Which martial arts style to take up for physical fitness?

[cantdrv55]

Used to do Tang Soo Do years ago but got bored with it. Took up Bok Fu in my teens and enjoyed it. Gave it up when parents said they weren't going to pay for the lessons anymore. The choice was to use my allowance for lessons or use it to get chicks. I enjoyed girls more.

Anyway, 45 y/o now and sporting a spare tire. I am easily bored so I don't think I'll be doing Tang Soo Do again. I did sweat a lot doing those katas though so I know it's great for physical fitness. No interest in getting punched anymore, I just want to get rid of the gut and get toned. I am within 20 miles of a Krav Maga, Kenpo, Aikido, Kung Fu, Tae Kwan Do, BJJ, Shotokan and Kung Jung Mu Sul schools. Which style is best for a forty-something business traveler with 1 or 2 nights a week to spare and who doesn't care about belt testing?

[mudman]

TKD

easy to fit into any class with varying skills, as long as classes are small

great as lower impact big range of movement exercise

[911Rob]

Bjj

[HardDrive]

Pun Tang Fark.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Tae Kwon Do is pretty good, but you'd be shocked at the amount of difference in interpretation of the style between one instructor/school and the next. There's a shocking amount of inconsistency. I studied for 5+ years back in high school (won a bunch of tournaments and stuff, competed a lot, etc.) and when I went off to college and signed up with a local school, the style was COMPLETELY different - much harder on the joints/knees, different names for everything, different emphasis in the training, etc. I tried two others - same experience (and they were quite different from one another too, despite the fact they all had "TKD" instructors). Just something to consider.

Shotokan is an outstanding style too - VERY physical and demanding. If I ever get the free time one of these days, I'd love to pursue a BB in it... If only. But it's a kick-ass (literally) style. Those guys were always among the toughest to spar against and compete against. I only had the briefest of introductions to it, but it left me amazed and feeling quite burnt after one of their sessions. Again, YMMV. Just my own personal experiences with it.

The single-most "bad-ass" guy I ever trained with was heavily into Thai kickboxing too (the full-contact variety). Those dudes are not to be messed with either. Very "street" style - practical and real-world, with far less emphasis on the showy/disciplined/pretty stuff that a lot of other styles push. Krav Maga is good for this too, if you're looking for a practical, gritty, but "street-applicable" sort of training that can really protect you. Heck, any style probably can to a point, but Krav Maga in particular is very "real world" and focuses explicitly on practical self-defense situations. But any art will help prepare you mentally and physically for a confrontation if you should ever find yourself in one.

[RWebb]

No Can Do is the ultimate style.


But for physical fitness (depending on what exactly that means) you might want to look at Chen Tai Chi.

[nostatic]

What style of kung fu, and who is the instructor? The reality is that the instructor makes all the difference. Lots of total BS people out there (a lot of the "mixed martial arts" guys are just thugs who don't know any real style).

I studied Li style of kung fu for about 3 years until my motorcycle accident (and 20 or so years before that, San Soo and Xing Yi). Following that I was unable to really do the class as I couldn't handle jumping and general lower body abuse involved with a kinetic style. I switched to tai chi (Yang) and am very pleased. BUT, I have an amazing instructor who is the real deal. I work up a sweat depending on what we're doing - you don't have to do overtly aerobic stuff to get a work out. Depends on if you're *really* doing the particular style.

I like aikido a lot as well, but your body style needs to work with it. In general I don't like any of the karate/tae know do/tang so do styles as they tend to be very linear and external. I much prefer Chinese internal styles like tai chi, zing yi, and bagua. But there are a ton of variations on the theme when you get into the kung fu world...

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by mudman

TKD

easy to fit into any class with varying skills, as long as classes are small

great as lower impact big range of movement exercise

My joints disagree with you.

[cantdrv55]

What about WingChun?

http://www.iaw-us.com/updates.htm

[masraum]

I would second Tai Chi or Aikido. They are more graceful, less linear and "hard". I think you'd get more of an overall workout including all over conditioning including flexibility.

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

My joints disagree with you.

I'm amazed you didn't suggest Sno Wti Res

[svandamme]

the best for fysical fitness, hands down is bi ker club fook yu...

it's where you go to the local Hells Angels Chapter, and kick ther bikes... then you run, fast

[cantdrv55]

lol

[RoninLB]

"No interest in getting punched anymore, I just want to get rid of the gut and get toned."


at 45 years old the best bang for your work would be learning how to swim laps, 30 min sets, 3 days a week. You can be 90 and learn that.

Most martial arts schools are set up for tourist civilians. The best city schools are usually composed of people who work out a least 20 hours/week. Before your allowed to partake in class they make sure you know what your made of by sitting through a few classes. Attain a green belt there and you would qualify to be a bouncer in the toughest gin mills in town. Don't ask how I know.

only my prejudicial opinion

[livi]

I have never tried any of those 'weird-letter-combination' arts. I trained good old boxing for years though. You can skip the ring fighting if you want, the training is superb for overall fitness.

[serge944]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

Bjj

Agreed. Or Sambo, but it's less common in the states.

It's probably one of the most effective martial arts too...

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I'm curious about this too. What would be good for building up endurance? I have plenty of flexibility, but my balance needs a bit of work.

[adrian jaye]

yup second that.

Am a type1 Diabetic and also have a Heart Murmer. Adn a dogy lower back !
So I do it to keep fit.

NOT ALL TKD is the same, had several joka's come from other clubs and they dont have the same skills as some of our guys

ME I'm just white belt.

LOTs of running involved. IF the club you join does not do a proper 30 min run (to warm up) your wasting your time.

Main things (as for selfdefence) is

1> Observation, if you are aware of situations you can avoid them
2> Avoidance, TKD is a last restort, avoid confrontation
3> Runaway
4> If backed into a corner then fight. (also try not to as you end up with a GBH charge)

but as for fitness great

Originally Posted by mudman

TKD

easy to fit into any class with varying skills, as long as classes are small

great as lower impact big range of movement exercise

[adrian jaye]

Like any sport or martial arts,
there is a right and wrong way.
If you dont warm up/warm down or train badly or Taught badly, then you can have problems.

my instructor has been doing it for nearly 30 years, black belt (cant remember which Dan) competed at international level too, he's never had a problem.

NOT all TKD is the same

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

My joints disagree with you.

[Jim Richards]

Fine. I'm a black belt (only 1st degree), and the years I spent doing this haven't been easy on my joints. How is one to know going in that they are taught badly? Maybe the instructor will tell you. As to training, warm-up exercises preceded every class session.

IMO, Todd is one of the few posters giving the original poster the proper advise to the entire question asked.