Krav Maga, Muay Thai and other full contact martial arts

[E-Bum]

So I want to choose some sort of full contact martial art, like Samba or Muay Thai, or a self-defense full contact style, like Krav Maga. Which do I choose.

What I'm looking for:

I have no experience fighting. I'm athletic and relatively toned, but not ripped (5' 10", 165 lbs).
I want something practical and efficient, that I can rely on during solo travels.
More than anything, I want something that I can start sparring with as soon as possible. I just have this urge to be more confident in my self-defense abilities as quick as possible.
I want something that will give me a good work out, not just technique.

So, does anyone have any experience with Krav Maga? What are your suggestions?

[DireWolf]

Originally Posted by E-Bum

So I want to choose some sort of full contact martial art, like Samba or Muay Thai, or a self-defense full contact style, like Krav Maga. Which do I choose.

I have always really enjoyed Pad Kee Mao.

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by E-Bum

So I want to choose some sort of full contact martial art, like Samba or Muay Thai, or a self-defense full contact style, like Krav Maga. Which do I choose.

What I'm looking for:

I have no experience fighting. I'm athletic and relatively toned, but not ripped (5' 10", 165 lbs).
I want something practical and efficient, that I can rely on during solo travels.
More than anything, I want something that I can start sparring with as soon as possible. I just have this urge to be more confident in my self-defense abilities as quick as possible.
I want something that will give me a good work out, not just technique.

So, does anyone have any experience with Krav Maga? What are your suggestions?

It sounds like you're really wanting something esoteric. Karate is an excellent, effective, and ubiquitous martial art that will give you a good workout if you want it.

Of the less common martial arts you mentioned, Krav Maga is a little more available and if you move somewhere you probably can find another school in that city.

If you're wanting a workout, stay away from Akido.

[Uncle Pollo]

Whatever you do; kick them in the nads.

[old brooklyn boy]

I have been teaching self defense and traditional martial arts for more than 25 years. Most important is getting to the school. If the hours or the location are difficult it becomes easy to miss training. The Style is important because it must fit you or what you want to do. The instructor in that style must be qualified. Not certified by his style as a teacher but qualified to deliver the finished product that you want to be. For that check out not just him but also his students. In order to do this you need the right information to ask the right questions. It like posting here "What bike should I buy?".
I am sending you to this website. It is to fighting what ADV is to riding. www.nononsenseselfdefense.com
Have fun,
Alfred

[E-Bum]

Originally Posted by PolloAsado

Whatever you do; kick them in the nads.

That's the plan.

[PoundSand]

Originally Posted by E-Bum

So I want to choose some sort of full contact martial art, like Samba or Muay Thai, or a self-defense full contact style, like Krav Maga. Which do I choose.

well, you leave samba out, as that is a brazilian dance. however, you might want to consider sambo, the russian martial art that's similar to judo.

[CA Stu]

I recommend 919-fu.

It's focused on punching yourself in the nuts as hard as possible.

[Wannabee]

Krav Maga is a very intense fighting style , the main objective being , never concede to the enemy. Don't stop the fight till your enemy is destroyed , which can be a good thing if attacked.

[SpencerCompton]

I used to get the piss beat out of me by my older brother growing up. Now he's into MMA, specializing in BJJ. I have no technique but I still hold my own at fight night on campus. Knowing how to take a punch can go a long way. Any of the styles you mentioned above would get you enough experience to hold your own.

[achile]

Originally Posted by SpencerCompton

I used to get the piss beat out of me by my older brother growing up. Now he's into MMA, specializing in BJJ. I have no technique but I still hold my own at fight night on campus. Knowing how to take a punch can go a long way. Any of the styles you mentioned above would get you enough experience to hold your own.

Knowing how to punch is not enough. Most people, after taking a punch, cry, run away, stare...people are not used to violence. I am a Bjj blue belt and started training in competitional Judo because the "tachi waza", stand-up fighting in judo, teaches you how to stay on your feet better than Jiu-Jitsu.
In normal circumpstances, I think I can beat the crap out of a judoka if I can keep him at a safe distance. If he manages a throw...i'm dead...these guys are vicios. I trained in muay thai and I think the best style is MMA .

Hand work like a boxer, leg strikes from muay thai(and elbow strikes), tachi waza from judo, ground work from jiu-jitsu...as well as deflecting atacs and using joint locks...

P.S: judokas are pitbulls...don't mess with them

[SpencerCompton]

Originally Posted by SpencerCompton

Knowing how to take a punch can go a long way.

Originally Posted by achile

Knowing how to punch is not enough. Most people, after taking a punch, cry, run away, stare...people are not used to violence.

I dont know if you just mis understood me or what, but that's exactly the point I was trying to make...

[sloMark]

Whatever you choose be sure to get your cardio up...............fatigue makes cowards of us all .

[Bucho]

I've done quite a bit of Muay Thai and some Brazillian Jujitsu. Probably any of those styles you mentioned would work, (Muay Thai, BBJ, Sambo, Krav Maga, ect...). What is so much more important is finding a reputable school/teacher. This is very difficult if you are beginner b/c you don't know any better. There are so many martial art schools that are crap, its tough to find a decent one.

[Bucho]

Originally Posted by Xeraux

It sounds like you're really wanting something esoteric. Karate is an excellent, effective, and ubiquitous martial art that will give you a good workout if you want it.

Of the less common martial arts you mentioned, Krav Maga is a little more available and if you move somewhere you probably can find another school in that city.

If you're wanting a workout, stay away from Akido.

Everyone has there opinions, but please don't take Karate. Perhaps I totally misunderstood but I thought you wanted to learn how to fight and not learn something "esoteric".