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[Boogie]

We've had many threads about martial arts on GAF, but most of them have been someone asking for advice on a martial art to take, or talking about specific martial art fight events, or sharing fight clips.

I thought it might be worthwhile to have a more general martial arts topic, to share what we've trained in, how long, and why.

So, who all here has trained in martial arts? What styles, and how long? And, more importantly, why do you train? Is it for self-defence, to keep fit and in shape, or do you consider martial arts to also have a spiritual aspect to it?

For myself, I've trained in shotokan karate, kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

I started in karate when I was 12, and it was just on a whim. My mom's friend was taking classes, and asked if I wanted to go along, so I tried it out. And it just stuck. I trained karate for 7 years and I loved it, and I earned my black belt just before I left for university.

I would have kept up with it for the past two years, but I wanted to try something new, and I only have so much time to train, so my karate has temporarily fallen by the wayside, but I imagine I will return to it again in the future.

I've also trained off and on in kickboxing for around 3 or 4 years. The karate club I went to was also a kickboxing club. In fact, my sensei was also a Canadian kickboxing champion. He currently calls his club a Muay Thai kickboxing club, but I'm pretty sure it isn't the traditional Thai-style of kickboxing, but rather more influenced by Dutch kickboxers, since Bas Rutten is one of his biggest influences

I would have liked to try to compete in kickboxing, but I've never been able to train long or consistent enough in it to make the attempt.

And finally, for the past year and a half I have been training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I really love it because of how applicable it is. (I could never use karate on my little brother because I'd have to hit him, but I with jiu-jitsu I can simply take him down and RNC him)

Anyway, that's my experience. I love all 3 arts that I have trained, and feel that they have all benefitted me. Martial arts has become firmly entrenched in my life. I have to be training in something all the time, otherwise I don't know what to do with myself

edit: here's the club of my former karate sensei where I stop by to train kickboxing once in a while when I'm not at school, and here's the Jiu-jitsu club I train at while I'm at school.

 

[Groder Mullet]

I've trained in Muay Thai for about a year. It was traditional Muay Thai (trained in knees, elbows and headbutts) though I am curious as to what the difference is between that and the Dutch version you trained in. Why did I choose Muay Thai? Seems like everyone and their mother takes Tae-kwon-do or the like. That and Muay Thai seemed most applicable in an actual fight.

 

[Boogie]

I've trained in Muay Thai for about a year. It was traditional Muay Thai (trained in knees, elbows and headbutts) though I am curious as to what the difference is between that and the Dutch version you trained in. Why did I choose Muay Thai? Seems like everyone and their mother takes Tae-kwon-do or the like. That and Muay Thai seemed most applicable in an actual fight.

I'm not sure of the differences myself. I started teaching my friend kickboxing about a year ago, and then he took a couple of classes from a traditional Thai instructor, and he told me that the instructor taught the movements a lot differently than how I had shown him.

It was mostly in the difference in the mechanics of kicking, IIRC.

 

[NLB2]

I took shotokan karate for about seven years. I thought I was a badass because I would always win point kumites (my side snap kick to back fist combination always landed) until I got into my first fight and got my nose broken. Perhaps it was just my experience at the dojo I trained, but I found my training in karate to be almost worthless for a real fight aside from throwing crosses and teeps (my crosses and teeps kick ass, though). Throughout middle school and high school I competed in wrestling and was fairly decent at it, though that must have been due to a lack of skilled competition because my wrestling is very sloppy.
I haven't trained in anything since I started college this year, but I want to pick up BJJ - the little I know has helped me tremendously already and I can't really train in any striking art due to the fact that I'm a trombone major and can't get hit in the chops.

 

[DarienA]

Too many childhood years of Shotokan Karate.... wish there had been a Wu Shu school around when I was young....

 

[karasu]

My dad started teaching me Hapkido when I was six, and soon afterwards he introduced me to Wing Chun and Tae Kwon Do. I was on a steady diet of that for about 8 years or so until I started branching out and training with friends in everything from Baji to JiuJitsu to Mok gar and back again. I've only stopped training when I injured myself in practice, that caused me to stop hadcore training for about a year and a half and it completely and totally threw my equilibrium off. Not only as far as the physical aspect of MA is concerned, but everywhere. I started so young and my training enviroment was so intimate (no commercial studios) that I've never considered MA as something I do. It's always been how I define myself and it effects how I approach every single aspect of everything around me. It's as big a part of me as anything seperate from biology can be. Without it I'm just some depessed socially withdrawn hermit dude. I can be kind of an elitist about fighting and such because so much of what's said about it is pure Bullshit. Untested hypothesis and incomplete theories masquerading as unquestionable truth and strategy. Anyhow, lately my competitive spirit has been rising up and I'm still young(28) so I'm training to start fighting again next year. But who knows, I bet if i get a girlfriend I'll change my mind. (I can relate Boogie) :lol

