Don't concern yourself with any of the oriental "martial" arts, unless you are just looking for a dance/exercise routine. Most of them exist only in severely watered-down versions of their original forms, corrupted by emphasis on kata, influence from Hollywood, and even deliberately by the original masters themselves, being highly xenophobic. Know also that absolutely no form of Chinese wushu is derived from actual military skills. You know the whole warring states period? completely pre-kung fu. If you really want to learn to defend yourself, take Krav Maga, or some such practice that has been adopted by the world's armies. Better yet, buy a firearm and learn to shoot it. That takes as much skill as any martial art, if not more. I know.
Martial Arts question - I need a hobby!!!
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Don't concern yourself with any of the oriental "martial" arts, unless you are just looking for a dance/exercise routine. Most of them exist only in severely watered-down versions of their original forms, corrupted by emphasis on kata, influence from Hollywood, and even deliberately by the original masters themselves, being highly xenophobic. Know also that absolutely no form of Chinese wushu is derived from actual military skills. You know the whole warring states period? completely pre-kung fu. If you really want to learn to defend yourself, take Krav Maga, or some such practice that has been adopted by the world's armies. Better yet, buy a firearm and learn to shoot it. That takes as much skill as any martial art, if not more. I know.