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Yún yīxiàn
09-Jan-2011, 07:19 PM
Yes, you guessed it. I'm asking which martial art I'm best suited for.

I'm 6'1" or 6'2", but I'm really skinny. I'm stronger than I look, but still not that strong. The threats I go up against are generally few, but the city I live in is starting to change and places that were safe aren't safe anymore. I'm less worried about defending myself than I am about defending my friends. Where I live I'm more likely to just run into a crazy homeless man than anybody with a weapon and a plan, but I do go places where knives and guns are known to appear with some frequency.

I tried to learn shotokan just a few months ago and some other karate when I was much younger, but karate just feels wrong to me. For me it was like building a rock wall with all different size and shaped stones and no cement. It's like everything was there and perfectly good in its own right, but it never fit together.

It's always seemed to me that personality plays a huge part in what martial arts you're suited for, so that's what this is. If you don't think it matters then you can skip it, 'cause you probably know better than me. I'm basically a happy person and I'm very slow to anger (although once I get there it's awful, even for me... my mom says it's my viking blood :) ), although if I have a bad day or something upsets me enough I get a little snippy. I generally give people a lot of leeway in the way they act and try to see through to who they really are, but that has its limits. I'm very defensive of my friends and if you mess with them I take it personally, but if one of my friends lies to me or betrays me then I cut them off immediately. I'm pretty opinionated about stuff and can get very passionate about my beliefs.

Sorry this was so long, but it seemed smarter to cover all my bases now and leave less room for more questions and uncertainties further down the line.

simon s
09-Jan-2011, 07:23 PM
Have you looked at any classes already, if so post a link to their website so we can give a critique.

Most good schools will let you take the first lesson for free so go and try a few styles out and see what suits you.

Yún yīxiàn
09-Jan-2011, 07:33 PM
I've looked at several different things... I think at this point in time I would want to do krav maga or kung fu just because krav maga seems like for the city it's the most effective self-defense oriented art and based on how my dad describes his kung fu-using opponents (he's a black belt in some form of karate from Okinawa, but I forget what) I think it might be a better fit. The problem with living in this city is finding an actually good place to practice and learn. With so many people, there are bound to be "supermarket karate" teachers, and more of them than the real thing, so I have to actually go to the places and check out the classes to make sure they're not just smoke in mirrors that's really no good. Since that's the case, I still need to search around the city.

ArthurKing
09-Jan-2011, 07:35 PM
Try some, see what you like. There is no magic art that will change you into Spiderman, or secret techniques that will allow to beat up all comers- find an art that you can get to on a regular basis, with people that you like, that you can afford, and have a go. If your focus is on self defence, look at how they train, if its all sport orientated, it may not be for you.
P.S. If you still get on with your dad, his art would seem to me to be the first port of call.
Best of luck,

simon s
09-Jan-2011, 07:36 PM
What city are you in and how far are you prepared to travel?

There is always someone here who can give a good recommendation.

Yún yīxiàn
09-Jan-2011, 11:27 PM
I live in DC. I can travel probably up to 20 minutes :confused:

seiken steve
10-Jan-2011, 08:38 AM
http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98202
Discussion about schools in DC