switching disciplines

king_of_inismac

I've been doing karate for years (12) and now want to try something different.

I'm based in galway and am considering both boxing and MMA.

I've always had a respect for both disciplines, and would like to try something a little more applied than the karate I've been learning for years (Dont get me wrong, I still love karate, but its time for a change).

Opinions please!

Thanks

spiral

try both

Yilmaz

Give them both a try. I posted a thread a few days ago about martial arts in Galway and got alot of helpful responses. Mark Leonard does MMA classes and I'm sure he'd be well able to advise you. There's also a few nuig clubs if you're a student. All the best with it.

Baggio...

Boxing would by my first choice...Great for developing impact and mechanics.

But give both a go.

Nothingcompares

Daddy or chips?

I'd personnally recommend mma because it's more geared towards adult beginners/novices and very welcoming of people from different martial arts. Boxing, to a certain extent, is a little bit more concerned in developing athletes with potential and may only be interested in youngsters starting a fresh. Don't let me put you off though it could be completely different in your local club.

ch252

Wheres inishmac?:P I do MMA with Mark and I know of people who have done kickboxing, I'll PM you all the details, I can't say anything for boxing clubs though because I have no experience with them and don't know anybody who has...

Judomad

OP what about judo, there are loads of clubin galway, it would be a complete change in sport but would be great as you want change.....as far as i know there is about 4 judo clubs in galway, maybe more!!!

Baggio...

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Boxing, to a certain extent, is a little bit more concerned in developing athletes with potential and may only be interested in youngsters starting a fresh. Don't let me put you off though it could be completely different in your local club.

That's true... But, you can always go the white collar route if your club is looking for a young un'.

pearsquasher

Something different?

Bujinkan in Galway

Japanese and modern but based on 9 schools of classical samurai/ninja arts.
Non competitive though but defo check them out. Instructor is scarily VERY good. I've been doing it for 20 years and have never wanted to try anything else... it's different/new every class.

Baggio...

What about Muai thai?

Charlie3dan

I do karate myself and I've been experimenting in lots of different stuff while still keeping karate as my base. I do a little Muay Thai but I only do it now and then for fun because that style of striking can make you lose alot of the form you need for karate. (That's if you are keeping karate as your base, if not disregard). The same would be true with boxing and MMA style striking.
I'm not saying don't do them just a heads up.

I would recommend Judo as an art that compliments karate very well (again, if you intend to continue karate). Also Bjj is great to give you a much better ground game than you'll ever get from karate. However, if it's pure bjj you might find will miss the stand up, if it's not then the striking will most likely be similar to MT/ MMA striking.

Have a look at what's around and try out a few things. I also really enjoy Capoeira because it's so different.

Keep in mind the old saying: "You go chasing two rabbits, you end up catching none"

Baggio...

To the OP,

Would I be correct in assuming you want to move away form the more traditional arts?


Rob.

cowzerp

I'd say your 2 choices are great, when choosing 1 ask yourself, do you want to learn the great striking from boxing or the whole package from MMA, as a karate person, its the ground you'll mainly learn in MMA.

its really all about what you want to learn, maybe do 6 months of 1 then 6 months of the other, or if your lucky enough try to do both..there's loads of white and blue collar boxing and MMA clubs are everywhere now..plus in the white/blue collar boxing you could test yourself after a short time training!

king_of_inismac

Here's where I stand at the moment.

Karate is a great sport, but realistically thats all it is, a sport.

Of course, you learn how to punch and block which may come in useful in a fight situation, but I for one wouldn't rely on it.

I think if you expect to use a MA for self defense then it must be tested against an unwilling opponent.

At the moment, I'm leaning towards boxing because I have the ultimate respect for boxers, and know what its like to square up against one (I have never got into a street fight, just sparred against guys in the gym).

Charlie3dan

On the contrary, karate is an art, if you've only been competing in the sport side then I can see why you wouldn't expect it to work on an unwilling opponent. But that's a different discussion.....

I would just suggest with boxing that it'll be hard to get used to a much shorter distance and not being able to use your legs for kicks or sweeps. I would find it limiting. (but that's me) Therefore I'd go for MMA.

Baggio...

king_of_inismac wrote: »

At the moment, I'm leaning towards boxing because I have the ultimate respect for boxers, and know what its like to square up against one (I have never got into a street fight, just sparred against guys in the gym).

You can't go wrong with for M.T. or Boxing. If you then add a few decent street survival skills you will have increased you chances exponentially.

cowzerp

Give the boxing a go, it will be totally different than your karate and if taught right is learned quickly, 6 months and you can be very effective! and you'll still have the skills you learned from karate and will probably be able to use them better after boxing for a while.

Baggio...

cowzerp wrote: »

and if taught right is learned quickly, 6 months and you can be very effective!

I totally agree... 6 months of good Boxing skills (or Muai Thai) will pay huge dividends to your game (sport or street).

Damo W

king_of_inismac wrote: »

I've been doing karate for years (12) and now want to try something different.

I'm based in galway and am considering both boxing and MMA.

I've always had a respect for both disciplines, and would like to try something a little more applied than the karate I've been learning for years (Dont get me wrong, I still love karate, but its time for a change).

Opinions please!

Thanks

I suppose it will depend on the type of karate you’ve been practicing, if its one of the ‘hard styles’, kyokushin or its derivatives than possibly some ground work/throws etc would compliment it (from an overall point of view).

If it’s not, than a striking art with more contact might be the one for you.

Although if you try Mark in Point Blank for the mma/bjj you won’t be disappointed, great gym.

Are you giving up karate altogether?

If not are you going to incorporate the new lessons in to your karate?

I think it would be interesting to find out how someone can parallel train in both a TMA and non-TMA (for want of a better description) and whether one will influence the other.

Best of luck with it.