Difficult style decisions?

Jack1 · White Belt

Can anybody help?

I'm looking to start a MA in the next few weeks and would appreciate your thoughts on a style to suit.

I have a choice of:
KALI/ESCRIMA
JUI JITSU
WING CHUN
CHOI LEE FUT
MMA (JKD/MUAY THAI/BJJ)

I'm looking for a practical effective and rounded self defence mainly based around blocking and striking but perhaps with some takedown and ground skills.

Now the difficult bit! I work shift work which changes week to week and means I will not be able to train on some days. I would therefore like some thing with a reasonably steep learning curve. This is not to say I'm not prepared to put in the necessary effort!

I've already been to the MMA gym, and although I enjoyed it I was put off a bit by the fact I was learning one style and 45 mins later another. For example we learned some trapping moves in JKD and in the next lesson which was western boxing we couldn't block incoming punches. A bit confusing for the beginner and I feel it may be better to concentrate on one style to start with.

However I would appreciate your expert help and am open to all suggestions.

Thanking you in advance.

Kensai · Black Belt

JUI JITSU
WING CHUN
CHOI LEE FUT

I like these ones, only because they are well rounded and have some nice tradition with them. If I had to choose I would probably go for Choi Lee Fut and Jui Jitsu (Is it Brazlian or Japanese?). With Choi Lee Fut standing techniqes and Jujutsu ground work you are going to be a tough nut to crack.

Jack1 · White Belt

Thanks for advice Kensai.

Would you recommend I start just the one style until I'm reasonably proficient or do both at the same time from go. The classes would overlap on one of the days so I could do 2 days CLF and 1 day JJ if work allowed. Or should I just learn Aikido?!!!

Its Japanese JJ by the way.

Any other opinions out there?

Kensai · Black Belt

Well ofcourse do Aikido if you can....

Seriously, I would do CLF to start with.... I think it gives you some good solid striking and tactical skills to keep you going for sometime. I think perhaps 6 months to a year before you start anything else.

If you can get a good Judo dojo that would be excellent in completeing your roundedness. I say this because Japanese JJ is going to teach you similar things to CLF, so the over lap might be un productive.

jiu-jitsu fighter · Brown Belt

mma
choy lee fut( but be prepared to put your time in)

and kali is really good
_________________
"When we go to the ground,you are in my world, the ground is the ocean, I am the shark,
and most people don't even know how to swim"

Karateka_latino · Black Belt

Kali/escrima may be another good choice.... they do weapons and hand to hand combat training, punching, kicking, trapping, etc...and also they train groundfighting too.
The MMA place seems to have problems with there techniques curriculum, they not seem to be organized yet.

Kirves · Black Belt

MMA would be my #1 choice.

If I had the time, I'd mix some Kali/Escrima in there too.

Wing Chun would be my #2 choice.

And if possible, I'd mix some Kali/Escrima in there too.

TJS · Black Belt

MMA Would be the best choice if you want ot learn effective Fightng.

hongkongfooi · Yellow Belt

try find an original shukokai instructor see how it feels to hit the pads going into with such power creating the shock effect from zero tension

ZeRo · Black Belt

id go for MMA. its very effective and wel rounded, unless you want tradition when id go with jujitsu or wing chun.

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