I've been training shootfighting for the past couple of years. I love the combination of stand-up, takedowns and grappling.

Mostly Wing Chun Kung Fu, but also spent time training in Aikido + Tai Chi for the more spiritual aspects, and Gracie Jiu Jitsu for the practical value. Overall, a very practical mix.

I think if you had the time, inclination, and pain threshold, seriously training in Muay Thai and learning some grappling would make you quite a formidable fighter, if that's what you're after.

US Army weapons training.

I know 'run-like-a-chicken-fu"!

I also wanted to throw in my agreement with Sun Tzu that in fact, western boxing can very much be considered a martial art.

They even have katas, sort of :)

I also concur with the notion that boxers aren't to be taken lightly in sparring. They have excellent footwork and their punch combinations are nothing short of magnificent.

Shorin-ryu Karate, I also dabble in Ninjitsu, Capoeira, and Japanese Swordsmanship.

I am proficient (well I'd like to think so) in many different weapons (short swords, sais, single and double nunchakus, staff, still trying to become ok with "chain whip and rope dart", and I also subscribe to Hock's knife fighting techniques)

What keeps most of my time is single and double sticks (dog bros style).

A serious hybrid of different martial arts, basically I have chosen (from what I learn from many different fighters and teachers) what works best for me in a 30-second situation. Still working on ground fighting and submissions.

I currently study Kung fu and Tai Chi, with a smattering of Pa Kua thrown in there liberally. I really dig mantis style.
I also teach Kung fu at a local school.
I've been doing it for 4 years, fairly actively.
I can honestly say it's the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Uechi Rye Karate.

Jeet Kune Do since February, find it a great style, lots of sparring and very practical. Gonna keep with that for as long as i can.
I'm thinking of starting Krav Maga as well, and maybe buying some Russian Martial Art "The System" training things from http://www.russianmartialart.com/ . I wish i could learn it from someone, but i'm in Sydney, and the closest place is in the ACT, a 3 hour drive away.

I've been doing ju jitsu for the past year. Fun times.

Who was your instructor taught by?

self trained with JKD philosophies.

I did Muay Thai for 8 months. I got bored doing just the same stuff all the time so I left and started Bujinkan ninjitsu. I ended up having to give that up for other comitments. I stopped martial arts for a few years. I started muay thai again. Im now an assistant instructor. I also study jujitsu, kempo and boxing to increase my knowledge. I still prefer Thai Boxing as my base style though.

For JKD...think my instructor was taught by Dan Inoasanto in JKD, no idea his instructors for all the other styles he does.

I've studied Isshinryu karate for 18 years. Can that even be right? 18 years? I think so, but it sounds like a long time.

Just wanted to voice my humble opinion on what a martial art is. Everybody has their own view of what a martial art is. Some see it for fitness, some for defense, some for competition, some for mental balance, some for social interaction. There is no one definition. The perfect martial artist in one person's mind is a big loser to another person.

I took Shotokan Karate for about 3 years... it was a lot of fun, I need to get back into it.

Holy shit. . . your lucky no need to tell you how pure your generation is. I trained with Burton Richardson in Hawaii, but theres no one that close in the line here in AZ.

oops

I understand you're looking for active practicioners, so I apologize if this post upsets you. But I thought I'd post about my experience.

About 15 years ago I started studying Tae Kwon Do. Spent about three years as a student, going to class twice a week for about 2-3 hours per session. I also went to summer sessions which were 8 hours a day for 5 days. We'd get up at 3am and practice. By the time I finished, I'd earned the third gup (blue belt, red stripe), only about 18 months away from a black belt.

I ended up quitting to become more active in Boy Scouts (through which I later became an Eagle Scout). But TKD taught me two great things: stamina (physical and mental) and ethics. I'll never take back the years I spent studying it for anything. I even go back to the school I studied at occasionally to say hello to the masters and tell them how they affected my life.

That said, I don't remember the moves we had to perform at our rank tests, or any of that stuff. I don't think that was the point, anyhow.

Formal training in TKD, some military hand-to-hand, self-taught combat with a variety of weapons.

When i have the time Brazilian Ju Jitsu (Helio Gracie style) and JKD (which is taught as a mixture of Muay Thai, Filipino Weaponry, BJJ and Wing Chun). Unfortunately i smoked for eight years and just recently quit so training is hard on my lungs. Makes me feel alive though.

