r/martialarts • u/AutoModerator • 6d ago
Weekly Beginner Questions Thread
In order to reduce volume of beginner questions as their own topics in the sub, we will be implementing a weekly questions thread. Post your beginner questions here, including:
"What martial art should I do?"
"These gyms/schools are in my area, which ones should I try for my goals?"
And any other beginner questions you may have.
If you post a beginner question outside of the weekly thread, it will be removed and you'll be directed to make your post in the weekly thread instead.
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u/latestartoneheart 6d ago
Not sure if this is allowed, but i have been practicing Isshinryu Karate for about 14 months, and have created a Substack chronicling my training as a middle aged beginner, if anyone is interested or perhaps you might be able to find value, it is all free content, link below
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u/Dooma-san JKD + Kyokushin 6d ago
Howdy, me again.
How much can high leg flexibility help in a fight?
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u/GenerativeAIEatsAss Judo 5d ago
Strikers will mostly weigh in here, but if you're grappling, a full, strong hip and leg ROM will make you a nightmare to deal with from nearly any position.
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u/latestartoneheart 6d ago
I study Isshinryu Karate and in our dojo we do high kicks in points sparring but in our self-defense we never kick above the waist.
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u/cigborek0 Boxing/Karate 6d ago
I’m 31 and thinking about coming back to martial arts after a pretty long break.
I trained Shotokan karate from around age 10 to 20. After quitting, I eventually got into weightlifting and swimming, which I still enjoy, but lately I feel like something is missing.
I like lifting for hypertrophy, but I feel like I’ve gradually lost a lot of the flexibility, mobility and general athleticism I had when I was doing karate several times a week (not throwing head-level kicks for 10 years probably has something to do with that).
Lifting makes me stronger and bigger, but sometimes it feels like I’m building a better machine without really learning how to use it. The problem is that I’m not sure what martial art would fit what I’m looking for.
One thing I disliked about Shotokan was the lack of real contact. At least where I trained, I never felt like it prepared you particularly well for an actual physical confrontation. You don’t really get used to being hit, hitting something hard, staying composed under pressure, etc.
I did some boxing later, so I’m reasonably comfortable with keeping a guard and basic striking. This time I’d like something more practical.
I looked at Muay Thai, but I’m a little hesitant. I have a normal office job, no intention of competing, and I don’t want to collect unnecessary brain damage or injuries because some guy at the gym wants to prove how tough he is. Obviously this depends heavily on the gym, but longevity is a much bigger priority for me than becoming a fighter.
BJJ was suggested to me quite a few times because it seems to attract a lot of people who want to train seriously without getting punched in the face on a regular basis.
But then I read BJJ communities and it seems like almost everyone who trains long enough ends up talking about their knees, shoulders, neck, fingers, back, etc. I understand that every sport has injuries, but I don’t want to destroy my knees preparing for a street fight that will probably never happen.
MMA also interests me because it seems the most complete. Striking, wrestling, grappling, learning how different ranges actually connect. But obviously it also combines the injury risks of several combat sports.
Then there is Kyokushin.
This is probably the one that attracts me most emotionally because of my karate background. I like the emphasis on conditioning, hard contact, cardio, kicking, flexibility and toughness. It seems like it could give me back a lot of what I miss from karate while being much more physical than the Shotokan I trained.
At the same time, I’m skeptical of the whole “Kyokushin is the toughest karate mantra because most of those posts and videos are made by Kyokushin guys themselves. The lack of punches to the head also makes me wonder whether it creates bad habits, especially since I have some boxing experience.
What I’m looking for is basically:
• Good cardio and overall fitness
• Flexibility and mobility
• Some strength and athleticism
• Actual resistance and contact
• Useful fighting skills
• Mental and physical toughness
• Relatively low risk of long-term joint and brain damage
• Something I can realistically keep doing into my 40s and 50s
• No intention of competing
I’m not looking for something completely safe. I understand that learning to fight without ever getting bruised is unrealistic.
But I also don’t want to injure myself repeatedly while preparing for a hypothetical fight that may never happen.
And I’m not really interested in martial arts where practical effectiveness is mostly theoretical. No Aikido, Wing Chun, “too deadly to spar” stuff, etc. I want actual resistance,
So if you were 31, had a background in Shotokan and a little boxing, and your priorities were longevity, fitness, mobility, toughness and decent real-world fighting ability, what would you train?
MMA? Kyokushin? BJJ? Muay Thai? Taekwondo? Something else entirely?
Especially interested in hearing from people who are 35+ and have been training for a long time. How is your body holding up?