instructors. some places do different things than others.. some tend to stick with a certian routine and others are more rounded and do more in a class... the tkd school i went to had a routine that kept in interesting.... first warm ups then forms then basic training then one step sparring then free sparring... i have gone to other schools... wher they only do one type of thing a day...get old..or if u cant be there on a certain day u miss out.
Reply:he who lives by the sword dies by the sword
Reply:Try JuJutsu---good grappling, strikes, and specialize in ground fighting
Reply:Kendo is a good sword art; very beautiful to watch, yet very effective. For hand-to-hand, try one of the many styles of karate. Just make sure you are training under a decent, reputable instructor who discourages violence and does not belittle/harm their students.
Reply:Aikido is good for self defesne and fitness.
Reply:where i go to the gym the teacher helps the class in kicks when demonstrating. Savate is a french martial art and its all about the elbows and legs. But in kickboxing they have spinning kicks, round house, inverted.


For the sword handling the closes thing i can think of is Kali. Kali is a Filipino Martial art where some times you can use bamboo stick. I dont know if they use a plastic model wrapped in cloth but i seen people do that where i go.


i think that Jeet Kon Do uses upper body strenght and some kicks.
Reply:have a go at a few until you find the (or ones)you like.the freestyle ones that still maintain there traditional base are normally pretty good as they focus on that particular style but also use things from others including sword and other weapons as well as ground fighting.in my opinion any good instuctor should do this anyway.that reads in my opinion.


PS.you may need to confirm your email address.