I'm thinking of taking up a martial art. Because I want to feel physically safer but I don't want to carry a weapon.

I'm not athletic. I'm semi-strong, but my back is permafucked. I'm a fairly quick thinker and I have good hand-eye coordination. What martial art should I try?

Started training in hapkido when i was about 15 years old and rose to the rank of brown belt.But as far as having a bad back it really depends how painful it is when stress is put on it.If its permafucked as you say I would go with Tai Chi.This art will actually help to heal your back problems.I've known many people that train in this art and there probably the most focused,level headed people I've ever known.
You could also look around and find a instructor to teach you a specific weapon.Like for example Escrima (Kali) sticks are an excellent self defense weapon.When properly used you can keep three to four attackers a safe distance away from you.And if need be you can inflict serious damage.There also legal to carry on person or auto and you dont need a license.

Tai Chi is a great soft art that can focus more on meditations and agility rather than striking.

The problem is that you want to feel physically safer, but really cannot get involved with any of the harder style striking arts. Keep in mind that you need to know what you want to defend yourself against. DO you want to be able to "knock a bitch around who is trying to steal yo man at da club," or do you want to "hurt that dirty bastard who is trying to take your purse."

Again, since your back is fucked, I wouldn't pick up ANY art that puts an emphasis on kicking anywhere above the waist. Technically none FORCE you to, but many seemingly encourage it. I'm thinking of a soft striking art like Win Chun, or better yet, a stick fighting art like Kali/Escrima/Arnis. The sitck fight arts require quick thining, fast reflexes, and the sticks can do much of the work for you. The best part is that many of the techniques can go from the long stick, to a shorter stick, to knife and even down to empty hand combat. You make take to that, but your knuckles can get beat up a bit without kempo gloves.

Cheers

tackam said:

crazyhorse said:

LOL. I can't beleive we posted almost the same thing!

LOL guess we read the same article
[This message was edited Sat Mar 22 5:39:51 PST 2003 by crazyhorse]

i would LOVE to do a martial artist...


a very large man,,,

DORA said:

MOST OF US ARE TRUELY SLIM...
I'LL CLIP ONE OF YO 'BIG BOYS'
LIKE YOU CLIP YO 'SPLITENDS'

I used to do Thai boxing. It's the hardest workout I've ever done.

I don't know Karatayyy...but I know Caraaazaaay!!!

I currently compete in the Chinese Martial Arts circuit and have my base in Jow Ga Kung Fu. It's a southern Chinese martial art that emphasizes fast footwork as well as hands.
My instructor allows us to study different styles which is very cool. Every style has its strengths and weaknesses. Boxing has footwork and great hands but lacks kicking and groundfighting. Tae Kwon Do emphasizes kicks but lacks in punching and groundfighting. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has amazing groundfighting skills but lacks in striking etc etc...

Close to ten years ago everyone got their asses handed to them by Gracie Jiu Jitsuka Royce Gracie. This was because none of them effectively addressed the issue of the grappling range. So a Gracie Jiu Jitsu stylist had free reign. Fast Forward to today and in organizations like Pride in Japan which is the premiere Mixed Martial Arts organization in the world, nearly every mixed martial artist cross trains in different styles. It is expected nowadays that a fighter be well rounded in all areas of fighting.

Thanks to Bruce Lee who actually addressed the issue nearly thirty years ago when he saw the limitations of following a "style". So Bruce created Jeet Kune Do as a way of fighting without limiting your options in combat. Being able to flow from one range of combat to another and responding to an attack without the limitations of a "style" was groundbreaking.

I'd look at anyone that you are interested in. But before you do it get a doctor's permission. You might also want to start an excercise program to help with your back as well as provide a healthy body that can hold up to the intensity of a martial art. Above all ask questions and don't be fooled by the bullshit a lot of these martial artists throw around.
"my art can save you from multiple attackers and you won't ever get hit!"

"My style's the best, screw the others.""with one punch you can defeat a guy with a gun!"

"you'll be a Black Belt in 1 year".

Bullshit.

If you hear this type of crap, walk out the door. Nothing can beat reality and common sense.

Good luck in your search.

