Martial Arts

[CYF]

Anyone take martial arts? I took tae kwon do about ten years ago and got to a green belt. This time around, I'm looking for something that's geared more towards self defense than flashy tournament stuff, so that rules out TKD and karate. Not a big fan of boxing either.

Looking for something that's decently rounded out with upright fighting and ground sparring. Something that teaches discipline would be nice, and something that teaches simple weapons (escrima maybe?) would be cool.

Right now I'm leaning towards krav maga or shaolin kenpo. Both have free intro sessions that I'll be taking in the next month to check out.

-Shaolin kenpo is $65 a month for one class per week. It's kind of a mix of kung fu, karate, and jiu jitsu.
-Krav Maga is $45 a month for one class per week, or $70 a month for two classes per week, and I can mix-up classes, so if I take krav maga I could also take jiu jitsu or Wing Tzun.

Any experience with these, good or bad points? Any martial art I should look into besides these two?

[LiveDose]

I studied Judo and Kendo growing up. I would love to get back into it if time permits.

We are enrolling out 3 1/2 year old in Tae Kwon Do primer classes soon.

[Anthony]

Kung fu 99 out 100 waste of time. Krav Maga, same thing. it's just TKD blackbelts who got certified in a few weeks to teach Krav Maga.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Kung fu 99 out 100 waste of time. Krav Maga, same thing. it's just TKD blackbelts who got certified in a few weeks to teach Krav Maga.

I'm not looking at kung fu, I'm looking at kenpo.

The krav maga instructor I would be learning from was taught by Israelis where the art originated. The shaolin kenpo instructor was taught by Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro. These are serious schools, not some bullshit YMCA class taught by a fat ass with a 2 week certificate.

Any other gfy ninjas with opinions?

[gornyhuy]

There are bullshit schools and fantastic schools in any martial art you can name, so choosing your studio carefully and taking a bunch of trial classes is definitely important.

Having said that, i would give Hapkido a look if there are any decent schools near you. Maybe a brazilian jiu jitsu if you are looking for a ground and pound grappling angle, and I've had friends who swore by thai boxing especially for the use of shins and elbows.

Its really about your personality and the schools, and what you are looking to get out of it.

[eMonk]

my friend has been doing thai boxing for years! he's good at street fighting now.....

[pornpf69]

I would recommend that you go after KYOKUSHIN KARATE... that is one of the best things I ever did in my life... great for self defense...

[TheSenator]

uuugg...another thread for McDojos...

Please, review UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 when there were no weight limits and it was tournament style.


The guy who won the entire thing was crazy Ninja type.

[Realpeachez]

Light Heavyweight Champ of the world , is the LHC for a reason. Karate.
but in my opinion just go to a mma gym youll learn everything youll need to know

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

I'm not looking at kung fu, I'm looking at kenpo.

The krav maga instructor I would be learning from was taught by Israelis where the art originated. The shaolin kenpo instructor was taught by Great Grandmaster Ralph Castro. These are serious schools, not some bullshit YMCA class taught by a fat ass with a 2 week certificate.

Any other gfy ninjas with opinions?

Oh yah, sorry, Great grandmaster Ralph Castro, the Cuban Kung Fu Master. Give me a break.

Here's your standard "Kenpo Masters".


If your school doesn't train in 100 % non compliant sparring, you have zero idea if anything you learned works.

You want to learn how to fight? Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Forget what you posted.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Realpeachez

Light Heavyweight Champ of the world , is the LHC for a reason. Karate.
but in my opinion just go to a mma gym youll learn everything youll need to know

Karate is one of the styles, not only because of it. Georges St Pierre is the welterweight champ and is also a blackbelt in Karate.

[JD]

Originally Posted by TheSenator

uuugg...another thread for McDojos...

Please, review UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 when there were no weight limits and it was tournament style.


The guy who won the entire thing was crazy Ninja type.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_4

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

[pornpf69]

Originally Posted by TheSenator

uuugg...another thread for McDojos...

Please, review UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4 when there were no weight limits and it was tournament style.


The guy who won the entire thing was crazy Ninja type.

That was Royce Gracie... from the Gracie family brother of Rickson Gracie (who is a legend in Japan)... he is no ninja... he is a jiu-jistu fighter...

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by pornpf69

That was Royce Gracie... from the Gracie family brother of Rickson Gracie (who is a legend in Japan)... he is no ninja... he is a jiu-jistu fighter...

