The Pursuit of the Black Belt

On my list of goals, I said that I want to obtain a black belt in a martial art. Here comes, the hard part, what martial art should I pursue?

This kind of activity is much like investing, it takes careful planning because, at the course of the pursuit, there will be times of doubt, once I know that I have made the right choice, the higher the chance that I will stick to it and obtain the belt.

I have been thinking a lot about this, since obtaining a black belt in a martial art means investing my time, money and body (you may get injured).

Let's see the given variables (me and my condition).. I'm in my 30's, not getting any younger, I'm small, cerebral and doesn't want to get knocked out. I value my brain cells and would like to live a normal life in old age, without punch drunk, dementia or any brain damage. I don't want to fight.

I have a previous experience in martial arts, a knockdown full contact karate, old school style called Kyokushin. Its like muay thai with bare knuckles, no gloves, and you win only when you knock your opponent out or down. And this experience has taught me, fighting will either make you a monk or a maniac.

I became a monk. Metaphorically speaking, fortunately.

So I also want a martial art that does not harm people. But equally effective when there's no other choice. Karate is out of the picture since its a hard style. Bruises and broken bones are its cup of tea. Muay thai and boxing is out as well, even though I admire those arts. I think any form of striking is out. Its either brain damage for me or brain damage for my opponent. Both of which I don't want to have a part of.

Which leaves me with grappling arts.

What's amazing about grappling is you don't need much strength to practice the art. You don't need to be taller. Its cerebral and it doesn't hurt the other person unless you want to. Its the perfect art for me.

My first option was aikido, after reading the book "Angry White Pyjamas" and watching some demonstration from youtube of a master throwing people like paper, I almost got into it. There was one little problem with the art. Nobody would hold your wrist in a fight. Aikido's techniques needs to be performed when the opponent holds your wrist. In the times of the samurai this would have been relevant, as your enemy might try to prevent you from drawing your sword and thus hold your wrist. But today, if someone wants to hold you, it would be more than just wrists.

I always wanted to learn judo. Perhaps if I had been more attentive in my youth, I would have learned the art. But circumstances has made me miss the chance. I'm contemplating the possibility of learning judo, but the thought of it as being physically demanding, makes me a bit wary, same goes for Greco-Roman Wrestling.

Jujitsu. This I think is the perfect art for me. I did attend one class just to try it out, and I liked it. Less focus in conditioning and building strength and more time with sparring / rolling / techniques. No striking and less injuries. The art is effective, because every training session, you go against a person who will 100% defend or resist your attacks. A focus on technique rather than strength. I have seen smaller guys tapped out someone bigger than them. In striking arts, this is not possible. As proof than even 5lbs advantage from a boxer can kill.

I think I found my art now comes the pursuit of the goal.