Do you think martial arts, like karate, is over-rated and of little to no use?

i think it's very useful. for children it can be good so they can learn how to respect authority and teaches them when to fight and when not to.

I think that some form of protection is better then none. If someone is trying to harm you, it is better to try something that may not work, then to have no knowledge of that at all.

It is of great help when it is needed the most.

I like how you put that, but I'd like to expand a bit on what you're trying to say. I think people will read your post and think, "useful for fighting, right?" but martial arts are so much more than that, it's not something to be taken lightly, it's more a lifestyle change, and a good one, considering today's love of gluttony and greed and selfishness. I'd consider it for anyone, especially younger kids as it instills a sense of discipline and respect at an early age that they will carry with them all their lives.

It builds up self-esteem with some people there fore it is good in it's own way.

I've had training in three and hold belts above "total newbie" in two.

For self defense, personally, I prefer avoiding situations where I need to defend myself. If I'm forced to defend myself, I would prefer to do it from several feet away, which would entail using a gun. If I have no option but to be close enough to use a martial art.....

My first pick is aikido. I liked the way my instructor worded it, "With aikido, I will teach you how to run away". Basically, the purpose of aikido is to give you the skills to knock someone down (easily) so you have the chance to get away. I liked that.

My second choice is kenpo karate. Virtually no leaping into the air, which I find silly, and lots of focusing on blocking and punching.

My least favorite, as self defense, is tae kwon do. Too many kicks, too much leaping in the air. Looks more like ballet than self-defense. And, this is the only style which insisted I learn to protect myself just in case a tree attacked me, by breaking boards.

Having said all this, a marital art, if you go to a legitimate school, and not a belt factory, teaches discipline, focus, and is a really good exercise program. In addition, some of them actually teach you to defend yourself in hand-to-hand situations. If you go to a "belt factory", you probably aren't going to learn anything much. I prefer the smaller schools, which aren't on every street corner. Usually, they're run by people who are actually going to teach you the style. happy mylot day.

i dont think martial arts are overrated, maybe some practitioners are overrated, especially when it comes to competitions. any martial art discipline is very effective once the practitioner knows how to properly use the techniques. no matter how great the discipline is once the practitioner is not dedicated to it, it would remian useless.

It builds up self-esteem with some people there fore it is good in it's own way.
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Nice discussion happy mylot day.