:lol:

fil2 :D

My ex- trained in muay thai in Manchester.
My daughter currently does shukokai brown>black.
Of the two disciplines, most definitely for stamina and fitness the muay thai drops you straight in it although you'll be trained according to your fitness level.
The karate is less stamina at the early levels unless you go for straight defensive level for your personal protection.

all the best - and remember....I didn't take the michael :lol:

TP, Busen is a Martial arts Dojo in Twickenham High street, 2 doors from Mc Donalds.

Also, Buy Combat Magazine, it`ll give you a little more info.

If it's fitness, then wouldn't boxing be a better all round choice, as there's a lot of stamina and endurance training covered in this.

If it's self defence, my choice is (was) krav maga

Or if you wanna go for something really trendy, try Keysei Fighting Method, all the celebs are doing it Darrlling...

Krav Maga is sooo last year....(well a few years ago, when was Tomb raider out?, Keysei Fighting method is the style that Batman uses in the new Batman Movie, god only knows where its comes from :lol: and yes I`ve googled it )

But thats what I mean about Faddy arts, capoiera (African/Brazillian) Krav Maga ( Israilly special forces) penjak silat (some Indian art) They all come and go, depending on what celeb has "discovered" it this year.

It really is best to stick with the Traditional Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Thai Arts...

Judo, Karate,some forms of Kung fu,Tae kwon do and Thai Boxing.

Anything else, is a risk...IMHO

It’s well complicated all this Hong Kong fuwi stuff.

Just play five a side football and buy a gun.

:lol:

This is the sort of crap you should be looking out for.

http://www.xtracademy.com/index.htm
or
http://www.blazemartialarts.co.uk/



This is the sort of thing you should be looking for, something with a good strong History and foundation.

http://www.bkk-uk.com
or
http://www.mastersken.com/

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by Bubbles]

[Edited on 6-10-2005 by Bubbles]

Sorry chap, did it about 10 years ago whilst working with the Israeli military, not interested in trends, no one had heard of it back then, but it's a useful art that's taught to all Israeli service personnel.

Also did shotokan for several years, but , again personally, I found it too restricted to form and style (I understand why it's done this way, it just didn't suit me).

Since leaving the services, I've not bothered to maintain any defensive art, as there's no longer a personal need.

I'd agree wholeheartedly in getting training from someone with a lot of history and experience and not a boutique gym. But I'd disagree that one style is superior to the other.

no style is superior to the other .... its down to the practitioner..........

To answer your question Jools how do you know a good club from a bad club..well as a raw recruit that will be hard to do.......so when i made the jump from boxing to karate i actually went along and trained at various clubs not watch but train.most clubs will let you train for a few sessions before actually joining the association....this way you can get a feel for the club and at raw recruit level its about wether you enjoy the way they train rather than the content....and you will quickly even after a few sessions realise the standard of the clubs after training at a few..

When i first started training there were not the " fashion arts " as v-man points out so rightly in the numbers there are now...so i first looked on reputation and joined the SAMA club in Brighton..

I think the more experienced you become the more the style you train in can become restrictive its one of the reasons i did ju-jitsu for 5 years as well as shotokan...most experiment with other styles..............

got carried away there...upshot go train in a good club and train in a style or club that meets your goal criteria..................

Phil

I`m not having a dig, just a bit of light hearted pi55 taking, but every art has its dis-advantages and weekness`s, for centuries this argument has been raging "which martial art is the Ultimate art"
Which is why UFC (Vale tudo) has grown into what is (IMHO) the Ultimate Fighting Art, No frills, no fancy hand movment`s, just a realisation that alot of techniques are un-economical and usless, so all the silly stuff is thrown out and what is left....WORKS.
Punching, Elbow strikes, kicking, kneeing and grappling, lets face it, any fight that last`s more then 10 seconds in the street, is going to the floor, so good grappling skill are needed.
Again though, be very careful when looking for this sort of mixed martial art, as most instructors have a bias towards one art, so you could get what is mostly Karate with a bit of jui justu thrown in.

Research is the key and If all else fails, Dedicated your life to to Martial Arts and study All of them and become the ULITMATE BADASS.
:roll: