What martial art should I pick

[datisstom]

So I wanna get into a martial art and I've been looking for schools in my city. I have the following options:

Pencak silat
Boxing
Muay thai
Karate wado and shotokan
Muay boran
Taekwondo
Judo

I don't know wich one to pick, because my untrained eye doesn't really see what's going on in tournament fights. I think karate and taekwondo are fun, but they are really similar to kickboxing.
I think muay thai and muay boran are too tough for me. My friend who practiced pencak told me that it was more about dancing. Judo seems really boring to me.

So I can't decide wich one to pick. I need a little help.
Wich one is the most effective? Wich one would be the most effective against a MMA fighter?
I know it all depends on the practitioner, but I do ask it.

Wich one will be the most effective in a tournament?

Questions, questions. Feel free to answer them.

 

[Cyriacus]

Time for Me to have some fun.

So I wanna get into a martial art and I've been looking for schools in my city. I have the following options:

Aha

Pencak silat
Boxing
Muay thai
Karate wado and shotokan
Muay boran
Taekwondo
Judo

Aha
EDIT: Then theres the other thing. You distinguish Wado and Shotokan Karate, but not which Archetype of Judo, Taekwondo, or Boxing (Though admittely that ones not Your fault). More information!

I don't know wich one to pick, because my untrained eye doesn't really see what's going on in tournament fights. I think karate and taekwondo are fun, but they are really similar to kickboxing.

Fun fact: Kickboxing stems from Karate, among other things. Also, Fun is an interesting word to use for learning the fine art of Blunt Forced Trauma.

I think muay thai and muay boran are too tough for me. My friend who practiced pencak told me that it was more about dancing.

Muay Thai is about as tough as the others, and about as weak at the same time. I say that, because it depends on the Outlet. Theres no one preset level.

Judo seems really boring to me.

Whys that?

So I can't decide wich one to pick. I need a little help.

We need more information than this, Friend.

Wich one is the most effective?

No one is more effective than the other.

Wich one would be the most effective against a MMA fighter?

If You want to go into MMA Competition, join an MMA Gym. Otherwise, if Youre assuming MMA Fighters are a plaque standard against which to compare Systems, think about it a little harder.

I know it all depends on the practitioner, but I do ask it.

No, it doesnt. It depends largely on the Outlet. A Bad School teaching a Good Student will make a Good Practitioner. A Good School teaching a Good Student churns out some alarmingly good Practitioners. A Good School teaching a Bad Student or a Bad School teaching a Bad Student will make a Bad Practitioner.

Wich one will be the most effective in a tournament?

What kind of Tournament? MMA? K1? Opens? Youre painting with a big brush.

Questions, questions. Feel free to answer them.

To answer Your Questions, You must offer more Answers.

EDIT 2: Now just dont start telling us Your size and such. I can pretty much predict what Youd say. Its irrelevant.
What do YOU prefer in terms of movement? Do You favor Striking? Grappling? Both? Wrestling? What looks most natural to You? And so on.

 

[Jenna]

If you want to fight MMA then train whichever styles are most aligned with MMA. To go some with an MMA practitioner, you will want to become proficient in both standing styles and ground styles (of which you have ample choice from the list you posted). The advice of friends or anyone on here is well and good but I suggest you do a little research of your own by calling up and visiting the schools that you have listed. If you like what you see and you get a good gut feeling then ask some relevant questions of the instructors related to your own ultimate goals. This way you be armed with plenty information and will be better able to decide what ultimately suits you. I wish you well.

 

[datisstom]

1. Does it really matter?

2. Muay thai is with elbows and knees included, isn't that way more tougher than the others?

3. It seems boring to me because here in Holland everyone does it. That's for a reason, right? Yes it is, but for me that's the reason I'm won't be doing it.

4. I don't know what tournaments, just all-round.

Basicly the question is, what art is the most effective against other martial arts. And I know this question is wrong, but - wich one is the most effective against untrained fighters? Since that's one of the reasons I'm going to join a martial art school. It's not the most important thing, but I have some good options available, so why not pick one that would be the most helpfull?

