Re:Martial arts

I was just curious.I'm thinking about some kind of self-defense/Martial arts.I wanted to know if anyone here is/or has been involved in an art that has helped them achieve their goals,or got them in good shape??

I practiced Korean tae kwon do for several years, and it kept me in good shape. Recently I've been out of regular practice because I can't find a studio here where I'm now living.

Really,where do you live?? Here there are more than I can count.The problem here is that there are so many different kinds of diciplines I can't figure it out.

Birmingham, Alabama. This place is big enough that it stands to reason that there would be a place here, but I can't find one yet.

Yes,there should be quite a few places.You can't find a martial arts studio,or just Taekwondo studios???

Oh, there are martial arts studios by the fistful up here, the problem is finding one that teaches that particular discipline. It's not particularly mainstream.

Really,what's it called???

I was just curious.I'm thinking about some kind of self-defense/Martial arts.I wanted to know if anyone here is/or has been involved in an art that has helped them achieve their goals,or got them in good shape??

I used to practice the Korean amrtial arts too for more than 10 years now. I was able to achieve my goals through it...it got me through high school and college as a scholar as a varsity player for my school. It has keep me fit throught the years. Any martial arts will teach you self discipline and instead of engaging in more fights, I learned to avoid them more.

Really,what's it called???

Korean tae kwon do :smile:

you can check out some martial arts forums

www.kungfumagazine.com
www.martialtalk.com

and see if you can find some, you can also ask about certain instructors, more than likely someone will know the person and tell you if it's worth delving into.

I, myself, take Wah Lum Praying Mantis Kung Fu :P My Sifu studied directly under Grandmaster Pui Chan :)

you can check out some martial arts forums

www.kungfumagazine.com
www.martialtalk.com

and see if you can find some, you can also ask about certain instructors, more than likely someone will know the person and tell you if it's worth delving into.

I, myself, take Wah Lum Praying Mantis Kung Fu :P My Sifu studied directly under Grandmaster Pui Chan :)
They have a studio here that teaches praying mantis Kung Fu.I don't know how reputable it is,I've never been there.They have so many different kinds here it's not even funny.They have Muay Thai,Tae Kwondo,Kali-Silat,Bukti-Negara,Tang soo do,Pentjak-Silat,Jui-Jitsu.So many different diciplines it makes my head spin.I just don't have the time or money to try them all.So I'm trying to find as many responses as I can to help me make an educated decision.

It really depends on what you want to be able to do. Different arts focus on different things. For example, aikido uses throws, rolls and such as a means of using an opponent's strength against them. KTKD (my practiced art) used pinpoint strikes to produce maximum damage in minumum time. It just depends on what you'd be comfortable with doing. I'd recommend going to and watching different classes (if they're reputable they'll let you do this) and seeing what their art is like. Then go from there as to what appeals to you.

If the school is northern mantis, go for it. One hell of a work out.

If southern - watch it first to see if you actually like it.

The best bet is just sit in for a class at any of the schools to see if it best suits you.

I prefer BJJ cause it's interesting and it helps out with ground work and such.

I took southern shaolin kung-fu for a few years... its a good work out. But dont expect it to make you a good street fighter. Martial Arts dont apply in real life unless you're a black belt who's bin training for 15 years.

If you want something to help you out in the streets... take boxing or something, its more applicable

Tae Kwon Do is supposed to be one of the best forms of martial arts for real-life scenarios :dunno:

^^^
i dont think so... tae kwon do training is like 90% kicks

I have been doing Tae Kwon Do for about 4 years and it keeps me in shape and its beneficial..and sometimes fun :2cents:

I had been involved in tae kwon do from the time I was about 8-18 and honestly, the way most people teach, its great for kids but if your an adult looking to get into it then make sure you watch some classes first. However at one american tae kwon do studio we did have a few guys who would stick around after classes at night and spar no pads full contact, its great but dont do this with experienced people unless you dont mind having a few broken fingers/toes or a crooked nose like I have.

I think for real life senarios you would be better off with muay thai or hapkido.

from my experiences, Tae Kwon Do was mostly for looks. I, myself, have taken Shotokan(15 years), Kenpo(3 years), Ju Jitsu(1 year), and Ninjitsu(1 year). The latter three were taken at different times than each other, but consecutive with my Shotokan training.

