Martial Arts Workout

I’m looking to take up the martial arts but I’m not sure which I would like best.

Also, if anyone knows of an online directory of martial arts schools where I can find what is close to me, it would be helpful to post the web address.

Thanks.

Here’s an answer I gave someone who asked about taking a martial art. Hope this helps!

Here’s what I would do:

1. Get a sheet of paper and write down exactly what kinds of benefits you wish to obtain from studying karate/martial arts. It’s a good idea to know exactly what you want to achieve.

2. Go to www.smartpages.com and look up MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTION in you city and state. It will tell you what martial arts are taught in your area and where the schools are located.

3. Once you know what martial arts are offered in your area look up their definitions on the net. Note the similarities and differences between each. A good place to do that is www.wikipedia.com.

4. Visit the schools in your area. Ask for a free class. Make sure you find a Master Instructor who is overseen by a larger governing body.For example: Many Tae Kwon Do schools belong to the World Tae Kwon Do Federation. Verify your instructor’s credentials.

Some Martial Arts:

Tae Kwon Do and Karate will provide you with a great cardiovascular workout. They will also tone you. For the best results go to class around 4-5 days per week and at least 20-30 minutes a day at home to practice your moves.
Koei Kan and Isshin Ryu are two good styles of karate. You can also look up Kenpo.

Krav Maga, an Israeli style of self defense, is a superb physical workout. Around 4-5 days of Krav with transform your body. I’ve watched it happen. Fair warning! The workouts are intense! Take a look at Jennifer Lopez in the movie Enough. She’s doing Karv Maga.

im not looking for ways to hold on in a mma match or how i did it in 2 easy move type books but looking for something to do more with the story or inspiration a student or sensei type like book. Nothing commercial.. hard to explain. If you know what i mean you’ll get back to this with more then black belt magazine.. lol

Some I have enjoyed:
Biography/Entertaining reading

Allen Wheeler- In his own words: Biography of Master Allen Wheeler, founder of the OKU, Isshin-Ryu master, and complete gentlemen.

Dan Jones – Karate the Isshin-Ryu Way: Biography, with many anctidotes and also some of his experiences as a cop in Chicago and also as a police training officer.

Gichin Funikoshi – Karate-Do my Way of Life: Founder of shotokan karate

Strategy

Miyamoto Musashi- The book of 5 rings

Sun Tzu – The art of war

One I recently read, not really a Martial Arts book per say, but has a lot of stuff any martial artist who trains for self defense or that teaches womens self defense will find interesting

Gavin De Becker – The gift of fear

Hope these help.

I m of 20 year
After having martial arts like Kyokushin Karate(for 2.5 hr) i feel tired ,muscles starches at joints usually for the 15 hours.I usually increase my sleep form 7hr to 12hr.I usually feel depressed and upset due to fatigue and take the aggressive behavior.My face also becomes week
Please guide me about it with healthy tips?

Ofcourse its normal to be fatigued after long periods of exercise especially if ur a beginner. If u are a beginner ur body just needs time get used to prolonged exercise. MAs utilizes most of the muscles in ur body. U should think about how u can improve ur diet. U should also consult ur dr to make sure its not from an underlying condition. Good luck

I’m going to a martial arts club this week (It’s definitly not a mcdojo!) so I would like to get into the habit of stretching again! I know the stretches I need to do but I’m not sure when to do them. When I wake up in the morning I normally I’m very ‘tight’ and can’t stretch very far so what kind of warm ups can I do to get warmed up for stretching and what time of day should I do them?

Thanks for your help!

Just get Blood flowing to all of your muscles. Jogging in place is a simple warm up. next. when you first begin to stretch. only stretch as far as you normally would (don’t push yourself at all). after u have stretch easily for about 20 min. then, you can stretch further, but gradually. If you build up, you will get a lot more out of your stretch. hope I could help.

I’ve been taking martial arts for years- namely Kyokushin and am a very fit woman. When I was sparring full contact against another male who was smaller than me and also a little bit less experienced, I still was taken down very easily. When I tried kicking him or punching him , it had little effect.
That got me thinking how is it any useful if a woman can’t even fight off a smaller male?

Annie, you are forgetting one important thing here. You are sparring with guys that know the same things you are trained in. In the street that is unlikely to happen.

One big problem with Women in general concerning self-defense is simply this…….

No matter what you are trained in, or how good you are at it, You must be willing to do whatever you must to survive.

I cant’ tell you how many women in my self-defense classes would say that they could not bite someones nose off, bite off someones lip, put out someones eye, …etc.

If taught exactly what is needed to defend yourself and you are hesitant to do it then the training is worthless to you should you ever have to use it.

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