 

[Cyriacus]

1. Does it really matter?

Nope.

2. Muay thai is with elbows and knees included, isn't that way more tougher than the others?

TKD and Karate have Elbows and Knees. So does Silat. And no, it doesnt.

3. It seems boring to me because here in Holland everyone does it. That's for a reason, right? Yes it is, but for me that's the reason I'm won't be doing it.

To each their own.

4. I don't know what tournaments, just all-round.

That answers nothing then - Theres no Tournamental Standard.

Basicly the question is, what art is the most effective against other martial arts. And I know this question is wrong, but - wich one is the most effective against untrained fighters?

All of them are effective. No one is supreme. Have You been reading Youtube Comments?

Since that's one of the reasons I'm going to join a martial art school. It's not the most important thing, but I have some good options available, so why not pick one that would be the most helpfull?

Most helpful is subjective. If Your singular instinct is to punch, Box. If Your singular instinct is to grab, Grapple. And so forth.

*nods

Go to their Outlets. Spectate or join in some Classes. Find the one You like most.

 

[datisstom]

With 'tough' I mean painfull. With that in mind, muay thai is way tougher then karate or taekwondo, isn't it?

 

[Cyriacus]

With 'tough' I mean painfull. With that in mind, muay thai is way tougher then karate or taekwondo, isn't it?

My oh My.
No, it isnt.
Theyre about the same.
They can be poorly taught though. And a poorly taught anything will be weak.
You are a victim of Stereotype it seems.

As for Painful, not really either. Theyre all about the same.
If anything, Muay Thai spends more time on Bagwork from what Ive seen. Thats about it. And I wouldnt really call that a Plus, so much as a Trait.

I presume You think TKD is Kicking Based and Karate is all Striking? Just Curious.

 

[datisstom]

My oh My.
No, it isnt.
Theyre about the same.
They can be poorly taught though. And a poorly taught anything will be weak.
You are a victim of Stereotype it seems.

As for Painful, not really either. Theyre all about the same.
If anything, Muay Thai spends more time on Bagwork from what Ive seen. Thats about it. And I wouldnt really call that a Plus, so much as a Trait.

I presume You think TKD is Kicking Based and Karate is all Striking? Just Curious.

Why am I a victim of sterotype?

 

[Cyriacus]

Why am I a victim of sterotype?

Typical Stereotypes:
Muay Thai is the ultimate destructive art of death and doom.
Wing Chun is the one-beats-all crux of effectiveness.
Taekwondo is a Kick Sport.
Karate is only Strikes.
Kung Fu is a bunch of Monks who spend all day flipping around and stuff.
Ninjas are synonymous to Kung Fu.
MMA is the staple of effectiveness.
All fights go to the ground.

I could keep going.
I merely suggest cleaning Your Slate of conceptions, and inform Yourself from better sources, and draw new conclusions.

 

[Gnarlie]

*nods

Go to their Outlets. Spectate or join in some Classes. Find the one You like most.

Yarp. I think you'll find that if you give up your preconceptions (which are mostly incorrect anyway) and try out some of these arts, you'll find that they are all pretty tough, and all of them will teach you something you don't already know. You need to learn before you can analyse in this way.

 

[datisstom]

Typical Stereotypes:
Muay Thai is the ultimate destructive art of death and doom.
Wing Chun is the one-beats-all crux of effectiveness.
Taekwondo is a Kick Sport.
Karate is only Strikes.
Kung Fu is a bunch of Monks who spend all day flipping around and stuff.
Ninjas are synonymous to Kung Fu.
MMA is the staple of effectiveness.
All fights go to the ground.

I could keep going.
I merely suggest cleaning Your Slate of conceptions, and inform Yourself from better sources, and draw new conclusions.

No, I did some research and I disagree with those statements. But isn't it clear muay thai is indeed the most destructive and effective 'on the street' ? I think without any rules, a karateke wouldn't stand a chance against a thai boxer.

As I said before, one reason to join a MA school is to be able to defend myself. I am new in my current school and I get picked on by some jerks.