I used to do Tae Kwon Do very seriously, now I'm just starting to get back into it. I have also practiced Hap Ki Ye and found that to be one of the most useful martial arts to know. I became fairly high ranked in both, but the fitness and mental benefits that each gave me were worth far more than any black belt.

I haven't studied any yet. I am seriously leaning toward starting soon[finally--I'm only 37]. There is an Aikido place nearby but still not sure it it is what I'm looking for out of martial art--looking for disclipline and some physical activity--not looking to kick ass, unless I have to.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Aikido is about 99% defensive in nature. I train with a guy in Tae Soo Do who took Aikido for a few years and he said there was really no sparring involved because there are no offensive techniques in Aikido. I haven't taken Aikido, so I cannot attest to the amount of physical activity, although I am sure it will not be like a high school gym class.
Currently, I take Tae Soo Do/Hwa Rang Do and it definately has the disipline and physical activity you mentioned. Just about any martial art that you study will offer disipline and physical activity. Best thing to do is to research and then try out a class or two at a school in your area. One of the things to look for when trying a class is how many instructors they have on the floor during class. When a person is trying out for the first time in one of the Tae Soo Do classes, the head instructor will usually appoint one of his assistants (who are just as knowledgable and capable) to train with the prospective student exclusively for the entire class.

This summer I restarted in Shorin-Ryu Karate but about 3 week ago had a bit of awork accident and lost 2/3 of my left big toe. It will be interesting to see how recovery goes over the next few months.

been doing martial arts for 12+ years
here's a list of them, in approximate order of most experience to least experience:

kenpo
tai chi
wushu
changquan
nanquan
bagua
hsing-i
kali
somba

wow thats a lot huh?
i also taught little kids for a few years until i had to go to college. very rewarding. teaching made me a different person.

also, right now in college, i'm a highly comeditive sport fencer. though its not really a martial art , i think its technically classified as one.

Fencing is definitely a martial art. It may be little lacking in the side of spirituality and philosophy, but it's still worthy of being labeled as a martial art. :)

Full contact Kyokushinkai Karate.
http://www.ikohonbu.com/
Trained 'on and off' from 1985 to 1995.

Reached quarter finals of British Championships, the first and only time I entered.
Reach quarter final of Welsh Campionships, once again the first and only time I entered.

Intend to pick it up again as soon as my new fitness regime gets me into good enough condition.

Did two years of Kenjutsu.

Self taught (books and magazines) nunchacku practitoner for about 5 years.

Attended 2 ninjitsu (so they said) classes but wasn't impressed.

Thai Kickboxing here, only just started. A close mate of mines dad owns a kickboxing camp in thailand so he got me into it. Enjoying it so far

Bruce Lee utlitized the stance from fencing amoung other martial arts in developing Jun Fan Gung Fu

I am starting Gio Ryu Kenpo tomarrow :>

I went and saw the class on tuesday and loved it. I cant wait till tomarrow to finnaly get my ass up and do somthing.

Sucking cock, heh.

I've done several arts in the past but T'ai Chi is the only one I've really stuck with.
The style is described as "Traditional Yang Style" and I really enjoy it. We've been doing some Hsing Yi as well lately, which makes for a nice change of pace. Some Pa Kua as well.
Most important thing: Do something you enjoy for it's own sake, whether or not it's "street applicable". If you don't enjoy it, you won't get good enough to use it anyway.

Second most important thing: Find a good teacher. Mine still makes mistakes and still takes instructor lessons from higher up in the organisation. I like that he doesn't pretend to know everything.

I comprehend what the statement means I just dont understand why you posted it.

oh i know all that stuff dont worry about it :)
but modern sport fencing is as much of a martial art as point sparring is a valid street fighting style (i'm pretty sure that makes sense). not saying that a point sparrer or fencer couldn't do what they do and win. its just that its not really the same.

kick boxing
 

i have been kick boxing for about a year now, it is the best thing i have done this year

I studied Kenpo for years... but it's Gracie Jiu Jitsu these days.

Ive been doing Kickboxing for about a month. Its a pretty humbling experience to tell you the truth. I love the fitness side of it especially. I feel heeps more flexible already.

I'm a first-dan in Goju-Ryu Karate. I actually had the opportunity to learn from Saikou Shihan Yamaguchi Goshi, who's father founded our school.