Ok so I know a few of the folks on this board take martial arts other than me.
so here is my question,


What martial art should I get my next black belt in?

a requirement for the type of Kenpo I study is that after black 2 you have to get atleast a blackbelt in another stype to advance to black 4. (note black 3 comes after black 2 but you get till black 4 so I thought it would be easier to explain.). At my dojo they have Jujitsu, BJJ, Aikido, Aiki Jijutsu, Judo and Tae Kwon Do, but none of those really interst me, since we have all of it mixes in with my current style.

More helpful info, I live in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex.

Thanks for any input

Rev

also please let me know what styles you study so I can then ask more questions.

I trained in Tae Kwan Do for a year, so my opinion is pretty limited, but from all I have seen and read, I think Aikido would be my choice if I were to be looking at starting training right now.

Of course, other than Aikido, I believe Kung Fu is a very graceful and formidable discipline. Either would be a good choice.

I did TKD as a kid but as an adult I have done Akido and Judo.... Judo was more my style... but I would take BJJ if I had all those options open to me.

To get a black belt in BJJ would take many years unlike somthing per say....TKD (pay me $500 and well GIVE you a belt in under 2 years). I am personally a huge Judo fan so that would be my suggestion. I was also a wrestler from age 6-18 and actually still coach part time during the season.

Anyone of those you listed would be great in my opionion...and if you already have some grapling and throws/take downs, then shoot for TKD.

I did BJJ for a short while ($$ pretty much ended that) and after that some Judo with a friend who was training for trial outs for the Olympics (he almost made it) and currently some grappling for a work out with a couple friends. So to answer what do I study at the moment..nothing regimented.

It depends on what you want to do with it. I assume if you already have a black belt in something then you are probably not too worried about getting beat up at a bar. I have a black belt in TKD, but to be honest my "real" fighting skills do not get refined and honed until I started amateur kick boxing. Even when I first started boxing I had a hard time keeping my eyes open when someone punched at me. Kick boxing would be my recommendation. You won't believe the way it will solidify your current skill set. Maybe do some wrestling or judo too.

A friend of mine was studying san soo at one point and he was praising the ability of the style to succeed in street fighting. The problem is he could never practive any of his moves while sparring. Any style that cannot refine skills with sparring is worthless in my opinion.

I was going to say Kick boxing as well only problem is his art requires a "black" belt to continue on. Kick boxing is something I wish I had time to do. Its one tough sport if you can find a great gym. I even have Duke Roufus's school really close to my house. AH so much to do so little time.

Was trying to find the article my friend was in in SI a few good years back where he talks about the route he took. Name is Jon Stowe if you can find anything.

He started TKD when he was, like, 10. Won a few nationals and even a world or two, I do believe. I think he's up to a 3rd degree or something now at 25/26. Kid was good. Has quite a few dojos around the country now that he started.

He eventually got into BJJ to compliment his stand up fighting abilities and is still studying in Arizona or something, I do believe.

If you don't have much skill in the way of grappling, BJJ would be my choice.

But then again, I wrestled for years throughout school and wasn't too shabby, so I'd probably pick back up on the TKD lessons I was taking with Jon back in the day. (That and I am biased about ground fighting :P)

I personally would go with Ju Jitsu if kick boxing is not an option. It lets you turn your enemy's advantages over you (weight, strength, speed) into weaknesses for them by focusing on counteracting their movements and turning it into an advantage for yourself. Coupled with another more offensive oriented discipline it'd work well.

Silat.

I guess the bigger question is what you would like to be able to do after learning the new discipline? Are you looking to be more proficient at a certain skill set, or do you just want to get something out of the way so you can advance in Kenpo only?

edit to add: I'm not very proficient in any particular discipline myself. I did some TKD in high school and then some Jeet Koon Do(if you could really call this a discipline) in college.

I am looking for something I can continue taking but that complements Kenpo well. for example, I am extremely proficient with my hands and weapons, but I dont kick above the knee unless I have to. BJJ is a thought or JuJitsu, either of which I could take at my current dojo, but i want to expand my knowledge of other arts that arent easily obtained where I am.


Rev