I'm looking into joing a martial art but a few of them look very interesting and I'm having a hard time deciding what to sign up for.
Does anyone here have any experience? I'm looking for the best workout I can get.
Any suggestions?

The only one I have any experience with is kick boxing. It was a really good work out and pretty fun too. Lots of punches, kicks, and combinations.

Josie put up a good thread on this.

I read through this article on choosing a martial arts style some time back too.

Oh thanks, when I searched I didn't get any results.
It could have been my less than stellar command of speeling though.

Thanks again.


I'm sitting in on a clas tonight to check it out.

I have experienced Karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Tai Chi and Wu Shu Kwan.

For me I love Wing Chun and tai Chi the most, because of the sheer beauty of the movements. For physical conditioning I'd choose kickboxing, though you can do that with your training elsewhere.

I would love to learn brazlian ju-jitsu one day though.

This reminds me how out of touch I am. I got to get back into this stuff!

I always thought capoeira would be cool to get into.

I just don't have the time right now

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the best! especially for self-defense. karate is worthless

Your mom is worthless! Hahaha Oh, snap. I crack myself up with my woefully inadequate mom jokes.

Sorry. Your friendly local karate enthusiast here.

Glad you found my old post useful, Daryl. I hope you find a study and a school that suit you. Let me know if you have any questions!

Did Judo (competition in college) and jiu-jitsu for fun on the side.

Visit some different schools/dojo's and find a style that matches what your goals are.

Some of my best workouts were on the mat.... after 15 minute floor matches i'd come away dripping in sweat, totally tired, and my fore-arms were gone from gripping the entire time... good times good times... (ps. The gi burns are just a perk of the fun)

Thanks to all so far, I was impressed with the Kick Boxing class last night and tomorrow I'm checking out a Krav Maga class (which I was amazed was offered here considering it is generally lower profile than most Martial Arts and I live in a fairly small city) and then an MMA class on Saturday. Which is a mix of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai. At least I'm not lacking in choices. In my travels I also noticed Kendo, which looks amazingly fun and challenging.
Thanks again everyone.

I went through Tae Kwon Do and achieved my Black Belt a number of years ago. I highly suggest just taking the trial classes that a lot of places offer and see what you like. Between Tae Kwon Do and Jiu Jitsu, I definitely kept in shape and it was obvious after I had been out of the programs for a few years that they were responsible for keeping me in shape.

If possible I recommend taking a hard style like tai kwon do or jeet kun do or any other kicking punching type thing along with Jui Jitsu. If you can find a school that teaches both you'll be tore up!

Hey going to martial arts is great. I myself have just started aikido and it fits my thinking process and way of life. Check it out.

I've done tae kwon do and am currently intensive in aikido... I've found both give a good work out, but aikido is definitely more psychologically involved and complicated... I started about a year ago and am still unranked in aikido, whereas I obtained my yellow belt in TKD in just a few months.

If you're looking for something that will give you exercise only, I recommend TKD, Jujitsu or karate... as my Sensei puts it: "In linear martial arts, in your first class, you will learn how to punch or kick; in aikido, in your first class, you learn how to fall on your butt. You don't get the same sense of satisfaction or sense that you're learning anything."

Good luck on your search!

I've been in TKD and Jiu Jitsu for about 6 months now. I love both.
TKD has more of a cardio and stretching work out, whereas the Jiu Jitsu class is more strength, but still definitely cardio.

Either way, both are excellent workouts. I prefer Jiu Jitsu because at my school it's far more hands-on than TKD is.