Anyone here take a martial art?

[Banana]

I'm thinking of picking up a martial art in my spare time but something more practical, not overly showy. So far, I'm leaning closer and closer to Krav Maga but was originally leaning towards JJ or BJJ.

[kimpossible]

I'd like to know as well. For the same ones as above.

[AngryABCGirl]

I did some recreational wushu in college, but I wasn't any good at it. It's more martial art for show. I didn't have the time to put in the long-term training to become more fast and flexible or memorize forms. The conditioning and shape it'll put you in for training is excellent though.

[pikachupacabra]

I took choy le fat style kung fu in high school. Depending on what you put into it, it could be a social club, a way to get in shape, or a real way to learn how to protect yourself. I did it mostly to get in shape, but there would be plenty of full-contact sparring (with gloves and footguards and helmets) and i would definitely come home bruised and battered. The really hardcore people joined the sanshou team (i.e. full contact kickboxing) and their focus was primarily on sparring and fighting, with almost none of the form practice and flashy stuff a lot of us did.

[nameless]

I'm thinking of picking up a martial art in my spare time but something more practical, not overly showy. So far, I'm leaning closer and closer to Krav Maga but was originally leaning towards JJ or BJJ.

Practicality comes from your own effort and discovery. If you will only be training in your spare time, then it really doesn't matter what style you take. One style might be more practical than another, but if you are only passively learning, then all you are doing is training to be less showy. Krav Maga can be ruthlessly practical, but will you put in the physical and mental conditioning like the special forces who train in it? Same goes for every style.

This is for chicks anyway, right? Take boxing or muy thai for good endurance and muscle tone. Take JJ or BJJ so you can 'try stuff' on her.

[Banana]

True.

I plan on training about 3 times a week about an hour each day. It's more for "in case shit" situations.

[nameless]

I like to think that all serious training needs at least 7 hours a week (even more in the beginning to train the muscle memory). Ideally, you want strive to react instantly to anything that can be thrown at you. Fighting is like studying for a test. How many times have we said we know the material, only to have a crazy final exam that took us off guard? You have to really commit, because there are an infinite amount of variables in a fight.

Sorry if this is condescending or deterring. I just don't think people understand the big picture when they say the want to learn to fight. But most people don't train properly anyway, they just go through the motions. It's good, because people shouldn't fight, but bad because they get a false sense of security. Just keep this in mind.

[Faithless]

True.

I plan on training about 3 times a week about an hour each day. It's more for "in case shit" situations.
The only "in case shit" you should consider is life and death.

I think there's a bad tendency to think one knows some shit after a bit of training, gets cocky in a confrontation, then gets bloodied.

I don't think tae kwon do is showy. I like the emphasis on all that kicking. It's also a challenge to see how much the stretching progresses where all those kicks get longer.

I've been able to get it so that my roundhouses will smunch the chin of a six footer. And I've been trying to train my weak vertical leaping to do good on the various jump kicks.

But wouldn't dare try that shit unless it was a life and death situation.

Sorry if this is condescending or deterring. I just don't think people understand the big picture when they say the want to learn to fight. But most people don't train properly anyway, they just go through the motions. It's good, because people shouldn't fight, but bad because they get a false sense of security. Just keep this in mind.
I'm practicing just to see how good I can get at it. I'm not into breaking boards or sparring, but I like the fluidity.

A tight hamstring prevents me from getting real serious.

[yoMAMA]

i want to, for self defense purpose.

[Azn Retribution]

Ive trained primarily in FMA (Arnis/Kali/Escrima) for about 4 or 5 years now.
Some limited experience in TKD, Judo and Muay Thai
and I just started some BJJ.

The FMA are typically known for stickfighting. The sticks are just tools
to familiarize you with the concepts of angles of attack via muscle memory
and the concept that all weapons are just an extension of your body.

You learn empty-hand combat at the same time as weapons to emphasize those concepts.. FMA tends to emphasize on ending the battle quick by disabling
or disarming/knocking out your opponent.. so stop blocks, joint destruction,
trapping to lock or break instead of to strike and emphasis on taking them to the ground with control. alot of the reasons the art is popular with law enforcement/military types.

as far as learning to fight... its not really the style so much as the school.

You have to find a school that focuses less on forms/katas what have you and more on 1 on 1 reaction drills, realistic sparring, and that covers all three ranges of combat (striking/trapping/ground)

as far as time spent training... depends on the student and their coordination/athletic ability.

if you've done sports or other activities that required a good deal of coordination. You'll learn how to fight alot easier and faster than someone without that experience.

the most important thing is scouting out what schools you have locally.
Paying attention to the curriculum and the teacher and the methods employed.

If you want to compete or do "sport" most TKD/BJJ/MT schools are oriented towards either TKD style tournaments while BJJ/MT schools are more towards K1/UFC style stuff.

Combat/Military/Self-Defense based ones are along the lines of Escrima, Krav Maga, Silat, etc. Just be sure your teacher is legit. There are lots of poor quality RB(reality based) martial arts teachers there who teach alot of bullshit things. ::Cough:: kicking a gun out of someone's hand ::cough::

Traditional MA are along the lines of shotokan karate, praying mantis kung fu, choy li fut, tai chi, baguazhang, xingyiquan.

