Do you study martial arts?

[Darklone]

Yeah. Well, I did realize this was a problem of the friend (and to no small part of his now wife). The problem of our friendship, if you want to call it like this, solved itself.

His wife does not like my girlfriend. Byebye.

About getting into fights: I managed to avoid my parts. I have to admit, it does not feel good most of the times. But I stick to my decision. I never striked first except one time and I don't want to talk about that one. And striking back is the last possibility.

Someone here wrote if attacking is harder than defending.... In my experience: No. In SCA style fights and similar mass combats with buffer weapons or unarmed with gloves I always did best when striking as much and as fast at anyone in range and moving on as fast as possible. (AoOs are crap )

Still I stick to not striking first. Arrogant idiot that I am.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I have just started studying T'ai Chi Ch'uan. It appeals to me because I'm not the agressive type and it takes years to use it effectively as a martial art. I like the philosophical and spiritual elements and intend to study it for a long time.

 

[Mystic Eye]

I took Martial arts for over 15 years and still dabble from time to time. I studied Kendo/ Kenjitsu, Sebeka (rare art out of Egypt, used sometimes to train NATO forces in areas of the middle east, kinda like Shotokan-also known as Crocodile Spirit), Shotokan, and dabbled in a few others.
I still try to keep limber and agile using Cardio Kick Boxing/ Tai-bo, Tai-Chi, and Palates (palates is not a martial art but has lots of Yoga style techniques in it, Palates is excellent). I still work my heavy bag a couple times a week, etc.

I would love to try Aikido next but do not have the time.

I took martial arts actually as a form of therapy originally, due to an injury I had where I shattered my femur bone in several places. Walking for a few years was difficult. My Sensei at the time, Gamal Selim, was my Sebeka instructor. He was fantastic. Not only did he hold several black belts of varying degrees but he was a chiropractor and a homeopathic doctor. We went through some interesting cleansing rituals. Regardless, My bad leg is not bad anymore and is actually stronger than it was before the accident. The doctors told I would never walk right again. I proved them wrong to be sure and martial arts helped me to do that!

 

[barsoomcore]

If you had to narrow it down to the ONE most important reason that you are training, what would it be?

Me: To defend myself, family and friends.

Heck, no. I can't imagine many situations where knowing how to fight will actually provide much defense.

I do it because I want to be a better person. I want to be stronger, faster, smarter, healthier and wiser than I am right now.

Oh and swords are just so cool.

Well, they are.

 

[Zulkir]

Folks,

About five years of a rare Indonesian style called Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen (a form of Penjat Silat). As far as I know there are three places one can learn it in America - Orleans, MA, Portland, OR and Seattle WA.

No really interest in taking it up again. It was rather hard on my body. I have the scars to prove it. I did it mostly for the discipline.

AV

 

[takyris]

In regards to self-defense and the military: My understanding was that the armed forces really didn't give you a ton of street-practical self-defense training.

Before I am publically flogged, allow me to mutter semantics:

My understanding was that:

1) The armed forces emphasized offense rather than defense -- as in, getting in close and killing people before they were aware or could raise an alarm.

2) The armed forces emphasized fighting with available weaponry and equipment -- meaning that you get VERY GOOD with a knife and several different kinds of guns, and working in heavy gear and bulletproof vests and other stuff that you aren't likely to be wearing when attacked on the street.

3) The armed forces emphasized quick-and-dirty kills, which is great from a military perspective, but not so great from a position where you might not want to kill your attacker (either for fear of prosecution or because it's not a death-worthy attack they're making)

Please, no offense is intended. If a infantryman (who's been keeping up on his hand-to-hand drills) and a martial artist (from a street-defense school) with ten years of experience apiece are walking down a dark street when bad guys jump out at them with mischief on their minds, I figure both of them are going to account well for themselves. The infantryman is liable to be in better shape, given how it's his JOB to be in great shape, while the martial artist might have more options in terms of killing, stunning, or just embarrassing the attackers.

If the infantryman has his knife and sidearm, the bad guys will be dead very quickly, and the martial artist should make sure not to get in the way.

If legal issues are likely to arise (ie, there was trash talking and the defenders aren't paragons of moral virtue and they could be charged with manslaughter rather than getting self-defense), the martial artist could have an edge.

If the martial artist is from a good school and the infantryman has been training well, they're both tough, able to take a hit, aware enough to use their environment, and capable of breaking jaws right and left.

-Tacky

 

[zdanboy]

First of all, hello!

As you can see this is my first post. Actually reading this thread (which is wonderful btw) made me join the ENWorld boards. Thanks to everybody on this thread...

Second, I live in Poland, and I made a decision to begin studying martial arts. (Again this thread helped!) But the problem is: which one?

The ones I considered:
1. Jiujitsu
2. Hung Gar
3. Jeet Kune Do
4. Hapkido (but only as last resort, cause the dojo is far away from my home)

Can ya help me choose? Should I choose one of the above, or a completely diffrent one?

To give ya some detail: I prefer close range styles, and punching to kicking. Jiujitsu was my original choice, but I heard it is pretty useless against more than 1 opponent, and it consists mostly of throwing and locks (no punches).

Also I have 16 years and weight 75 kg and my height is: 173 cm. (little info to help ya on advice).

Ps. Sorry if my English is crappy but, as I said I come form Poland, so,,,,

 

[barsoomcore]

Before I am publically flogged, allow me to mutter semantics:

Semantics are muttered. Prepare for your flogging.

The armed forces emphasized fighting with available weaponry and equipment -- meaning that you get VERY GOOD with a knife and several different kinds of guns, and working in heavy gear and bulletproof vests and other stuff that you aren't likely to be wearing when attacked on the street.

I've actually realised that I would prefer to be attacked by a guy with a big stick than without -- because I'm actually better at taking sticks away from people and using them than I am at fighting with my hands against somebody else's hands.

So I figure I should carry a big stick around with me so that if somebody attacks me I can toss them the stick, then when they try to hit me with it, take it away from them and hit them with it until they go away.

Maybe that's not the best plan ever

 

[LGodamus]

Sensei: "Can you see the distant mountains?"

Me. "? ... No."

Sensei: "Then you're not looking in the right place."

Me: "Thank you, Sensei."

?

Well actually.....I was a little too vague in my description also....as you dont look directly at the shoulders ....sort of past them, with the shoulders as a focus,while maintaining awareness of the whole.

 

[Drakmar]

hey zdanboy,

um.. lets see.. my vote would be with Hung Gar..

however.. what I would suggest.. is see if the schools will let you sit in on a lesson, and or get a free lesson first. This may give you an idea of how the school teaches, and maybe a better feel of the martial art.

I have found over the years that there is a distinct difference in the way martial arts of Japanese origin and those of Chinese origin feel. I have found that I personally prefer the Chinese feel and respond better to the teaching methods...where as my sister prefers the Japanese feel.

Also, take into consideration, whether you are interested in the tradition side of things.. Hung Gar, being quite old, has a lot of cool history. Jeet Kune Do.. on the other hand.. well. it has history.. just not so far back. (to it's inception)

I would suggest Hung Gar, because like all traditional Kung Fu's it does cover all of the different bases.. ie Punches, Grabs, Throws, Multiple Opponents.. heck even Kicking (I am not a big fan of kicking myself)

Btw.. I am biased.. Hung Gar is my favourite style.. not because I consider it the best.. but I consider it the best for me. Plus.. it has Tiger, Tiger is sooo cool!!! Grrrrr!!!