I did shukokai karate for 6 years and managed to get to 1st Dan grade by the time I was 17. Unfortunately I couldn't carry on because I left home at 18 because my step-dad was a knob and had to move to central Manchester. I never really found a club that I liked there so I ended up just stopping.

I highly recommend any form of martial arts though. It does keep you super fit and it's a great social experience. Any of the ones mentioned will be great as long as you have good people to train with and (obviously) competent instructors.

I miss a lot of the guys and gals from my old club. This thread got me a litle sentimental so I did a quick Google search of my old club... I didn't even know they had a website! Though I suppose it was 13 years ago that I left. I had a quick scroll down through the black belt hall of fame and there I am! Forever immortalised on the internet!

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