The traditional thought is typically lots of forms, the respect/discipline angle. conditioning, etc. Good teachers in some Traditional or Classical Arts especially the chinese internal forms are next to impossible to find.

[Azn Retribution]

I like to think that all serious training needs at least 7 hours a week (even more in the beginning to train the muscle memory). Ideally, you want strive to react instantly to anything that can be thrown at you. Fighting is like studying for a test. How many times have we said we know the material, only to have a crazy final exam that took us off guard? You have to really commit, because there are an infinite amount of variables in a fight.

Sorry if this is condescending or deterring. I just don't think people understand the big picture when they say the want to learn to fight. But most people don't train properly anyway, they just go through the motions. It's good, because people shouldn't fight, but bad because they get a false sense of security. Just keep this in mind.

It's true that most people don't train how they fight.
but at the same time part of it is also the responsibility of the instructor
to put them in free-form drills and realistic sparring to determine their viability.

and I think your overgeneralizing the issue of a fight.
React to every single thing that can happen?
there's not that many.
everything that can happen in a fight is just a slight variation of a few general kinds of attacks.

if you know the underlying main concept of each attack with regards to the physical awareness (balance, etc) then you can pretty much adapt to all variations of it. it just becomes instinct.

your sentiment sound similar to the the kids in organic chemistry who insist they have to memorize every mechanism and focus on blind memorization instead of actually understanding the purposes and underlying concepts.

sure memorizing works a little bit at first but its not working smart.
and in the end you may pass the class but not at the top.

[nameless]

It's true that most people don't train how they fight.
but at the same time part of it is also the responsibility of the instructor
to put them in free-form drills and realistic sparring to determine their viability.

and I think your overgeneralizing the issue of a fight.
React to every single thing that can happen?
there's not that many.
everything that can happen in a fight is just a slight variation of a few general kinds of attacks.

if you know the underlying main concept of each attack with regards to the physical awareness (balance, etc) then you can pretty much adapt to all variations of it. it just becomes instinct.

your sentiment sound similar to the the kids in organic chemistry who insist they have to memorize every mechanism and focus on blind memorization instead of actually understanding the purposes and underlying concepts.

sure memorizing works a little bit at first but its not working smart.
and in the end you may pass the class but not at the top.

Whoa, way to misinterpret there. My whole point was to avoid the school's with rote training. I said you want to train to be able react to any possible situation, as in having the skill to go beyond the "study material" and be ready for a real fight. And I don't see how you think I'm emphasizing memorization, since I said there are infinite variables than can occur (which would make memorizing pointless). Think of the different combinations of another fighters' skill, weight, style, the environment, etc., and you're saying "there's not that many"?

Yes, it eventually becomes instinct, but I think that's the last thing beginning students (like Banana) should hear. I'd rather overgeneralize and have him train outside of his comfort zone, then let him think he's "got it" when he's only dominating the same people and situations over and over.

[tvbdude]

I currently train in northern mantis. I use to take wushu for 3 years. it was hardcore. it will definitely get you conditioned.

[Azn Retribution]

Whoa, way to misinterpret there. My whole point was to avoid the school's with rote training. I said you want to train to be able react to any possible situation, as in having the skill to go beyond the "study material" and be ready for a real fight. And I don't see how you think I'm emphasizing memorization, since I said there are infinite variables than can occur (which would make memorizing pointless). Think of the different combinations of another fighters' skill, weight, style, the environment, etc., and you're saying "there's not that many"?

Yes, it eventually becomes instinct, but I think that's the last thing beginning students (like Banana) should hear. I'd rather overgeneralize and have him train outside of his comfort zone, then let him think he's "got it" when he's only dominating the same people and situations over and over.

My bad for the misinterpretation.
I think we are trying to say the same thing.
albeit playing bad cop / good cop.

"Aliveness" type training.

Resistance, Moving and Timing. (Resistance meaning non-compliant opponent).

and when i said there's not that many.
I was referring to attacks, moves.
ie. angles of attack, range/stages of combat.

weight and height are things you adjust to also depending on your height and weight

a jab from a tall person is still a jab.
you do have to adjust your strategy depending on your personal preferences. but thats why you train in different conditions or learn to think on your feet.

It's like physical chess or go
The basic movements and attacks are relatively simple to grasp.
but advanced play or mastery takes forever.

[CARDINAL009]

Yi Quan

[kakashiLAU]

2 years of wing chun now.

[Azn Retribution]

what school of chunners?

Boztepe's?
Cheung's
or JKD Derivative

Just curious cuz ive seen so much political infighting/drama among chunners.

does yours teach any ground applications/tactics

[popculturepooka]

I started taking Muay Thai recently. Because karate is not practical (for me)....

I want to take either aikido or ninjutsu while I'm in the "homeland"...

[kakashiLAU]

what school of chunners?