 

[Boogie]

I took shotokan karate for about seven years. I thought I was a badass because I would always win point kumites (my side snap kick to back fist combination always landed) until I got into my first fight and got my nose broken. Perhaps it was just my experience at the dojo I trained, but I found my training in karate to be almost worthless for a real fight aside from throwing crosses and teeps (my crosses and teeps kick ass, though). Throughout middle school and high school I competed in wrestling and was fairly decent at it, though that must have been due to a lack of skilled competition because my wrestling is very sloppy.

Yeah, I know many wouldn't say that their karate was as beneficial as I would, but as I said, I had a badass sensei. I guess I lucked out in choosing a good club, but we were also friendly with a couple other karate schools that were also pretty good, as their senseis would visit to teach class and absolutely work us until we felt we were going to die :lol

I guess it helped that my sensei also did kickboxing, so we would work on full contact techniques in addition to sparring. In fact, I would say I was the opposite of you: I sucked at tournament point sparring, but in class I'd always stick a stiff side kick into people.

 

[NLB2]

My dad started teaching me Hapkido when I was six, and soon afterwards he introduced me to Wing Chun and Tae Kwon Do. I was on a steady diet of that for about 8 years or so until I started branching out and training with friends in everything from Baji to JiuJitsu to Mok gar and back again. I've only stopped training when I injured myself in practice, that caused me to stop hadcore training for about a year and a half and it completely and totally threw my equilibrium off. Not only as far as the physical aspect of MA is concerned, but everywhere. I started so young and my training enviroment was so intimate (no commercial studios) that I've never considered MA as something I do. It's always been how I define myself and it effects how I approach every single aspect of everything around me. It's as big a part of me as anything seperate from biology can be. Without it I'm just some depessed socially withdrawn hermit dude. I can be kind of an elitist about fighting and such because so much of what's said about it is pure Bullshit. Untested hypothesis and incomplete theories masquerading as unquestionable truth and strategy. Anyhow, lately my competitive spirit has been rising up and I'm still young(28) so I'm training to start fighting again next year. But who knows, I bet if i get a girlfriend I'll change my mind. (I can relate Boogie) :lol

Someone posted some vids of a Hapkido tournament over at sherdog and I was amazed. It looked like mma (sloppy, but that had nothing to do with the art but with the practioners) with the striking resembling kickboxing far more than TKD and the grappling closely resembling judo. I didn't know that there was a single art that was as diverse as hapkido other than jujitsu.

Oh yeah, and about your elitist stuff, fuck off man. SAFTA rocks .

Yeah, I know many wouldn't say that their karate was as beneficial as I would, but as I said, I had a badass sensei. I guess I lucked out in choosing a good club, but we were also friendly with a couple other karate schools that were also pretty good, as their senseis would visit to teach class and absolutely work us until we felt we were going to die :lol

Oh, I know what you mean about the working until feeling like dieing. My sensei worked us like dogs too. It was just on stupid shit like kata and horse stance and side thrust kicks out of horse stance, but it was definitely physicaly demanding and I would be exhausted after every class.

 

[Minotauro]

Oh yeah, and about your elitist stuff, fuck off man. SAFTA rocks .

Tell that to Vitor Belfort.


As far as my MA experience, I have almost none. When I was a child, very briefly I was in a judo class. Unfortunately, my stupid kid self didn't like the fact that we spent the first three classes learning how to fall so I quit. I really regret it.

I have been using Bas Rutten's MMA workout tape recently to try to get into better shape but I don't think that really counts. I've really wanted to start studying Jiu-Jitsu but I haven't yet due to the terrible shape I'm in and my general lack of ambition. Oh, well.

 

[Talas]

Too many childhood years of Shotokan Karate.... wish there had been a Wu Shu school around when I was young....

Is Wu Shu better? There's a new Wu Shu dojo near my house and I was thinking about giving it a try. I have never study any martial art, my fighting technique is pretty much "run if you can" or "stay, hit the gonads and rip the eyes" but I'm trying to get a better shape, so I will appreciate any advice.

 

[Boogie]

Is Wu Shu better? There's a new Wu Shu dojo near my house and I was thinking about giving it a try. I have never study any martial art, my fighting technique is pretty much "run if you can" or "stay, hit the gonads and rip the eyes" but I'm trying to get a better shape, so I will appreciate any advice.

Better for what? You need to tell us what you're looking for in a martial art before we can give any advice, asking "Is X better?" isn't the right question to ask.

