Aikido or karate?

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
I am going to start martial arts lessons this summer. I am curious, which style do you recommend? I want to take martial arts to learn the art of it, but i also want to get in better shape. Which is more physically exhilirating? Which is more commonly used? Keep in mind, there is an aikido dojo in my town that is affiliated with sensei seagal. However, it is far away. I wonder if it is worth going to this dojo to learn aikido, or to learn karate at a dojo near my house. Whats your opinion?




"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind"
 

Rodrigo

Lucky Member
Why not do both ?? and as time goes by, you can feel better in one or the other ...
you know, I take a bus and travel for 1 hour to another city to train aikido, so, if you really wanna it, and have money to afford it :), go for it...
I had one judo class many times ago, didn't like it, and then, recently found aikido, which is the best art for me so far, but karate should be great too...
 

cookie

New Member
Reservoir Dog said:
I am going to start martial arts lessons this summer. I am curious, which style do you recommend? I want to take martial arts to learn the art of it, but i also want to get in better shape. Which is more physically exhilirating? Which is more commonly used? Keep in mind, there is an aikido dojo in my town that is affiliated with sensei seagal. However, it is far away. I wonder if it is worth going to this dojo to learn aikido, or to learn karate at a dojo near my house. Whats your opinion

Go along to each class. watch the lesson, see how the teacher is with the students. If you can (like Rodrigo says) start with both and then see which you prefer.

I can't speak for Karate but Aikido is about self defence and you never know when you might need it.

Mind you I would choose Aikido but then I'm biased. [wink]
 

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
I have pretty much narrowed it done to karate, aikido, or fitness kickboxing. I am thinking karate just because it is universally used, but I don't know. There is also kung fu and Tae Kwan Do. Kung fu seems a little cheesy, but I dont know, thanks for the opinions. By the way, didn't seagal use kung fu in belly of the beast? It looked cool. I am a big seagal fan, and like his fighting styles. Never was a big Van damme fan, and i think he does karate. But i dont know if thats a good way to choose.
 

ZenLateralus

Disposition Seagal
I've taken Ishin Ryu Karate (spelling may be wrong) and I overall believe that the practice was redundant and that the only new things that were learned from month to month (belt to belt) were new kadas. When I took Aikido for a while I really loved it and something new all the time. Also there didn't seem to be much of an importance in belt ranking. Of all the Martial Arts I would try to avoid regular American Karate. Now things like Korean Karate may be different but that's where you learn nifty Van Damme kicks. Hopefully this helps. If I had the time and money I would go back to Aikido first, after that maybe Kung Fu or Tai Chi. Hope this helps. I agree with some other people about sitting in on a class. Most schools will allow you to take a free class and sit in on a few.
 

ZenLateralus

Disposition Seagal
I also wanted to mention that karate seems to count more on how much stronger you are than your opponent. No matter how highly ranked you are you have to be very powerful to actually hurt somebody (in self defence) with it. In Aikido we've seen the smallest and lightest people through the largest and most powerful people across the room with ease.
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
Karate vs. Aikido? I say --> Kung-Fu :=)

ZenLateralus: absolutely right about 'American-karate' - it's mostly power, nothing but different katas, and it doesn't by itself improve your strength - only shows what you can do with it basically.

Karate is not too, for a lack of a better word, 'original' for me, and I stuck with Wu-Shu (one of Kung-Fu styles - not 'cheesy' at all) with some Wing-Chun (I use that wing-chun dummy for practice). If you want strength, and I mean muscular power - I suggest you consider that fitness kickboxing you mentioned as an option. However, to gain the strength I think you're talking about (will not be gained by Tai Chi), the training must be rigorous, or it'll be like you're on some diet trying to lose weight by raising your legs and moving your arms (LOL like Tae-Bo :=)).

By the way, if it is muscle gain you want, try weight lifting, but if it's strength you want, don't think of Kung-Fu as 'cheesy' - recall Bruce Lee (one of the strongest men alive in his time). Although he called his style Jeet Kune Do, Bruce mastered Wing Chun first and applied those Kung-Fu techniques further on to develop his own style - having the best techniques of many systems and implementing those into his Jeet Kune Do: “To create a method of fighting is pretty much like putting a pound of water into wrapping paper and shaping it. It possesses everything but in itself is possessed by nothing."

