Martial Arts

[tom]

I've been doing karate for about 7 years now and I've always noticed how focused it makes me. My normal focus is about zero but when I'm doing a kata or some kumite it's like everything else stops and only the ten feet around me is real . I like it.

so i was wondering if anyone else does any MA's and if so: what? and why?

 

[Dissident]

Ive been doing Choy Lee Fut for around 3 months and I love it, I started because I wanted to be less clumsy, have more control and grace. It also gives you some self confidence which is good... and its fun!

What style of Karate do you practice? I watched some Kyokushin videos the other day, its very powerful.

 

[Auburn]

If you want graceful, try Wing Chun Kung Fu. I did it for one year back in Freshman year. It's nothing like your typical street-fighting, it's very delicate, fluent, precise, and harmonious. No unnecessary energy is used, and the opponent's energy is used against him.

To an outside watcher it may look like a choreographed fight - because a stale mate can go for minutes without a single punch being laid. Almost everything can be diverted masterfully until one or the other slips up. It's also the style Bruce Lee first learned.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have practiced Hapkido for about 7 years, and I must say im loving it. We have a lot of philosophy and theory and thats allways nice ...
What I have noticed, and become more aware of, as the years have passed, is that I stop thinking when im training. Normaly my thoughts are all over the place, and I have a very hard time not thinking. I suck when we do meditation, and I have tried many different techniques, but so far no luck

But when I train, my thoughts are one my movements, and that gives my brain a little well deserved peace from ... well itself

*On a side note, I did karate Kyokushinkai, for 5 years or so, but the whole system was just a little to rigid for me. Lucky we are not all alike*

 

[Dissident]

If you want graceful, try Wing Chun Kung Fu.

CLF does the job better for me since it has more movement, helps my stability. Wing Chung seems more static.

YouTube- Bak Mou Kuen

 

[tom]

At the moment I'm doing GoKanRyu which I think gets a lot of bad press as a "mcDojo." luckily this is certainly not the case in the UK as the standard of teaching is at least as good as the other "Authentic" style one of my friends used to do.

@ dissident
Looks good, powerful and pretty accurate techniques. What's up with the spinning though?

@Auburn
looks like the opening of one of our kata's. The girls wrist is bent though. looks pretty interesting though. Especialy the sticky hand drills

 

[Auburn]

@Auburn
looks like the opening of one of our kata's. The girls wrist is bent though. looks pretty interesting though. Especialy the sticky hand drills

Yep, the sticky hands (Chi Sao) eventually get to a level of training where both battlers become blindfold and use touch alone to fight.

Also, at it's highest levels, it uses Butterfly Swords and Dragon Poles. However, by that point it get unrealistic. I don't think I'd ever want to slice anybody to pieces.

 

[FusionKnight]

I've been thinking about starting Aikido... Ninjitsu also looks pretty cool.

 

[Dissident]

Looks good, powerful and pretty accurate techniques. What's up with the spinning though?

Those are the trademark of the style (the wide circular blows, not necesarily spining the entire body), mainly Sow Choy and Gwa Choy. They are very powerful knockout strikes, the problem is to make them land

 

[tom]

Aikido looks fantastic. I like it cause its purely defensive and incredibly powerful.

someone i know did it for about a year and were completely immune to arm grabs.

@dissident
yeh i can see how landing them would be difficult.

@Auburn
Its the "sticky" aspect of the blocks that i find most interesting, with the blocking limb guiding the strike away and staying with it

 

[NoID10ts]

Just in case you guys doubt my awesomeness. My Kung Fu is better than all of yours combined! HEHEHE!

 

[tom]

You do indeed have strong kung fu.

<----------but is it better than this guy's ninjitsu?

 

[Dissident]

Has anyone participated in San Da or some tournament like that?

 

[tom]

I competed in the 2007 GKR world cup. didn't win anything unfortunatly

 

[NoID10ts]

You do indeed have strong kung fu.

<----------but is it better than this guy's ninjitsu?

I have fought with this one many times.

