Hey all ā
Iām planning to BEGIN a martial arts journey, and Iāve done a little bit of research and have some ideas I want to run by you.
PHYSICAL:
(FWIW, one of the two incidents mentioned above involved a muscular kid {150-175 or so pounds} in his early twenties running straight into me on the subway platform as a train pulled in. I had no time to react, and wouldnāt have known what to do anyway, but he just bounced off me like a rubber ball. This made me feel like I could put my bulk to good use in a fight, if I only knew how. Just including for extra context if it helps.)
Iām planning to BEGIN a martial arts journey, and Iāve done a little bit of research and have some ideas I want to run by you.
PHYSICAL:
- Iām old. Early fifties. Iām obese, and tall. 6ā2ā and 355 pounds.
- Iāve got wonky knees, but recent dieting (Iām down about 80 pounds) and daily exercise has improved them immeasurably.
- Lower body strength is much greater than upper.
- If I knew I could avoid every potential conflict thatās in my future, I wouldnāt be training in MA.
- Iām ONLY interested in self-defense. I totally respect the martial arts, but I wouldnāt participate if I didnāt need to protect myself and my family. Two recent incidents in the NYC subway have lit a fire under my ***.
- I am only interested in training that involves sparring and live practice of technique. I did karate when I was a kid, and the katas never once helped me avoid an ***-kicking (understood that it might have been just the school that was the problem).
- If the training helps me get in shape, or lose weight, awesome! But Iām losing weight on my own now. I donāt want or need a āfitnessā or āworkoutā component for its own sakeāI just want to defend myself if things get physical. I plan to visit local schools and get the lowdown on what shape I HAVE to be in to practice with them and then meet their requirements.
- Iām not interested in competition, even if I could compete. I donāt imagine for a moment that Iāll be able to take on a dedicated martial artist. This is for the jokers in my neighborhood who sometimes get out of hand.
- I donāt want to practice martial arts for personal or spiritual development.
- I understand that as a precursor to training, I need to improve health, learn about situational awareness, etc.
- Boxing? Since I imagine Iād need to lose weight before I start throwing people/getting thrown, I thought I could learn to throw a punch (and take a punch) before I start wrestling.
- Wrestling? Everyone Iāve talked to speaks highly of American wrestling as a great practice for self-defense. If I donāt have to worry about my knees, Iād start here.
- Which would you recommend for my first training? Boxing or wrestling? Are there training approaches or philosophies you value? Or specific NYC-area schools youād recommend?
- If I could, down the road, leverage this initial training to work in a third, more advanced discipline, which would you recommend?
- If this approach needs revision, Iād love to hear your thoughts.
(FWIW, one of the two incidents mentioned above involved a muscular kid {150-175 or so pounds} in his early twenties running straight into me on the subway platform as a train pulled in. I had no time to react, and wouldnāt have known what to do anyway, but he just bounced off me like a rubber ball. This made me feel like I could put my bulk to good use in a fight, if I only knew how. Just including for extra context if it helps.)