Well on the chance no one reads my poorly titled "mor advice sought" thread I thought I would try this one, which has a better title. If one of the mods reads this, feel free to obliterate "more advice sought", THANKS!
I am also currently engaged in thinking about joining a martial art.
I figure a few of you guys out there probably practice already.
So I guess what I am looking for is a way to learn more about me, and in the process bring my mind and body closer together. I want something that will be beneficial physically, though I suspect most if not all forms will be. I would also like a style with a fair amount of history.
So what do you guys think? anything spring to mind.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
1st I'd say define what type of art you want to get into: competitive, non-competitive, more for health and well being vs. combat oriented.
Then look for a good teacher (always more important than style).
As Bruce says unless you have 3 arms humans have but a finite number of ways to fight.
If your want a mind-body synergy without heavy sparring I'd look for traditional Okinawan Karate or Kung Fu (wushu, shaolin), Judo.
Brazilian Jiujitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, wrestling, is great if you wanna learn how to handle a real life violent situation.
but anyway, look into alot of teachers and see whom you might fit in best with.
best of luck
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Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Ive trained a bit of Aikido but to be able to use it in a practical situation takes some intensive training and time.
Judo is similar in nature but includes full force sparring (randori) so in a relatively short time you can execute throws against a resisting opponent.
Besides, repetitions of lifting 200 plus pound guys is a great workout in itself.
Grappling styles by nature provide tough physical training so time hitting the weights would likely decrease.
If a skilled Judo player goes against an untrained person its over before it ever began.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Cool that's interesting, there are only a limited amount of clubs in my small area, so martial arts are limited around here.. I've just begun training for the wrestling- so that is going to be interesting! I am possibly going to be the only person of the female variety at this club!
I took a little judo when I was much younger, like in grade 8. I remeber it having the potential to be brutal. Maybe I'll look into it again.
Kendo interests me as well, but I am not sure I have a great school around here. looks like there is only 1 and the sensei lives an hour a way or so.
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
Blog entry: November 1, 2009, Pancakes LiveSTRONG daily plate log
I'd recommend Kung-Fu. It's got everything you need. Grapling, striking, acrobatics, meditation and it's not only a fighting style, but a way of life (if you choose it to be)
I have some real problems with North American Karate as all it is is just point sparring for flash and it has no real substance. However, if you can find a real Japanese Karate instructor not swayed by the american flash, that's also a good way, though you won't get the grapling you get in Kung-Fu.
Good luck in your search, martial arts are phenomenal.
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Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, you cold-hearted bastard. You did it again!
Many styles of Karate do have grappling techniques, alot of which was taken out to make it safer for the masses. But some still do teach joint locks and the like, and with the recent popularity of grappling alot of schools are mixing it in.
If I were to start out fresh today I'd go with a gym that has a number of disciplines, or a MMA gym.
Almost any urban area now has eclectic gyms where you can choose different classes, most commonly a striking style, grappling, and maybe a weapons system such as Kali or Escrima.
Aztec, where do you train? I know theres a good Aikido school on University Ave. Jo & Bo are alot of fun.
If you ever get a chance visit the Minnesota Kali Academy over near Hennepin & 4th. The head guy Rick Faye is amazing with weapons. One of the best I've ever seen in person. Trained with Dan Inosanto. He also teaches BJJ & Muay Thai - so basically one mad mutha.
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
My favorite form of self defense would be the art known only as...Beretta. If I was choosing to learn a martial arts for sport or recreation I would go with Chinese Kempo, it's a healthy mixture of a multitude of stlyes (including ground fighting). I studied it for a while but moved out of the area.
If I was choosing to learn a martial arts for sport or recreation I would go with Chinese Kempo, it's a healthy mixture of a multitude of stlyes (including ground fighting). I studied it for a while but moved out of the area.
Linear Mode