The Senator was being sarcastic. He's one of the few on GFY who train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The whole Gracie family are legends in Japan.

[Poindexterity]

both the forms you mentioned are effective, but don't rule out boxing on the side. fist to head is more often than not how the fight will go.

[pornpf69]

Originally Posted by Anthony

The Senator was being sarcastic. He's one of the few on GFY who train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The whole Gracie family are legends in Japan.

sorry I didn't knew about his martial arts background... I have trained jiu-jitsu for a short while... and I noticed that it was not for me... also tried Judo and Muay Thai... and finally learned that the martial art the works better for me is Kyokushin Karate (which I have been practicing for over 10 years)

[DutchMOFO]

MMA here

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by pornpf69

sorry I didn't knew about his martial arts background... I have trained jiu-jitsu for a short while... and I noticed that it was not for me... also tried Judo and Muay Thai... and finally learned that the martial art the works better for me is Kyokushin Karate (which I have been practicing for over 10 years)

Kyokushin is no joke, and they DO train at 100% resistance on a non compliant opponent. Or for the layman, spar really fucking hard. 10 years, I'm sure you've done a few kumites, what's the most opponents at one time for you?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by DutchMOFO

MMA here

Where do you train?

[TheSenator]

Originally Posted by pornpf69

sorry I didn't knew about his martial arts background... I have trained jiu-jitsu for a short while... and I noticed that it was not for me... also tried Judo and Muay Thai... and finally learned that the martial art the works better for me is Kyokushin Karate (which I have been practicing for over 10 years)

Kyokushin is no joke.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Oh yah, sorry, Great grandmaster Ralph Castro, the Cuban Kung Fu Master. Give me a break.

Here's your standard "Kenpo Masters".


If your school doesn't train in 100 % non compliant sparring, you have zero idea if anything you learned works.

You want to learn how to fight? Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Forget what you posted.

Neither of the kenpo instructors are fat. The grandmaster is not cuban, google him. Do you have any valid arguments against kenpo or are you just going to keep posting ignorant bullshit?

If I take krav maga I will also take jiu jitsu at the same place. I'm leaning towards the krav maga and jiu jitsu right now, and taking kenpo after that.

[sinclair]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0870114360

Read. Learn. Decide

Sinclair

[TopBucksPaul]

If you can find it, I say check out Kajukenbo. I have been active in it since 1995 and it sounds like what you might be looking for.

The main problem you will find is every Kajukenbo guy teaches differently, so talk to the instructor and watch a few classes first to see what their focus is on. Just like all martial arts, everyone focuses on different things. Some are legit in self defense, and some are B.S.

It was featured on fightquest if you want to see a good example of what Kaj is about.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JvIO-sQMH04

[marketsmart]

Originally Posted by CYF

Neither of the kenpo instructors are fat. The grandmaster is not cuban, google him. Do you have any valid arguments against kenpo or are you just going to keep posting ignorant bullshit?

If I take krav maga I will also take jiu jitsu at the same place. I'm leaning towards the krav maga and jiu jitsu right now, and taking kenpo after that.

if you want to dress up in an outfit and dance around play fighting then go with krav and kenpo..

if you want to be able to fight in a few months, go bjj and muay thai...

[CYF]

Originally Posted by marketsmart

if you want to dress up in an outfit and dance around play fighting then go with krav and kenpo..

if you want to be able to fight in a few months, go bjj and muay thai...

Krav maga doesn't use a uniform, there are no belts, it's straight up self defense that you obviously know nothing about but thanks for your opinion.

[marketsmart]

Originally Posted by CYF

Krav maga doesn't use a uniform, there are no belts, it's straight up self defense that you obviously know nothing about but thanks for your opinion.

i was referring to kenpo... and yes i know exactly what krav is and i saw one of their schools in la..

you go train krav for a year or two and then walk into any serious mma facility and fight someone with the same amount of bjj and muay thai traning and you will lose..

[O MARINA]

Originally Posted by CYF

Krav maga doesn't use a uniform, there are no belts, it's straight up self defense that you obviously know nothing about but thanks for your opinion.

you are wrong-- he does know much about it... ;)
He has taught me Krav maga & a self defense course on how to kick webmasters faces. Great Success.

[WarChild]

lol @ Krav Maga. No, seriously.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by TopBucksPaul

If you can find it, I say check out Kajukenbo. I have been active in it since 1995 and it sounds like what you might be looking for.