But if you meant as far as effectiveness goes, I would say no, shotokan > Wu Shu, from my own personal, and therefore limited, experience.

 

[NLB2]

Better for what? You need to tell us what you're looking for in a martial art before we can give any advice, asking "Is X better?" isn't the right question to ask.

But if you meant as far as effectiveness goes, I would say no, shotokan > Wu Shu, from my own personal, and therefore limited, experience.

I'll interject by saying that karatekas have had better experience in striking competitions and mma than Wu Shu practioners, however the karatekas generally don't come from a shotokan background.

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Lets see here. I saw "Dragon: The Bruce Lee story" when I was 12 years old. I immediately wanted to enroll into Wing Chun, but I couldn't find any Wing Chun school around me. Instead, I went to Alan Lee's Gung Fu Wu Shu school. I spent about a year there, doing nothing but standing in a horse stance and doing pushups.

From there, I went to Nimpo Taijitsu, a Japanese style of JuJitsu/Ninjitsu. It had no sparring, and techniques were cooperative like Aikido. While I was doing that, I got involved with David Chih Young Lin, a Chinese martial arts teacher. I spent most of my teenage years with him learning Tan Tui, Sun Ping, Ba Chi, Tung Pei, Shuai Chaio, various Nortern Kung Fu forms, and some Yang and Tung pei tai Chi. While I was studying with Lin, I was exposed to a variety of Chinese martial arts as well as Tae Kwan Do and Hap Ki Do, but didn't study those much. I studied hard with him for over 4 years. Unfortunately, none of this had much combat value. I found that it gave me a very good sense of balance when I practiced Judo and wrestling later on, but I had no idea of even basic fighting conditioning or how to punch effectively. The applications were very much like Aikido, done with little resistance. There were some tough moments, but the lack of uncooperative training and focus on forms over practicality left me flexible, but lacking in other departments. I ended up getting a black belt from Lin, it was the 1st he gave out. I'd never wear it though, because its essentially worthless for combat value.

From there I bounced around and studied at avariety of martial arts schools till I began to gradually shift my focus into grappling. I like the idea of grappling. At first I didn't though. Wrestling didn't look like a martial art to me, neither did Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I didn't understand it, and stayed away from it. I came to the realization that they (grapplers) were the few people out there proving their stuff worked in enviroments with relatively few rules though, and as I got older and more matuyre the mystique of fantasy washed away into a hunger for improvement in reality. So, it was natural I gravitate to grappling. I dabbled in Sambo, Judo, but mostly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with Dan Gonzalez, a Carlos Machado blackbelt. I only studied with Dan briefly, but he was a really nice guy and taught me whatever I asked.

I did give Chinese martial arts one more chance though, and began studying with a man named David Bond Chan. Since Chan I've worked with BJJ blackbelts, seen Muay Thai amateur champs show their stuff, and worked with a variety of experienced grappling men. Looking back on it, I think Chan was the most impressive of them all. He was an old man, who specialized in teaching Chinese internal arts. I asked him what internal arts were, because theres much debate. He would say something in broken English, that they were different then others and did something "inside you". Chan's own background included a 2nd degree blackbelt in Tae Kwan Do from one of General Choi's students, and time studying Judo and wrestling. Chan was also an experienced street fighter and boxer, having spent 4-8 years in Gleasons gym. His real expertise were the internal arts of Hsing I, Ba Gua, and Tai Chi, as well as swordsmanship.

I ended up studying two long, brutal years with him. In my time with him I think I got 3 concussions, a nearly broken shin, and countless other injuries that hurt to think about. Most of his students were just there for the health benefits, but he knew I was interested in combat. So, he taught me a little differently. Chan's whole idea of fighting was about how small could beat big, and he specialized in a type of clinch fighting that is still unique to what else I have seen. Truly, his punching was unlike most else of what I have seen. Some of it seemed influenced by boxing, I recognized hooks and uppercuts, as well as punches he said came from Tai Chi that looked similar to what I've seen from Russian boxing. I've seen similarities in what fighters like Marciano did, and I've heard others who studied with him compare it to Tyson's peekabo style, I would not though because that is based more on reflexes while Chan frequently pounded home that his martial arts weren't about reflexes and youthful attributes, but about effeicient use of body mechanics and intelligent fighting strategy.

