is hoshin ju tai jutsu a good martial art?
831140
It doesn't really matter if the art is good. The person doing the art is what matters. I good martial art doesn't make a good martial artist.
426674
I really like Aikido.  It's martial art that any age can do.  You need atleast 2 people to do it so you won't get bored so fast.  Since there isn't an age requirement you won't have to quit when you get old if you like it.\n\nOn top of that, it's good if you want to protect yourself from pushy guys. :P
4285
I'm assuming you mean which martial art hurts your opponent more. This is an odd way of looking at these 2 disciplines because both can be very effective without hurting your opponent.\n\nSince a large part of ninjitsu is stealth and assasination by any means necessary, I'm not sure how much it hurts. \n\nJu-jitsu on the other hand includes a variety of joint breaking techiniques and leg locks which can be excrutiating. To give you a strict answer, I would say that Ju-jitsu can hurt more because you'd still be alive to feel the pain. At the hands of a ninja, one would hopefully suffer little and simply be dead.\n\nIt should be noted that the 2 are not mutually exclusive. The techniques of Ju-jitsu are going to be practiced by anyone studying Nin-jitsu as Ju-jitsu is the foundation for open handed grappling and throwing techniques.
489518
There is a very old and very true saying... \n\n"The Jack of all trades is a master of none."\n\nI believe it is a good thing to learn multiple martial arts. The issue is that many martial arts are fundamentally so different that it is hard to learn them together.  Arts like Tae Kwon Do and Aikido are so different from one another that learning them together is not a problem. Other martial arts such as many forms of Kung-fu are do conceptually different from Tae Kwon do that learning the art will be very difficult, if not virtually impossible. \n\nFor instance. Aikido uses circle to enter into your opponent and bring him down with any number of throws, pins or locks. Tae Kwon Do uses strait lines to enter into an opponent and then either attack with a strike (Kick or punch) or block their strike and then counter strike. Many forms of Chinese Martial arts don’t block, but rather parry attacks. They also use circular or more common angular movements to enter into an opponent and prefer multiple rapid attacks using chi as power rather then the one or three step sparing drills used in Tae Kwon Do.  Furthermore, many forms of Chinese martial arts are as much mental (philosophical/strategical)  as they are physical. It will be hard to do one thing one way in one class and another way in another class. Also, traditional Kung-fu instructors will not train a person who is studying another martial art. Not because they think there are is the best or some such nonsense as that, but because they are afraid that if you divide your thoughts and energies between their art and the other art(s) then you will not be able to give 100% of your time to their art. \n\nRemember, many Martial Arts, (Unlike Tae Kwon Do) take many, many years to become even the least bit proficient in. Learning forms is not the only goal. In a traditional Chinese Martial Arts school it often takes several moths to learn a single form and then a year or more to get to a level of proficiency that the Sifu thinks you are ready to learn another form. I've known more then my share of people that have dropped out of Chinese martial arts schools because they felt they weren’t learning anything new after working on the same form for six months. \n\nThe problem you will face is that Tea Kwon Do is linear and hard. Most of your forms are Move, then strike. Step left into a front stance, then perform a down block, followed by an upper block, step right into a right front stance and then do an eyelevel front punch. Chinese martial arts forms are different. As you step into a stance you are striking and before you settle into the position, you are already moving again. It is much more fluid. Everything flown one into the next. TKD is more Choppy. In fact, if the forms are not performed in a Step by step fashion, you aren't doing them right. (I have a 2nd Dan and use to judge at tournaments) \n\nAll I am saying is that is would be hard to master an art that requires your undivided attention if you are not giving your undivided attention. It's something to think about.
