It's been a bit since I've posted. Last time I did I was still learning Shotokan Karate. But, after having gone back to the style after having stepped away from it I have decided that I do want to persue another style. Shotokan is just not for me anymore. I have boiled it down to Aikido or Muay Thai. So Im trying to decide which one I want to study. I've studied Muay Thai in the past. I like it and I know it's street effective. But, I have been fascinated with Aikido for many years. I know that lots of people think that Aikido is not effective for street self defense. Some think it is. Honestly at this point I don't know. What do you all think? Not sure if you all remember my situation but I have tendonitis in both of my wrists. So that is a factor. So Im not sure which would be harder on my wrists, Muay Thai or Aikido. I also have a bad lower back and bad left knee. But I want to study one of these 2 styles. So, I would like to know what you all think. Which of these 2 styles is best for being able to defend oneself in a fight, is something a person can study for life, and has the most positive long term effects on the person studying it?
A professional MT fighter told me that the life time of MT can only last for 6 years. Even within that 6 years, everyday after training he had to take Thai body massage to recover his body abuse. He was a professional MT fighter so I assume he told me the truth. May be you should take that as consideration.
The one that you actually stick with, of course. Go to a boxing gym that trains fighters, but sign up for an exercise program that includes instructional classes with the coaches. And then do it for a year.
That's possibly the competitive life of an elite competitor in Thailand. I know lots of people who've done Muay Thai 3-5 days a week for 30 years.
A professional competetive fighter would train very different to someone a few times a week. They train for hours on end every day.
Agreed and not to forget the bodily trauma of the fights themselves! Out of the two I think you have better chance if of finding a functional MT gym than Aikido dojo but it seems you might have other considerations. Just try what you can reasonably get to and see what resonates.
Try them both. See if your back can handle taking ukemi in aikido class. But ten to one, you won't find the sort of training that prepares you to actually apply the techniques in aikido. And until you have that honesty in your training, all the spiritual benefits, character building, fitness and especially understanding you may be pursuing will be tainted at best.