His punching and ability to land clean, clear hits are the most impressive things I remember about Chan. He had all these tactics for fighting with and without gloved fists, which mostly involved tying up the other mans arms to negate his reach and either hitting them or moving out of the way for a clean shot at the head. I can't say enough good things about Chan, even though I chose to leave his school. He opened my eyes to reality in fighting, intelligent fighting strategy, boxing, and showed me there was something great to the old internal arts that I hasdn't seen before. He took allot of time to teach me about fighting in the clinch and wrestling in general, and his lessons on body mechanics in those situations really help me understand techniques in Jiu Jitsu and grappling I learn now that might go over my head. I also credit with him teaching me how to punch hard, just before I left him he told me I understood his style of punching. Sometimes I regret leaving, but at least I have that much.

There was also a mental aspect to Chan's arts of Tai Chi, Hsing I, and Ba Gua that I haven't seen elsewhere. Visulization and breathing methods I haven't seen elsewhere. I've noticed that many of the men in Renzo's practice Yoga to add "something" to their Jiu Jitsu. Dan Gonzaleze spoke to me about breathing methods one of his teachers in Asian arts learned in Asia, but never showed them to me. Chan frequently spoke about the importance of the mind and visulization, and the importance of breath.

Now I study off and on at Renzo Gracie's Jiu Jitsu. I really want to knuckle down and make myself the absolute best grappler I can be, because I have lots of free time and the school is just exceptional. Out of all the schools I've been to, Renzo's without a doubt has the most skilled guys I've been around. I really enjoy the schools energy, and I kick myself for taking the time off I have. They also having a boxing/Muay Thai coach. I'd really like to become a better boxer as well. If I study hard enough, I would not be hesitant to enter in boxing, grappling, or MMA competitions. If I were to go that route, there's only one thing I'd want...to be in condition. In the past couple years I've seen lots of tough fighters who could hit very, very hard look absolutely terrible in the ring because they had no conditoning. I've had lots of sparring, but if I ever step in for an official fight there's no way I want to be out of shape like the men I've seen. I noticed I sem to be getting more and more serious about it. Even though my class attendance has been non existant for to long, I've begun to eat right and work on the basics.

Like Boogie I just don't feel right if I'm not practicing something. It helps me feel right.

 

[Boogie]

Thanks for the contribution Biff, half the purpose of creating this thread was to hear the entirety of your training experience

 

[Talas]

Better for what? You need to tell us what you're looking for in a martial art before we can give any advice, asking "Is X better?" isn't the right question to ask.

Sorry about it, blame my lack of English. I'm looking for something physically demanding, I would like to get in better shape but I hate weightlifting, running keeps me slim but I need more agility. If there's posible, I would like something with a spiritual/meditation side too, I'm a stressful person.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Biff Hardbody]

Thanks for the contribution Biff, half the purpose of creating this thread was to hear the entirety of your training experience

:lol Thanks for the thread. It reminded me of what I want to do. I've been away from Renzo's for too long. I'm gunna swim all week and go back and work like a dog on the mat.

 

[Boogie]

Edit: Also, I've got a question. I really liked capoeira-- the graceful, flowing (and difficult!) movements were somehow soothing and enjoyable. Are there other martial arts that have similar movement-based structures, but are more... martial-arty, if you know what I mean? I'm not particularly interested in self defense, I just would like to do something that was less dance, while still retaining the flowing movement. Ah well, I'm not quite sure what I mean either.

I'd say a Chinese/Kung fu type of style would fit this description rather well.

Sorry about it, blame my lack of English. I'm looking for something physically demanding, I would like to get in better shape but I hate weightlifting, running keeps me slim but I need more agility. If there's posible, I would like something with a spiritual/meditation side too, I'm a stressful person.

Thanks in advance.

I'd suggest a good karate or kickboxing school for a good workout. You don't even have to spar in most kickboxing clubs if you don't want to, you can just go to the classes which focus on technique and hitting pads.

 

[NLB2]

Sorry about it, blame my lack of English. I'm looking for something physically demanding, I would like to get in better shape but I hate weightlifting, running keeps me slim but I need more agility. If there's posible, I would like something with a spiritual/meditation side too, I'm a stressful person.

Thanks in advance.

Any martial art is physically demanding if trained correctly. I'd recommend checking out a bunch of different schools and participate in a class (if they don't allow you to take a sample class free of charge forget about them, their school's a joke) and see which one you like the most. Wrestling in particular is known to be physically demanding. Agility, at least what I think of when I hear the word agility, is speed and flexibility, so any martial art that incorporates kicks would probably be a good art for increasing flexibility. And I don't think a spiritual/meditation side is neccesary. Pounding on a heavy back really helps reduce stress .

 

[Talas]

Thanks for the advice, I'll do a little of dojo-hunting this week

 

[Dyne]

Well, I may not have a huge story, but it's a story nonetheless.

I wanted to do karate ever since I was 6. I just liked how coordinated it made people look.

