I am considering taking a martial art. My chief goal is conditioning, but I would like to learn something practical. I have handeled myself as a security guy while working in radio in the past. But those techniques bascally involved putting someone down, or locking them up until the BIG guys could get to me and take over.
I don't have a hot temper, and I don't want to go to competitions

My requirements:
1) I still work as a professional musician, so I need something that will be somewhat easy on the hands.

2) Practial (again) I really don't have 40 years to master Tai Chi defense. I have not intention of using Swords or other exotic martial arts weapons.

3) Something that exists in the general San Jose area.


I was considering these guys http://www.academyselfdefense.com/
I think something like Krav Maga is what I am looking for.

let the experts chime in

 

Take a week trial from a few schools and see wich one you like the best.

http://www.switchboard.com/bin/cgidi...=1&QX=1&C3P=-1

 

AKA, American Kickboxing Academy

http://www.akakickbox.com/

 

If you want to just be able ot beat the **** out of someone with as little philosophy fuss as possible, Krav Maga is a good choice.

Other arts like TKD and Muay Thai (kickboxing) wouldbe good too, but they tend to have a little more time spent on 'centering' and philosophy, etc.

 

Muay Thai and Brazillian Ju-Jitsu/Traditional Ju-Jitsu. That combo is pretty much covers it.

-Gagan

 

i agree with Gagan. a lot of schools that train in Muay Thai also train in BJJ, or at least thats the case at my gym....

 

This is a Muay Thai place that also does boxing and BJJ. You said you wanted to be easy on the hands, I'm sure they can accomodate.

+1 I used to train there, great place; some of the more "practical street defense" orientated gyms will have @ssholes, AKA's got great people.

 

aikido, all about hand to hand combat, and taking out ur opponent without hurting them (too much).

 

+1! Also agree with Krav Maga.

If you're scared of jacking up your hands, DO NOT do any style of full contact karate (Kyokushin, Oyama, etc.). Let's just say there's a term called "karate hand" and it ain't pretty

No offense to aikido practitioners, but it's a pretty impractical style in that it takes a long time to be proficient, and that its techniques are not quite as foolproof as they should be. Just my 2 cents.

 

I would suggest taking Kenpo. There are a few schools in you area that use the original James Mitose / Edmund Parker style. In just maybe 2 or so lessons, you will learn techniques that you can already use in an everyday type of confrontation against a potential attacker.

 

bbj/tai kick boxing proably the best, what they call mma, mixed martial arts. or krav maga but i don't know anybody thats does that so can't reccomend. boxing isn't bad but not too good for submission (security work) - quickest to learn, not too bad on hands. aikido/regular jui juistu/judo are great but will take a while to become practical. just my 0.02 cents.

 

I take Shou Shu Kung Fu. It is a soft style without any wasted motions or motions for show. I have been taking it for over a year and I love it. It is a fighting art in the purest sense of the word. If interested come in for a free private lesson.

http://www.shoushukungfu.com/

If you decide to sign up let them know Mr. Mazur sent you. Any other questions feel free to ask.