He usually ends up looking like this ------>

And once like this --------->

But once he got the better of me, and I looked like this ---------->

 

[tom]

Have you ever beaten someone down and made them look like this l
l
l
\/



cos that would be kinda weird...

 

[NoID10ts]

Have you ever beaten someone down and made them look like this l
l
l
\/



cos that would be kinda weird...

Once. But she was really into that sort of thing.

 

[tom]

did your INTPness have fun?

 

[NoID10ts]

did your INTPness have fun?

No.

Noooo, it didn't.

 

[tom]

shame... perhaps guess the vines would be better http://xkcd.com/443/

sorry to hear that mate...


Annnnnnnyway back on topic! anyone do any non orientel martial arts?

 

[Ogion]

I'm doing Aikido for half a year now and i really like it. I like the attitude (the Aikidoka wants to show his attacker that his attack is useless and against the natural 'flow', purely defensive. Which of course is not to be confused with harmless.) as well as the movements, which teaches a lot about body control, awareness and such.
Most of the techniques are more of a threatening kind, than actually damaging. Like grips which threaten his wrist (so that the attacker feels pain in it and senses that he risk his wrist when he fights against that any longer). And then the attacker move in a new direction, which is what the Aikidoka wants. It's actually not that hard to brings someone out of balance, when this someone moves on his own. And that's what we use. We don't use own muscle force but we rather guide the own impulse of the attacker into a new direction which ultimately should bring the attacker on the floor while we have a grip on his arm. Into a position where the attacker cannot move anymore while the defender has it very easy to hold him there. And then the attacker may cool down...

As to non-oriental martial arts, i am interested in mediaval european fencing. Sword-fighting (mostly Longsword). But i don't know yet if i will join, 'cause there is none in the immediate area, and of course it is not a cheap hobby (Swords, even training swords, aren't cheap). I'll see.

Ogion

 

[Auburn]

One of my favorite fights of all time!

There's something about the more authentic old school fighting that cannot be replaced by all these digitally enhanced blockbusters - with all their smoke and mirrors.

 

[Ogion]

You know, it's fun to watch Jacke Chan, and he's certainly a master of his body, but i think this fighting style is everything else but not efficient. I mean, when one of them kicks towards the other, why should the other kick against that or punch against that? Why not just make a little room, so that the kick goes into emptyness? the same with punches. And when you see that with a certain punch or kick the other stands badly balanced, you can do something about that.
Perhaps i am a bit naive, but when i know my art and techniques, there are for example Aikido techniques with which i can in a few seconds get him into a holding position, where he cannot move anymore. And if you want to hurt him there you still can, even if that would be not the Aikido-thing to do. (I mean, when he lies unable to move before you you of course can do what you want with him). I am sure in other martial arts which have grips and such there are similar posssibilities.

Ogion

 

[Auburn]

Indeed, it all comes down to practicality. Many forms of martial arts I see are flashy but nonproductive (or not as productive as they could be with their energy). I find Aikido, as well as Wing Chun to be two of the most energy-redirecting martial arts; using their opponent's power without using much of their own.

This is perfectly demonstrated in how Grandmaster Yip Man, his son Yip Chun, and even Bruce Lee were all rather scrawny. It doesn't take much power to win the fight if you know how to direct the flow. I wish I could take up Martial Arts again...

*suddenly feels an urge to fight someone*

 

[tom]

Bruce lee scrawny?

@Auburn
Why cant you?


@ogion
ive been looking for somwhere that does that. they ll seem to be miles away from me though :-(

 

[Ogion]

@tom: You mean mediaval(european) fencing? Yeah, i don't think they are spreaded. I mean, i live in Germany (see here for the fighting style) from where that style is and the nearest training locations are one and a half hours away (with train)...

Ogion

 

[tom]

Yeh. there's a place that does sport fencing that's quite near me, but im more after something like kendo, but with western swords.