I finally joined Karate in grade nine, quit the winter of grade 10 due to personal reasons, and then did it again for a year for my last grade of high school.

I quit Karate recently because it was becoming too much of a history class, and a language class. I don't want to learn histories, and 300 move names in Japanese. I just felt too restricted in it. When I do martial arts, I try to accomplish fitness, not spiritual being or anything.

Currently I train under Bas Rutten's workout tapes, which are FANTASTIC workouts. I highly recommend them to ANYONE who wants to be whipped into shape. When I finished my first ten rounds of two minutes, I was literally floored for five minutes. They are FANTASTIC. And they come in three flavours - Boxing, Thai Boxing, and All-Around Fighting. I may sound like an endorsment here, but these tapes have replaced my Karate classes and for only a fraction of what they cost.

 

[Boogie]

Well, I may not have a huge story, but it's a story nonetheless.

I wanted to do karate ever since I was 6. I just liked how coordinated it made people look.

I finally joined Karate in grade nine, quit the winter of grade 10 due to personal reasons, and then did it again for a year for my last grade of high school.

I quit Karate recently because it was becoming too much of a history class, and a language class. I don't want to learn histories, and 300 move names in Japanese. I just felt too restricted in it. When I do martial arts, I try to accomplish fitness, not spiritual being or anything.

Currently I train under Bas Rutten's workout tapes, which are FANTASTIC workouts. I highly recommend them to ANYONE who wants to be whipped into shape. When I finished my first ten rounds of two minutes, I was literally floored for five minutes. They are FANTASTIC. And they come in three flavours - Boxing, Thai Boxing, and All-Around Fighting. I may sound like an endorsment here, but these tapes have replaced my Karate classes and for only a fraction of what they cost.

Yeah, Bas rocks.

Strange story about your karate school. Like I said, all of the karate that I've been exposed to has been all about insane workouts, with just a pinch of history and terminology thrown in on the side.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

I'm on the taekwondo team of one of the best teams in the collegiate nation

 

[Loki]

I trained in a combination of (American) karate, goju-ryu, jiu-jitsu, and (mostly) kickboxing from about age 12-13 until around 18 or so. My instructor was Louis Neglia (NY), in case anyone knows him. Strikes and in-fighting were emphasized along with ample groundwork; we sparred full-contact weekly in the ring (closed-fist, w/boxing gloves). I stopped both because my mentality (about life) had changed and because I really messed up some dude's nose in the ring once and I said to myself, "hey, I don't wanna break my nose and be disfigured for the rest of my life if I can help it". So that was that.

 

[Loki]

Btw, in my high school there was a guy, Sang, who was about 20 years old, a Korean immigrant who I ended up befriending because we took martial arts gym class together. Anyway, this dude made it up to the final cut for the US tae kwon do Olympic team, and his kicks were LIGHTNING fast-- I've never seen someone this fast with their feet.


We used to spar and he'd block my JABS with freaking CRESCENT KICKS-- I shit you not. :lol Every kick I tried to throw, he'd block with a stop-kick. You couldn't even see his feet. The gym teacher asked him to demonstrate a spinning/skipping roundhouse kick (not sure of the technical name), and this dude did a full spin and kicked so quickly that if you would have blinked you would have missed it.


I remember one time the teacher had some nationally renowned expert come in to show us forms and kicks and stuff-- a young guy, about 26 or so. Anyway, after the class, the kids were talking to him (this guy had won lots of forms competitions etc.), and they were telling him that this other guy was better than him. :lol I felt so bad for the guy lol. GUEST EXPERT AM CRYING.


Sang did this demonstration where a person would hold three pieces of wood-- one between their feet on the ground, one in one hand at chest level, and another one above their head. Dude would start out with a jumping, spinning heel kick, turn right into a spinning heel kick, and then just keep spinning into a sweep to break the last board. I shit you not, it was one continuous motion (i.e., he just kept spinning from the previous kicks), and he did it in no more than 2 seconds flat. Unreal. :lol

 

[OpinionatedCyborg]

I was in Wado Kai Karate from the age of 5 until the age of 12. My particular style didn't allow anyone under 16 to get their black belt, so I quickly became bored after having a brown belt for two years. The good sensei's moved away from my city, and the one's in their place didn't faciliate my young inquisitive mind. I haven't touched a martial art since despite the fact that my Dad has his own karate club now.

 

[Dyne]

Yeah, Bas rocks.

Strange story about your karate school. Like I said, all of the karate that I've been exposed to has been all about insane workouts, with just a pinch of history and terminology thrown in on the side.

Well, it depends on the sensei. Our sensei was all about Technique.

I just wouldn't sweat at all after the first ten minutes of the 2 hour class. It wasn't worth the money.

