Drawing Exercises

What is a easy martial art for a beginner and learn on my own?

I want to get into martial arts to get exercise and lose weight. However I do not have the time nor money to get a trainer. Ideas on how to find a local informal club or train on my would be great. When I say an informal club, I mean a group of people who just hang out because they have the same interests. Sorta like a RC car club, only with martial arts. I do not have the time due to my job and because of the same reason (my job requires constant travel) will not be in a city or place long enough to join a club. Difficult to join and go to a dojo in one city if you are not going to be in that city any amount of time. For those wondering, I am an over the road truck driver. Which means I am always gone and never in one place for long. Hence the reason for no time and not able to join a local gym.

Public Comments

1. Actually, the best advice is, if you've no time, you cant learn martial arts. You must have time,patience and will. Arrange your time to find a centre for learning. You can learn in groups... They're scheduled! If i were to learn and encourage people to learn, the type of martial art is Wushu. Its very interesting and it includes self-defense and you can burn loads of calories at the same time. Doing warm ups already makes us sweat!! Take up Wushu!!
2. Boxing
3. First, let me tell you, I think your question is great, and I want you to stick to it. You do have time, just not predictable class or group time. So, the key for you will be solo practice. No, this will never build timing, distance, attack or defense; so don't set those as your solo practice goals. Rather, get to know your body or your weapon, or your body as a weapon, in its own right. My own recommendation is historical European Swordsmanship, German Longsword in particular, and Christian Tobler's guide, Fighting with the German Longsword as your strarting point. If you go to Amazon.com and look it up, you'll see I've written a review there, of that book, and that will give you some further help. But, what if Historical European Martial Arts don't appeal to you? No problem. Your first step is just to go to the book store and start plying the Martial Arts sections. Everyone will tell you that you can't learn Martial Arts from books, and of course they're right. But, you also can't get started, not with your limitations, without books. You'll need them, and DVDs and any other self-instruction manuals you can find interest in. The Japanese say that a student without a master has a fool for a teacher. And yes, they're right. But, teachers have worked their butts off puting the best they've got into books and videos. Have faith in yourself and start there. Next, once you find something you like just get started. Get ready to feel like a fool. It's okay. Kids do this naturally. We adults forget how to be clumsy and be okay with it. Just start moving. Get to know your body, and anything you see a picture of or read about, try to do. If you get hurt, you get hurt. If you're really careful, you won't. But, if you're too careful you won't have fun. Again, trust yourself. Me, I'd rather follow the fool of a teacher I am, than not practice at all. Just start practicing everyday, no matter where you are. You'll find that Tai Chi moves can be done in any hotel room, all by yourself. (The Department store Target has a great Tai Chi Ball DVD and beginner's kit for about $20.) And, if you find a good DVD, and have a lap top, there you go -- or if your budget allows it, you can watch on the hotel's tv with its DVD player, and work your heart out. It'll change your life, once you get started. Last, once you select a specific art to focus on, seek out the drills and master them. Find the simplest ones you can do by yourself first. You'll have to do them thousands of times to get them right. Just begin. Then, as you start doing drills, you'll have something you seek out friends with, whereever you are. You can always share beginner's drills, and suddenly you'll find that there are souls everywhere looking for a good person to practice with. I say, get over to the book store, today!
4. a formal club is better because the most important aspect of marital arts is safety. There is no point training on your own as you need a leader, looking at pictures in a book is no good unless you have already learnt the techniques. to lose weight try Sumo wrestling!
5. I think you should take up cardio kickboxing at a local gym
6. This is a very tough question, you can not simply learn on your own without proper teacher, or a partner, or else you would not know what a heck you are doing, and know what is affective, etc. May be you can post an ad on a local news paper and find a private lesson that can come to your home based on your schedule, if I lived closer, I would. Honestly, if you do not have a time, (money), ......you either make time or forget it.
7. Loren Christensen has a book from Paladin Press in Barnes and Noble called "The Way Alone" that involves solo training I think is very good. This guy is a good martial artist and author. Good luck.:-)