29 Jul 2009, 11:25 pm
30 Jul 2009, 11:18 am
30 Jul 2009, 3:25 pm
30 Jul 2009, 5:07 pm
I've studied Tai Chi (both Chen and Yang styles), Kung Fu (Northern Praying Mantis and Ba Gua Zhang styles), Judo, and Okinawan Karate (Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu styles) for several years (currently studying Karate, Judo, and Tai Chi). I started for the fitness benefits (I'm 6'3", so self-defense isn't usually an issue), but love the mental aspects and have come to appreciate the self-defense applications too.
From a fitness perspective, the martial arts are probably the best all around training program you could design. They build strength, stamina, balance, coordination, speed, and flexibility. They have a focus on core strength which makes them great cross training for any other sport. They're fun, which makes them easy to stick with, and they don't require any special equipment.
On the mental side, I find them very calming, and a good antidote for the stress of work and life. Socialization in the Dojo is usually pretty low key, and there is always something (martial arts) to talk about, which helps. The fact that there is almost unlimited depth to the martial arts between history, theory, and practice, makes the martial arts great if you're looking for a new special interest. 
Testing can be a bit stressful, I think most people (Autistic or NT) get some performance anxiety, but this can be overcome.
My recommendation is to look for a school that feels right for you. If you have a good teacher, the martial art will be fun to study and you're more likely to stick with it. Some schools focus a lot on tournaments, which can really skew the experience. Some others let the senior students run rampant and make life miserable for junior students. Most schools that I've found have a nice focus though. Like most things in life, the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it.
Good luck!
30 Jul 2009, 5:49 pm
30 Jul 2009, 6:26 pm
