Martial arts is interesting. It really doesn't matter where you start or what system you choose. You will ultimately gravitate to what feels best for you. Preferences of styles change as your growth in the arts mature.
What works for one person does not necessarily mean that it will work for you.
My recommendation is Tae Kwon Do as a basis. It will give you time to develop fundamental control of your body. Trust me, controling your body is a lot harder than you think. Chinese martial arts systems are rooted in a lot of concepts and philosophy. It is best to pursue these systems at a more advanced skill level.
As for self defense, a few years of TKD will do you more benefit for the present time. Kung Fu disciplines require a long time before the techniques can be used effectively and can actually be detrimental in a self defense situation if not used correctly.
Stay away from "fad" styles....whatever is the popular style in UFC or stuff like Krav Maga. A few years back it was Jiu Jitsu.
To summarize:
It really doesn't matter what self defense system you choose. Don't count on it working w/ only a few years training at 2x/wk training regimen. The Martial Arts is a discipline and when it is taken as a discipline, then it will serve you right, when it is done as a sport, one's skill will be limited. Here's a secret: Efficient martial artists don't memorize a book load of "techniques". The techniques are a result of years of training and contemplating concepts of movement and energetics.
Systems that focus on SPEED, POWER, and STRENGTH, tend to NOT work well for smaller people.
What works for one person does not necessarily mean that it will work for you.
My recommendation is Tae Kwon Do as a basis. It will give you time to develop fundamental control of your body. Trust me, controling your body is a lot harder than you think. Chinese martial arts systems are rooted in a lot of concepts and philosophy. It is best to pursue these systems at a more advanced skill level.
As for self defense, a few years of TKD will do you more benefit for the present time. Kung Fu disciplines require a long time before the techniques can be used effectively and can actually be detrimental in a self defense situation if not used correctly.
Stay away from "fad" styles....whatever is the popular style in UFC or stuff like Krav Maga. A few years back it was Jiu Jitsu.
To summarize:
It really doesn't matter what self defense system you choose. Don't count on it working w/ only a few years training at 2x/wk training regimen. The Martial Arts is a discipline and when it is taken as a discipline, then it will serve you right, when it is done as a sport, one's skill will be limited. Here's a secret: Efficient martial artists don't memorize a book load of "techniques". The techniques are a result of years of training and contemplating concepts of movement and energetics.
Systems that focus on SPEED, POWER, and STRENGTH, tend to NOT work well for smaller people.
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