Martial Arts

[O'nus]

A'hoy hoy,

I was curious who here takes any form of martial arts or has? Did you enjoy it?

I have taken Karate and Tae Kwon Do at a dojo in North Bay.. although it was not very impressive. I ended up quiting Karate due to the fact that my sensai would tell us to "do a few punches" as she stands outside, smoking, and watches her dog run around. Tae Kwon Do was just dull.. did not suit me.

However, I am now an aikidoka at the aiki shuren dojo of the Golden Triangle in my town here of Kitchener/Waterloo. We practice TaiJutsu and weapons training. I love Aikido and hope to stay within it for as long as I can.

Anyone else practice any martial arts?

[Amethyst Star]

I'm taking my first year of Judo here at school and I'm loving it! I like how it's more about keeping others from hurting you, though you can hurt someone quite badly if the need arose. Throws, footsweeps, armbars.... we're supposed to learn 5 basic choking techniques, too, this year. A sensi is required, though, or else I'd probably be much more injured than a mere strained shoulder tendon. (I'm never being partners with that girl again!) What's aikido like?

-Amé

[Kaniaz]

You do all the hocky pocky stuff and I'll just use a shotgun.

[pantalimon]

ended up quiting Karate due to the fact that my sensai would tell us to \"do a few punches\" as she stands outside, smoking, and watches her dog run around.[/b]
Yes the hardest thing can be finding a sensai who's good enough, you'll just learn rubbish without the right stuff and you won't get anything from someone who smokes and plays with her dog? I have landed on my feet my guys been trained by the top Okinawan's for over 35years does 2 other martial arts over 20 years and worked the doors etc so has lots of practical experience. I do GoJu ryu karate btw.

Train in your LD's at the Lucid Dojo, its not going to improve your conditioning but it can improve muscle memory and you get to press you techniques to the limit. http://www.lucidcrossroads.co.uk/LucidDojo...o/Luciddojo.htm (http://www.lucidcrossroads.co.uk/LucidDojo/Luciddojo.htm)

http://www.lucidcrossroads.co.uk/LucidDojo/makwa.jpg

[pantalimon]

Originally posted by Kaniaz
You do all the hocky pocky stuff and I'll just use a shotgun. You can take a shotgun to a nightclub? Your definately from a different part of the UK than me if they let you do that?! :shock: :mrgreen:

[Kaniaz]

Originally posted by pantalimon+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pantalimon)</div><!--QuoteBegin-Kaniaz
You do all the hocky pocky stuff and I'll just use a shotgun. You can take a shotgun to a nightclub? Your definately from a different part of the UK than me if they let you do that?! :shock: :mrgreen:[/b]

Yep. You just shoot anybody that says you can't do that, and bam, problem fixed.

[LucidApple]

I did karate when i was 15 for a few years, later tai ki ken, sort of animal style kungfu with meditation
for 5 years. Then wing chung for 4 years then tai chi chuan for 4 years.
so from hard to mixed to soft styles.

[Negaigoto]

I did tae kwon do for three years when I was younger, and have been working at a combination of karate and jujitsu for the past 3, though very sporadicallly. I love it. Then again, my sensei is actually one of my best friends, and half the time we toss the whole lesson thing out the window and just attack each other...

[tryagain]

I'm 1/3 the way (black belt) through Tae Kwon Do . It's pretty fun because I"ve always wanted to use my legs for fighting because I got tired of using my hands all the time. another year and I"ll be flying with my legs wide open!

[pyrhho]

Originally posted by tryagain
I'm 1/3 the way (black belt) through Tae Kwon Do . It's pretty fun because I\"ve always wanted to use my legs for fighting because I got tired of using my hands all the time. another year and I\"ll be flying with my legs wide open!

legs wide open eh? great.. one word dude.. SACKED! lmao. anyway.

umm. yeah. i took aikido for about a month, then work kinda interfered, but i'm gonna be starting it up again in like a week or two.

[Taosaur]

I took Tai Chi Chuan for like 3 weeks :D

I actually use what I learned quite often, tho--the basics of balance, breath, posture, and fluid movement. Together with meditation, it improved my body awareness/coordination significantly.

[Kanji]

Taijiquan, Wushu, Shaolin, and my friend is teaching me a bit of Judo and Jeet Kune Do (Wing Chun). I've been into martial arts all of my life. I started out in Karate, but it was too basic for me, I wanted something more interesting and with more depth. Shaolin Kung Fu and Chi Kung was the first thing I got into. My sensai, Master Wong, is great. He's the father of one of my friends and he knows a lot about martial arts. He teaches me some forms other than Shaolin from styles like Buno, Choy Li Fut, and Drunken Boxing. My favorite though, since I was a kid has always been and remains Ninjitsu. Well, I gotta cut this short- I guess what I want to say is martial arts is my life! :D And if you're interested in some of the various styles of martial arts I have a link for you guys:

http://home.stny.rr.com/iama/az.html

[LucidApple]

Yeah Tai chi chuan rocks!

Its such a superb principle, but almost none really master it at
full contact martial art level anymore.
It takes decades to master it!

[Alric]

I had a friend whos father used to teach us(him and a few other friends). Not sure what it was, but he just showed us some basics punching and kicking, plus a few ways to knock someone out or break their arm or legs. Not sure how useful that really was but its as good as anything else if you want to get a workout in.

[nightowl]

hmm..maybe I should try taking some classes....

[tryagain]

take tae kwon do! It's better than ll these weird animal star thowing techniques because It'll really work out your feet and you'll feel firm from below the waist

[CT]

wha?? :shock:

[Taosaur]

:rolllaugh:

Seriously tho, most dudes I've known who were into Tae Kwan Do had serious masulinity/aggression issues. Maybe hence the need to "feel firm below the waist."

[Truthbearer]

I just started Tae Kwon Do last Monday, but I am not completely sure I will continue. My true intention was to learn Kung Fu, as it is based on Taoism, which I find terribly interesting. My dad has practiced Tae Kwon Do for a while now, and the place is much closer to my house than the Kung Fu one, so I agreed to go for one lesson. I am going to go to a Kung Fu class whenever I get the chance, and then I will decide if I stick with one or perhaps both. My guess is I will just do Kung Fu...

[Xisdence]

Used to do Zendokai, mixed martial arts. Althugh after a few months, the class became too big, and we were always practicing with crappy new people, no offence but you need time with the instructors.

Heh, martial arts is such a huge subject behind the physical side :P

[Umbrasquall]

Kung fu's awesome. I saw a guy drill through a brick with his index finger once.

[Xisdence]

That proves
a) he is wasting his talent showing how tough his finger is
B) proving his stupidity :P

[jacobo]

i took boxing. it's the most efficient use of your hands out there. if i ever went beyond hands i assume i'd try either grapple fighting or kick boxing because they seem to be the most practical when in a brawl. i've seen people who practice martial arts go up against fundamental kick boxers and they always get their ass handed to them. all plans/forms seem to go out the window when you land a good punch.

i enjoyed boxing a lot... not only as a way to keep fit but as a way to releave stress. i remember hitting the speed bags for 45 minutes untill i couldn't lift my arms or keep my fingers curled... always fun to break the body then let it heal. humbling and fun.

[pantalimon]

Hmmm the old my martial art is the best for real combat chestnut, always seems to get peoples backs up.

IMO to examine if your martial art is going to give you better than average results in a fight in the steet/nightclub/bar etc (if you can't leg it which is always option number 1) I think that it all depends on who is teaching you rather than which martial art you choose.

1. Spirit, always rated far higher than technique, fitness or conditioning. In training have you been pushed to your physical limits and then attacked/forced to go further and stronger than before. Do the people that teach you scream in your face push you around, try to stamp on your head, give you a hard dig in the ribs/head when your exahusted and then expect you to continue? All martial arts can imbue spirit to the max it just depends how seriously the people taking it are focused on the practical side and how much spirit they also have.

2. Conditioning, and realistic training. This is where a big section of martial arts fall down as they are sport orientated. Doing a martial art for sport/spiritual reasons isn't a bad thing but if this is the focus then it might actually hold you back in a real situation. Boxers are the fittest of us all but punching heavey bags, focus mits with or without gloves is not the same as hitting muscle and bone bare knuckels. Same with being hit/kicked etc, head guards and gloves aren't there to protect you in a fight.

For real conditioning choose a martial art that uses traditional training methods, ones where you tap in the chi rather than breaking a bit of wood every now and again. Use a makewara (solid oak post with just enough flexibility to not break your bones when you strike it), imortal dummy for kung fu systems, kickers attack half a car tyre attached to the wall etc. Also systems that have full contact unprotected sparing will help.

3. Fitness, it puts a lot of strain on your system even before you land the first blow, you can be exhausted within 10 seconds if you haven't put in the fitness work. However this is at number 3 cause you not going to do three rounds your going to exchange a few techniques and then run.

