Anyone do any sort of Martial Arts? I would really like to start taking one. I dont know which one yet though. I want something that is useful. Not just alot of showy stuff. I was thinking about Krav Maga or something.

If you guys know something about martial arts and have some suggestions fire away!

Over the years I have been involved in a few: Tae Kwon Do, Goju Ryu Karate, and Aikido. I have also researched a number of them and from what I have read Krav Maga would make the most sense to me if I were looking for an art to use in combat. Krav Maga was devised for the Israeli Defense Forces and utilizes a person's natural responses to stimuli for defense and attack. It incorporates throws from Judo, ground fighting as in BJJ, kicks and punches from Karate/Boxing, and teaches how to engage multiple attackers. From what I have seen they throw heavy leather as a student becomes advanced so that, unlike most karate/tae kwon do schools, you know what it feels like to get hit and in a real situation you are not bothered as much by it. No forms/katas that I know of, strictly combat preparation.
If you want to watch a movie where Krav Maga is used check out "Enough" with J Lo. She does quite a nice job using Krav Maga on an abusive ex-husband.

If I were to start a Martial Art it would definitely be Krav Maga.  There's a disciple with contemporary practical application! 

Why does everybody rave about Krav Maga. U can only do so much with hand to hand combat.

sometimes its all you've got and if you don't know $h!t your done.

Krav Maga is a very practical and useful system but I recommend an Arnis/Escrima class if you can find an instructor. Arnis Philippine martial art based in stick fighting, but it encorparates a lot of everyday items as weapons including belts, umbrellas, rolled up magazines/newspapers etc. In almost ANY situation an armed combatant has advantage over an unarmed one and Arnis is a great way to be armed at almost all times.

Krav Maga is great for unarmed discipline, but there are different schools of thought on it. Most Krav Maga in the states is a more "self defense" reactionary style, while the more aggressive styles (as developed and used by the Israeli military as anti-terrorist techniques) are a bit less practical and much more pain based.

A good MMA gym is a great way to get started in martial arts. In a typical regimen  you get some western boxing, kick boxing, Judo and submission (joint locks and holds) all rolled into one smooth style. Very handy and quite practical.

Just my two cents....

Why does everybody rave about Krav Maga. U can only do so much with hand to hand combat.

you can only do so much if you are not carrying.

I only practice ching chang bang.

not much of a martial art.

I've been through a bunch of 'em since college ... Taekwondo, Tangsoodo, Judo, Aikido ... and for the last few years Taijiquan. Since I took up school again, I dropped most every kind of exercise but walking. I'm thinking of starting up Taijiquan again ... never too old :-)

wow    he can kick your butt then pray for you to heal quickly.  j/k kidding padre.