Wolfling

I think everyone is giving good advice. Stabilize before flexibility, so strength work is actually more important that stretching. Dr Stuart McGill wrote the book in this, so look him up.

There is a bit more to it than that, especially with an internal art. Tai Chi has different energies (or jin) that you have to learn how to manifest, it is not only the moves. For example, Peng and An.... these are not esoteric, they are actual things, how much relaxation/tension at what time, when do you press and when do you yield, etc.....they take some instruction to get right for Tai Chi. But you are correct in that you have to apply the moves with a partner, and you can even develop fighting skill with the moves, but that does not make it TaiChi....

If you are interested in a traditional Kung Fu Style, have a look here, and at his youtube channel, He is really good... https://www.facebook.com/durankungfu/

BaGua Zhang - (8 Trigram Palm) is designed for multiple opponents. It is designed around 8 directions and 8 angles. I would second the avoid going to the ground, but, since people do wind up on the ground, look at Chinese dog boxing or Silat ground work over BJJ and other grappling arts. Standup joint locks that lead into breaks or throws are fine, but you must disengage quickly, not tie people up. Hit, break, move on (or preferably while moving, never stop moving, never set in a stance) weapons are your friends, being in another county when the fight breaks out is even better :-)

Hi Alessa, Tai Chi Chuan roughly translates as Supreme Ultimate Boxing. It can be quite effective at rapidly ending a violent confrontation through victory. There are plenty of youtube clips on training, martial applications, books are available from YMAA, etc. But to really learn, you need a teacher. You might have to travel. You will also need local partners to train the stuff you learn. https://ymaa.com/publishing/app/tai-chi-martial-applications http://www.clearstaichi.com/

Hi Nak, The MT people I have played with have been into body hardening. If it is something you do, shin to shin can be very effective is making people reconsider the error of their ways. A sharp kick to the peroneal nerve (a bit above the knee, on the outside of the leg, more towards the back of the leg) can cause the leg to not work any more. You have plenty of weapons that will work well, you just have to find some willing friends and practice.

I hope this helps :-) What everyone else has said is true. Here is a little explanation that might help a little When you exercise, you are actually damaging your body. This damage needs time to heal. So, you do not want to work out 2 days in a row because you will be creating more damage without enough healing time (this healing time can vary, depending on many things, so don't think it will always be 1 day off!!). Now, bed rest is not what is required for healing, you need to keep moving to keep blood, lymph, etc moving (bringing fresh blood to the damaged areas, and removing waste), just don't go heavy. Normal activity and sleep are essential. I find *light* swimming to be great the day after a workout, I think the cold water and movement really get things circulating. As for the phrase "You don't build muscle while exercising, you build muscle by resting" is a statement designed to stress the importance of rest, and is mostly true. What it means is, after you have damaged your body (in a workout, or any other time), humans have a wonderful adaptive system. It heals itself. But, if given proper conditions, it doesn't come back the same, it comes back better and stronger. Bones, when they break, heal stronger than they were before the break, the same with muscles. The healing occurs during rest, not during the workout, so, the workout causes the damage, the rest promotes the healing. Strength and muscle are built in the post-workout rest phase. I hope this makes sense and helps :-)

well, find a new Dr and a new PT :-) having said that, I would sit down and place my foot on the ground. put the 9 points of the feet firmly on the ground (heel, outside edge, little ball, big ball, and each toe) one at a time so you can feel what each one feels like. Find out what having your foot on the ground firmly actually feels like (most people have never paid attention to how their foot feels when it is on the ground). Once you have that, press down equally on the 9 points (still seated), then take your hand and feel the muscles in your quads. Slowly roll the foot in and out, towards the arch and back out to the outer edge. Feel how each of the 4 quads engage and disengage. Once you can actually feel what is going on, then you can start to understand why what you are doing is or is not working. You can pay attention to how foot placement engages the muscles differently depending on position, then ensure your exercises are working the correct muscles. Oh yes, get a pick of the anatomy of the leg so you can see the muscle structures.

Gymnastics (and dancing, because dancing is a much more useful and used skill than fighting ;-) at least one may hope!!)

Well, if you want to train, THE place to go is: https://www.gunsite.com/ There is plenty of great training around, but this is the best. If you are serious about carrying, this should be a requirement: http://www.ayoob.com/df.html or at least read: https://www.amazon.com/Gravest-Extreme-Firearm-Personal-Protection/dp/0936279001 Here is an article on training facilities: http://www.gunnuts.net/2014/03/31/top-5-firearms-training-schools/ Randy Cain has an excellent reputation as well: http://www.guntactics.com/Rifle.htm

well, I have to ask, what do you mean by meditation :-) ? There are many kinds and you do them for many reasons. Saying you are having trouble meditating is kind of like saying you have trouble exercising, the statement is too broad useful :-) If you are having issues with one type of meditation, try a different type. There are active and passive, sitting, standing, laying down, moving, etc. Next, don't feel bad if you suck at it, meditation is a skill. You learn, you practice, and you get better with time and effort. No one is good on their first day :-) Personally, I like to start with the HoshinTao secret smile meditation and Mantak Chia's 6 healing sounds. They are both active, and very good to do. You can always work on silence at a later time :-)

Well, why Keto? Unless you are an epileptic, it is not a healthy diet. I would suggest you focus on your health, not only weight loss. I have a million suggestions (such as start doing the cooking in the home, then you can start modifying the meals, etc). Your parents want you to be healthy and happy, they might be great at it, or they might suck at it, but I have never met a parent that wants their kid to be sick and miserable. If you take the initiative, start doing more that is visible and acceptable to them (I have never seen a parent that turned down help) they will respond and become more flexible. Often, parents don't believe their children will follow through with whatever fad they are going through this time, put in the effort, do the work over time, and they will become more flexible. Get your Dr on board with your diet choices, an adult professional gives you credibility. Go out for a team sport, then the coach can assist with advocating for a better diet. Enlist help, do the work.

The best style is the one you practice every day :-) So, look around, shop, find the group you like and will enjoy training with, because if you don't enjoy it, you won't go. Having said that, based on what you have said, I would think you would be better off with a grappling class, Judo, Hapkido, Aikido, Bujinkan Ninjitsu, Jiu Jitsu (If you find a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class, make sure you spend time working while standing up!!), etc, etc, (if they are available, I did read about what you said was in your area). I say this because it sounds like it would be better for you to wrap someone up and immobilize them, rather than punching them in the nose. Good luck, the martial arts can be a great way to walk the path :-)

Hi Riot Girl, you can do it, if you believe you can. Even if you don't believe you can do the whole thing, believe you can take the next step, then the next. Many small steps lead create a very long journey. Let me be the first one here to offer my support :-) You will get much more. St Pete, Russia? :-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systema