Martial Arts?

Anyone do martial arts at all? I'm taking up a class this summer for fun/to get into shape. I considered Karate (which I've done before), Tae-Kwon-Do, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Kung Fu, Capouera (sp?), kickboxing, and Tae-Chi. I decided on Tae-Kwon-Do and start this Thursday.

Any experiences?

Ju-jitsu is the trendy as choice as every kid now seems to think he is headed for the UFC.

Jay

jay i think jiujitsu provide a great all-around workout if you want to get into shape. i put the word "think" because i've never tried it myself. i'm not sure when this ufc craze started also...i was a big pride and k1 follower in my wwf/wcw wrestling fan days.

Dana White bought UFC in the late 1990s, changed rules to get the ju-jitsu guys off their back and force them to fight and the sport boomed. He restarted UFC booking fights mostly in Indian casinos around CA. I used to go see them when I was still living in CA and watched Tito Ortiz when he first started out.

Jay

jay i enjoy the grappling and the submission art alot more than stand-up boxing...maybe that's why i never watch ufc.

Don't get me wrong, I love the grappling and submissions too. It's just that the Gracie style of Ju-jitsu killed the first incarnation of UFC because those guys would literally drop to their back when the bell rang to start the fight. It made for a lot of very boring fights.

Brock Lesnar is going to be a scary fighter in the UFC when he learns to defend submissions. His ground and pound is absolutely frightening as is his quickness. Watching fight against Frank Muir was amazing. If Muir wasn't so good at ju-jitsu, he would have been ground burger in time. Someone like Tim Silvia has no prayer against Lesnar.

Jay

Yes Jay, but what about Kimbo Slice?

I did Tae Kwon Do when I was very young. All that kicking was very good exercise, but perhaps not the most practical martial art for self defense.

The Brazilian style of jiu-jitsu that we see in the UFC looks effective for smaller guys to neutralize bigger stronger wrestlers or boxers.

My 7YO is a karate chopping maniac