'At any given time his art can resemble Thai boxing, wing chung, wrestling, or karate. Its weaponry resembles Filipino escrima and kali (as was shown in the "Hunted"), and, at long range, northern Chinese gung-fu or tae kwon do.' WBB.

And yes, sit in on the class, and if you don't like the class, it doesn't matter that such discipline is not right for you or that you would not succeed at it. Obviously, you cannot make judgement by one class. Aikido is a POWERFUL martial art which requires virtually no strength as it is not based on the practitioner applying it. Karate in this way is sort of like an opposite (and kickboxing is not really a martial art). If you want a religious aspect to the art, Aikido and Kung-Fu (of the ones you mentioned) would be the best picks.

Good luck, and take care ...
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
yudansha said:
ZenLateralus: absolutely right about 'American-karate' - it's mostly power, nothing but different katas, and it doesn't by itself improve your strength - only shows what you can do with it basically.

Karate is not too, for a lack of a better word, 'original' for me, and I stuck with Wu-Shu (one of Kung-Fu styles - not 'cheesy' at all) with some Wing-Chun (I use that wing-chun dummy for practice). If you want strength, and I mean muscular power - I suggest you consider that fitness kickboxing you mentioned as an option. However, to gain the strength I think you're talking about (will not be gained by Tai Chi), the training must be rigorous, or it'll be like you're on some diet trying to lose weight by raising your legs and moving your arms (LOL like Tae-Bo :=)).

By the way, if it is muscle gain you want, try weight lifting, but if it's strength you want, don't think of Kung-Fu as 'cheesy' - recall Bruce Lee (one of the strongest men alive in his time). Although he called his style Jeet Kune Do, Bruce mastered Wing Chun first and applied those Kung-Fu techniques further on to develop his own style - having the best techniques of many systems and implementing those into his Jeet Kune Do: “To create a method of fighting is pretty much like putting a pound of water into wrapping paper and shaping it. It possesses everything but in itself is possessed by nothing."

'At any given time his art can resemble Thai boxing, wing chung, wrestling, or karate. Its weaponry resembles Filipino escrima and kali (as was shown in the "Hunted"), and, at long range, northern Chinese gung-fu or tae kwon do.' WBB.

And yes, sit in on the class, and if you don't like the class, it doesn't matter that such discipline is not right for you or that you would not succeed at it. Obviously, you cannot make judgement by one class. Aikido is a POWERFUL martial art which requires virtually no strength as it is not based on the practitioner applying it. Karate in this way is sort of like an opposite (and kickboxing is not really a martial art). If you want a religious aspect to the art, Aikido and Kung-Fu (of the ones you mentioned) would be the best picks.

Good luck, and take care ...


Bruce mastered Wing Chun yes but created JKD simply because he knew the traditional kung fu was not effective in a street fight. Some techniques he took from wing chun yes like the trapping in close range but he mainly emphasized techniques from the french street fighting martial art savate and alot of other styles.

A quote from Bruce" I really dont see how posing like a crane or crocidile can make me a better fighter"

;-)
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
Reservoir Dog said:
I am going to start martial arts lessons this summer. I am curious, which style do you recommend? I want to take martial arts to learn the art of it, but i also want to get in better shape. Which is more physically exhilirating? Which is more commonly used? Keep in mind, there is an aikido dojo in my town that is affiliated with sensei seagal. However, it is far away. I wonder if it is worth going to this dojo to learn aikido, or to learn karate at a dojo near my house. Whats your opinion?




"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind"

Anyway to answer your question I would choose Karate and Aikido but first find out what styles of Karate and Aikido they are. Both are fantastic self defense systems as well as in shape martial arts. Dont do aerobic kickboxing, Karate and Aikido gives u a better workout physically, mentally, and spiritually ;-)
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
Why Bruce created Jeet Kune Do? - not the point of my post (or this thread)!

LittleDragon: perhaps it is your age or something, but I do not see the point to your argument. All I said was that Bruce 'applied [Wing-Chun] techniques ... to develop his style.' I did not say that those were the only principles that Bruce went by in order to discover his art. - all that has nothing to do with what I was saying. All I implied was that Kung-Fu was not and is not 'cheesy' and can build strength from within one and be seen from afar. Kickboxing builds muscle (in turn gives you strength) and provides agility.
 