4. Technique, you can be fancy and flashy but you have to have honed your technique over a few decades if you want to be fast enough to do some fancy spinning axe kick and have it acheive the desired effect. Best to choose a martial art that is 70% stand up and one that uses quick direct punches and low kicks. Yes I know the quote 70% of fights end up on the floor but thats for those idiots who get involved in the "yer I'll fight you come on then" playground type fight. If you want to surive a idiot coming at you in a bar with a glass in a split second you'll learn to punch and kick effectively.

Hmmm sorry that was a bit of a rant, I just waffeled also this is just my opinion. :P

[tryagain]

i've seen people who practice martial arts go up against fundamental kick boxers and they always get their ass handed to them.[/b]

yeah, I agree. I've seen tournaments and kickboxers always win The only reason I use tae kwon do is because there's no kickboxing programs near me, so I thought I might as well get good legs from Tae Kwon do.

[Khronos]

I took Tae Kwan Do when I was 8 unfortunately... Had to bow down to a stupid flag everytime so I ditched it. Later on I got into Kickboxing and eventually Boxing. Now I've started my own style of Tai Chi as a warm up before I go out boarding everyday.

[tryagain]

yeah, I don't give a banana about the traditional part. Also the different forms you gotta do to pass the test. It's a waste of time. You never use those forms in real life anyways. Just the kicking part.

[A Lost Soul]

I've taken classes in Shaolin, Kung fu, American Karate, Shotokan, Judo, Kenpo, and ninjutsu (briefly). I am by no means a master in any of these, nor will I reveal the color of the belts I achieved. Belts mean nothing to me, except that they were conveniently used to keep my gi closed.

I will say, though, that I only managed to make it through one week of ninjutsu... Christ that was hard. It's not as easy as it looks in the movies and it's not for the faint of heart. :shakehead2:

[nightowl]

I've taken classes in Shaolin, Kung fu, American Karate, Shotokan, Judo, Kenpo, and ninjutsu (briefly). I am by no means a master in any of these, nor will I reveal the color of the belts I achieved. Belts mean nothing to me, except that they were conveniently used to keep my gi closed. [/b]
which one did you like best?

offtopic: its nice to see you once again :)

[tryagain]

what's ninjutsu? I'm looking for it in sites but I still don't know what i tis

[Truthbearer]

Yay Lost Soul!!!!

Yeah...how did you like Kung Fu? Any good?

[Amethyst Star]

Originally posted by Truthbearer
Yeah...how did you like Kung Fu? Any good?

Leave it to Truthbearer to ask a question about Kung Fu.... :D

I love the Matrix, dearly and truly :cooler:

[Truthbearer]

hehehehe...one would think I am doing it to be able to pronounce those famous words: "I know kung fu" :-P , but I really would just like to learn kung fu over any other cause it is based on taoist beliefs, and I truly am intrigued by all that. I am also thinking of taking up Tai-Chi later on... :mrgreen:

[A Lost Soul]

I didn't like any style over the other. Well... Ok, that's a lie... I did like Shotokan a lot, and when I go into a fighting stance I usually default to Shotokan. Ninjutsu is the training ninjas go through and it's fucking HARD. Like I said, I only managed a week of it.

And I did like Kung Fu. "I know Kung Fu." :D

[AirRick101]

Well, so many people recommend many different things. It's always nice to explore several options, but most importantly is to find a fighting style that we like personally, even if it involves a mix. Because, all martial arts were originated in the mind of a man. (or woman)

I took kung fu in elementary and again in high school. I don't take it now...there's a lot of basics, and I learned plenty of foundational forms. I often like to implement my own moves, plus since I breakdance pretty often too, mix that in.

LOL, I used to get pissed at my close friend who dissed my martial arts when I was flaunting my moves, cuz he'd mention something like using a gun or mindless tackling. I think he was just disturbed and jealous of me. Plus, I was gonna say, mixing guns and martial arts... what more would TruthBearer ask for!?!

[AirRick101]

Oh yah, studying the really subtle aspects of martial arts like chi or some kind of energy, it's most likely always a boost to any martial arts. I know that my master agreed with me on that.

Stuff like Tai or Aikido is included. These styles may be a turn off to the younger generation, but looks are deceiving, kinda like drunken boxing. Ya, I mix in a little bit of everything. Martial arts, chi, dance, street fighting...whatever! As long as it's energy efficient and looks cool. haha.

