Martial Arts Discussion

[J-Lord]

Hey Guy! I couldn't see a thread about this and I have noticed quite a few of us do some sort of Martial Arts. So why not discuss the different types and see how your taugh martial arts, what training methods do you use? Do you have belt rankings? Etc.

Ill go first:

I perform Taekwondo. I am currently Blue Belt level one (the belts are in 3 levels for each colour except black which has 9, the colours go from white, yellow, blue, red and black). For each belt level you must perform different patters along with different moves such as front kicks, turning kicks and more advanced stuff such as a 360 turning kick for higher belt. We also practice self defence, fall breaking, some wrestling (grapples), very minimal weapon training such as staffs.

I do taekwondo to keep me entertained, its a place where I can keep some sort of fitness, learn some self defence and all in all have a good time.

So what martial arts do you perform? Why do you do it? And what traning methods do you use?

[Dan Den]

I don't know if this is considered Martial Arts but my cousin taught me a sort of street martial arts where the main goal is to basically go for you opponents joints and weak points at the same time fighting dirty and all. He told me that going to class only taught you the normal moves but when you fight outside the ring you get the full experience you even get to learn the deadly killing blows and stuff like that.

I really haven't been at it for quite some time being at school and all and have let myself go but this holiday starting next week am going to get my chizzed abs.

[lemmingllama]

I do Shotokan Karate(most widely known type). I am currently a brown belt, which is one step from black and several years from white. For each belt level you must perform different katas(series of moves), breakdowns(katas with people actually attacking you), as well as new moves and stances. Also, to do higher belt gradings we have to teach classes and be able to do mulitple sparring matches in a row. We also practice self defence, breakfalls, grappling, sparring, and defense against weapons. Sadly none of my senseis really like to use weapons so I cant learn to use them.

I do karate because its fun and makes me get off my lazy butt and actually do something constructive, plus its a good workout.

And just as a little thing that bugs me, there is no "Karate Chop" move in Karate

[† Talena Mae]

I do Tai chi (T'ai chi ch'uan)

I do it more for the health and meditation benifits but in my line of work it was a good thing I started when I was 13, it helps defend against most attacks xD

I recoment you try it out it really does help to clear the mind here the Wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi_chuan

[shyguysteve]

I practice wu shu, a type of kung fu that is for flexibility. Lately I have been stretching a little more roughly with my legs and started using ankle and wrist weights about 10 lbs and going to purchase a vest to give my torso and back extra weight.

Surprisingly even though I descend from Asian cultures, my cousin from the eruo side of my family is the one who runs and trains his own dojo of mixed martial arts. I will practice different methods and styles when I see worth trying it. I never power lift weights, I always see how far and long I can hold the weights from my body.

My reasons for martial arts is mainly for fitness, I'll practice a beginners type of routine derived from Bruce Lee's routine. though I do aspire to have the love and discipline he did as a martial artist; his diet is insanely hard to follow.

[lemmingllama]

Would anyone think that one discipline is better than others, at least for fighting capability? In my personal experience, taekwondo is the most superior of them, but that may also be because my family has taekwondo national champions in it

[Malyssa Rahl]

What I know best isn't really a martial art. It's more of an anything goes, hurt them before they hurt you type thing. Sarah has been helping me refine my techniques a little, but she's definitely the badass of this family.

What I learned, I learned because I had to. After mom died, and dad found out I was a lesbian.. he was abusive, so I started looking for people to teach me to defend myself. Found a temporary hiding hole, and a teacher in a lovely biker lady and her husband.. They told me before we started that what I'd learn from them wouldn't be nice, and it wouldn't be pretty, but by the time I was done, in any street fight situation, I could have taken on just about anyone that didn't have a gun, and if I had to, and they were close enough, I could have taken some of those too.. Which ended up being a good thing for me, because less than a week after that final lesson, dad was drunk, and the abuse would have taken a more disturbing turn, except that I knocked him the fuck out, and went back to packing my stuff.

[xkenpachix]

BJJ & Thai Boxing ..good stand up , good ground game..

[† Mute point]

I use a mixed style I've created from other styles and rolled it all into one. What I teach would most likely get you banned from competition for life, but if it keeps people safer, I don't care.

[Saidon]

Blackbelt Dan 1 in Taekwondo. I was doing it for 7 years. I participated in two tournaments to which I came 1st in one of them.

