I’m going to start off the new year trying to lose weight and get myself fitter. One big problem I have is I get bored easily with repetitive exercise, walking, swimming etc. I’m going to be doing some weights to break it up and keep me interested.
I also thought that perhaps a martial art would be a good way to get in some good exercise and keep things interesting for me. But I have no idea which one I should be looking at. I’m not overly concerned about the self defence aspects of one, it is more about the increased fitness and weight loss from the exercise.
I’ve always had a thing about japanese swordplay, so I’ve been looking at maybe Kendo, (hence not really concerned about the self defence ). But are there any other martial arts out there that might suit a very unfit guy looking to start slow and build up?
Tai chi is a “soft” martial art which has some self-defense aspects and can help with overall fitness and balance.
Aikido could be considered halfway between tai chi and kendo. It uses many techniques based on or similar to ju jitsu, often with stylized attacks based on sword strikes. Occasionally it is practiced with wooden swords, though the swords (ideally) never actually hit the defender. It’s more vigorous than tai chi, and can help with fitness.
Neither tai chi nor aikido incorporate attack techniques (e.g. kicks or punches), other than as rudimentary strikes to defend against.
Of course there are many other martial arts to choose from, but you might want to see if either of these appeals to you.
I think this is a great idea. I’m a woman approaching 40 and have been taking karate for the past year. I also get bored with repetitive exercise. I’ve found that things like yoga and karate are much better for actually getting me moving, because they provide the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.
I’m taking karate largely because my son signed up for a class at his school. He was having so much fun with it that I asked about adult classes. The class I’m in has a very wide range of people in terms of skill and fitness level as well as basic demographics. I really enjoy it.
Anyway, I don’t have recommendations as to a specific martial art. I think the particular class I take is mostly tae kwon do, but we also do some ju jitsu. Honestly, I think finding a style of class and instructor that you are comfortable with is more important than the specific content of the class.
I agree with this. IMHO classes vary wildly in content based on the instructor, the students and the studio. Just start going around to different studios and observing classes and seeing what they do. Then choose.
I also agree with this. Some instructors like to stand around and talk, some like to get moving and try things out, some like to spend time getting in shape. The content is important of course, depending on what you want to learn, but if the goal is to exercise and not get bored I would recommend trying more than one school.
It’s not a martial art, but I lost 50 pounds working out at a boxing gym this year. Most of them will have kickboxing classes too, if you find just punching to be boring.
It would help a lot if you told us what is available in your area first. It doesn’t do you much good if I tell you that savate is da bomb and perfect for you, and then you find that the nearest savate school is 300 miles away.
Well, kendo is quite a good workout. If you’re actually interested in the art, and there’s a dojo near you, you should give it a try.
Most beginners will start out slow to learn the basics, and build up to the full-on kendo matches, so hopefully your progress in the art would match your increasing fitness levels.
If somebody asked me just for general info which martial arts or martial sports were best in general for fitness and weight loss, I would say arts and sports that focused heavily on conditioning, like boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, etc. That said, add me to those above saying finding a martial art you enjoy practicing, taught by knowledgeable and experienced instructors in a setting you’re comfortable with, is important. Quality and content in can vary from school to school, and If you don’t enjoy the classes you aren’t going to keep going.
Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance and music. I’ve never tried it, but it looks like fun, if it’s offered anywhere near you.
Roddy
I took American Kenpo Karate lessons for three years in high school, I learned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from some friends in college, and I taught myself a bit of Capoeira on the side. I’m certainly not an expert in any of those martial arts, but I have an attitude towards exercise similar to that of GreedySmurf: it needs to be interesting. Here are my thoughts:
American Kenpo Karate: My experience with Kenpo was one of considerable variety. We learned strikes, holds, escapes, defenses against knives/guns, forms, combinations, grappling, and did a solid amount of cardio/calisthenics. This experience may not have been typical, but if you can find a class like the one I took, I think you’ll have fun and get a good amount of exercise.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu: A system of ground fighting / wrestling that features chokes, holds, and joint locks, all without any strikes or kicks. As a person who enjoys a physical challenge and competition, but hates team sports, this was the perfect sport for me. In some ways, it is totally non-repetitive and non-mundane: every match, even against the same opponent, will be completely different. It’s such an adrenaline rush that you don’t even realize how hard your body is working until you relax. If you really want to excel, there is a bit of the repetitive grind to it: in order to master a submission to the point that you can execute it effectively in a match, you need to practice it hundreds of times. But the thrill of locking in a gogoplata and feeling your opponent tap out, or holding off a rear naked choke and finally breaking free… one of the best feelings in the world. The majority of people I’ve rolled with have been phenomenally cool guys, too. It’s this weird dynamic where you’re doing everything in your power to defeat your opponent, and you’re grunting and struggling and fighting through the pain, but then someone will twist free and the other person will say “Dude, nice fucking reversal!”. There are probably plenty of hypercompetitive dicks out there, but you’ll definitely encounter some fantastic guys along the way.
Capoeira: Lots of rhythmic movement and high kicks. Not for someone who is out of shape. Even the most basic moves require a ton of flexibility and energy.
I am in Kenpo(or Kempo) karate, in what is called Hawaiian Kempo. There’s also Okinawan.
It is repetitive at times, because to learn different techniques you have to practice them over and over, to achieve what is called “muscle memory” But I don’t mind that, I’m a middle aged female who started late, and enjoys the workout. I have a very good sensei, that’s half the battle in choosing a style.
+1 for tai chi if you can find an instructor in your area. You may also want to consider Hatha Yoga if you want to lose a few pounds. Not a martial art but a good way to increase your flexability and tone. This will help considerably no matter what you decide what to do next.
Judo makes you sweat a lot. It’s full contact so you get a thorough workout. You can practice once, twice, thrice, seven times a week. It’s an Olympic event so you’re bound to see really good players competing in state/school/national events. Also a very useful skill in a number of defense situations.
). But are there any other martial arts out there that might suit a very unfit guy looking to start slow and build up?