Earl said:
I live in a small town & 5 art's to choose from. Can any body give me any info ?
1. Ji Hatsu Teki Kenpo Jitsu (Progressive Jiu Jitsu)
2. Danzan Ryu Ju Jitsu
3. Tae Kwon Do
4. Modern Arnis
5. Tai Chi Chuan
Thanks
#4: Modern Arnis is a Fillipino martial art, earmarked by it's application of empty-hand theories toward weapons. Admittedly, I may be confusing that part with Kali/Escrima. I've always wanted to take that because of my ethnicity, but also for the fact that general stick fighting is one of the most applicable self-defense knowledges. Since most of the weapon fighting theory follows a philosophy of "defanging the snake" (disarming your opponent through the direct damage and attack to one's weapon arm), the empty-hand application is earmarked by defensive styles that directly attack an opponent's limbs by striking them directly in the joints, soft tissue or nerve centers as you're being attacked. Very vicious stuff.
The real draw of Arnis is its single-stick fighting theory and techniques. Not only are direct attacks and defenses taught, but also grapples, throws, joint locks and chokes that can be applied with the stick. That is where it get's real brutal.
I couldn't find much on the first style listed, but if I'm going off of the rough translation, it is probably more similar to the second syle listed than to merit too much differentiation in real-life application. According to this site
here, "The Danzan-Ryu is a synthesis of the best techniques of the ancient jujitsu schools (Yoshin, Kosogabe, Shibukawa-Ryu, Yoshin-Ryu, Namba-Shoshin-Ryu), Okinawan Karate, Chinese Kung-Fu, Hawaiian Lua, Filipino knife fighting, and traditional Japanese restorative massage and healing techniques. It was developed by Professor Henry S. Okazaki whose school, the Kodenkan, was headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii." Sounds like a centered amalgamation of older Jujitsu styles with other arts thrown in to compliment the grappling with striking.
TKD and Tai Chi Chu'an are more "traditional" martial arts and information is readily available on both. Even though the term TMA has become a bit taboo with MMA fans/practitioners, if you have never studied any sort of Martial Art before, you will definitely benefit. A large part of Martial Arts that is largely neglected and ignored by many current practitioners is the philosophical aspect. Many times, a sound mind will help you prevail through times of physical danger with greater success than pure physical skill or prowess. It doesn't matter if you're a badass if you keep on getting into situation where you need to prove it. Eventually you will get beat up, or worse.
I hope that helps.