The main problem you will find is every Kajukenbo guy teaches differently, so talk to the instructor and watch a few classes first to see what their focus is on. Just like all martial arts, everyone focuses on different things. Some are legit in self defense, and some are B.S.

It was featured on fightquest if you want to see a good example of what Kaj is about.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=JvIO-sQMH04

Thanks for the informative response. Kajukenbo sounds like something I would like. Unfortunately yhere aren't any places near me that teach it.

[LeRoy]

Ive trained in Kenpo but after Ed Parker died in his 50's. I looked to arts with more depth.

Anyway

I also trained under a true Moo Do grandmaster. A lot of internal , mental training. Herbs, breathing techniques, meditations , self defense. Bagwa forms such as Ocean form that goes 4 hours from start to finish. Mountain form , desert form. All of them had different benefits for the environment. and Bagwa walking was something that I really liked a lot . When I trained for hours and hours something felt really good and I felt really aware and calm. Bagwa was very interesting and had quite a bit of depth, more than I'll ever need thats for sure. I can get into it but it would take some time , so this is pretty brief. Bagwa was around the time of Han Dynasty. So its pretty ancient.

It was actually an amazing time for me. If you can find one that will take you in. Do it no matter what the cost. I paid 200 per month BTW.

I learned quite a bit about several arts and weapons. At first the weapons werent my style but after learning the benefits that came with it. I loved them all.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by WarChild

lol @ Krav Maga. No, seriously.

What do you take? And what's wrong with krav maga?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

Neither of the kenpo instructors are fat. The grandmaster is not cuban, google him. Do you have any valid arguments against kenpo or are you just going to keep posting ignorant bullshit?

If I take krav maga I will also take jiu jitsu at the same place. I'm leaning towards the krav maga and jiu jitsu right now, and taking kenpo after that.

Not fat? You must need glasses. Ignorant bullshit? http://bullshido.net I'm an admin there, go ask about Kenpo and Krav Maga there. Bullshido's former name was mcdojo.com

The picture of your Cuban Kenpo master isnt any better, he's a fat old man teaching bullshit that won't work in the real world. Kenpo sparring looks like shitty point karate tournaments.

Jeff Speakman came out with Kenpo 3.0 or some bullshit, that integrates Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, shitty BJJ if I might add.

I really dont' care where you train, you'd just be another 1 year kenpo blackbelt who'd think you can fight and get owned by a junior high school wrestler.

[LeRoy]

I really dont' care where you train, you'd just be another 1 year kenpo blackbelt who'd think you can fight and get owned by a junior high school wrestler.

The truth right there.

Same goes for TKD looks pretty but usesless in a fight. My grandmasters English wasnt too good but he'd always say "Man with flower fist have bouquet leg"

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Not fat? You must need glasses. Ignorant bullshit? http://bullshido.net I'm an admin there, go ask about Kenpo and Krav Maga there. Bullshido's former name was mcdojo.com

The picture of your Cuban Kenpo master isnt any better, he's a fat old man teaching bullshit that won't work in the real world. Kenpo sparring looks like shitty point karate tournaments.

Jeff Speakman came out with Kenpo 3.0 or some bullshit, that integrates Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, shitty BJJ if I might add.

I really dont' care where you train, you'd just be another 1 year kenpo blackbelt who'd think you can fight and get owned by a junior high school wrestler.

I won't be learning from the "cuban kenpo master", I would be learning from two of his 5th degree blackbelt students. Neither of them are fat, which is what I meant when I said that.

Do you have anything constructive to add to this, or are you just going to troll about fat kenpo masters? Maybe you need some reading comprehension, I did not state that I wanted to take kung fu, yet you spouted that it was worthless. If you're such an internet forum expert, then please, throw something constructive into the ring here.

Is krav maga and BJJ a good combo, or are you going to rag on how fat some of their people are too?

If I'm looking for martial arts with a focus on simple effective moves that would deal with real life situations, what would you recommend? I'm looking for something rounded out that also includes some ground grappling.

[Anthony]

These are my instructors, former with American Top Team and soon to be current with Alberto and Romulo.

Pay attention, these are real MMA fighters, who use what they teach.








These are your Kenpo Gods







and Ralph Castro



Gracies In Action: Gracie/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Kenpo Karate



Enough said.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

I won't be learning from the "cuban kenpo master", I would be learning from two of his 5th degree blackbelt students. Neither of them are fat, which is what I meant when I said that.

Do you have anything constructive to add to this, or are you just going to troll about fat kenpo masters? Maybe you need some reading comprehension, I did not state that I wanted to take kung fu, yet you spouted that it was worthless. If you're such an internet forum expert, then please, throw something constructive into the ring here.