Littledragon

Above The Law
yudansha said:
LittleDragon: perhaps it is your age or something, but I do not see the point to your argument. All I said was that Bruce 'applied [Wing-Chun] techniques ... to develop his style.' I did not say that those were the only principles that Bruce went by in order to discover his art. - all that has nothing to do with what I was saying. All I implied was that Kung-Fu was not and is not 'cheesy' and can build strength from within one and be seen from afar. Kickboxing builds muscle (in turn gives you strength) and provides agility.



I dont see the point to my agruement either perhaps becuase It is not one, since you were bringing up Kung-Fu I decided to emphasize on it a little more to inform the person who is trying to choose between Karate and Aikido ;-)
 

aikidonna

New Member
Hi Reservoir Dog.
Just thought that I would put my 2 cents worth in, and tell you of my experience with both. I began taking American Karate many yrs. ago, and after 6 months decided that it was just not the MA for me. Too many katas to learn, and the emphasis was on competition. I'm not in MAs to compete with others, simply wanted to learn to be able to defend myself in the event I was attacked and keep in shape. It wasn't until years later that I discovered Seagal Sensei's style of Aikido. I don't have to compete, and don't even have to test for belts if I don't want to. Aikido not only teaches me to be able to defend myself, but also gives me a great workout. Try being in a randori with 2 or 3 other students coming to attack you, and see if you don't get a workout too. :D
One other thing that I have to say in defense of Aikido, is that it is really a great MA if you have any type of physical problems. I have had three knee surgeries now on the same knee. With Karate or other MAs I'd probably have had to quit already, but I can still practice Aikido even with my bad knee. Just my 2 cents worth for the day.
Take care
Donna
 

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
Thanks everyone. The aikido dojo I am refering to is taught by one of Steven Seagal's personal students. I would like to go there, but it is pretty far away. Its not convenient for me, and it might be difficult to make the trip their every week. At this point, Tae kwan do and Kung fu seem like the best options.








"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind"
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
Choices - both good ones, but those are about preference mostly.

Well, b/w TKD and Kung-Fu, I personally prefer Kung-Fu. The only thing with starting out in Kung-Fu is that there is a quite different approach that the practitioners have of teaching it as opposed to TKD or karate.

It's the same here: Aikido schools (the 2 or 3 that are here in the Greater Toronto Area) are either in downtown (EXPENSIVE parking - $15/day and would take me about hour and a half drive) or out of GTA; and as I'm in the middle of my studies, there's little time for me to start something new.

All in all, Both TKD and Kung-Fu are excellent martial arts.
 

yudansha

TheGreatOne
Good luck with your endeavours ...

Hey don't mention it! And good luck with whatever path you choose to follow, I was just here to enlighten you on some of the choices you could be making.
 

Gary Gabelhouse

New Member
Karate/Aikido/Kung Fu/Etc.

Hello,

I'm a bit late here on this thread, gomen nasai. I have studied Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do for going on 20 years. I have been studying Daitoryu for nearly 10 years. From my perspective, I would not so much look at "the art" so much as I would evaluate "the instructor."

Either of the arts you have mentioned are complete arts (with the exception of aerobic kick boxing and possibly with the exception of American Karate no flames intended). While I KNOW that Daitoryu does not require strength and size to be effective, Karate-do eventually follows the same path. Early on, perhaps it does seem to be very strength, size and power oriented. Eventually, however, and from my experience, one's practice will transcend size and power.

Almost all of the Okinawan masters were old men under 5' 6" and all around 130 lbs. They had no problems with me in my younger years--and I am 6' 4" and 250 ;-) Karate is cool, so're all the others. However, consider evaluating the teacher . . . rather than the art. A bad teacher can ruin any art. A good teacher can make any art work for their students.

My opinions.

Best Regards,
Gary Gabelhouse
 

Reservoir Dog

MRKD4DTH
LOL. One more question guys. Are any of you familiar with the style of "hapkido". There is a dojo that teaches it close to my house, and I was thinking of taking that. Okinawan Karate Do is also offered but a little farther. The aikido dojos turn out to be in very dangerous neighborhoods, especially at night, and I dont want to travel down there that late. But, back to hapkido and karate do, How do these two stack up?

Thanks.


"Chance Favors the Prepared Mind"
 
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