Hello and questions :)

[Ymer]

Hi,

I just came across this forum and as I am right in the middle of trying to get in shape and into martial arts, I decided to join.

Right now I am working out pretty hard and going through a diet and I want to start with martial arts.

I am really undecided between Ninjutsu, Muay Thai and Kung Fu (Shaolin/Choy Lay Fut or Northern).

I am definitely going to stick with whatever I choose for at least the next 10 years, probably more, so I'd like to make the right choice.

Right now I am rather overweight, so that should be taken into consideration as well, but that will go away soon.

What would you guys recommend?

Thanks

[Doughboy]

Ninjitsu is most likely not going to help with your weight much, from what I have been told by people who were at similar schools, they either consider being physically in shape to not be important to the style ( ), or they leave it to you to do your own workouts outside of class time.

A good Kung Fu school will make you work extremely hard and if you keep at it, you should get into great shape in a fairly short amount of time. I will never forget how red my face was, and how it took me the whole car ride home to catch my breath after my first Kung Fu lesson.

But, for your goals, I would say start with Muay Thai. If you keep at it you will destroy the excess fat on your body and get into seriously good shape. Though my partner work looks more like Filipino MA mixed with MMA, my solo workout routine is comprised of 80% Muay Thai workouts. Been doing that regularily and I'm dropping weight and gaining muscle quicker than anything else I have done. At first, because my fat was converting to muscle, though I was visually looking better, my weight stayed the same. But now I am gaining muscle, and my total weight has gone down 10 kilos in 4 months. My goal is 90kg. I am on 102kg at the moment. Was 115kg 6 months ago.

Though, it also depends, do you want to do more in MA than conditioning, exercise and sparring ? Do you crave the meditation/internal aspects of Kung Fu ? Though many Internal stylists I know, would still recommend you start with Muay Thai, then when you are in good physical shape you can make quicker progress with the internal stuff.

The people on this forum represent a pretty diverse bunch of MA, so I am sure there is at least a couple people who can give you excellent advice, as far as finding a good school goes ( there are prolly already a few threads on this ). You aren't going to find many people here who like Ninjitsu, but for the sake of free choice, go out there and check it out. Look at the practitioners ( especially students who have been there for a few years ) and see if they are example's of what you want to get to.

Don't get pulled in by talk of "deadly this and that", or ultimate style, our style is too dangerous to spar with, etc. bs bs bs bs bs.

Look for teachers who are open, approachable and friendly. Also, ask their opinion of other styles. This can be very telling. A true representative of a great MA, will have respect for other styles. If they don't live inside a bubble of indoctrination, they will know that every style has strengths and weaknesses. For example, if your teacher has a problem with you studying another style of MA at the same time as learning from him, he is likely a chump. A good teacher is confident in what he does.

Don't sign into any contracts for any reasons, until you have a lawyer look it over. Most MA schools here don't require a contract and only care that you pay upfront each month.

“	I am really undecided between Ninjutsu, Muay Thai and Kung Fu (Shaolin/Choy Lay Fut or Northern).	”

Also, you do realise there are more options than just those three ? For example, Mixed Martial Art schools, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Filipino MA, Karate, Judo, Sambo, Boxing, etc.

I also want to add, you are just starting MA for the first time. Don't assume you are going to start with one thing and stick to it for 10 years straight. It's no shame to leave a place you don't feel right in to go somewhere more to your tastes. Not just that, but as you train your aims and goals will change. That is the natural course of training any MA. As you grow you change, and so does your MA requirements. Though, I do hope you find somewhere that is cool enough to warrant staying for 10 years or more. They are out there.

[Ymer]

Hey,

Thanks for the prompt reply, very helpful indeed!

I do realize there are other styles, I have just narrowed it down to the ones that interest me the most.

I've actually had Karate classes when I was small, and I have practiced Capoeira for 3 years a few years ago.

I guess I'll go and check out the Muay Thai and Kung Fu classes.

Ninjutsu just seemed nifty

Thanks

[Doughboy]

“	I do realize there are other styles, I have just narrowed it down to the ones that interest me the most.	”

fair enough.

“	I guess I'll go and check out the Muay Thai and Kung Fu classes.	”

Check them both out, and give yourself a few days to let it all sink in and think about it more clearly.

“	Ninjutsu just seemed nifty	”

Not always a good reason to learn a MA, though if you are still interested in Ninjitsu, don't just believe what we say, check it out for yourself. However, if you ask my opinion, I will be honest in what I think of something.

[Pope_Wingnut]

howdee

for fitness i would say mauy thai

never done any CLF but it is well represented here

so maybe one of them will give a better picture

and i am a ninja



oops shouldnt have told y'all

gonna have to kill you all now

[Pope_Wingnut]

anybody else noticed we have two ninja smillies

but it only ever posts the one?

[Doughboy]

the other one is a true ninja, and therefore cannot be seen in public.

[Doughboy]

If I could find a ninja school like in Naruto I would go

[Mei Hua]

Avoid Ninjutsu, it's pure crap that will teach you things that are more harmful to you than to your opponent. Also PT and Conditioning are considered detrimental to the training and so are avoided.

Kung Fu (your choice)

Muay Thai

Karate (your choice)

MMA

Judo/Jiu Jutsu


All are good for getting fit and learning practical skills, don't bother with sticking to just one for the next ten years, try a few out till you find one that you like personally and offers you the things you want

[Doughboy]

It is worth saying, that the Bujinkan here looks very different to most schools here that are titled as "ninjitsu" schools. Most ninjitsu schools here are a mish mash of stuff from Police training, JJJ, Judo, etc. with random ninja stuff/weapons thrown in to make it all seem ninja-like.

I'm not much of a fan of either. But felt it should be said that there are more schools that teach Ninjitsu than just the Booj.

[Mei Hua]

Aye, they all come from the Booj though and those not related are fake creations with the name Ninja to capitalize on the fan boys

[Sammygirl]

Are you serious, the bujinkan types actually tell you not to do PT or conditioning?

If I didn't do some kind of conditioning outside my school I wouldn't be able to keep up!

[bobblehead]

CLF of course...

[Mei Hua]

“	Originally Posted By: Sammygirl Are you serious, the bujinkan types actually tell you not to do PT or conditioning? If I didn't do some kind of conditioning outside my school I wouldn't be able to keep up!	”

Yep, it's true.

[Seh]

“	Originally Posted By: Mei Hua Avoid Ninjutsu, it's pure crap that will teach you things that are more harmful to you than to your opponent. Also PT and Conditioning are considered detrimental to the training and so are avoided. Kung Fu (your choice) Muay Thai Karate (your choice) MMA Judo/Jiu Jutsu All are good for getting fit and learning practical skills, don't bother with sticking to just one for the next ten years, try a few out till you find one that you like personally and offers you the things you want	”

x2.

MMA is a crazy workout, as is Muay Thai. The other's are as well, they just give different benefits.

And, welcome to the DL mate.