Japanese Martial Arts Aikido

Martial Arts and Fitness? Beginner?

Hello everyone,
I am 14 and I’m struggling with losing weight (I am currently a little overweight). My ultimate goal is to have a tone, athletic body. Nothing bodybuilder-like though.

I’ve been told that one of the best things to do around my age is join sports, and I’m really interested in martial arts! But I’ve never done any, I’m a complete beginner. I know there are many different types of martial arts, so what should I join? I’m mostly interested in kicking because my legs need more work than my upper body does.
I have a little obsession with everything Japanese-related, so I was thinking about Aikido but I’m not very sure.

Thanks in advance!

I have to agree with Ned. If you want to do Aikido, go for it. You’ll still build up a good sweat, but I don’t believe there’s too much in terms of kicking or even punching – a little bit, I believe, but not a lot. It’s mainly about grappling or joint locks and such, although someone who has more knowledge/experience with Aikido could explain it so much better than I.

I’ve always had a fascination with Kendo. If you can find a Kendo dojo, I’d say definitely check it out. I think it’d be wonderful for your fitness, and it’s Japanese-related without being too generic. Not to say karate is generic, but, I think there’s a much bigger market for Karate McDojos than there is for Kendo McDojos.

If you really want to do kicks, perhaps check out Karate places. Just keep in mind that even in Kendo or Aikido, footwork and leg strength is important. So no matter what martial art you take up, your legs will get worked.

Also, if you mean your legs are especially chubby and need to lose weight, there’s really no such thing as spot reduction. By working out you’re going to lose weight where weight needs to be lost. Even if you mean that your legs aren’t chubby, but you want to tone them, then just being active and athletic in any sport or martial art, you’ll tone them up.

Really don’t worry about getting a bodybuilder-like body. That’s a common misconception to people fresh to the athletic/fitness scene. They think that you just get that kind of a body by accident, but it really takes years of hard work with that body as a goal in mind. I wish it was as easy as, “Oops, I worked out today, now I’m totally buff!” But it doesn’t go like that.

Keep in mind too that healthy eating habits are important to maintaining a healthy or athletic body. Don’t pursue any fad diets, just eat right, that’s all you really need.

Aikido At Martial Arts of Tucson

Dynamic Aikido – Video 1 – Dynamic Aikio Combat $19.95 RATED “?????” BY INSIDE KUNG FU ——– DYNAMIC AIKIDO COMBAT – Features fast, hard takedowns and throws that dispel the myth that aikido is not a fighting art. Sensei MacEwen teaches basic breakfalls, strikes and kicks, pain compliance, techniques and throws. Sensei MacEwen continues the training with gun disarms, a tricky subject under the best of circumstances. Part of his solution is pure qui…

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Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Katana – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Wallmonkeys Peel and Stick Wall Decals – Katana – Removable Graphic WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Budo: The Art of Killing $7.99 Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 01/25/2005…

Japanese Weapons: Jo Jitsu $19.99 This video you will be introduced by Master Akeshi into the mysteries of controling this weapon, starting from its correct size and use depending on who is using it, to the complicated execution and learning process of this weapon. Thjs is secially interesting for the Aikido practitioners. It will fill their needs and curiosity. This is an essential work on traditional weapons that should from par…

Dynamic Aikido – Video 7 – Advanced Aikido Defense Part 1 $19.95 ADVANCED AIKIDO DEFENSE Part 1 – Sensei MacEwen shares the core self-defense curriculum of his school on these incisive teaching videos. —— RATED “?????” BY INSIDE KUNG FU —— AIKIDO is an art formulated in the 1930′s by Morihei Uyeshiba. He took elements of several Japanese arts including wrestling and fencing and combined them with his own philosophical outlook to create one of Japan’s …

The Art of Peace: Teachings of the Founder of Aikido $2.87 These inspirational teachings show that the real way of the warrior is based on compassion, wisdom, fearlessness, and love of nature. Drawn from the talks and writings of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the popular Japanese martial art known as Aikido, The Art of Peace, presented here in a pocket-sized edition, offers a nonviolent way to victory and a convincing counterpoint to such classics as Musa…

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Dynamic Aikido (Bushido–The Way of the Warrior) $3.23 Aikido-a martial art deriving its effectiveness, like judo and karate, from the flow of ki– techniques that, when thoroughly mastered, enable the gentle to overcome the strong — exercise and sport for men and women of all ages, based on natural movements and harmony of mind and body Ancient theory, modern practice: Dynamic Aikido brings together the whole spectrum of theoretical and applied aiki…