Originally Posted by
SloaneRanger
I just skimmed over this thread so apologies if I missed the 'gist' of it..but are you wanting a MA that incorporates 'Offensive' weapons techniques or 'Defensive' techniques?
Perhaps not the 'Coolest' MA with all the (IMHO largely BS) MMA stuff on TV..but Aikido is my MA of choice for many years Yoshinkai style..Chudokai Federation. I've been out for a while now and am preparing to get back in but I always found after trying several other MA's..Laugar kung-Fu and Shotokan Karate...then American Kempo here in the US (as is most of my Aikido training)..Aikido is simply IMHO (and YMMV)..the best practical self defense MA I have ever tried..great way to dominate an adversary without having to worry about the legalities of having smashed his face in...(although you can do that if you want to incorporate a little more of the Aiki-Jitsu element)..Great, Great knife and gun disarms...but of course no 'Offensive' stuff..unless you travel around with a Bokan, Kitana or a Bow-Staff:D
Any MA will greatly improve your motor skills, reflexes and coordination. i noticed it many years ago when I caught a vase and some other stuff before they hit the floor after knocking them off the counter!!;)