Now I do Boxing and even better "The Art of fighting without fighting." - Bruce Lee

[† Emotional Outlet]

I did about two days' worth of taekwondo. I don't... hate it. I was visiting Canada and my ex had been doing it and judo for a million years so he brought me along. I haven't had much interest in picking it up.

While in Maryland, I took up krav maga for a few months before work got in the way. I found it really quite enjoyable and would love to pick it up again once my contract is up, as well as get into Brazilian jiu jitsu because why not. The place that offers krav also offers BJJ (I think--it might just be a random group of people there who rent space for BJJ).

I'm no expert (I'm sure any one of the guys I know who breathe and eat this stuff would know better than I), but I'm not sure that there is any one discipline that's going to trump every other one in terms of a fight. Again, I'm not an expert and I don't plan on becoming proficient enough to murder someone with my thumbs any time soon, haha.

[† Mute point]

I'm no expert (I'm sure any one of the guys I know who breathe and eat this stuff would know better than I), but I'm not sure that there is any one discipline that's going to trump every other one in terms of a fight. Again, I'm not an expert and I don't plan on becoming proficient enough to murder someone with my thumbs any time soon, haha.

That is exactly why I created my own. I've got counters for just about anything, and once I see a move done, I can dome up with a counter for it based upon the primary foundation I learned in the classes I took.

[lemmingllama]

That is exactly why I created my own. I've got counters for just about anything, and once I see a move done, I can dome up with a counter for it based upon the primary foundation I learned in the classes I took.

The thing about it is that all martial arts are a learning experience, so once you spar with someone and see a move you havent seen before, you will learn a way to stop it. Thats why we spar, just so we can take the basics shown by the martial art and develop it into our own style. For example, I will never use my back leg for anything that isnt a roundhouse since I can do it with my front leg with more power and faster. Just little things that you develop

[Zanco]

You know what I have to say? It doesn't matter what smexy ass fighting/self defense moves you know, when you've got a 6"5, n' 300lbs giant on top of you. x ]

[† Emotional Outlet]

Well, anyone who thinks they're unstoppable just because they know martial arts is being outrageously egotistical and unrealistic. I don't think anyone has really expressed that opinion here, however. Martial arts also doesn't stop snipers or getting into a car wreck. Or volcanoes. That's neither here nor there, though.

[† Mute point]

You know what I have to say? It doesn't matter what smexy ass fighting/self defense moves you know, when you've got a 6"5, n' 300lbs giant on top of you. x ]

Which is why you don't let them get on top of you. My style caters to taking out a larger opponent. Because that's the most common situation you would need self defense for. I also teach a class dealing with weapons, both taking them away and properly using them.

And if you're still thinking that a big guy would just overpower me or one of my students, I'll just say this. Everyone is the same size when they're unconscious

[lemmingllama]

Well, anyone who thinks they're unstoppable just because they know martial arts is being outrageously egotistical and unrealistic. I don't think anyone has really expressed that opinion here, however. Martial arts also doesn't stop snipers or getting into a car wreck. Or volcanoes. That's neither here nor there, though.

It may not make you unstoppable, but it certainly does help with fighting. You get the muscle memory so that your moves will be stronger and faster, as well as the knowledge of techniques that can incapacitate your enemies. For example, I would never think of doing a funny arm waving thing to remove yourself from a grab, but now its instinctive for me to so when it does happen.

[† Emotional Outlet]

It may not make you unstoppable, but it certainly does help with fighting. You get the muscle memory so that your moves will be stronger and faster, as well as the knowledge of techniques that can incapacitate your enemies.

I was never contesting that. I was replying to Zanco's comment about not being able to do anything if you've got a 300 pound person on top of you. It's kind of a silly scenario to throw out there, as if he's trying to tell people they're wasting their time learning martial arts because, oh no, here's an example of a scenario where you might be boned.

Which is why you don't let them get on top of you.

This.

[† Mute point]

In nearly any one on one situation, I'm confident that I can defend myself. In a two on one situation, or three, or four, or however many.. If there isn't an opening, strike quickly to create one and get the fuck out of there.

[J-Lord]

You know what I have to say? It doesn't matter what smexy ass fighting/self defense moves you know, when you've got a 6"5, n' 300lbs giant on top of you. x ]

As many have stated it doesn't matter how big they are, every person can be brought down with the proper technique and timing. And the best self defence of all is if you have the chance and know you can, RTFA (Run The F Away). It may look cowardly but hey you may live to see another day and in my opinion thats a form of self defence.

Also my knee injury I suffered during training has almost healed, can anyone recommend any good ways to strengthen a knee up to prevent another injury?