What is the best fighting style to get in shape?
I'm looking to get in better physical condition, and I figured I'd take a fighting class. Any suggestions on fighting styles?
Muay Thai.
10 Answers
The best style to strictly get into shape is either jiu-jitsu, or submission grappling. The constant struggle for better position will make you work muscles that you never knew you had.
I am a black belt in American Karate (aka Kickboxing) and trained in jui-jitsu and pancration for the down fighting. To get in shape, the kickboxing/muay thai beats out grappeling because of the full body work out and heavy cardio training. A kickboxing studio will be easier to find and will be easier on your knees and injuries over muay thai version once you start to spar. Muay thai will work your legs harder but at the expense of more injuries but the training is about the same as kickboxing, fighting style and rules are the main difference. Once you are in shape then I would look into grappeling to further develop muscles and ground fighting to complement the upfighting you get from kickboxing. (90% of all street fights end up on the ground within 2 mins)
The best fighting style to get in good shape is "to the death" fighting style.
I was getting bored with the gym so I asked myself this same question. I wanted to stay away from belts so I looked at either kickboxing, boxing, or Krav Maga. Krav Maga fit my schedule and I can personally attest that it's a great workout. Aggression is the main focus of every class and intensity is pushed to the limit. Expect multiple sets of punching/kicking/elbowing/kneeing pads done at 100% in every class. Lots of fun.
The best one is the one that you like and will stick with. The idea behind martial arts is supposed to be about using skill to overcome attributes like size, strength, or speed. If you participate in just about any martial art, it will provide you with varying levels of exercise. My own experience is that your drive and love of the art will push you to partipate in other activiities like conditioning and resistance training that can help with your training of that art. I'm partial to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but won't say that it's a killer workout because that's not the point. There are plenty of fat old guys that can mop the floor with 18 year old studs. That's the point of the art.
Muay Thai.