Is krav maga and BJJ a good combo, or are you going to rag on how fat some of their people are too?

If I'm looking for martial arts with a focus on simple effective moves that would deal with real life situations, what would you recommend? I'm looking for something rounded out that also includes some ground grappling.

I gave you my suggestions some posts up, you want to learn how to fight? Muay Thai for standup striking, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the ground.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

These are my instructors, former with American Top Team and soon to be current with Alberto and Romulo.

Pay attention, these are real MMA fighters, who use what they teach.

These are your Kenpo Gods

and Ralph Castro

Enough said.

Thank you for the beauty contest, that was quite informative.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

Thank you for the beauty contest, that was quite informative.

You are a lost cause, go train Shaolin Kenpo, you'd probably drop out after a week of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because it's too rough for you. Punching and kicking in the air, yelling really loud, and growing a mullet will make you fucking invincible in Kenpo. Go for it.

[marketsmart]

Originally Posted by CYF

Thank you for the beauty contest, that was quite informative.

look buddy, you cam here looking for advice then started spouting off when people gave you their advice..

quite a few people here train mma and bjj and they didnt just choose muay thai or bjj out of thin air..

its proven and successful and you can actually learn a good base in a short amount of time..

[Profits of Doom]

Originally Posted by CYF

Thank you for the beauty contest, that was quite informative.

Seriously man, you will be wasting your time with Kenpo. As a kid I took Kenpo and Shotokan in Coral Springs, Fl., and the guy that taught the Shotokan class was an ex Japanese Olympic instructor. I still rose through the belt levels quickly without really learning anything except point fighting, which is completely useless in the real world.

Muay Thai and BJJ are the foundation that every MMA fighter starts with, and there is nothing any other martial arts is going to teach you that is so devastating that it can't be used in MMA. In fact I would argue that the headbutt is the one thing that can't be used in MMA that is any kind of an equalizer, but that is a whole other subject.

If you don't go with Muay Thai or BJJ then the only other decent option is Judo, which will teach you some ground fighting as well as how to drop someone on their head, but it's still not going to match what you could learn by combining Muay Thai and BJJ...

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

You are a lost cause, go train Shaolin Kenpo, you'd probably drop out after a week of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because it's too rough for you. Punching and kicking in the air, yelling really loud, and growing a mullet will make you fucking invincible in Kenpo. Go for it.

And a couple overweight guys in kenpo automatically makes it worthless, right? Why don't you try debating the merits of the art, and not a fucking beauty contest? Why don't you try reading what I have written? When did I say I was looking at kung fu and why did you feel the need to talk shit about it?

I've already stated that I was looking into BJJ and krav maga to round each other out. I'm sure I would only last a week tho, right?

What exactly is so bad about kenpo? I've read about it on bullshido and people there even say it depends on the school and the teacher. Are the techniques ineffective? Are they too flashy and worthless instead of simple and to the point effective?

I am looking for constructive thoughts on martial arts styles, not a fucking beauty contest, but that's all you've given me. "BJJ and Muy thai" just like every wanna be MMA fighter spouts. I want to know WHY. Convince me. A beauty contest isn't gonna do it, pal.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Profits of Doom

Seriously man, you will be wasting your time with Kenpo. As a kid I took Kenpo and Shotokan in Coral Springs, Fl., and the guy that taught the Shotokan class was an ex Japanese Olympic instructor. I still rose through the belt levels quickly without really learning anything except point fighting, which is completely useless in the real world.

Muay Thai and BJJ are the foundation that every MMA fighter starts with, and there is nothing any other martial arts is going to teach you that is so devastating that it can't be used in MMA. In fact I would argue that the headbutt is the one thing that can't be used in MMA that is any kind of an equalizer, but that is a whole other subject.

If you don't go with Muay Thai or BJJ then the only other decent option is Judo, which will teach you some ground fighting as well as how to drop someone on their head, but it's still not going to match what you could learn by combining Muay Thai and BJJ...

Thanks for the informative post, THAT is what I'm looking for, not a fucking beauty contest. As a kid I took TKD and it was all about point sparring, tournaments and flashy ineffective roundhouse kicks. Shit that will get your ass kicked if you try it on the streets.