476933
tai chi is a  slow motion kind of martial rituel.very relaxing,and good exercise.mouvement are slow which means harder = good for toning muscles
861940
A lot of good answers above.\n\nIt is important for you to determine your main motivation and goal for wanting to learn a martial art. If it is self defense, esp. for the street, TKD would be better than aikido, but there are more practical arts out there for that (which have been mentioned above). Aikido is a very different style than most arts... no offensive moves (in what I consider the pure forms, there are harder styles), and focuses on relaxation, not tension/ resistance. It has a greater philosophical component, and it takes a long time to learn to react appropriately, since those reactions tend to be contrary to natural instinct. Someone grabs your wrist, the impulse is to tense up and resist the pull, not relax. An instructor said that it would take about 10 years for a student to get to the point to be truly effective in a self defense situation.\n\nI've taken different styles from here and there... ju-jitsu, karate... but hadn't really found one that fit my personality. The goal for me evolved from being practical self defense to wanting to learn a martial art "for the art". I'm a very non-aggressive person. I'm 5'1", and am not going to want to, nor be very effective, in wading in, doing a lot of damage, and get back out, as a lot of hard styles advocate. It just wasn't me. \n\nI found my way to aikido, and that was just the art for me. It is a very philosophical art, which I love. Having no offensive moves fits in well with my personal style, and the art lends itself to people with low centers of balance, so being short is actually a plus. It's a good fit all around for me.\n\nSo it really helps to examine your reasons for learning, and giving different styles out there a try and see what you like and don't like. Good advice from above also in regards to places to study. Be wary of the McDojo's... sit in on classes and get a feel for if the instructor is a good teacher, and does the teaching style fit what you want. If they have large class sizes, how much personal attention do they give to the students... all good things to consider.
680754
No i don't do Shui Chiao but i practise Wing Chun. But i am wanting to study more of a grappling art such as yours. Or maybe chin na. But preferably Judo. I feel in a combat scenario people with a more grappling based art are more likely to come of well. You didn't mention whether you did Shui Chiao. Or whether you were just looking for a teacher. May i suggest something if you are looking for a teacher. Buy Robert W Smiths Chinese Boxers Masters & Methods. In there he states that Shui Chiao resembles an early ju-jitsu. And he had a test with a Taiwanese wrestler and won. And would have won easier if they hadn't restricted the moves he learn't in Judo. I know it doesn't sound as cool. But Judo sounds like a really effiecient type of fighting. Plus the conditioning is really intense. I work with a guy who was a big deal in Judo and he is really tough. Just thought i might let you know.
149088
Here's the BIG question. And however I have another question in return to that one: what do you consider effective? Do you mean martially effective? or effective at clearing your mind or bringing inner peace? Martial Art = The art of war. What makes up a martial art: Percussion (striking), Projection (throwing), Immobilization (joint locks), and Armament (weaponry). Here are some examples of different systems:\n\nKarate: Okinawan. Covers Percussion. Civil Art. Kara- meaning open or empty depending on translation. -te originally meant Chinese Hand but they later changed it to just hand after the Chinese were driven out. Derived from White Crane Kung Fu. Believes in hardening the body against strikes and striking hard is the key.\n\nKung Fu: External Chinese. Most cover percussion, projection, and armament, with a few covering immobilization as well. Usually either martial or civil art. There are SO many systems within the term kung fu that it is hard to describe this system effectively. To say the least the best Kung Fu I have seen was in Dallas, and was translated to the Water-Fire Kung Fu.\n\nAikido / Aiki-jujutsu: Japanese. Covers immobilization with slight touch on projection. Civil Art. Was originally derived from Nihongo Jujutsu or Japanese Jujutsu (honestly I hate that I have to specify WHICH jujutsu compared to Brazilian or American… as if you would get an French taco or Russian sushi). Aikido has sadly become one of the snobbiest “styles” out there and they insist that what they do would work in real combat, although only about 10% of EVERYONE who is involved with that system knows what they’re doing. Though I will admit those that do, can do some beautiful Aiki.\n\nJudo: Japanese. Covers projection. Sport Art. Another derivative of Nihongo Jujutsu. A sport derived from the throwing system used in Japan’s combat. As with all sports, there are certain things that they threw out as “illegal moves” due to their effectiveness therefore making the “style” weaker.\n\nBrazilian: Japanese origin. Covers a portion of Immobilization and Projection. Martial Sport. This “style” was made famous by the Gracie family after they were originally taught by a Japanese man who refused to show them any more than the grappling section of Jujutsu. So they concentrated on the art of ground fighting. Most people that do Brazilian are extremely competitive and aggressive in nature.