I'm going to learn Karate :)

Don't laugh. lol

Seriously, I really want to learn a martial art. I'm not a violent person, but I want to be able to defend myself to a certain degree, and I'm also very interesting in learning to discipline myself and keep myself in shape. I don't seem to be very good at doing it of my own volition, so I'm hoping that learning Karate will help.

I've done some online research and spoken to a friend of mine (who is a something-or-other-belt at Karate and Jujitsu) and he says it's a great idea...

I'm going to phone up the nearest school and find out what's involved...

Wish me luck. :P

Anybody got any advice or anything? I'm 20, a bit out of shape, have never learnt any fighting style before, and have a problem with discipline... Am I doomed from the start?

definitely the way to go man, it can get pretty intense when you're close to your black belt, most people I know quit at this time. But if you stick with it, its very rewarding. If you actually want to learn how to defend yourself and fight, make sure you go to a real martial arts school, not something that uses the martial arts name to disguise classes for people to just work out. Two different things. Good luck though :thumbsup:

Personally, I suggest reading up on the philosophy of martial arts first...Learning Why before How will be very beneficial to your development. I'm sure you are familiar with the concepts of Mind Body connections...well these practices will reintroduce you to some very interesting states of being. :)

Read on different schools and practices, and trust your inner feelings on which would seem to suit you best.

Good luck and welcome to the ever so enlightening path. :jointsmile:

good for you! hi-ya!
my advice: wear an eyepatch. as established in the ninja vs. pirate thread, a swashbucklin, karate-choppin pirate ninja hybrid, a.k.a. ninjirate, rules.

If that's what you want to do, then go for it.

I learned kickboxing last year and it was a damn blast. Not only did I lose weight and get in shape, I know the basics on kickboxing, which is a full striking sport. I learned how to give someone a nice concussion, and also learned how to completly blind someone with watery eyes with a hard blow to the nose. Resulting in blinding them, breaking their nose, and swelling both eyes.

I learned to use the palm on your hands to to hit someone, not a fist. A fist you risk breaking knuckles and fingers, but with the palm, not only do you not risk breaking anything (on you) but the pressure of pounds per. square inch is greatly increased, which means using your palms is much more punishing than a fist alone.

But yeah, just have fun with it.

Personally I would just marry a Vulcan with a killer grip...

Know what martial art is for you, do you want to do MMA striking or ground work?

Karate is mostly striking 70% fist 30% kicks while Tae Kw an Do is the opposite....Judo aikido ect are ground arts and throwing.

I like to strike so I practice karate....commit and do it 3-4 times a week with a quality school.....I prefer traditional arts.

There are a few different types of karate shotokan being the most popular and also what I practice.

Also fist strikes have more PSI as the only contact is 2 knuckles....palm strikes are good for hard targets where you may break a knuckle.

A proper fist solves most of this.

:jointsmile:Karate- not for self defense.

I took World Oyama Karate for almost 4 years and poured my heart and soul into it. The last tourney I fought I beat 4 guys, two who were black belt TKD, two were higher ranking shotokan guys.

And then I started training at a reality based martial arts school and the first day sparring got rocked because I hadn't been used to taking a punch to the face or going the ground.

Karate is not going to do you much good. True it's better than having nothing at all but not by much- and my style was considered one of the "hard" styles that stressed hard physical contact. Almost every karate school you will find does not teach face contact, weapons or ground work.

If you care about your money and trully about your self defense, forgo the karate.

I have been training in martial arts since I was 17, I'm 23 now and still train several times a week so I figured I would toss my two cents in.

And I grapple blazed often (that's another interesting thing; the amount of people who do train grappling blazed, including many top athletes).

man go for it ,you will never regret it staying fit by learnin a fightin style is great ,your body will love it.

Thanks for the advice and kind words! :)

To be honest I'm not very fit at the moment. I'm not a fatty, but I'm not toned, and I smoke and occasionally drink.. my body has seen better days. My main reason for wanting to take up a martial art is to get in shape, and self defence comes in at a pretty close second.

Speaking from experience, which martial art or sport would help me achieve a good level of fitness and also teach me enough self defence to be able to stick up for myself in most situations?

Also, what experiences - positive and negative - could you share with me to help me better find my path? :P

One more question... Is there like a minimum level of fitness you need to have before starting something like this? Are there any prerequisites to starting a martial art? Thanks in advance, you cool, crazy cats! :D

Hey good luck i prefer boxing though

Is the great art of making your opponent look like a complete fool! It was created by a little old man in Japan and is defensive, not offensive, in nature. He'd have several BIG dudes try to attack him, and they all would end up on their asses! Funny as all get out to watch!!! Look into it! - Granny:hippy:

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Originally Posted by GHoSToKeR

Thanks for the advice and kind words! :)

To be honest I'm not very fit at the moment. I'm not a fatty, but I'm not toned, and I smoke and occasionally drink.. my body has seen better days. My main reason for wanting to take up a martial art is to get in shape, and self defence comes in at a pretty close second.

Speaking from experience, which martial art or sport would help me achieve a good level of fitness and also teach me enough self defence to be able to stick up for myself in most situations?

Also, what experiences - positive and negative - could you share with me to help me better find my path? :P

One more question... Is there like a minimum level of fitness you need to have before starting something like this? Are there any prerequisites to starting a martial art? Thanks in advance, you cool, crazy cats! :D

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I'm 6'1 and a slender, but cut and I smoke everyday, usually a few times and at times have been guilty of drinking every night for a few months and still trained.

I talk to people all the time who ask me about training and they all want to get in shape first and I tell them no- jump right in. MMA, or mixed martial arts is great to take up and it will defffinitly get you in shape and teach you how to defend youself (though you will have to have the mindset to do so also).

But if you don't want to go the MMA route, boxing will do the trick also. It will get you in shape and throw punches effectively.

Thanks for the advice and encouragment.. Personally I think boxing is too violent for me. I don't want to learn how to hurt people, I just want to defend myself from anybody who might want to hurt me and also get fit at the same time, maybe learn some discipline and stuff. :)

It is great for discipline and confidence...
NOW is a good time for you to do it...Have fun