I've enjoyed everything I've ever done (Sport jujutsu, boxing, MMA, Muay Thai) but I think Muay Thai is my favorite.

The sessions are tough, it's a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but at the end of the day I love every second of it. I'll probably be doing this for a long time.

I enjoy Ashihara Karate, most of all!!!!

I've trained in Judo, Muay Thai, Jujitsu, Aikido, Shotokan, Krav Maga, Wado Ryu and Kung Fu, but apart from Wado Ryu, Ashihara to me was the most complete of the arts I studied. The secret was to really undertand the kata that was being taught. If you are in the Monkey says, Monkey does mode, you will see too many weaknesses, although it wasn't until I studied the other styles did I see what was already there within my core style Ashihara.

That's why you should not cross train in other styles UNTIL you have reached 1st Dan in another. Also how many of you with black belts are willing to put on a white belt again and retrain to black belt again???

It's hard to compare because I'm at a differant place in my life than I was 15 years ago.
I trained in ITF TKD up through 2nd dan. This was very enjoyable at that time.Then I hurt my knee and my tournament career was over. That time was fun but very "me oriented."
Now I'm three years into my second MA life. Traditional (GOJU ryu) karate with its self-defense orientation. This is much more rewarding to me at this time in my life.
Starting over as a white belt was so liberating for me. It made me realize that I wasn't that great and It was time to get a new attitude.

Mark

Was it difficult to put aside a lot of what you've already learned to learn a new style, or did you find similarities that made the transition easier?

Good question! It was very difficult to Strip down my tournament technique to flow in a self-defense situation. Alot of my go-to techniques from tournament days are worthless on the street. Not all of them but some had to be adjusted.
I also had to learn to hold on to my adversary after blocking. This is central to Goju ryu. We block and then remain in contact with them as we flow to another technique.
I guess the number one problem was range. I'm 6ft 3 in tall and my legs are long. Good for round and side kicks at kicking range. Every thing we do now is up close. At first I felt tied up. Also now that I'm older and It's self-defense my head kicking days are over.
I still use my roundhouse and front kicks but waist level or lower. My sidekick used to be my best kick but now it usually doesn't get dusted off unless we are doing kata.
The number one problem is I'm older now and I don't pick up on new things as well as when I was young. But then again I'm not in any hurry.

Mark

Well....it sounds like a good style, and there's nothing wrong with kicking lower.
Self defense techniques are sometimes hard for me to pick up initially, but I find that there are some moves that I feel very comfortable with, and those are the ones that I go to most often.
Lots of repitition on a technique is key for me. I can't get comfortable with a new technique if I only practice it every once in a blue moon, and I have to feel that it will actually work in a real life situation in order to have faith in it.
That's why it's important for me to have a training partner actually come at me somewhat hard instead of simply going through the motions. That gives it more urgency, and allows me to experience using the technique when my adreneline is running higher than normal.
Our school tries to teach "economy of motion" techniques because in a real situation you won't have time to think of fancy moves...you'll have to respond quickly and decisively.
Most people who attack others don't expect their "victims" to know how to defend themselves, and a quick evasion or block followed by a couple of well-placed shots or kicks will make them wish that they had picked an easier target.
I like self-defense classes when they are combined with other things, like drills, form practice, maybe some work with bags and focus mitts, ect...

maybe your asking who I am..or thinking that I am a spammer..well,your definitely wrong..I am just new here..

That's an unusual thing to say as your first post.

Ok. Please tell use the point of your post.

I have only practiced Taekwondo and Aikido. I Did Taekwondo for about 4 years and was about 4 to 6 months away from obtaining a black belt when I left. I later on, did Aikido for a few months (I think about 3 to 4) and enjoyed those classes much more, although I wasn't able to keep going, because it was a college club and I wasn't a student yet at the time.