 

[Future Trunks]

3 years of Tae Kwon Do when I was a preteen. Had to stop because I had "Adolescent Blounts Disease" - translation, I was getting real bo-legged in the right leg. Had to be corrected with a device that was like what Bookerman had to wear but 10 times more vicious, heavier, and had to be worn longer...people who saw me wearing the Illizarov device ask me about my leg now and I tell 'em I'm fine, it took me a while to get my dad to get over seeing me doing calf raises and leg presses from 0.5-0.75 ton. :lol

At any rate, got yellow belt and was about to get green when the docs made me quit (in the middle of my budding middle school gym ultimate frisbee career too! ) Judging by the progress of a kid I trained with (we started at the same time and went neck and neck with each other), I woulda been blue before we left Germany.

Following that, I got kinda "self-taught" about it all. Reading, researching, practicing kicks, punches, and moves that I had once done routinely. Now, once I get things situated more (in about a year), I'll be looking to take up a new martial art. The Global Defender aka Boogie, has recommended Jiu-Jitsu cause of my size and stocky build. I'm also debating boxing (since I've got family ties to the "sweet science"). Any (further) recommendations?

Of course....I always wanted to learn gymnastics too. Something about the combination of power and grace is just unparalleled anywhere else, man. Maybe I could star in Gymkata II: Pommel Horse Shokoten Thrust!

 

[NLB2]

3 years of Tae Kwon Do when I was a preteen. Had to stop because I had "Adolescent Blounts Disease" - translation, I was getting real bo-legged in the right leg. Had to be corrected with a device that was like what Bookerman had to wear but 10 times more vicious, heavier, and had to be worn longer...people who saw me wearing the Illizarov device ask me about my leg now and I tell 'em I'm fine, it took me a while to get my dad to get over seeing me doing calf raises and leg presses from 0.5-0.75 ton. :lol

At any rate, got yellow belt and was about to get green when the docs made me quit (in the middle of my budding middle school gym ultimate frisbee career too! ) Judging by the progress of a kid I trained with (we started at the same time and went neck and neck with each other), I woulda been blue before we left Germany.

Following that, I got kinda "self-taught" about it all. Reading, researching, practicing kicks, punches, and moves that I had once done routinely. Now, once I get things situated more (in about a year), I'll be looking to take up a new martial art. The Global Defender aka Boogie, has recommended Jiu-Jitsu cause of my size and stocky build. I'm also debating boxing (since I've got family ties to the "sweet science"). Any (further) recommendations?

Of course....I always wanted to learn gymnastics too. Something about the combination of power and grace is just unparalleled anywhere else, man. Maybe I could star in Gymkata II: Pommel Horse Shokoten Thrust!

Short and strong limbs (which you obvously have if you can leg press 1000 pounds) are perfect for just about any type of grappling. Wrestling, Greco Roman, Judo, BJJ would all be really good. Or you could be the next Tyson .

Tell that to Vitor Belfort.

Fluke man, fluke. Nine times out of ten Hess would've rocked Vitor. Its just that he missed the sweet spot on his first strike by milimeters and thus his sweet ass combo causing chains of involuntary actions to Belfort's body was prevented. I want a rematch. :lol

 

[rastex]

Took Karate when I was a kid.

More recently I did some Kickboxing for a few months which was pretty cool. Then took boxing for another couple of months. I plan on doing some more training in boxing in the summertime, and in the meantime getting into shape and just hitting away on the bag.

 

[Future Trunks]

In addition, I always wanted to study (and have set it as one of my life goals) weapons. Staffs, bladed, etc...I always wanted to be skilled in the use of at least three different types of weapons.

I can't lie, my intentions are purely protective (of myself)/destructive (of others), not hobbyist or fitness related. I don't mean to be blunt, just trying to be honest about it.

Not sure if there's much (quality) Jiu-Jitsu in Houston....or is there?

 

[Raxel]

.

 

[hobart]

No love for Judo?

Haha... I'll put down my experience when I'm not about to run out the door! Good thread.

 

[Kabuki Waq]

I took karate when i was about 14 ...i was a white belt i had a friend who was a blue belt. I was a pretty assholish kid so i use to make fun of him saying his blue belt looked so gay and stuff. Well the master heard what i said and took my friend into the corner and told him to kick my ass cause i was being disrespectful. My friend out of nowhere tries to punch me and i proceed to push him kick him in the ass and then take his blue belt and start whipping him with it. I thought it was one big joke at the time and after that we both got kicked out of the gym.