\n\nTaekwondo: Korean. Percussion. Sport Art. This is a primarily kicking “style” and is considered one of the most famous “styles” in use. Another system that is sport / competition based they rely heavily on flexible and fast legs. Originally a derivative from a certain school of Karate which name eludes me at this moment.\n\nKrav Maga: Israeli. Um… Percussion? Military wannabe. I REALLY don’t suggest this system unless you’re looking for a Billy Blanks on steroids kinda feel. This system was built to teach the foot soldiers of Israel a quick, brutal and less than effective hand-to-hand fighting method in a matter of a week, so seriously, don’t bother.\n\nThose Russian arts: Mainly knife junkies who think they know what they’re doing. More flashy than anything else, don’t fall for the hype.\n\nPilipino: Mostly Stick and knife, and they are not for the faint of heart, although not much art to the system, it seems those whom you can find who actually know what they’re doing are pretty good with a knife and stick but that’s it.\n\nMMA: Mixed martial arts. Probably the worst thing that has ever happened to martial arts besides Krav maga. The concept of mixing martial arts is taking a system that is inferior and mixing it with another inferior system to hopefully make up for the gaps left by the other one. For example: Karate doesn’t have Immobilization, so lets throw in Aikido and Brazilian, and those don’t have projection so lets throw in Judo, and all of those don’t have armament so lets throw in Pilipino. \n\nTh
1059247
I've got 32 years experience in a southern Chinese style of kung fu - (a five family system of Tsoi-Li-Ho-Fut-Hung ga) and hold a Master's rank.  This is a fighting style, not show or artsy style of kung fu.\n\nAs you said, there are hundreds of Chinese styles and some are mere showiness, with little, if any, actual fighting prowess.  However, there are also many which are devastating fighting arts.  They are brutal, direct, and deadly.  It depends on the style as well as the teacher and the student.  The best fighting art in the world is useless if the teacher can't teach it or the student refuses to do what is necessary to make the art effective -  i.e, train, work correctly, and not namby-pamby about as if the name of the art itself was like some magical talisman which protects against all comers.\n\nI have seen some outstanding Northern Shaolin style fighters! and I do NOT use the term fighter loosely.  These people were world class fighters by anyone's definition, anywhere.  I've also seen some who were so caught up in useless idiocies that all an actual fighter could do was to laugh at their sheer lunacy.\n\nThe sad thing is that many schools, not only Chinese, but Japanese, Korean, Thai, etc., in the country have degenerated into sort of McDojo's - run to get as many people thru as quickly as possible with as little skill as could possibly be imparted.\n\nThere are also some absolutely top FIGHTING schools in almost all of the arts (I'm not one who believes all styles are equally worthwhile - some are simply for show or sport ) but I am one who firmly believes that if someone in a good fighting style doesn't train well, doesn't take it seriously, doesn't fight full out when it's necessary - then that someone will be creamed by someone who's trained in an inferior art, but who took it very seriously.\n\nSo to try to answer you question a bit more directly - I think kung fu (again remembering that we're talking about hundreds of styles when we use this term) can be one of the most effective fighting arts on the planet.  It can also be one of the biggest jokes, depending on which art and which student we're discussing.  \n\nIf you are looking at any particular art for yourself, the best thing to do is to visit the school  Don't make your decision based on one day.  Visit a few times.  See how the people interact with the instructor and with each other.  If they don't even seem like they like each other or are obnoxiously cocky - run, don't walk, to the exit.  Are you required to sign a contract or do they go month to month and want you there because you want to learn?  (Both have their advocates, I'm a definite no-contract kind of guy).  Do they charge you to test? Or is the testing part of what they do because they are supposed to help you learn?  All of these are things you should find out and evaluate for yourself.\n\nIf you want a fighting art for self defense, find out how much time is actually put into that.  How much into form work.  How much into weapons skill.  If you are looking for competition, then find a school which specializes in that - not necessarily stuff that's actually effective on the street - but stuff that wows the judge and the audience.  So, basically, find what you want and go with it.
1143183
I think that Tae Kwon Do is the perfect martial art for him. I have taken Tae Kwon Do for 10 years and so has my brother. It teaches self defense, self discipline, respect, etc. I think that if you go to a traditional Tae Kwon Do school that you will learn those things, but if you go to an olympic style you wont learn as much. I think that what you learn also depends on the Tae Kwon Do school that you go to.
