boxing or mixed martial arts or karate?

Ninja_Pro has given you a great answer.

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When you decide to begin training in martial art you have some questions you have to answer for yourself. Are you looking for a sport to play, an art to dedicate a lifetime to, or a quick fix method of self defence? Some combination of that perhaps? Most of us are, or were all three at times. Where do your priorities lie? You must first decide martial art , or fighting sport. The two are worlds apart, although they overlap in several areas, their mindset, and intent are opposite. You have to know also what is available to you. If you have Uechi-Ryu, and Bak Mei in your area, wanting to do TKD would not help you. Of the available options you must decide which one(s) interest you. Then you have to decide (take your time, it's important) which available instruction is the one for you. You can change or quit if you don't like it, but better to stay with the program right through (providing the program is a good one) for the best training. Style-hopping has in my experience cost many a martial artist their potential, so choose wisely, nobody here can tell you what to do for you. So do your homework well. Talk to instructors and students, watch classes, take 'free introductory' classes, make your decision. One more thing, good luck

It depends on why you are getting into it, if it is purely self defense- Karate. If not take your pick.

Boxing- good hands

A boxer is good in the street against a novice fighter. They tend to get thrashed by people who can kick. They forget that the legs is a good place to hit because all they care about is the basic punches.

Karate- Good striking

With this you should get a good all around striking knowledge, with the addition of basic throws and locks. This is more self defense, I believe the tournament fighting goes up until someone gets a point. Then you start again.

MMA- Fundamentals of fighting

Now, I know a lot of people are going to disagree, but they need to read this properly. I call this the fundamentals of fighting because you have to learn how to fight. EVERYWHERE. the point is, not everyone will box you, not everyone will throw leg combinations in the mix. Not everyone will strike- some people like locks, and submissions. Basically MMA is about beating your person where ever they are. The biggest problem is that they never attack critical areas. Which means it is ill-advised to bring it to the streets. You can always change where you hit, but the rule of thumb is you will fight how you train.

Onto this Bs about fighting with a blind-fold on. It won't work, it is just a movie.

boxing= fun. I box with my friend all the time. Even the mma gym he goes to teaches that its just for competition, not self defense.

Karate- good, If taught the right way. Ive seen a video of a well trained black belt in gung-fu doing work to a well trained black belt in karate, but thats probably just down the individiual fighter. most karate schools in America are a joke. Just find one that is taught in a real way (an awarded school is usually not a good one)

MMA. all i know about mma guys is that they are over confident and taught to fight with a bible sized book full of rules. MMA schools are often about the money, like Karate, but there can be good schools. I dont know enough to tell you more.

If you just want to learn to fight like van damme blind folded, I think you are taking martial arts for the wrong reason. you will not be a super hero (well maybe in 20 years of daily training)

Most places will let you try out a few classes either free or really cheap.

I'd recommend trying boxing, karate and MMA and seeing which one you like the best. The tip to real fighting is being in good shape and not being afraid to take a punch so any of the three should be fine for that.

MMA is karate and boxing. Since your ignorence towards the martial arts is very high i would also like to say mma isnt just ground fighting its a lot of stand up to if you ever whatched it before. Now if you just do MMA classes thats diffrent. Its a class where your instructer has a fighting system and trys to put it all in one to learn. You know like whatever styles of fighting he knows. like say karate and wrestling and some boxing.

Van Damme was taught Tai Kwon Do and he HATES boxing and MMA. I watched a movie about his biography and what he does everyday. karate is similar to tae kwon do.

If you pick out a westernized martial art you won't get many good things out of it except some broken bones and a very short temper. I suggest something more traditional. Martial arts is not supposed to be about violence and fighting. A calm relaxed fighter is no match for a tense fighter with no form.

Blood sport? Fighting with blind folds. You want a Mcdojo, and not actually learn how to fight. You should learn Dim Mak touch of death.

Boxing, if youre going to offensively attack someone, someday in your environment.

Martial Arts, if youre going to defend yourself someday against someone in your environment.

A gun, if youre in an environment with armed and dangerous peeps..

easy mma has boxing karate bjj wrestling its mixed martial arts why do one sport when you could do all of them together and mma if you have power in your hands its realy fun i have power in my hands and i work more boxing and wrestling in mma it gets fun in sparing you get ko people i do good luck hope best bro