 

[Dissident]

Talking about Bruce Lee:

Out of the great respect he had for Choy Lay Fut, Bruce Lee made the following comment in the early 60's. "Choy Lay Fut is the most effective system that I've seen for fighting more than one person and is one of the most difficult styles to attack and defend against" and added, "It is the only style (of kung fu) that went to Thailand to fight the Thai boxers and hadn't lost". (Quoted from the book BRUCE LEE by Jesse Glover).

As for european sword styles, they are very interesting, I recommend these books (you can download them with the mule or something (like I did))

Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Book Of Rapiers And Cut And Thrust Swords And Their Use

and

Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods and Techniques

both by John Clements

 

[tom]

Had a quick look at the first one. Got to page 89. Interesting how different rapiers actually were compared to how they're portrayed

 

[Dissident]

Fine weapons indeed. Ill get to do some sabre forms eventually, Im eager to, they're flashy

 

[Ogion]

Alas you(we) won't be allowed to wear them in public, will you?

Ogion

 

[Kidege]

"What do you mean, officer?"
"This? This is only a big chef knife"

 

[tom]

if its in a case it shouldn't be a problem

 

[Aphasia]

I'm practicing kendo. Instead of self defense, I'm doing it to become better than I am. I can't really describe it, but the feeling when I know that I'm doing my footwork and swings better than I have before, being able to do a kata smoothly, or forcing my last bit of energy out finishing one hundred cuts makes me want to continue. It isn't a particularly practical style to fight with, I agree. But then again, even an amateur can kill with a bouken, and high-ranked kendoka can swing 2 (or 3)-kilo swords faster than the eye can track, so maybe not, if you can carry one around with you. (A bouken. It's slightly trickier to cause serious injury with a shinai)

 

[Calamedes]

I've always been a big fan of Animal kung-fu styles. I'm not sure why, but the idea of placing oneself in the mindset of an animal and learning how they move (plus the obvious practical application) really interests me.

Also, I want to know if anybody agrees with me in that I don't learn martial arts for the fighting or the discipline- I learn them rather as a dance. If you don't see what I mean, take a look at the Jackie Chan link from a bit ago.

 

[drosshere]

i started MMA a couple months ago.. doing muay thai, Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo, vale tudo, and some hapkido.. absolutely love it, it helps me focus. today we did a warrior meditation and it was the first time in awhile that i was able to let all thoughts escape me and be totally in the present.. love it

 

[Fukyo]

I've always wanted to learn some martial art...but was to lazy to do anything about it.

 

[Dissident]

(I know this probably doesnt help but: ) Just do it, you wont regret it, and if you do... then just quit

Look for some style you like and you will see, its fun, good exercise and some day could come in handy.

 

[Fukyo]

Maybe I'll look it up.

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

got a black belt in karate, got bored, too repetetive

been doing Kung-Fu for 12 months, currently ascending the ranks

 

[Dissident]

What style?

 

[Seducer of the Homeless]

style of karate, Shotokan

the Kung Fu is an amalgam of most kung Fu-ish things. incorporates wing chun,kick boxing,judo etc. very interesting

i got bored stiff of shotokan

 

[reputo]

Did TKD and Karate for many years when I was a kid. As I got older I wanted something more intense and more real.

Been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and boxing for about 4 years. The intricate nature of live sparring and drilling makes these martial arts more complex to me. I sometimes find myself zoning out and thinking of the ebb and flow of BJJ and boxing.

 

[Jah]

Not really Martial Arts, but I do Yoga, which is kinda like pacifist MA.

 

[wadlez]

Ive been doing Muay Thai for about 5 months.
I think anything other than Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing and kickboxing are completly unrealistic and wouldnt be practical in any fight situation.

 

[Kokoro]

I think anything other than Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing and kickboxing are completly unrealistic and wouldnt be practical in any fight situation.

There is a lot of truth in that but not totally. From the street fights I have been in and seen, most all of the detailed wrist locks(I had done some Combat Hapkido) and overly fancy crap go right out the door. However, I wouldn't say that anything other than those are completely unrealistic and impractical. Some are pretty amusing when it comes to reality though, but those are usually for the more discipline and art aspects.

