General Chat & Info Board
in Martial Arts & Combat Sports ·
Hello everyone!
I am 24 years old and have been thinking about starting martial arts for a while now. I practiced Taekwondo back in middle school, though I stopped due to other life factors rather than losing interest. Since then, I’ve had periods of training followed by stagnation; I’ve tried various things, but nothing truly stuck. I am in decent shape and quite flexible, though I lack strength 😁. Combat sports have always appealed to me, though a "softer" discipline might be a better fit for my style. I am not interested in grappling, only striking. After some research, I have narrowed my choices down to Taekwondo and kickboxing. I am 5'9" and 123 lbs, with a leaner build; I find it difficult to gain muscle mass, but I have always been fast, agile, and resilient. This would strictly be for recreation. My goal is to build strength without sacrificing flexibility. I am leaning toward Taekwondo because of my history, but kickboxing seems more intense—even if many TKD practitioners eventually transition to it. What would you recommend and why? Also, can anyone suggest high-quality clubs in the Chicago area that accept adults? Thanks. 🙂
I am 24 years old and have been thinking about starting martial arts for a while now. I practiced Taekwondo back in middle school, though I stopped due to other life factors rather than losing interest. Since then, I’ve had periods of training followed by stagnation; I’ve tried various things, but nothing truly stuck. I am in decent shape and quite flexible, though I lack strength 😁. Combat sports have always appealed to me, though a "softer" discipline might be a better fit for my style. I am not interested in grappling, only striking. After some research, I have narrowed my choices down to Taekwondo and kickboxing. I am 5'9" and 123 lbs, with a leaner build; I find it difficult to gain muscle mass, but I have always been fast, agile, and resilient. This would strictly be for recreation. My goal is to build strength without sacrificing flexibility. I am leaning toward Taekwondo because of my history, but kickboxing seems more intense—even if many TKD practitioners eventually transition to it. What would you recommend and why? Also, can anyone suggest high-quality clubs in the Chicago area that accept adults? Thanks. 🙂