I'm looking for something without all the flashy moves, I want something geared towards effective simple moves. So far I've been reading up on different styles and I will be visiting 3 schools next week. Right now I'm leaning towards the krav maga and BJJ combo, but I'm going to have to look into muay thai now. There is a school near me that teaches muay thai but it looks like a commercial MMA place that does kenpo and BJJ as well and has a big kids program.

[Profits of Doom]

Originally Posted by CYF

Thanks for the informative post, THAT is what I'm looking for, not a fucking beauty contest. As a kid I took TKD and it was all about point sparring, tournaments and flashy ineffective roundhouse kicks. Shit that will get your ass kicked if you try it on the streets.

I'm looking for something without all the flashy moves, I want something geared towards effective simple moves. So far I've been reading up on different styles and I will be visiting 3 schools next week. Right now I'm leaning towards the krav maga and BJJ combo, but I'm going to have to look into muay thai now. There is a school near me that teaches muay thai but it looks like a commercial MMA place that does kenpo and BJJ as well and has a big kids program.

What Anthony is trying to tell you is you won't, for the most part, see any BJJ black belts that look like your typical overweight McDojo black belt because BJJ sparring is done at full speed against another opponent that is also trying to submit you, and it is not teaching BS techniques against an opponent that is not fighting back.

The first time I ever took a BJJ class I don't know how I didn't puke. It is tough, intensive, and it will whip your ass into shape in no time. You also train full speed, and you condition your body to withstand pain, as well as how to still keep fighting when you are fucking exhausted. You will never learn that in Kenpo and Shotokan.

As for Krav Maga, it's really no different than the self defense system they teach you in the US Armed services. Teaching someone to disarm an attacker that has a gun pointed at you is not an effective martial art...

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

And a couple overweight guys in kenpo automatically makes it worthless, right? Why don't you try debating the merits of the art, and not a fucking beauty contest? Why don't you try reading what I have written? When did I say I was looking at kung fu and why did you feel the need to talk shit about it?

I've already stated that I was looking into BJJ and krav maga to round each other out. I'm sure I would only last a week tho, right?

What exactly is so bad about kenpo? I've read about it on bullshido and people there even say it depends on the school and the teacher. Are the techniques ineffective? Are they too flashy and worthless instead of simple and to the point effective?

I am looking for constructive thoughts on martial arts styles, not a fucking beauty contest, but that's all you've given me. "BJJ and Muy thai" just like every wanna be MMA fighter spouts. I want to know WHY. Convince me. A beauty contest isn't gonna do it, pal.

Kung Fu Masters who are out of shape, and can't even tie their belt around their expansive waists are NOT people you want to you how to fight. What's so hard to understand about that? Yah I wanna learn how to punch and kick the air from a guy who gets winded and starts sweating bowing to me.

UFC 1 - 4 posted by The Senator should be more than enough to convince anyone what they need to and NOT train in. It's your money, and more important, your life that is in question, and if you don't do your own due diligence, that's your own fault. Why isn't Kenpo Karate, Shaoliin Boxing, Krav Maga, etc used in MMA? Oh because it has rules, right?

This video is a 25+ years Kung Fu Shaolin Kenpo Master, in excellent shape and over 220lbs getting into a street fight with one of my friends, and fellow Bullshido Admin. Notice how he tries to eye gouge, and then gives up as he's getting his face caved in. By a 150lbs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt (Thatls one after white belt). Even with no rules, and HUGE SIZE disparity, the Martial Art that trains alive, and spars at 100% every single class will 9 out of 10 come out winning. Waste your time kicking and punching the air, or learn how to fight. No pre determined moves, "If someone chokes me, I'll do this" bullshit, that shit will get you killed.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by marketsmart

look buddy, you cam here looking for advice then started spouting off when people gave you their advice..

quite a few people here train mma and bjj and they didnt just choose muay thai or bjj out of thin air..

its proven and successful and you can actually learn a good base in a short amount of time..

I don't know Anthony from a hole in the wall, I don't know if he takes martial arts. All he's posted is a dis on kung fu when I'm not considering it, and a beauty contest of martial arts people and I don't need that bullshit.

Krav maga seems effective and you can learn a base in a short amount of time as well. And I've already stated that I'm considering BJJ as a compliment to another art.

I'm looking for debate, a WHY some art would be better than what I'm looking at. I've gotten a few good responses and I've responded nicely to those. Anthony's beauty contest isn't a valid reason to dismiss kenpo and I told him it was bullshit, how am I spouting off on advice when that's not a valid argument?

