ita, is there a good martial art for someone with a limited range of motion in one arm? I have sort of been considering some sort of martial arts, both for exercise and basic self-defense, but I'm not sure if my shoulder would be an issue. (I can do most anything I need to at the moment, but I assume martial arts involve movements and motions I'm not used to.)

What sort of limitations do you have?

The major one I have is that I have no external rotation in my left arm. So if my elbow is at a right angle, I can't rotate my forearm to the left away from my body (like if I were blocking to my side). And it's a little harder to reach behind with that arm. Like I said, not really big deals but I don't know if there may be martial arts I should avoid or something.

If you do something like practically oriented krav they'll make a point of adapting movements for you so you can still make the defenses. More traditional forms-based arts may have you skip what you can't do instead, but any good school knows not everyone can do everything and they're not going to mess you up for it. I might say skip capoeira since I can think of one particular move you couldn't do to that side, but it's not one I ever mastered, so it's not crucial.

Thanks, ita. Capoeira seems waaaaay too complex for me, so I wasn't really considering that one, although I think there is a capoeira school right by me.

What ita said, and I'd just add that you should focus on finding an art that appeals to you and a teacher you trust, rather than going in focused on your limitations. Everyone, in any art and any skill level, has limitations.

And if self defens is part of why you are interested, learning to work with and around what you are able to do make sense.

Capoeira seems waaaaay too complex for me

It's not that complicated. Depending on where you study, for instance, it doesn't have any prescribed sequences to learn. Krav has its self defense techniques that must be memorised, traditional eastern arts have forms that get longer and longer--capoeira is mostly about improv, once you know the individual moves. More like sparring, but without much physical contact.

Everyone, in any art and any skill level, has limitations.

Except for one guy I know. I hate him.

How'd that get double-posted?

To sum up--I'd study just about anything with the right teacher, and I'd avoid anything with the wrong teacher. I recommend the latter method of unselecting classes to everyone. As for the former, the right teachers can elevate one art beyond others quite demonstrably.

And if self defens is part of why you are interested, learning to work with and around what you are able to do make sense.

Yeah, that's a good point.

capoeira is mostly about improv, once you know the individual moves.

Ah, I see what you mean. It looks so pretty, though! I could never do that.

I'd study just about anything with the right teacher

I guess I'll look around to see what's around and if there's a teacher I like. Thanks!

Unrelated to martial arts—unless I am playing Streets of Rage 2—anyone have a recommendation for an inexpensive vacuum? I don't need to spend eighty to a hundred bucks on a vacuum for such a small apartment, but I'd like one that actually...vacuums. The one I have makes noise but doesn't seem to really pick up much.