I was wondering between judo and karate which would be a better beginning martial art?

I have not done martial arts before. i am 13 and medium build. I want good self defense as well as discipline. Does karate teach any judo like throws and take downs?|||Karate does have throws and take-downs, joint locks, ...etc. The problem is that only a few instructors have been fully trained in those techniques within their style. Both Judo and karate are great arts and either could be what you are looking for. It all comes down to the instructor and what he has been taught. You can only do what you have been taught. You can lso only be taught what your instructor knows and is willing to teach.





I suggest you search for a good instructor, rather than a style. find a really good instructor and you will be ahead of most people before you even start. Also avoid belt mills. And school that talks about being a black belt, or any belt for that matter is a belt-mill / McDojo / Shake-And-Bake School. You want a school that teaches skills. Belts will follow. They should never be the goal.|||While my first MA is actually Kyokushin karate, I would recommend Judo as your first art, or jujitsu. I always stress the advantage of your youth flexibility in training in those arts as maintaining that flexibility is easier than gaining it once you%26#039;re older.





When you%26#039;re older, then start taking the standup martial art, make sure it%26#039;s not a McDojo, and that there is emphasize in the dojo for proper sparring (you can only learn how to fight by fighting)


That way, you don%26#039;t have to explain too much to the parents anymore when you go home with bruises.





good luck with your training.|||They%26#039;re both great styles with a long history and both are effective forms of martial arts. Yes, Karate is bad about McDojo%26#039;s so ya gotta be careful, but there are a lot of great schools out there also....if the school is a good one Karate is a great style, its very solid and well rounded.





Karate will teach you a few throws and take downs but its mainly a striking style. Judo will teach you very little, if any, strikes like punching kicking or chopping and is all about throws take downs and grappling. They are kind of opposite styles but both very effective. In Japan its common for people to train in both so they know striking and grappling.





I would recomend Karate, but I%26#039;m biased of course because thats what I do.|||Karate is better for beginners and is great for self-defense and teaches good discipline but if you want to learn throws and takedown then try judo.


Or better yet join your town%26#039;s or school%26#039;s wrestling program which will teach you enough throws and takedowns and take karate along side.|||some karate schools will teach a couple of throws and take downs but not as much as judo but judo wont teach much punching and kicking.





if u want throws and takedowns just do judo but i suggest goign to schools about both and decide on which one you find more fun.|||Judo is still a very mcdojo free art,Karate..ha dont get me started. Judo is very effective,and addiciting