So I've decided to take up karate......

[speed dawg]

Any of you guys experts or have experience with it? My main focus is the exercise, flexibility and obviously learning a fighting style.

I'm going to visit a few classes in the next few weeks to find out where I'd like to go, I have three in mind. Is there anything in particular I need to be watching for as to judge which is best? I'd prefer not to get beat up as I do have a day job, but I understand some of that comes with the territory.

Just a little background information, I used to workout heavily and be a pretty good shape (but never stretched). Then I suffered a herniated disc in my lower back that required surgery to fix. So now I'm in less of a heavy lifting bodybuilding type phase but more of a flexibility toning frame of mind.

 

[PokerStar]

if you can. try and do a little research on brazilian jiujitsu. one hell of a work out.

More practical than traditional karate (well in by street fight standards anyway)

If you need more info on it. hit me up.

 

[Bible_Belt]

It's always good to supplement a striking art with a grappling art. But fwiw, there was a fighter on the most recent UFC undercard who looked to have a pure karate style, sideways stance and everything. He snuck a high kick over his opponents shoulder that the poor guy never saw coming and knocked him out cold. It was the kind of knockout where they have to put a lot of effort into waking the guy up.

Regarding back pain, for me it was judo throws and takedowns where you slam into the mat that hurt the most. Depending upon how you spar, there are some foot sweeps in karate that will drop you on your butt as well.

And in regard to gaining skill in a "real" fight, every martial art will help you. People might laugh at tae kwon do or something like the French Savate kickboxing, but in a real fight that includes the groin as a valid target, they won't be laughing long. Just find an art you enjoy, which will keep you training a long time, which will make you skilled. Good luck.

 

[speed dawg]

there are some foot sweeps in karate that will drop you on your butt as well.

I'd like to avoid this at all costs, at least repeatedly, as it would obviously compress my spine. Of course, I'm planning on talking to all the instructors before I take any classes. So many times people rush into things on whims, I want to make d*mn sure I know what I'm getting into so I'll see it through.

 

[Nik TPT]

Like PokerStar recommended, try looking into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I'm more of a boxer myself, been doing it for about 5 years now. It feels pretty rewarding when you learn a fighting style and feeling confident and comfortable if a fight ever broke out.

 

[Rubirosa]

In Karate, the dojo you choose is very important. Be careful with the Tae Kwon Do places....Many of them demand extensive contracts.
If you want to do Japanese karate, there's alot of Shotokan dojos. There's no/semi contact sparring and traditional basic movements that will give you a hell of a leg workout.
I do Kyokushin which is a rare style here in the U.S., but it's the most popular Karate style in Japan. Very Spartan and brutal training. Semi/Full contact sparring. Some traditional movements as well. I did Muay Thai 20 years ago, and I gotta say I feel more "fight ready" with Kyokushin than I did with Muay Thai.
Are you in Atlanta ? There's some Kyokushin offshoot dojo's there.

 

[Marvin Gaye]

Bro why did you laugh at me for saying Air Force takes brain. Not very cool or mature


(semi-srs)

(lol)

 

[Huffman]

Well since you have back problems I'd advise you to not do contact fighting, and only very little&controlled grappling.

Sorry to say, but if you do serious sparring you WILL fall down plenty of times. I'd actually advise some traditional Karate where you
1) get really fit
2) learn lots of self defense techniques (some more practical, some less)
3) do very controlled sparring. People hate on some Karate styles for having unrealistic training methods, but it's really safe&good for your health. Look at all the old geezers training.

But see if you like it. No use doing it if you don't enjoy.

 

[dispatch]

I'm sure BJJ is great, but karate is a great choice. It's the most popular art for a good reason. It brought me great confidence, discipline and a sense of peace during my teenage years.

I did 6 years in a style called Go Kan Ryu, it's a big commercialised faux traditional, officially non-contact style which was quite expensive. When I started investigating more traditional styles I wasn't put to shame, but there were some gaps in my knowledge.

There are four main traditional styles in Japan,

Shotokan,
Gojuryu,
Wadoryu,
****oryu.

The other big style is Kyokushinkaikan, the style I currently practise.

If you are interested in traditional karate, learning the art of karate-do rather than simply fighting techniques, I would suggest one of the above, or a close off-shoot style. The instructor having trained in Japan is a big plus.

With your back injury, you should be wary of Kyokushin, as it is full contact. The other styles will be less focused on kumite (sparring) and more on kata (patterns), and self defence. There is quite a few falls taken during kumite at my dojo.

I commend you on researching the various options first, I wish I had at the start. In the end, which style you choose isn't as important as your own commitment, motivation and personal practise and research. Good luck, I look forward to hearing about your first session. Welcome to the way.

Osu!

 

[Rubirosa]

I'm sure BJJ is great, but karate is a great choice. It's the most popular art for a good reason. It brought me great confidence, discipline and a sense of peace during my teenage years.

I did 6 years in a style called Go Kan Ryu, it's a big commercialised faux traditional, officially non-contact style which was quite expensive. When I started investigating more traditional styles I wasn't put to shame, but there were some gaps in my knowledge.

There are four main traditional styles in Japan,

Shotokan,
Gojuryu,
Wadoryu,
****oryu.

The other big style is Kyokushinkaikan, the style I currently practise.

If you are interested in traditional karate, learning the art of karate-do rather than simply fighting techniques, I would suggest one of the above, or a close off-shoot style. The instructor having trained in Japan is a big plus.

With your back injury, you should be wary of Kyokushin, as it is full contact. The other styles will be less focused on kumite (sparring) and more on kata (patterns), and self defence. There is quite a few falls taken during kumite at my dojo.

I commend you on researching the various options first, I wish I had at the start. In the end, which style you choose isn't as important as your own commitment, motivation and personal practise and research. Good luck, I look forward to hearing about your first session. Welcome to the way.

Osu!

Osu ! Are you in IKO-1 ?

 

[dispatch]

I believe so. It saddened me when I entered the style to hear about the infighting and politics. I still don't have it all straight in my head.

 

[speed dawg]

Thanks Huffman and dispatch. Pretty good advice. I'll keep kata and self defense in mind, with little sparring.

 

[Huffman]

It saddened me when I entered the style to hear about the infighting and politics.

Same here with IOGKF. It's especially sad because they teach you that it's all about the art and self-improvement, and then they pull off smear campaigns over silly disagreements. But I guess you always get that in big organisations...

The positive side is of course that instructors are regularly controlled if their teachings are good. And they can't just pull stuff out their arses (like those "Ninja super karate dojos" do). And the training camps are awesome!

P.S. Speed Dawg, ANY club you enter, just tell the instructor about your back problems. Usually people are very agreeable, this is not Cobra Kai. Also every time you do partner exercise/sparring tell your partner beforehand that you don't want them to take you down. If there's any problems with this, leave immediately! This goes for any martial art!