With so many Martial Arts Academy to choose from, which one is best for your personal needs?

Where I currently Train

My Titles
Before we get started, if you are wondering why my opinion on this matters, here is my background.
https://steemit.com/sports/@embomb701/what-makes-me-qualified-to-talk-about-mma-bjj#@vishalhkothari/re-embomb701-what-makes-me-qualified-to-talk-about-mma-bjj-20180119t140938378z

While there are many Martial Arts out there, they all have different uses, and to make selection even more confusing choosing a style alone does not guarantee that the academy is legitimate.

First you have to establish what you goal is. Are you looking to lose a few pounds, have some fun and make some friends? Or are you looking to learn self defense? Do you want to test you new skills in competition or are you happy just practicing?

Here I will list the most common Martial Arts Academies you will see and what their pros and cons are (If they are Legit).

Muay Thai from Thailand. ... Muay Thai is a for of Kickboxing which allows Knees and Elbows. It roughly translates to 8 limbs. (2 Fists, 2 Elbows, 2 Knees, 2 Shins). You could expect to learn the best Martial Art there is for fighting against a standing opponent. Training in your choice clothing.

Pros:

• Governing body for the sport, ranking system made by actual fights.
• This will get you in great shape.
• This will teach you how to fight on your feet.
• There is competitions to test your skills.

Cons:

• Most fights end up on the ground inside of the first 10 seconds.
• In order to gain proficiency you need to eat clean and train hard/seriously.
• You will go to work with bruises and limping on occasion
• If you use this art to defend yourself in the street you will likely cause injury to attacker which might end up costing you money or even jail time depending where it happens.
• The atmosphere is more like a boxing gym where people do not get too familiar.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu from Brazil. ... This is the best self defense Martial Art Period. This is the use of grappling to force your opponent to the ground, establish a dominant position then impose your will, whether it be striking or forcing you opponent to submit (choke unconscious, Break joints, etc). Training in a Gi or in your choice clothing on some days.

Pros:

• Governing body Internation Brazillian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). The IBJJF is an actual competition and governing body.
• The government body weeds out most fake gyms and fake gyms can be exposed by someone with experience walking in. (look up Youtube Fake Black Belts exposed).
• You can train hard with very low risk to injury, which lets Jiu Jitsu practitioners learn the art faster than any other art.
• Jiu Jitsu combines wrestling and Judo techniques for taking your opponent to the ground.
• In a real fight this art can be used to subdue an opponent without causing any injury, this could save your life, knock out your opponent (with a choke), and there is no injury for your attacker to sue you for.
• There are tons of competitions with all skills levels to test your skills.
• You will make tons of friends.
• You will get in shape without realizing it.

Cons:

• Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), is on the expensive side, between academy fees and gear, but well worth it.
• While it does teach you to take an opponent to the ground, (where most fights end up), it does not teach striking against a standing opponent.
• Lots of fake academies out there.

Kyokushin Karate. ... Traditional Karate is a decent self defense art with a strict class format. Lots of traditional Martial Arts kicking and punching. Training in Gi.

Pros:

• Governing body WKKF that hosts actual competitions.
• Great for teaching children discipline.
• Great exercise.
• Decent fighting system for stand up combat, easily bested by Boxing, Kickboxing or Muay Thai.

Cons:

• Not many competitions to compete in.
• Strict format makes adults feel silly, for example being scolded for being late as if it is more important that work.
• No training on ground fighting.

Kung fu from China. ... WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. Out Dated I will not go into details, but there is a governing body that hosts competition.

Taekwondo (TKD) from Korea. ... Mainly kicking Martial Art and Olympic Sport. Training in Gi.

Pros:

• Governing Body kukkiwon, that hosts competition events.
• Excellent way to get in shape and improve flexibility.
• Competitions easy to find.
• Great way to make friends.
• Great way to help raise disciplined children.
• Fancy and Flashy style.
• If you are great you can go to the Olympics.

Cons:

• So many garbage Academies that are more interested in money than producing skilled practitioners.
• Not very practical in a real fight.
• No ground training, and practitioners are likely to fall doing all those flashy kicks.

Ninjutsu from Japan. ... Garbage, no real places to train, nor prove that the teaching works. No governing body, any certificates are made up nonsense.

Krav Maga from Israel.... Garbage, no real proof that teachings work. The so called Governing Body was invented by some guy who never fought in any competition, and there is no competition hosted by the governing body or anyone else for that matter.

Boxing... Needs no introduction. Training in your choice clothing.

Pros:

• Several governing bodies, all legit.
• Learn how to punch better than anyone.
• Learn balance and get into great shape.
• Plenty of competitions to try out.
  Cons:
• Be prepared to get beat up, training means getting hit.
• No many friends to be made in a boxing gym.
• Requires a lot of time to gain skill.
  Wrestling/Judo ... Similar to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with some variations. The only difference being in wrestling there is no submissions and in Judo there are limited submissions.

Mixed Martial Arts... Simply a term used to describe an Academy that teaches one or more discipline with at least one for striking and one for grappling. Train in your choice of clothing.

-Pros:

• There is governing bodies associated with individual promotions. Ranking system based on Actual Fights.
• Excellent conditioning.
• Lots of competitions available.
• Most complete fighting form.
• Takes the best attributes of Striking or Grappling and the transitions between the two.
• Many Gyms that offer MMA also offer BJJ and a striking art independently also.
  Cons:
• Be ready to get beat up, it is a rough sport.
• If used in the street like other striking forms you could get in trouble.
• Lots of bogus gyms around.
• Takes a long time to become proficient.

How to spot a legitimate gym.

Friends and family ask me this all the time and I always have the same answer, look at their credentials. Now I am not talking about a Bio that says, "Black belt under this guy, and Black belt under that guy". Depending on what are you are looking to learn it is a bit different. For example, if you want to train TKD, see if the instructor is at least a 5th Degree Black Belt registered with the Kukkiwon, then see if he has an titles. If you are talking MMA, see if the instructor or any of the fighters in the academy have fought Pro and if they have any titles. In Boxing, see if the Academy has any Titles. Jiu Jitsu, same, see if the instructor is registered with IBJJF but more importantly look for titles. For example.
It is very simple, do you want to take lessons from a self proclaimed or even "Certified" expert, or someone who has proven themselves in competition? If you wanna learn Martial arts from someone who got their certificate inside of a cracker jack box, join a Krav Maga school. If you want to learn from a pro, find an Academy with a list of fighters that fight out of that gym, or a list of Titles won in competition by the Instructor or their students. ** But be careful, anyone can claim a title, but legitimate titles can be proven quickly with just a few minutes of digging online.

All of the above is my opinion only, feel free to comment even if you disagree.

Frank Aiello 3/16/2019