A beginner seeking advice..

[kirakiri]

Hello all! I am new to the board. I am 23 years old and live in Jersey City, NJ. I just recently got the ambitions to try college again after an unsuccessful first attempt a few years back and I'll be done with my first semester next week. I started thinking about taking up the study of the martial arts for developing a better self discipline and self control. I was going to start looking for a school in the arts of Iaido or Kenjutsu. Then I started thinking, if I will be training in this art for one year+, I might as well find something I can use to defend myself if needed it, and then later on, taking Iaido or Kenjutsu to be a hobby would be fine.

I am most interested in Japanese Jujutsu, Aikido or possibly Taijutsu. I am willing to travel a little away from home if it guarantees a school that is not what you guys called a mcdojo...

My only experience at training in martial arts was very short; when I was around 14 years old I enrolled in a local TKD school for about a month. A little too much horseplay with my brother and I broke 3 toe bones. After that injury I was too lazy to ever come back. I believe I read that Taijutsu doesn't have forms (katas) but rather techniques. I remember in TKD school, we had to meditate during each class. Though, since I am inexperienced, I am not sure if this is the correct explanation, but he said that we needed to meditate to clear our minds. Even if we learned the katas and their self defense meaning, if in actual combat, our brains will freeze and we won't have a clear mind to know which techniques and etc., to apply. So how does one apply techniques of Taijutsu in actual self defense or combat, will it also be through meditation or just memory trained?

Also how different is a class of TKD/Karate from something like Jujutsu. My understanding of TKD school from my little time at the school, was as a white belt, I learned basic blocks and strikes. Then we were taught our first form and the SD application of the form. From what I read, a lot of the Taijutsu schools don't have a beginner's session only; rather, you jump right in and learn what you can?

If anyone can recommend a school that is 1/2hr-1hr in the proximity of Jersey City/NYC, I'd appreciate it. Also any insights for a beginner on Aikido, Jujutsu, or Taijutsu, that would be great.

I apologize if I make many incorrect assumptions for I didn't know any better and do not mean to offend any one personally or their arts. Thanks for your time and patience, sorry for the lengthy first post.

[Hakko-Ryu]

hmmm there's a japanese jujitsu school in NYC (Bronx?) that i know of. MIYAMA RYU jujitsu. But the founder passed away in 98? i read a book on MR Jujitsu back in 97. and from the book, it seemed like a decent japanese style. But i'm not quite sure what has happened to the school since the founder's passing. Look it up on Google! i'm sure the school's still around. yes, there is no kata requirement in most japanese jujitsu. But you have to develop and learn certain fine 'motor skills' as a beginner in order to understand techniques fully.

[kempocos]

I know very good GOJU RYU / OKINAWIAN school. I have the pleasure of trianing with the owner at seminars about every six weeks or so. The students of his I have met have been good at applying thier art not just knowing it.

http://www.uskenshikai.com/

[Fung Loon]

It is well known among true Fighters ("artists" excluded) that when you think about doing something it takes longer time to execute the move than if you just do it. Generally you are not supposed to feel either for n'or anger when you are fighting, feel and think nothing and the movements you have mastered will come without thought and with much greater speed and power.

[kempocos]

FUNG LOON .... what odes this have to do with a place for this guy to train.

You are junior because you only have posted 10 times it goes by the number of posts you make, like all message boards.

[aikiMac]

Originally posted by kirakiri
So how does one apply techniques of Taijutsu in actual self defense or combat, will it also be through meditation or just memory trained?

If anyone can recommend a school that is 1/2hr-1hr in the proximity of Jersey City/NYC, I'd appreciate it. Also any insights for a beginner on Aikido, Jujutsu, or Taijutsu, that would be great.

As for the first, you apply taijutsu the same as anything else: "practice makes perfect." You keep doing it on the mat over and over and over again. This is the same way you learned to catch a baseball, aye?

As for the second, try Yahoo's "Yellow Pages" (http://yp.yahoo.com). I know for a fact that NYC has aikido dojos because I've read about them in magazines.

Aikido takes longer to learn than just about any other martial art. You ought not start aikido with the idea that in one year or two years or whatever, you're going to be able to beat up other people, because you won't be able to beat up other people. Juijitsu and taijutsu are a bit more rough-and-tumble. You'll gain fighting ability more quickly there. Over time, however, they're all equally good. No martial art is objectively better than another martial art.

And over time, you'll come to believe that 1) fighting other people really sucks, and 2) the martial arts are actually about fighting yourself, not fighting other people. In that respect maybe aikido should be first on your list, because it emphasizes the inner conflict more than JJ and TJ do. But it's your call.

[kirakiri]

Thank you all for replying with great information. After doing further research and taking your points into consideraton, I've decided to take up Budo Taijutsu at Muzosa Bujinkan Dojo in Queens, NY. Thanks again all for the information you've provided me!

-James