Boztepe's?
Cheung's
or JKD Derivative

Just curious cuz ive seen so much political infighting/drama among chunners.

does yours teach any ground applications/tactics

None of the above. We do Gulao Pien Sun, which is a village style thats outside of Yip Man's lineage. Nah, we don't do grappling or groundwork but our sifu does train people for sanshou.

Yea, one thing that's totally common is that WC people always think their own WC is the best. I don't think any martial arts style has more politics or infighting than Wing Chun does. Watever.

[CARDINAL009]

Yang Taijji and BGZ. :cool:

[Azn Retribution]

Yang Taijji and BGZ. :cool:


Baguazhang? now there's a exceedingly rare/eccentric style.

How do you feel about it?

Do you do any applications with it

[Azn Retribution]

I started taking Muay Thai recently. Because karate is not practical (for me)....

I want to take either aikido or ninjutsu while I'm in the "homeland"...

lol. and you think aikido or ninjutsu is more practical than karate?

Aikido shouldn't qualify as a martial art.
Ninjutsu is almost always LARPing.


Maybe you haven't tried Kyoukushin Karate.
Shotokan is pretty soft in comparison

[popculturepooka]

lol. and you think aikido or ninjutsu is more practical than karate?

Aikido shouldn't qualify as a martial art.
Ninjutsu is almost always LARPing.


Maybe you haven't tried Kyoukushin Karate.
Shotokan is pretty soft in comparison

lol, well with karate I always hear of like black belts getting their asses kicked in bar fights and eveyrhting.
Like you are thinking too much about what block to use and by then you're already on your back with all your teeth missing.

Plus ninjustu teaches you all the pressure points, I totally want to be able to do that. And...I'll admit, there's something cool about saying "I know the way of the Ninja:." :biggrin:
Aikido, I like the idea of using the attacker against themselves.

I'm thinking about Judo or Jujustu also...

I'll look in to Kyoukushin Karate though.

[Azn Retribution]

lol, well with karate I always hear of like black belts getting their asses kicked in bar fights and eveyrhting.
Like you are thinking too much about what block to use and by then you're already on your back with all your teeth missing.


Those are probably from McDojo's that had only katas
and no non-compliant alive sparring/drills.

Techs are no good if you don't learn to use them against non-compliant opponents under pressure.

Once again. the type of karate, and the school matters more than being a black belt. Black Belts are meaningless unless you can see what school/style it represents.



Plus ninjustu teaches you all the pressure points, I totally want to be able to do that. And...I'll admit, there's something cool about saying "I know the way of the Ninja:." :biggrin:


Once again, LARPing.
Sorry to ruin it for you. but Pressure points rarely work against a noncompliant opponent who has one iota of what he's doing or how to fight. Especially when your opponent is really tense and has a shit-ton of adrenaline running through him.

Only pressure point related thing that works well with empty hands is striking vulnerable nerve clusters. below armpit, behind the ear, back of the head, center of the neck. and even then those targets aren't particularly easy to get with a resistant experienced opponent.

Ninjutsu's curriculum and training methods aren't the best. and its even more difficult to find a LEGITIMATE skilled instructor who's not full of shit... although I just looked at your location. and You'd likely have better luck finding one from the Bujinkan there then you would here in the US.



Aikido, I like the idea of using the attacker against themselves.


Aikido is utterly and completely useless (as its taught) for self-defense. I've ruined many overconfident aikidoka at the local univ club who considered themselves black belts by breaking their wrist locks and applying shoulder locks or stop-blocks then performing a beautiful yet gentle Uchi-Mata.

It works, in theory only.
any grappling art involves using the attacker against themselves. It's called leverage. Ever hear of it?

If you want something passive aggressive that can do what aikido promises to do. Try finding a GOOD Judo school and see that they practice some newaza(mat work) too and do randori(live practice)
[/QUOTE]


I'm thinking about Judo or Jujustu also...

I'll look in to Kyoukushin Karate though.

Excellent.

You're in japan so you have so many ridiculously fucking awesome places to train there.

I think a respected kodokan dojo for Judo and Kyoukushin dojo for Karate would be your best bet.

Take both of them and try training for Shooto or K1 HEROs

actually checking out a UWFi Catch/shoot wrestling gym would be pretty cool to do too.

Wrestling in japan ain't fake. Sakuraba was one. UWFi stable too. and he's pwn3d the gracie jujitsu more than a couple of times.

[Faithless]

How important is it to be totally "flexible"? Like being able to do the splits.

I've been working on the ability to do the complete splits, thinking that it can improve how much I can kick a six footers head-in.

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Flexibility is important overall in a general sense but I don't think it really deserves as much extra attention as a lot of people say. I remember when I was still training I was able to drop into the splits but it never really helped me during sparring. Also, excessive flexibility can even lower performance especially if you're an athlete that does things like squats or deadlifting. Even people who can kick head-high and beyond with ease know that high kicks aren't exactly the most practical investment in practical application, because chances are it would be even more efficient still for them to utilize techniques that are much more reliable and require less energy. Looks good in movies though ^^ There will always be those people that argue that you can fight effectively with high kicks if you're good enough, to which I say...of course, but still, that's hardly the point.