Im considering to undertake another martial art.. which one should i choose?hi there,
im a senior karate-ka in shukokai karate, and i am not quitting it; its great.. but now i am considering another martial art.. i am a female, 29 just under six feet.. i have far more strength than cardio (although my cardio fitness is really good), i am not skinny.. more solid if anything and weight train with some cardio too outside karate..
Do you reacon i should do a grappling martial art?? utilising more strength?? i mean i dont see myself prancing and running around predominetly..
any suggestions would be good.. 
whats your definition of senior karate-ka. ive been studying karate for over 30 years and i don’t consider my self a senior. usually that’s reserved for over 7 degree.
you should study an art that you are week in
if your grappling is weak then you should study a grappling art, judo, aikido or a jujitsu. forget the way you were taught to fall. most karate dojo’s teach little or the wrong way to fall if the go over it at all.
if you need to be more soft then you should study tai chi
if you want to improve your kicking then Muay tai, or kick boxing.
always work on your weaker aspects to improve your arsenal of weapons. as you improve your weakness the stronger aspects of your ability’s will also improve. as well as making you a more rounded fighter.
i have studied shotokan for over 30 years, i have taken a little from many styles. jujitsu, goju, shito ryu, tai chi, etc. but i have always gone back to shotokan. this is not the case for every body you may discover a style you feel more comfortable in. and then a again you may not.
but at your age you are not a senior when you get you shodan, nidan or sandan this is only the being of the learning process.and you still have a lot more to learn.
it can take a life time to master one style.
you don’t mention how long you were studying.
edit:> as usually sensei scandal makes a very good point about the hidden techniques in kata. which is one of the reasons i keep going back to shotokan. every time i studied a different style i found those same techniques in the shotokan karate’s. this is why i tell every one it takes a life time to learn one style.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Do Mixed Martial arts. It’s 8 Martial arts combined in one, it involves
Boxing
Kick boxing
Muay Thai
San shou
Judo
Wrestling
Brazilian Jiu jitsu
Karate
It’s basically striking combined with grappling
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September 29th, 2009 at 3:22 am
jeet kune do. sandman
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September 29th, 2009 at 4:00 am
I also am a senior Karateka,I chose Krav Maga.I am a 5th dan in Goju-Ryu,and this system worked perfect for me.It is a deadly style that will match with practically any system out there today.I have had a few of my students also take up this art.The Israeli commando’s have this art down to a tee.It is used in life ,and death situation’s in the military.I am a retired Special Forces soldier,and have had to mix it up a few times on the battle field.I have to say this and my training style combined saved my life.
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Sensei Steve
September 29th, 2009 at 4:30 am
whats a senior karateka?do you mean rank or age?lol.
i suggest keeping your current style as a base then when you get to shodan cross train in muay thai (this will help strengthen your kicks,knees and elbows as well as fitness) for a year or so(at least) then crosstrain in a ground/grappling style such as ju-jitsu(not bjj). be sure to maintain your current style as a base.
EDIT> i agree with sensei scandal to a point there is everything you need in most karate styles and finding the hidden application in kata is very important,BUT crosstraining in styles that compliment what you are learning or have learned will fine tune or hone your skills.thats why i suggested muay thai and japanese ju-jutsu.
References :
me.6th degree in 2 styles of karate and kru in muay thai +++++ others.40 years doing and teaching MA.
September 29th, 2009 at 5:18 am
White Lotus Kung-Fu, if you can find someone alive to teach you.
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September 29th, 2009 at 5:24 am
I would suggest one of the grappling martial arts such as Judo, Chin Na or Japanese Jujitsu.
References :
September 29th, 2009 at 5:37 am
whats your definition of senior karate-ka. ive been studying karate for over 30 years and i don’t consider my self a senior. usually that’s reserved for over 7 degree.
you should study an art that you are week in
if your grappling is weak then you should study a grappling art, judo, aikido or a jujitsu. forget the way you were taught to fall. most karate dojo’s teach little or the wrong way to fall if the go over it at all.
if you need to be more soft then you should study tai chi
if you want to improve your kicking then Muay tai, or kick boxing.
always work on your weaker aspects to improve your arsenal of weapons. as you improve your weakness the stronger aspects of your ability’s will also improve. as well as making you a more rounded fighter.
i have studied shotokan for over 30 years, i have taken a little from many styles. jujitsu, goju, shito ryu, tai chi, etc. but i have always gone back to shotokan. this is not the case for every body you may discover a style you feel more comfortable in. and then a again you may not.
but at your age you are not a senior when you get you shodan, nidan or sandan this is only the being of the learning process.and you still have a lot more to learn.
it can take a life time to master one style.
you don’t mention how long you were studying.
edit:> as usually sensei scandal makes a very good point about the hidden techniques in kata. which is one of the reasons i keep going back to shotokan. every time i studied a different style i found those same techniques in the shotokan karate’s. this is why i tell every one it takes a life time to learn one style.
References :
30 years ma
shotokan shito ryu
September 29th, 2009 at 6:27 am
One of the grapling martial arts would be a good complement to karate.
Ju-jitsu is popular right now, because of its success in the UFC.
But there are others as well. Aikido, HapKido, or even a Greco-Roman club might work.
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September 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am
Don’t listen to all the BS about learning this or that.
Find someone who can teach you the how to discover the applications hidden in the techniques of your kata.
You already have all the techniques you’ll ever need. Learn the mechanics, alignment, etc and you won’t need all the supplemental martial arts.
The biggest misconception and myth comes from people who have a shallow understanding – or rather, NO understanding of their art. You will recognize them by their answers because they use words like "karate for striking" BJJ(Brazilian Jujutsu) for grappling", Tae Kwon Do for kicking".
You need to adapt the "Koryu" mindset.
When you learn your art correctly, you don’t need to use "strength". Your art’s movements are effective when you know the mechanics.
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