 

[Cyriacus]

No, I did some research and I disagree with those statements. But isn't it clear muay thai is indeed the most destructive and effective 'on the street' ? I think without any rules, a karateke wouldn't stand a chance against a thai boxer.

As I said before, one reason to join a MA school is to be able to defend myself. I am new in my current school and I get picked on by some jerks.

No, it is neither the most Destructive or Effective.
And Youre generalising Karate based on its Sport Gyms, which are about the only Archetypes with Rules.

Have fun with that.
Ive already explained things as best I can. Its clear You dont want to believe it, so I wont even bother to try.

Best of Luck.

 

[datisstom]

No, it is neither the most Destructive or Effective.
And Youre generalising Karate based on its Sport Gyms, which are about the only Archetypes with Rules.

Have fun with that.
Ive already explained things as best I can. Its clear You dont want to believe it, so I wont even bother to try.

Best of Luck.

I am only trying to get you to give arguments... I didn't see any yet for the thai/karate discussion.

 

[Cyriacus]

I am only trying to get you to give arguments... I didn't see any yet for the thai/karate discussion.

Ah - Might I suggest iterating that in future? Always remember that text doesnt always read how you intend it to.

Ok:
Muay Thai has;
Striking and Clinching.
Punches, Kicks, Elbows, and Knees.
Favors Guard to Blocks.
Operates within Rule Based Sporting Bouts for Competition.
Has Great Conditioning.

Karate (Ill use Shotokan for an example here) has;
Striking, Clinching, Simple Ground Fighting, and Throws and Takedowns and Jointlocks.
Punches, Kicks, Elbows, Knees, Open Handed Strikes, Forearm Strikes, Leg Sweeps, and Pressure Applications.
Favors Blocks to Guard.
Has Rule Based Competitive Bouts, but isnt exactly Sporting.
Has Forms.
Has Great Conditioning.

Both Emphasise Power and Speed.
Shotokan has more in it, but ultimately tends to stick to its simple uses.
Muay Thai has less in it, and Trains its simple uses in the same way.

Conclusion:
Whats the difference?
Ones Japanese and ones Thai.
Itll be a matter of preference which works for YOU best.

 

[datisstom]

Thanks, that's very helpful. I didn't know karate had elbows and knees though.

I am going to watch muay thai and karate training in my local MA school.
Too bad the TKD school only has hard ground gyms used for soccer and stuff.

 

[Cyriacus]

Thanks, that's very helpful. I didn't know karate had elbows and knees though.

I am going to watch muay thai and karate training in my local MA school.
Too bad the TKD school only has hard ground gyms used for soccer and stuff.

Why would Training out of a Gym be a problem? The Building doesnt matter, so much as whats being done in it. And most Towns and Cities dont have enough Empty Lots for everyone to have a specialised Building.

Let alone the Group being able to afford a specialised building.

Taekwondo has Elbows and Knees as well, as does Silat.
Even the rare odd Boxing Gym with slip in Elbows just for Bag Work. Its uncommon, but its not unfathomable.

 

[datisstom]

Why would Training out of a Gym be a problem? The Building doesnt matter, so much as whats being done in it. And most Towns and Cities dont have enough Empty Lots for everyone to have a specialised Building.

Let alone the Group being able to afford a specialised building.

Taekwondo has Elbows and Knees as well, as does Silat.
Even the rare odd Boxing Gym with slip in Elbows just for Bag Work. Its uncommon, but its not unfathomable.

Yeah, it's fun 'till ya fall on your head. :S

 

[Cyriacus]

Yeah, it's fun 'till ya fall on your head. :S

Aha - I did that once. It wasnt as bad as You think

Its perhaps more realistic anyway - Since most Engagements will probably occur over Concrete Pavement in a City Locale.

 

[Gnarlie]

My first 8 years were training on concrete and wood, and I turned out just fine thank you, Susan. *Bleep*

 

[oaktree]

Why dont you visit the schools and try it out.
The forum will give you various opinions
And there is no right or wrong answer
Concerning which style to pick.
Choose what interest you.