1) Traditional 'Asian' Martial Arts: Different styles of Karate (Okinawan vs Japanese), Kung Fu (Shaolin, animal styles) etc that emphasize the personal moral and spiritual development as much as the fighting aspects of the art. In general you may need a longer time to attain a level of proficiency with the techniques, and there is an element of cultural involvement.
2) Sports / Competition Martial Arts: Boxing, Judo, Muay Thai BJJ etc. If you enjoy competition or regular sparring then these martial arts may be more suited to you. You learn techniques by using them in the ring or on the mat. The only slight drawback I can think of is that some of these arts may be more limited, e.g. You do not use kicks of grappling in boxing, you dont use strikes in Judo etc.
3) Self-Defence Oriented Martial Arts: Krav Maga or Wing Chun etc. If you want to train specifically for survival then these are the arts to look into. I consider Wing Chun a self defence oriented art as it is a streamlined system that focuses on a fast and direct approach to resolving fights.
4) The 'value-added' martial arts: My own definition for the types of martial arts that have a different aspect to it that is as relevant as the fighting aspects. In this category I would include Tai Chi, with an obvious health benefit aspect to it, and Capoeira, where the beauty of the dance aspect is perhaps as important.
The different types of martial arts require differing levels / modes of personal investment and investment. It is best to determine what you aim to get out of it before choosing the art.
Ultimately, all martial arts will teach self defense and help to improve your fitness, but the path that each one offers may differ significantly, so it pays to do your research and to look around first.
EDIT: I'll put in a pitch for Tai Chi Chuan as that is what I am currently learning (Chen Style), personally I'm loving it, probably more than other martial Arts I have done in the past (Southern Shaolin, Judo, Tae Kwon Do). Don't let anyone tell you Tai Chi is just an exercise for old people, in fact, 25 may be the best time to start as you need a level of patience / maturity to appreciate the 'internal' aspects.*End of Pitch*
You should try out Judo
It is a very great workout
Not only does it help you defend your self but it is a very respectful sport
Like you said you don't just want to beat up people and Judo is not meant to hurt people (unless ur in a life or death situation) competitions are all about respect.
To be honest Karate is not a very usefull self defencence a Judo fighter can easily take any of those traditional martial art fighters like karate and tae kwon do fighter.
If you are looking at martial art for a fun activity then you are better off in the gym. Too much of a chance to end up in a Mcdojo which is geared towards the fun part and has little substance. If you are serious about martial arts and ready for a longer term commitment then find a good teacher. Having a good work ethic and being driven is a good thing in martial arts. You have to see what is available where you live at to see if it is worth doing. Don't worry so much about style as all styles can be taught many different ways and for many different reasons, not all of them good. A good teacher is really the key.
There is no such thing as a "beginners" martial art.
And there is also no one art that is right for everyone. So when someone tells you to take a certain art they are giving you bad advice.
Also keep in mind that some arts are sport oriented and others are more self defense oriented.
My suggestion is to do some research in your area and see what's available. Talk to folks and see what they think. Then go visit a few classes and try them out before committing. Also look for people teaching in gyms, rec centers etc.
Once you do this, you can narrow it down then decide what is right for YOU!
Kajukenbo and Okinawan Self Defense systema.
You should take Krav Maga. Its the self defense and hand-to-hand combat system of the Israeli Defense Forces. It teaches you how to end a fight in seconds.
Hey there, I was thinking of getting into working out. I'm a male 25 years old. I like the idea of trying martial arts out! I understand there are some places that "sell a black-belt" for xx amount of dollars but I'm interested in a fun beginners one that I can learn to practice over there years. Do you guys think that would be worth while or should I just hit the gym instead? I have strong work-ethic and can be very driven. I'm not looking to just beat people up, having self-defense techniques in addition to fitness seems appealing. :D
Thanks for any help!