Shotokan = 1st degree black belt after 12 years
Kenpo = Brown belt after 3
Ju Jitsu and Ninjitsu = no advancement, didn't like the instructors

All this while taking gymnastics at the same time. I have fought Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu, both, in tournaments, and I have found Kung Fu to be the best competitor. IMO, take Shotokan or Shotokai if you can find it. If not that, Tai Chi, Muay Thai, Hapkido, or Kung Fu.

DO NOT, take anything that uses pads during sparring. I don't know if the above do, but using pads will not prepare you for real world scenarios. Shotokan is full contact, no pads (not even cups), all the time. Hence my 2-piece sternum, having 2 ribs cracked, numerous fingers and toes broken, a crooked nose, warped/notched legs, and the ability to take enourmous amounts of pain without showing signs of it. Take style that is willing to show you how to meditate, and do it on a regular basis, it helps tons, plus it proves that the instructor actually believes in what he is teaching, not doing it for the money.

BTW, I'm in Northwest Arkansas and teach Shotokan on the side, for $10 a session.

Old thread, but I agree with Jet-Lee. TKD is a comptetive sport not really meant for street fighting. TKD black belts come into my dojo once in a while and they get TOOLED by our lowest level brown belts (I practice Gosoku-Ryu, based on Shotokan karate. Also Kodakan judo, aikido and a ~some~ Brazilian JuJitsu).
In the early days of the UFC they used to catagorize the fighters as either STRIKERS or GRAPPLERS. STRIKERS are guys that stand toe to toe and throw punches and kicks. GRAPPLERS are the guys that tangle you up on the floor go for joint locks or choke holds. At first the GRAPPLERS were dominating the UFC (remember Royce Gracie?), but now all the top level guys are crossed trained in striking and grappling. So IMO if you're doing it for exercise take whatever makes you sweat the most, but if you want to learn self-defense you need to train in several disciplines.

(note: Judo, like TKD, is a competitive sport. But it's application is more useful than TKD in an up-close street fight).

i took TKD for 6 years i believe, i got my 2nd Don black belt. TKD is a good sport for learning some self defense, but it affects everyone differently, how much you put into it, is how much you get out of it. I practiced hard and often, i was a very good at fighting and won alot of tournaments. I dont think id take TKD if i wanted to become some kind of a street fighter, but no doubt it will improve your fighting ability, if you take the time to practice. So many people take TKD just for the fitness, but with someone who takes it for the skill, you will learn much.

I took Okinawan Karate-Do for about 4 years in High School, and I took a year of Jiu-Jitsu during that time. I stopped at Green belt in Karate and Yellow in Jiu-Jitsu. I liked them both very well, but time conflicted with my figure skating schedule, so I quit. Both were a great work out. I wish I had the time to get back into it.

I currently practice Wushu and Tai Chi

been in Tai Chi for 2 years and Wushu for 1. Both made me lose like 35 pounds. My Sifu is Master Hector Santiago.

Really? I'm looking to maybe get started with something like that- something for a workout, but something that's also interesting. How did you get started?

The university that I go to offers Tai Chi, one day I just showed up and asked the trainer there if I can join and he was like okay so I got started there thanks to my university. (btw Universidad de Puerto Rico en Cayey). After one year of training in Tai Chi I finally met Sifu Hector and a couple of months later I asked him if I could join the Wushu class. He allowed me to enter and ever since than I have trained nonstop. Wushu is very acrobatic and requieres a lot of physical activity, I remember I would always end up drenched in sweat after the class.
Very cool indeed, you should look around your area for Wushu because although Kung fu and Wushu are more or less the same thing the difference is Wushu is a sport and it focuses more on competition, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have it's cultural aspects. Hopefully in the next 4 years I will be able to go to china and train there for a couple of months or something because over there they have plazas dedicated to the practice of Tai Chi and people there show up and begin doing forms. That is my dream...*sigh* :icon16:

Wow......That sounds very cool. I'll definitely be keeping that in mind. thanks