What martial arts do you study?

[sabro]

My brother-in-law is really upset because one of his Tae Kwon Do students- a young black belt, was killed in a bar fight at the restaurant where he works. He stepped in to help a bouncer with one guy, another guy came up and he was knocked to the ground and they stomped on his head. The guy was in his early 20's.

 

[ACMILAN1983]

sorry to hear that Sabro

 

[Revenant]

I am also sorry to hear about that Sabro.

what is shoot fighting

Basically just the combination of Thai-boxing and submission wrestling.

 

[sabro]

On a bit of a happier note- because of the devastation in New Orleans, The United States Karate Alliance will be holding its world tournament in Southern California this August. I am interested in making this a truly "World" event by inviting as many teams and individuals from outside the US to compete. All styles, ages, and levels of karate and tae kwon do are invited. Kata (forms), kumite (sparring), kobudo kumite, chanbara, and koshiki. There are also seminars that are by some of the more renowned practitioners. I can assist in arranging travel and accomodations if necessary. Please give this information to everyone who might be remotely interested.

 

[Martialartsnovice]

Cool, Wish I was in a position to attend that event.

 

[jEsteR_bOy]

I've tried to master kendo, aikkido, and karate, but i suck at all of them. Especially kendo. The wooden stick is so damn heavy!

 

[DoctorP]

I tested and passed for sho-dan just last month. Now I am authorized to teach...which I do assist in my dojo now.

 

[Reiku]

personally, I've found Wing Chun to be one of the most useful martial arts around to learn due to the way it helps you develop good reactions and sensitivity to your surroundings.

It's also less corrupted than JKD.

Unfortunately, Bruce Lee's popularity has led to far too many McDojo's claiming to teach Jeet Kune Do without any clue as to what JKD is about.

Also, I just noticed this:

Out of curiousity, Are there any dojos in America that teach Kenjitsu. I realize Im probably asking a braod question, but Im looking to start practicing it.

Actually, I teach kenjutsu.

The method of swordfighting I teach is a combination of Musashi's Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu and my own philosophies and techniques.

If you're ever on the central coast, let me know--I'd be happy to give you a free introductory lesson.

 

[Martialartsnovice]

Thanks,

Im not familiar with Musashi's Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu.

P.S.

My condolences to the family of the late student.

P.P.S

Congratulations CC1, on passing your sho-dan.

 

[Reiku]

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu is a very simple, somewhat ruthless form--it focuses entirely on effectiveness, and nothing else. As a result, some of the style's methods and tactics--such as striking at the hands--are considered "cheap" or "dirty" by other swordsmen...

...I've noticed that most of this criticism comes after they have been beaten by it.

There are really very few "techniques" involved--it is essentialy the basics of kenjutsu refined to the point where little else is needed.

It's only real weakness is that it is not good against certain styles from China and other counties--most notably the "Drunken Sword". Because of the similar foundations of traditional Japanese kenjutsu styles, there are some things the creators of those styles never thought to make a defense against.

To compensate for this, I have applied my theories of free frormed, unpredictable movement to Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu to essentially "fill in the holes".

What results is essentially a calm, very focused style that can instantly become completely fluid and unpredictable--and then change right back, keeping the opponent off-balance.

If you want more information on the origional Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, I suggest reading "Go Rin No Sho" a book translated from scrolls that Musashi wrote at the end of his life. It outlines the basic form and principles of the style, as well as providing extensive information on tactics and strategy, and the ways to apply this knowlege to every part of your life--I hear the book is popular with american buisnessman for this reason.

 

[Da Monstar]

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu is a very simple, somewhat ruthless form--it focuses entirely on effectiveness, and nothing else. As a result, some of the style's methods and tactics--such as striking at the hands--are considered "cheap" or "dirty" by other swordsmen...

Some of us consider all kind of weapon usage as that (No Offence Reiku)

Sounds like an effective sword usage thouh, since the chances for fighting a chinese or another of the so-called counter-techniques are very low. It is my impression that real swordsmen are hard to find these days because everybody in the western wanna do Karate, and everybody in the East wanna do some western stuff (though many in the easter train their local contact sports too).

Im more of a full body contact martial art. So I dislike swordfighting (or Escrima, Bo and tonfas) though I can see the fun in using them for training. Especially Nunchakus are very fun to train your arms and coordination abilites with as an alternative to the regular training.
Currently I do Muay Thai. I have always done a little body building and training like that. So far I am considering normal Boxing training too, since I can only train Muay Thai 2 times a week.
Muay Thai is my opinion one of the best martial arts. Its has good power, and good defense when you're a trained Nak Muay. For beginners and to the beginners eyes Muay Thai can seem as the worst Defense art ever. Even I thought that for a while, but after you have gotten used to the sport its a great defense. Heck I even put one of my friends down with a simple block when he kicked me (appearently football players have weak shins )

Other than that I would like to Start up Wrestling, but there is only one club in denmark for that (and its too far away).