For the OP, I have been doing Commando Krav Maga(as opposed to traditional Krav Maga) for some time now. It's technically not a martial art, it's a fighting system. It is a constantly evolving system that does not claim to be a "end all" "wonder" system, but simply to increase your chances to survive the best you can in any kind of self defense situation, and it does that very well. We frequently do work outs to begin the class and end with "pressure tests" where multiple attackers(with whatever; guns, knives, punches, chokes, ground, etc...) really come after you for an extended period of time in different environments with situation challenges(for example, outside in a gravel parking lot at night, maybe you have to spin until dizzy and our instructor does not care if it is raining, ha). It is intense and sounds overwhelming at first, but if you're serious and dedicated to self defense, you progress right into the thick of it before you know it.

Like tom said, I love the level of focus I get when in class. Also, that state of "no think, just do!" It is not common for me but great when it happens. I don't know why, but sometimes after a tough but successful class, with the feeling of accomplishment comes this extra energy as well as a want to socialize. When I am in this mode I become a great speaker(otherwise I am terrible) and excel at communicating. It is very strange and rare but I really like it when it happens.

So that feeling afterwards, along with confidence and the knowledge/ability of self defense is why I participate.

 

[lafmeche]

I did Tae Kwon Do for a while when I was young and it was fun, though I imagine I would have gotten bored with it if I had done it longer (parents made me stop because I was too busy). I took some Aikido classes in college (loved it) and I've been meaning to get started with it since then, but have not found a good place to take classes where I'm living now. I've also considered Krav Maga, as it seems like it'd be more practical if I ever had to use it, but I haven't even found a single place near here.

I don't know. I love martial arts for any number of reasons and I've been meaning to get back into SOMETHING for years, but it never seems to happen.

 

[wadlez]

Yeah my friend thinks the same as me but includes Krav Maga in the list of practical martial arts. He talked me into going to some classes with him (before I started kickboxing) for basically the same reasons you described. I liked the idea and went for about 2 weeks. The problem I encountered, which could of been just the particular class I attended, was that we would just do drills of some possible situation constantly. Because it is training to be ideal in any situation and trys to cover so much, it basicaly didnt master anything to the point you could actually use it.
I quickly liked kickboxing as they would teach you few moves but have you doing pad work and sparring to practice these heaps, so you become awesome at punching, kicking, elbows and knees. Now I actually feel confident in fight situations as I can throw punches etc that I constantly practice rather than attempting some weird grab.

This criticism could be unique to the krav class I was going to

 

[Kokoro]

Yeah my friend thinks the same as me but includes Krav Maga in the list of practical martial arts. He talked me into going to some classes with him (before I started kickboxing) for basically the same reasons you described. I liked the idea and went for about 2 weeks. The problem I encountered, which could of been just the particular class I attended, was that we would just do drills of some possible situation constantly. Because it is training to be ideal in any situation and trys to cover so much, it basicaly didnt master anything to the point you could actually use it.
I quickly liked kickboxing as they would teach you few moves but have you doing pad work and sparring to practice these heaps, so you become awesome at punching, kicking, elbows and knees. Now I actually feel confident in fight situations as I can throw punches etc that I constantly practice rather than attempting some weird grab.

This criticism could be unique to the krav class I was going to

I have never been in a tradition Krav Maga class so I don't know if that is a specific class issue or not. In the Commando Krav Maga class that I take we don't have the problem that you described(but, as you said, it could just be the specific class in this case as well). In our's and other's CKM class, I have heard from reliable sources a good number of examples of techniques working in real situations.

However, while it's important to train techniques, I believe that the mindset is much more important because those techniques might or might not work or might not be used correctly. Example: A local girl was recently stabbed seven times while in Mexico. She didn't give up and die though, she gouged out his eyes, kicked him back, escaped and recovered fine. She did what she had to do to survive(although situation awareness could have prevented it to begin with).

 

[y4r5xeym5]

Started taking Jiu-Jitsu this semester through my college (Pittman's Academy of Martial Arts & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, actually). So. Much. Fun. Everyone should try a martial arts at least once, I think.