It didnt matter anyways Karate was not what i wanted to learn anyways. I wanted to be like Jackie Chan in Drunken master

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I took a little TKD as a kid, but due to lack of cash, couldn't stay with it. Started wrestling in 4th grade and continued through 10th grade when a car accident ended that. Being from Iowa, wrestling is huge here, so we had some very good coaches and excellent programs. It's not unusual to have 300 people pack a gym on a Saturday afternoon to watch pee-wee wrestling.

For the past 5+ years I've been studying Eagle Claw Kung Fu (Ying Jow Pai). This is the Northern Style of Eagle Claw, which is quite different from the Southern Style. It's a very demanding style with tons of techniques and A LOT to learn. I've earned what would be the equivalent of a black belt, and I'd like to earn my instructors sash before I move in a few months. I'm closing in on that right now.

One thing I love about Eagle Claw is that it can be very deadly but hasn't lost the "Art" of Martial Arts. When done properly, it is so smooth and flowing, and graceful, yet demanding and physically draining at the same time. I love doing the weapons, I'm already proficient with the straight sword, broad sword, and staff. I've recently begun working on the spear and kwan-do. The style consists of over 70 forms, 40 simple locking techniques, and 108 complex locks, so it has plenty to keep someone busy for a long time. My Sifu has been studying for more then 20 years, earning his Master's Sash only a few years ago, and he still doesn't know everything there is to know.

One of the best things that has come out of my study of Eagle Claw was the opportunity to go to China and train at Shaolin. Our school was invited to come a few years back, and we spent 10 days touring China, and training there. It was an awesome experience, and the Monks were very demanding. We were all completely drained when it was time to go home, but we had the honor of training with one of the top monks, who asked to train us after watching us prepare for our first class, and in the five days that we were there, we learned two forms, a hand form and staff form. They told us that none of the other schools that had come had ever learned two forms in that short period of time.

Over the past couple of years, I've also dabbled in Tai Chi. My Sifu teaches it as well. And, the Univeristy at which I work had a Wu-Shu class that I took for awhile, but I was too far ahead of the other students, so I quickly became bored, and didn't continue with it the second semester. It was fun, and offered something a little different, and was a nice addition to my workout, but the other students were all complete beginners, which was a bit frustrating, and turned me into the demo-guy for the class.

 

[Boogie]

Hey FT, here's a couple of good clubs which I believe are in Houston.

http://www.revolutiondojo.com/ is a Jiu jitsu and Muay Thai club where one of the top lightweight fighters in the world, Yves Edwards, trains. Combining Muay Thai kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu is one of the BEST combinations for self defence, imho, and this club would obviously have top-notch instruction.

also,

http://www.elite-martial-arts.com/ looks to have some really good jiu-jitsu instructors, but doesn't seem to be as "hardcore" as revolutiondojo. Still seems to be a really good club though.

There are some other Houston-area schools listed here

 

[haunts]

I took karate and stuff when I was a kid but that didnt count.

I have been doing MMA for aobut 2 years now, a mix of Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu and all kinds of pratical self-defense techniques.

I initially got into the class to take kung fu. It was originally a kung fu class with some grapppling on the side, but after a couple months we switched over to MMA completley.

The kung fu was fun and interesting, but completley useless. The MMA on the other hand is really awesome.

Over the past year or so I have gotten a lot more serious about it. I have tried putting on a bit more weight and training a bit more. I dont know if ill ever compete. I dont really see the point but I would like to spar with other people just to see who is out there.

The great thing about it that really got me serious about is that even after like 2 years, I still feel like I dont know shit. In reality, I have come a long way and can actually do OK for myself now, but there is still so much more to learn.

I am better at striking than I am at grappling. I have only been doing the jiu jitsu seriously for the past 6-9 months or so. I really focusedon my striking at first. I am getting a feel for it but I sitll get confused on which way to roll, which leg to hook and all of that.


Anyone who does not have any experince in MMA, I would at least checking out doing one class a week. After a year or two of trianing you will see an improvent in your health and self esteem.

edit:

in regards to how far I've come. About ayear and a half ago when I started sparring I was so lame. I could hardly do anything. People could just come on in and wail away and I just had no clue on how to not let it get to that point. about a year and a half later its a completley different story. I know how to keep my range and what moves ot use to keep people form advancing so easily. Ive learnd great methods on how to bait people and useful combinations to nail people when they least expect it.

The whole process was so subtle, but looking back on it is really interesting!

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I remember when I first started sparring as well, and it was not good, even against someone else who was at about my same level. Neither one of us knew what we were doing, and we kept looking for certain moves/locks/sweeps/etc. that we felt comfortable doing. We were very tentative, and we tended to react more then dictate the tempo.