[Kanji]

Check this out. It's got a whole list (not all) of martial arts styles and descriptions. (Even ninjitsu for you, tryagain :wink: )

http://home.stny.rr.com/iama/az.html

[tryagain]

wow. THat site is amazing. From egyptions fencing to sojuksu (whatever that is). It's got everytihng

[whoeverwearevox]

I teach Meibukan Goju-Ryu on thursday nights in my dad's Dojo.

self-defense is important.... so learn martial arts or carry a big stick around with you.......




[b]KARATE EXPLOSION!!!!!!!:fro:

[Taosaur]

Or effective nonviolence--more impressive than any "fighting" style. Name one martial artist more respected than Ghandi.

[A Lost Soul]

Martial arts isn't necessarily about violence. At least, not for me anyway. For me, it was about pushing my limits and learning patience and discipline. It was about finding a balance between mind and body, and being comfortable in the flesh that houses my soul. It was about power, too, in that I had the power to protect myself if need be, and to be strong enough to know myself and not be afraid anymore.

Gods... I need to find a decent dojo before I go insane in this body! I feel like I've lost much of what I just wrote... Why, oh why do I have to be so damn picky about where I train? :damnit:

[Truthbearer]

I still want to check Kung Fu out, but I have to say I am really liking taekwondo...basically I just like to kick things really. I guess any of the martial arts are good for this, but I am liking the way in which I am getting more in touch with my body and at the same time just relieving all my repressed anger and shit by fighting. I don't know, but everytime I throw I good strong kick I just feel great...

...yes, i have issues...

[CT]

I used to do karate but then I quit and forgot everything :shock:

[Taosaur]

I know martial arts isn't all violence, I was just responding to the "carry a big stick" comment. In most cases, I would rather accept the consequences of violence directed at me than those of violence channeled through me, if you see what I mean. Having the skill to disarm or subdue an opponent without injuring them, however, might be very useful.

[Truthbearer]

if someone has a weapon to use against me, then I want to hurt him...

[Khronos]

When all else fails use the Kamehameha.

[Taosaur]

Originally posted by Truthbearer
if someone has a weapon to use against me, then I want to hurt him...

Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal--even if you find someone to throw it at, you are the one being burned. That's a common Buddhist analogy.

My feeling is, when you respond to violence with violence, the main result is a greater sum total of violence in the world, which benefits neither you nor your "enemy." Also, you personally and those closely connected to you are further caught up in the violence that already exists. The most you risk by refusing to be moved to violence is your life, which is in greater danger if you escalate the situation.

[Truthbearer]

I don't think that particularly makes a lot of sense...

violence is not an eternal act, it is but a moment. So how can my kicking his ass result in "more violence in the world". If anything it may teach him to stop pulling shit like that. Then I leave and perhaps never see the person again(if it was a stranger), and then my family and friends have nothing to do with it. Also, you are talking about disarming a person without harming him. I am saying that I don't really care if I hurt him or not by disarming him, and I would rather hurt him. So if I can dissarm him and hurt him, I don't see how my life is in danger...but whatever. If you dissarm him without hurting him, it's not like the guy is going to say "thanks buddy" and walk away...

[Taosaur]

Originally posted by Truthbearer+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Truthbearer)</div>
violence is not an eternal act, it is but a moment. [/b]
Every action has consequences, most of which are usually not apparent in the moment. Even what you do alone alters your mindstream, and thereby your future actions. What you do to another person...you have no way of knowing how it will come back to you.

<!--QuoteBegin-Truthbearer also
if I can dissarm him and hurt him, I don't see how my life is in danger

This is by no means the default outcome if you enter into a confrontation, whatever your martial training.

What I'm really responding to is your statement, "I want to hurt him." It worries me that a seemingly bright and well-intentioned person like yourself would so easily give in to anger, just because the situation seems to "justify" it or make it "understandable." No matter how well you can explain your actions to yourself, they still will have consequences.

[Truthbearer]

I don't really mean it as giving in to the anger, but more of teaching him a lesson. If I can do it, then why shouldn't I? Perhaps that will stop him from doing it again...if not, then at least he will see and feel the consequences to his actions....

[Aneas]

I started with Tang Soo Do in 1975 at age 10. I took up Shotokan in 1985 and taught within that style for many years. I studied Ninjitsu which started out as a Genbukan school and then changed to Bujinkan. I studied Arnis for a year and in the past year I studied Brazilian Jiujtsu. My favorite art to study was Ninjitsu because it was no nonsense and to the point. I want to begin studying Ninjitsu again but I am hesitant due to the high probability of injury, specifically broken fingers. A broken finger would not work well with my profession, I am a firearms and self-defense instructor.