 

[Reiku]

Muay Thai is a very good art--extremely powerful. Although I generally have an issue with some of the body conditioning involved--nothing against Muay Thai specificly, I just don't think body conditioning in general is a good thing to rely on, as it can limit flexibility, speed, and control when taken too far.

I actually favor full body hand to hand fighting myself, but there is a focus and a spirituality inheirant to swordsmanship that is not present in other arts.

Learning to use a sword as an extension of yourself is not unlike learning to use your mind and spirit as an extension of your body--and learning the one vastly improves your knowlege of the other.

 

[ACMILAN1983]

If you want more information on the origional Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, I suggest reading "Go Rin No Sho" a book translated from scrolls that Musashi wrote at the end of his life. It outlines the basic form and principles of the style, as well as providing extensive information on tactics and strategy, and the ways to apply this knowlege to every part of your life--I hear the book is popular with american buisnessman for this reason.

In the West the book is called the "Book of five Rings". I have read it and found it to have be brilliant, as a method of understanding martial arts, from a physical, strategic and a philosophical viewpoint.

I would have suggest that people get a version thats truest to the original text, as there are now many versions specifically to target businessmen.

Muay Thai is a martial art I've always been fascinated by. I've actually been considering taking it up, but only once I've feel I've reached a point in wing chun where I've understood the system fully, as I don't want to learn any system half-heartedly.

I do have a question about Muay Thai. I've heard a lot of the fighters usually end their careers in their mid-20s due to the pressure placed on the body. How do other schools teach adults without causing problems for their bodies in the future?

 

[Reiku]

Really? I hadn't heard that...

It does make sense that there would be an upper limit though--Muay Thai uses a lod of harsh body-conditioning techniques to toughen up and desensitize body tissues, and over time this can cause significant harm.

Personally, I think it's better to be able to dodge a kick to the shins--than to have so much scar tissue in my shinbones that it breaks the guy's foot.

 

[Da Monstar]

Muay Thai doesn't harm your body more than any other martial arts. They way to condition your shins is just going around kicking alot of stuffs all of the time to strenghten it, at the same time you need to get a lot of Iron (got milk? ) Also when you kick alot of stuff around you kill your nerve cells in the shins so it doesnøt hurt so much when you block or kick. But don't worry these Nerves (sadly) grows out again after a month without training (then it hurts to kick and block again )

I guess there are some who take conditioning to the max with other tecniques, but I don't know about these techniques.

 

[Reiku]

No, that was pretty much what I was talking about.

The thing is, not all arts actually use that level of conditioning.

"Kicking stuffs" is of course going to happen whether in sparring of training--but it's the kinds of things you're kicking that make the differance.

When you repetedly bang your shins against a hard object, it creates microscopic bone fratures. (hence the need for iron and calcium) The body respomds to these fractures much the same way it responds to the microscopic muscle tears that come with working out--it rebuilds the damaged tissue, and builds it back with a greater density.

As a result, your bones get heavier, and harder to break--but this is very hard on the body, and can eventually cause arthritis like problems, if taken too far, for too long.

 

[Da Monstar]

ahh I see.... I've always trained with the idea "Hey this feels good" or "Theoretical, this exercise must be good" I never really though about the consequense of it all. But what the heck We arenøt gonna live for ever anyway.

 

[Reiku]

A truly wise sentiment.

It really doesn't become a problem unless you take it too far, so I wouldn't say that a Muay Thai student is automatically going to run into this--but it is a potential risk, and it's hard to know how far "too far" is until you get there, so I generally discourage heavy use of conditioning methods among my students.

 

[Martialartsnovice]

yeah, Ive seen the conditioning some Muay Thai use to train their legs.

I have some training in Karate, so I can understand the aspects in dealing with full body contact, but Ive also tried to learn some weapon arts.

I like the sue of nunchakus, it keeps the opponent guessing. I did do some kicking conditioning when I still trained though I never broke through boards then, nowadays I can easily snap them without trying.

Im still wanting to learn a sword art, then Ill return to unarmed combat. Im thinking eitehr jujitsu or Muay Thai.

 

[ACMILAN1983]

Thanks for answering my question guys

 

[nhannah]

No-Gi Brazilian jiujitsu(submission grappling) & kickboxing. Very close to what a previous poster mentioned as shootfighting.

 

[sabro]

welcome nhannah-- the world USKA tournament that I mentioned above will be held in Dallas in August. Please see if you can make it!

The Nationals are in Albuquerque this weekend, but I won't be able to go due to family emergency.

 

[nova]

I used to practice Tae Kwon Do, I was quite bad at it.

 

[Leticia]

I'm registered to start Kendo in a few months! I'm so excited!

 

[rick5i]

just two

Practiced in Aikido and some Iaito. Good experiences.