Now, after a lot more experience, I feel so much more comfortable sparring. I've learned to take what is given and I no longer contrain myself to things I "feel comfortable" with. I've gotten a lot more creative, and I tend to be the one who dictates the pace of the fight. In the real world, all the locks/moves that we learn are not generally going to be there for the taking, but you can still get them in by being creative, being patient, and taking what your opponent is offering.

It's really eye opening when you first start to spar, and then when you realize later how far you've come.

 

[Future Trunks]

Hey FT, here's a couple of good clubs which I believe are in Houston.

http://www.revolutiondojo.com/ is a Jiu jitsu and Muay Thai club where one of the top lightweight fighters in the world, Yves Edwards, trains. Combining Muay Thai kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu is one of the BEST combinations for self defence, imho, and this club would obviously have top-notch instruction.

also,

http://www.elite-martial-arts.com/ looks to have some really good jiu-jitsu instructors, but doesn't seem to be as "hardcore" as revolutiondojo. Still seems to be a really good club though.

There are some other Houston-area schools listed here

Thanks Boogie!

EDIT: "Thugjutsu," WTF? :lol Hey that Revolution School has Muay Thai too. I always wanted to crosstrain into that. Okay, I take back the "WTF" - that Thugjitsu is interesting.

 

[BlackMage]

I have mastered the art of the fetal position. The attacker usually gives up out of pity.

 

[Boogie]

Thanks Boogie!

EDIT: "Thugjutsu," WTF? :lol Hey that Revolution School has Muay Thai too. I always wanted to crosstrain into that. Okay, I take back the "WTF" - that Thugjitsu is interesting.

Heh, yeah, "thugjitsu" is basically the joke-name for what Yves Edwards calls his style of Mixed Martial Arts :lol

 

[NLB2]

Heh, yeah, "thugjitsu" is basically the joke-name for what Yves Edwards calls his style of Mixed Martial Arts :lol

Yves' thugjitsu is vs. Carlos Newton's Dragon Ball Z Jiu Jitsu would be a great match up .

 

[Kabuki Waq]

Is Drunken Kung Fu an actual MArtial Art?

 

[karasu]

There are drunken pinciples in various forms of Kung Fu. What Jackie Chan did was largely self made.

 

[NLB2]

There are drunken pinciples in various forms of Kung Fu. What Jackie Chan did was largely self made.

Uh, drunken principles? What do you mean?

 

[karasu]

methods of deception, footwork,weaponwork, etc etc etc.

 

[NLB2]

methods of deception, footwork,weaponwork, etc etc etc.

Ok, so not actually like in the Jackie Chan movies were he gets drunk. I get it.

 

[boutrosinit]

Is Drunken Kung Fu an actual MArtial Art?

There are many drunken styles. I remember a Drunken style being taught in Wardour St at some point. Drunken Monkey I believe. Fascinating style I imagine though it does sound largely impractical.

 

[haunts]

What is everyones most memorable wound thus far in your Martial Arts endeavors?

I think my most memorable was just a couple weeks ago. I got punched square in the face and started bleeding everywhere.

Ive gotten cuts and scratched and bruises and all of that, but never gushing blood out the nose. Nothing was broken, though...

That is my next step: break a bone! w00t! :lol

 

[Biff Hardbody]

What is everyones most memorable wound thus far in your Martial Arts endeavors?

When I agreed to box with someone who had 40 lbs on me and the first thing the guy did was kick me full force in the balls without a cup. I think blood trickled out of my dick, I didn't stop to check but I felt something. That hurt like hell.

The other major injury was when I collided shin to shin with the same guy. He had on guards, I didn't. The pain was searing, so intense. I figured it was nothing though and did 3 more hours, by the end it was more an enduring agony. The next day I went to BJJ and I had trouble putting my pants on, I looked at my leg and it was covered with a sickening red/brown bruise the size of a softball where the guy had hit me. Even when light cotton from my pants touched it, it hurt like hell. I remember getting on the mat and saying to my coach that it hurt a little and he asked to see what the problem was. He winced and pulled his head back like "oh shit!" when he saw it, and told me I had come very close to breaking my shin. Funny what you can deal with when you don't think it matters.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

We have a Drunken Form in Eagle Claw, but I haven't learned it yet. It's a very difficult form and requires someone to be very flexible and have little regard for his/her body. The one guy at my school who really has it down looks great doing it. Very impressive stuff.

Most memorable wound. Hmm... I'm currently suffering through a groin muscle tear. (Not a pull, a tear!) I've also been stabbed by the spear a few times, but nothing too major out of those. I had very badly bruised ribs a few years ago from someone who lacked control when finishing a two man form. It hurt to breathe for awhile. Too many other minor injuries to count.