I'm not currently taking martial arts, I'm not here to defend one art over the other. I'm just looking for something that's effective without all the flashy point sparring bullshit.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

I don't know Anthony from a hole in the wall, I don't know if he takes martial arts. All he's posted is a dis on kung fu when I'm not considering it, and a beauty contest of martial arts people and I don't need that bullshit.

Krav maga seems effective and you can learn a base in a short amount of time as well. And I've already stated that I'm considering BJJ as a compliment to another art.

I'm looking for debate, a WHY some art would be better than what I'm looking at. I've gotten a few good responses and I've responded nicely to those. Anthony's beauty contest isn't a valid reason to dismiss kenpo and I told him it was bullshit, how am I spouting off on advice when that's not a valid argument?

I'm not currently taking martial arts, I'm not here to defend one art over the other. I'm just looking for something that's effective without all the flashy point sparring bullshit.

Here you go:
Muay Thai - Training off and on since the early 90's
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Blue Belt training since 2003, with a few years out due to lower back injury
Judo - purple
MMA - 2 years 1-1-0 record both smokers.
Aikido - 2nd Kyu 2 years of training
Goju Ryu Karate - Shodan 4 years

Out of all that, Muay Thai, BJJ, and Judo are the ones I DIDN'T waste my time in.

[CYF]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Here you go:
Muay Thai - Training off and on since the early 90's
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Blue Belt training since 2003, with a few years out due to lower back injury
Judo - purple
MMA - 2 years 1-1-0 record both smokers.
Aikido - 2nd Kyu 2 years of training
Goju Ryu Karate - Shodan 4 years

Out of all that, Muay Thai, BJJ, and Judo are the ones I DIDN'T waste my time in.

Is there a difference between American Jiu Jitsu and BJJ? I have both options near me. Google doesn't bring up much about the American version.

Is krav maga an effective self defense art? Would krav maga and BJJ be an effective combination?

I'm not looking to do MMA competitions, I just want to get into better shape and learn effective self defense. I've never looking into muay thai, I'm going to have to research it and see what options I have near me.

Even the guys in here that took kenpo seem to classify it as an ineffective TKD type art, I'm going to rule that one out at this point.

[Fob]

Go judo. One throw on the concrete and the guy will have a broken shoulder or cracked skull. There's no time to arm-lock or choke an opponent when his buddies are charging at you.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by CYF

Is there a difference between American Jiu Jitsu and BJJ? I have both options near me. Google doesn't bring up much about the American version.

Depends on the instructor, some AJJ schools are BJJ with western wrestling heavy in the curriculum. Some AJJ schools are just Japanese Jiu Jitsu and renamed.

Is krav maga an effective self defense art? Would krav maga and BJJ be an effective combination?

Take this from me, after 2 years of Aikido, any martial art that instructs you to do this if someone does that, is in itself, a joke. In the real world, no one is going to give you time to think, he's grabbing my collar, should I do Kote Gaeshi, or just punch him in the face or knee him in the balls, etc. For anything to become muscle memory, it has to be practiced if I remember right, over 5000 hours. Or you can do it quicker, by actually sparring with a fully resisting opponent.

I've had training partners who quit TKD, Hapkido, KravMaga, etc and just focus on BJJ. A striker who doesn't know how to fight on the ground is going to lose 99% of the time.

I'm not looking to do MMA competitions, I just want to get into better shape and learn effective self defense. I've never looking into muay thai, I'm going to have to research it and see what options I have near me.

You will love Muay Thai. You dont' spar as often as BJJ, but man, it's just a beautiful art that is so fucking destructive. You'll do things with your shin that you thought only a baseball bat to someone's leg could do. MMA isn't for everyone, but Muay Thai, can be practiced by everyone. I have shitty flexablity, half the time I can't kick higher than liver/rib cage, that doesn't stop me from enjoying and training in Muay Thai.

Even the guys in here that took kenpo seem to classify it as an ineffective TKD type art, I'm going to rule that one out at this point.

Rule out any martial art that does not allow you to spar at 100% resistance. Do not believe the bullshit that our martial art is too deadly for the ring or sparring. Pure Bullshido. If you have never used it in a "Rules" setting, how do you know it will work in a "No Rules" street fight.

Out of the two, BJJ is the best for an older guy. My first fight was at 37, last at 38. BJJ was always the easiest for me to train for in MMA. Just some food for thought. Good luck.

[OY]

I would say a combination between traditional Jiu Jitsu and Aikido would be very good for that purpose.

How old and fit are you? I always think this should count in when you choose.