i would have to say kyokyushin karate, its probably the the most physically and mentally demanding martial art out there.
most martial arts will increase your speed and ability but kyokushin excels (IMHO) because of the mental conditioning u learn alongside it as well as changing your attitudes regarding yourself and the way you approach life and others.
Kyokushin also draws strength from the idea of 'family'. Your classmates are your brothers, your class is your family. If you find kyokushin near you I;d say give it a go but don't be rude, most sensei's will not allow you to join if you want to just learn to fight or are there for a laugh.
That begin said, if you get a crappy teacher you'll hate it.
I want to improve speed and agility as well as improve mental state.
been thinking about Kendo..
what do you think?
For your given goals, I think you're right - Kendo/Iaido may be a good bet.
Personally, I think Kid Icarus' suggestion, while a great martial art, may be a bit too hardcore for your goals. Normally, I'd recommend my martial art of WTF Taekwondo, but given what you want it for that too is probably a bit much.
If you have any more information on what you want to achieve (or why you want to improve your speed and agility - as they aren't normal goals for non martial artists) please post it and we may be able to help more.
Realise this was posted last year but did you find a martial art ?
If not, best thing to do is get a list of classes in your area and go along. Most instructors should allow you to watch a session, although participation might require you to sign up due to insurance issues.
It's best to go to one that is local as you are more likely to stick with it if it is convenient to get to and regular attendance is important both for your own training and for respect to your classmates and instructor.
If you go to one session of each class you should get a good feel for the 'vibe' of the class and the instructor and also you can hopefully ask the instructor some questions about the style or some of the things you've seen in the class. This should give you an idea of whether it's what you are looking for and at least allow you to reduce the list of local classes to one or two.
Some classes can be a case of just turn up, train and leave whereas others have a social side as well so people can go to the pub and talk with the other students and the instructors in a more informal setting and you get the chance to ask questions that you might not get the opportunity to in a formal class situation or might feel awkward asking if you are a beginner.
Martial arts are often classes as soft or hard styles, the former concentrating more on control whilst the latter deal more with self defence. Both can be effective martial arts so it depends on what you are looking for.
If the session splits seniors and juniors and if you are permitted to, try and watch some of both so you can see what level the seniors are at and the kind of training they are doing as if you really get into it, at some point you will be taking part in that kind of activity. Dont be put off if what they do seems impossible, everyone was a beginner once, a martial art is not easy, if it was, a black belt would have no value as everyone would have one. It takes perseverance, patience, practice and a willingness to learn to advance.
Due to the time and effort you invest in a martial art, anyone that does one for a number of years is going to tell you their one is the best.
There probably will be a 'best' martial art for you but that may not be the same as the best one for someone else and this very much depends on what you want to get out of it and how much time and effort you are willing to put into your training.
The quality of the instructors will also have a bearing on this, you may find a really excellent instructor of a martial art in one area but it does not mean that every instructor in that martial art is the same.
To loki and G-Lo, i'd ask how many different martial arts have you done and how long have you done these for besides this style of Jiu Jitsu ? How many different instructors within your style have you trained with and at how many different clubs - are they all the same quality or does it vary ? Have you looked at other variations of Jiu Jitsu or just this one and if the former, what sets the Brazillian version apart from other styles of Jiu Jitsu that makes it 'the best'. Is it the instructors that are great, the fact that you get realistic fighting techniques or just the group atmosphere of the clubs that you train with.
Please dont take this personally, i'm just interested in a short reply that states martial art xyz is the best without any explanation as to why.
To loki and G-Lo, i'd ask how many different martial arts have you done and how long have you done these for besides this style of Jiu Jitsu ? How many different instructors within your style have you trained with and at how many different clubs - are they all the same quality or does it vary ? Have you looked at other variations of Jiu Jitsu or just this one and if the former, what sets the Brazillian version apart from other styles of Jiu Jitsu that makes it 'the best'. Is it the instructors that are great, the fact that you get realistic fighting techniques or just the group atmosphere of the clubs that you train with.
Please dont take this personally, i'm just interested in a short reply that states martial art xyz is the best without any explanation as to why.
I did karate as a kid for 3 years, then did kick boxing competitively for 2 and a half years, shukotan in first year of uni (bit shite really) and now just do BJJ occasionally and do my own pad work training, incorporating Muay Thai strikes as well as kick boxing moves.
Now I only do it for exercise and because I enjoy it. In terms of cardio fitness the only thing that comes close to the fitness required for BJJ is circuit training I did with kick boxing. BJJ is also full contact pretty much all the time, rather than shadow boxing or light sparring - one reason I prefer it. I have tried jiu-jitsu, but it's less fun and less realistic IMO than BJJ. The instructor (one of three I've been taught by in BJJ) is great, the atmosphere is friendly but competitve and I just enjoy it - hence why it's my favourite.
I used to do a freestyle Korean martial art by the name of Choi Kwang Do.
It is a link off of Taekwondo. It's a combination of kicks, punches, strikes and blocks.All of these are more untraditional than Taekwondo and are street effective. There is not a lot of grappling involved in this art. I reccomend this art for sure. You will get good speed, flexibility and stamina from this art including a good level of self confidence. They have 5 main rules if you like, courtesy, intregrity, peserverence, self control and indomitable spirit. CKD encapsulates these 5 words.
I got within touching distance of a black belt but had to give it up. I was in the best shape of my life then and it's a regret to have given it up.
Then there's this other martial art from Israel. They use it in the army it's called Krav Maga and it's leathel. Look this one up.
As for Brazillian Jui Jitsu that's some good shit! I really like the grappling they do some of the moves are leathel. I think one does need grappling because a grappler will always beat a martial artist in a fight in my opinion if the grappler can lock him into a position.
