A wise move?

[CyCloNe]

Ok hers the situation in a nutshell….

I was studying Aikido before xmas for about 4 months in which time I managed to pass my first grading. I had a little family trouble over xmas and for some reason never went back.

The club is only small with about 12 members varying in grades.

A couple of months ago I started training at a freestyle school based on a kickboxing syllabus. I am really enjoying the kickboxing but cant help feeling that I should have kept the Aikido going as (and I don’t mean this to sound argumentary or defamatory to kickboxing) it would appear a more ‘intelligent’ martial art.

Heres the dilemma….

I am considering trying to keep the Kickboxing going once a week (Thu) and restart the Aikido once a week (Tue). Now I know to a lot of the full-timers out there this amount of dedication seems pitiful, but both are 2 hour sessions and I intend to practice both styles in my own time as well.

I know that it will take longer to become proficient in each as my time will be diluted, but it would be the preferable method from a personal point of view.

The question is simple….

Will they complement each other, or conflict?

Knowing the talent and intelligence (Andy excluded :p) cruising this site, I couldnt think of a better place to ask.

[stump]

Hi Cyclone,

personally I think studying two arts at once can be confusing and it may take a little longer to progress short term. That was my personal experience anyway. But it's worth it however in that you will have more of an insight into both arts as you have something to compare each of them to.

So conflict at first, but complement overall

Hope that makes some sense!

[Chazz]

Hi Cyclone.
I agree with stump. Starting both style may bend up being a bit much right now but knowing more than one will help as the years go on. Just be sure to keep you mind straight on the style that you are doing that day because it may tend to get confusing.

[CyCloNe]

Thanks for the advice.

I am very comfortable with the kickboxing training as its fairly close in some respects to the TKD I studied for a few years.

Its the Aikido that will take the time to learn I think.

Do you think the styles complement each other?

[YODA]

Hi

I disagree - studying two arts, especially two as different from each other asthese, should be no problem whatsoever.

You studied English Language & Mathematics in school at the same time - right? Did you suddenly start to trry to write with sums or add up words? No. The human brain is more than capable of learning two or more things at once.

[Andrew Green]

I'm with Yoda, they're very different arts, you shouldn't have a problem doing both.

[Melanie]

Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one! Besides, women can do more than one thing at a time, or hadn't you fellas noticed?

I study, 3 separate entities of training and haven't slipped up yet. Down to the individual I supppose to not over stretch ones self and perhaps a certain level of dedication to ensure you practise as much as possible within your abilities.

[Silver_no2]

Originally posted by YODA


You studied English Language & Mathematics in school at the same time - right? Did you suddenly start to try to write with sums or add up words?

Yes I did!! It's called algebra:D

[LilBunnyRabbit]

But English and Maths are completely different. Try learning French and Italian in parallel and see if you manage as easily. Learning dissimilar martial arts is no problem, learning two which are similar but still different often leads to confusion.

Try 'thoughtful' rather than 'intelligent' when comparing the two arts, less likely to offend kickboxers (who in some cases need little excuse anyway).

[Spike]

I think you`ll find the two arts you mentioned very useful to study at the same time, as they`re both very different each will help cover gaps in the other, making you a more rounded M.A`ist

[Andy Murray]

I'm using my imagination here, because I don't train Aikido, but..

I would imagine the art relies to a degree on assessing the relative balance of your oponnent. I would think this would be ver useful for a kickboxer, even if they have no intention of applying a lock.

I can vouch for Yoda, in that he is able to put a different hat on, and train diferent ethics at the drop of a hat. That is an important requisite in JKD.

Personally I find a strong background in one art, makes me better facilitated to analyse other arts.

The most frustrating thing is when you want to be good at everything.

Never say never.

Andy

[CyCloNe]

Some superb replies (Did I expect anything less? Nah :D )

Im going to bear a second style in mind, but not actually action it at the moment keeping the focus on the kickboxing and try to get my fitness, flexibility and mental attitude right.

Personally I find a strong background in one art, makes me better facilitated to analyse other arts.
Andy what can I say? You da man :p

Again peeps, thanks for the advice.

[do xuan tung]

Hi everybody! i am newcomer here. As far as i understand, the only problem with people studying too many kind of martial arts at the same time is how to mix them into one when you are in real battle. My master, a very practical fighter, told me, in the street fight there would be no clear boundary between the techniques you use to defeat your opponent. No matter whether you are using aikido or kickboxing, for me they are all martial art, the very efficient tool we use to overcome our fear in life and in fight. Iam studying now wingchun, but along time ago i have been disciple of Karate, Tai Chi Chuan and boxing. The lore i got from them prove useful in helping me to develop a good skill in my training now. I see no reason for the giving up of any method i have learnt. so i personally think it is not the martial art creat the practicer but the practicer who make a martial art become what it is.

[mattsylvester]

Originally posted by stump
Hi Cyclone,

personally I think studying two arts at once can be confusing and it may take a little longer to progress short term. That was my personal experience anyway. But it's worth it however in that you will have more of an insight into both arts as you have something to compare each of them to.

So conflict at first, but complement overall

Hope that makes some sense!

I disagree because of the difference of the arts he's studying. Kickboxing and Aikido couldn't be more different. Aikido and Hapkido/Ju Jitsu/Judo - That would be confusing.

The only problem that I foresee is the risk of burnout. I study TKD, and Kempo Ryu (not as often) along with boxing training on a Sunday and hope to open a Practical TKD class. Because I don't train with my wife in Kempo Ryu I find it very hard to motivate myself to go and often sacrifice Kempo because of the other stuff I'm doing. How Yoda manages it all I don't know :0)

Just take it easy and don't train too hard, injuries are common in both arts which might well affect your training in either.

[Thomas Vince]

Cyclone,
I have not had a chance to read the earlier posts but any martial art you study will compliment the other if you find ways to make them work for you. I have found through the many years that one must follow their own convictions and their own heart. I want to congratulate you on a sound decision based upon logic. Kickboxing can be a very logical and intelligent art if the instructor can motivate you and prompt you to thinking about the art.
When you have a good teacher you will always have a good art. Every martial art is awesome, but it is sometimes the teacher that makes it look bad.
Aikido is also a great art. I have issues with many arts and so I try to take the best and most practical approach to every movement. A good compliment you should see in the very beginning is when a punch cannot be caught with an Aikido movement your kickboxing training should teach you to duck and counter. It is not the art you seek as much as it is the outcome that you expect.
Cheers!

[Thomas Vince]

Do Xuan Tung,
I have some friends in that Buddhist Temple there in Hanoi! Have you ever seen or heard of an art called Vovinam? It is apparently indiginous to your country and is based upon the snake styles of the martial arts. By the way the temple is the Lin Sohn buddhist Temple where I studied Buddhism in the Pure Land faith. Talk with you soon.

[Master Lee]

ah yes

[ap Oweyn]

You resurrected a three-year-old thread to say "ah yes"?

Good grief.