Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="tengu" data-source="post: 465915" data-attributes="member: 6599">I've been involved in the arts off and on for somewhere around 18 years now.I started off with Kempo just before my 13th birthday, and before my senior year of high school, I had been awarded my 2nd degree brown belt. However, my instructor's instructor took over the school, merged his students in with us, effectively booted my instructor out, and turned it into a rather unfriendly atmosphere. I took a leave of absence soon after.In my first year of college, I investigated the school's karate club, where they practiced Shotokan Karate. I stuck with it for a few weeks, but it was tough on the body to go from a softer, more fluid style into a harder, more rigid style.When I transferred colleges, I started my career at U-Mass with Aikido (for credit, no less), and loved it. I took the second semester Aikido course in my final semester at U-Mass. Afterwards, I investigated a local Aikido dojo, only to find that it was a bit out of my price range at the time. During my breaks from formal training, I've dabbled with other styles and arts, including kickboxing, several ch'uan-fa (kung fu) schools, fighting with staff and sticks, and even some Japanese swordwork. Also, I've some experience with boffo-weapons from the live-action role-players who held open fighting practice sessions.All in all, I'd love to get back on the mat with either Aikido or Aikijujutsu. But first, I need to get into better shape, and get more energy through my body.Practicality: All in how you use it... granted, you're in the dojo, practicing with someone who does the attack in the "proper" method and expects the technique, and will act/fall accordingly. I've worked with a Kempo student while using an Aikido technique, and he was able to find holes in it. Perhaps there's only a handful of styles that would be considered streetworthy, or at least massively effective outside of the dojo. I can't say what' the best style out there... As I said, all in how you use it.I may not be the best martial artist around, but I do like to see how RPGs out there handle the arts. So far, I think only the Hero/Champions and GURPS systems have done very well with it. Of course, that's just my lookout... I might be mistaken...</blockquote>

Verification