479812
Hello.  I've trained and taught in Tai Chi Chuan since 1993. Tai Chi and yoga are two completely different things.  Because some people use and teach tai chi as a 'moving meditation' people think its the same as yoga.\n\nactually yoga is not a meditation per se.  yoga was used to keep the body stretngthened because of long periods of meditation. \nYou 'can' use meditation in movement but its very different than deeper meditation used in sitting.\nYoga is very good for opening the joints and stretching muscles and tendons and ligaments.\n\nTai Chi Chuan is actually a martial art.  if you find a good teacher you can gain a lot from tai chi.  though many teachers will give a very watered down version of what tai chi is.\nits a martial art. period.  but tai chi is often taught as a 'new age' exercise.  it would be like taking western boxing slowing it down and saying its good for you.\nsure it is but the benefits are not the same as boxing.\nso too real tai chi chuan and 'new age' tai chi are very different.\n i could go on and on but in short  it depends on what you want to achieve.    in closing i could tell you that you could do both tai chi and yoga. they are very good for different things. in both though you will learn balance and lower leg strength...and calming the mind.\nbut thats about it.
701274
find the best martial arts or king fu that best suits you. king fu is one of the most diverse martial arts ever, unlike karate, taekwondo, judo, or aikido... kungfu has so many styles, from barehand styles, to armed weapon kungfu, to slow movement kungfu like taichi.. and those into kickings like shaolin kungfu.. i think kungfu has so many styles that each clans of families have different specialties, so choose one that suits you..  i was fascinated with kungfu, its a good martial arts as modern martial arts came from it..
971451
Tai Chi is a martial art that is easy to learn the BASICS of. Mastery of it though is something else entirely. Many people don't realize this but Tai Chi is also, when you get more advanced, an effective tool for self defense. The movements are actually fightning movements, just performed somewhat slower.\n\nIt has been shown to be an extremely effective tool for preventing injury in older people. It provides a sense of balance and body awareness.\n\nBecoming an expert though is just as difficult as with any martial art.
500981
I take two styles Wing Chung Kune and the Chin Na grappling system. Wing Chung is great for fighing it is mean to maim or kill the attacker. Chin Na is not a martial art it is a system. Both Chin Na and Wing Chung Kune are taught at both the nothern and souther Shaolin temples. I also like the older styles such as from the Hung Gar family (Tiger Crain is an example). I agree with what you said about the circular motion in Kung Fu i belive that Karate is far to ridged and do not belive it would hold up well against an experience Kung Fu practioner.
855021
Tai chi , crane kung fu, aikido , very few styles demand a high amount of physical strength . Developing strength happens with practice . You don't need to be a huge body builder to deliver a powerful strike .
427281
Wow, you just opened a can of worms with that question. There's always a big debate about "which is the best style?" and "is there such a thing as a best style?"\n\nI am of the opinion that there is no best style, but some styles are better for certain goals than others. Tae Kwon Do is good for those who want to take up martial arts purely for sport and competition. But I wouldn't pick up TKD if self-defence is your main goal. \nAnd just a note, usually, how you get along with the instructor is much more important than the style. If you plan on taking up any martial art, see what you think of the instructor, and then move on to the following steps (choosing a style, etc.)\n\nEvery style has its benefits, so why not tell us what your goal is, and we could help you out.
253635
mostly its defecne because people claim it a weak martial art because we don't do a lot of ground work. Olympic Tae Kwon Do is leashed from the real stuff, if you want to look up why it's quite interesting, a lot about politics between North and South Korea. \n\nThe people I train with are not stupid enough to say it is the best ever, it's a matter of perspective, and since we share our training space with Thai Kickboxing and Ju Jitsu, we have learned a little diplomacy. Some reckon it is a good base, if you use TKD and then train in Judo or Ju Jitsu for ground work you will be a good "street fighter" but we're not all in it for that. We keep fit, have fun, and there is no feeling i know quite like entering a TKD tournament, when all the bickering is done about what's best and your opponent uses the same discipline as you, it's such an electric competition. \n\nAny TKD student with a good teacher will not slag off other martial arts, but we also do have a reason to be proud about what we do, because many of us work very hard at it.