I agree fully with NovaAngel.Also ask if you have to pay for belt or testing when moving up to next level.If the answer is yes walk out.That belt was earned by you and no money is required.

crazyhorse said:

Do you still train?

No its been along time.I started training again after the service for a few years then work and other things just took over.I've been thinking about changing styles and training in a style that is more weapon oriented.Or just training with weapons only.

Excellent info, thanks. I never thought about stick/knife fighting. That would be pretty badass.

A girl I know just got attacked, and she's ok, but it got me thinking. I'm interested in carrying a weapon of some sort, but not a gun. So that might actually be ideal.

I'll probably never need the skills, but it would make me feel safer and more free, I think. Plus, the physical fitness aspect is appealing.

Thanks for the advice.

Sorry, I'm a Gracie worshipper They still hand everybody their ass. The majority of the people who can take on the Gracies have incorporated the Gracie style of groundwork into thier art.

Gracie Ju Jitsu itself can be considered a blend of styles, and there is PLENTY of striking. Tons on the ground but also in stand-up striking.

I personally practice JKD with an emphasis on Gracie, Kali, Wing Chun, and Thai Boxing incorporations. I have a secret passion for Silat and Savate, but those styles rarely suit my instincts.

NovaAngel said:

tackam said:

The art of shooting :LOL:

Dauphin said:

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge BJJ/GJJ fan (Rickson is still the man! I only meant that each art specializes within a certain range thereby gaining a degree of proficiency in that particular range.
Chinese Kung Fu does have grappling; however, more emphasis is placed upon the hands and feet. Tae Kwon Do also has punches but puts more emphasis on kicks. In addition, GJJ also has kicks and punches I agree; but the most emphasis is placed on submissions and chokes. The punches and kicks are used as lead in techniques to get into the grappling range. Rickson, for example, against Yoshihisa Yamamoto in '94 led in with a front kick then went to the clinch. The kick wasn't meant to be particularly damaging, but rather as a feint so that he could close the distance.
Wow it is good to see that there are martial artists in the org as well. Who do you train under in JKD and where? The closest one to me is the Trident Academy in Woodbridge, VA and that's still too far. It's run by a Navy SEAL named Pat Tray. I did visit there once and it was a really good experience.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 24 21:03:35 PST 2003 by NovaAngel]

I've studied Jeet Kune Do, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, Muy Thai, Silat, Panantuken, and Shotokan Karate.

For you I would recommend Jeet Kune Do. It's Bruce Lee's style which incorporates many different fighting skills which are great for street fighting.

I haven't tried it yet, but Krav Maga would also be excellent. It's all about minimal moves, but maximum results and serious damage. The Israelis weren't playing around when they created that. Neither of these styles require too much movement that could hurt your back.

NovaAngel said:

I used to train with some graduates of the Mid Michigan Academy of Martial Arts. They started a school when I was a teen a joined up. We had TONS of seminars in the region that we went to. Larry Hartsel, Daniel Inosanto, Hoyce Gracie, Paul Venauk, and tons more.

When I moved to go to college, the majority of them went off to Cali so I've pretty much been just working out with my brother and showing friends as much as I can without the real heavy kick pads, etc. That's why I've been more on a Gracie/Wing Chun/Kali spree lately. It's too much to try Thai boxing training without those huge pads, and I ain't about to go kicking some trees!

EvilWhiteMale said:

So are you saying that you do martial arts so you'll be able to street fight?

I am a martial arts instructor and have been for about 6 years now. I started my training in Shotokan Karate and then moved on to Kick Boxing and Western Boxing. I looked into Lau Gar Kung Fu and I finally ended up studying Wing Tsun Kung Fu. (Also spelt Wing Chun and Wing Vsun)

I find Wing Tsun to be the most rounded martial art system out there. It deals with everything from grappling to weapons to restraint techniques.

It was invented by a Chinese Nun from the Shaolin Temple about 400 years ago and as such is a martial art system based on the smaller and weaker person (sorry ladies, but in general you are smaller and physically weaker) being able to defeat a bigger and stronger opponent.
This is an excellent approach because, if you really think about it, why do people attack you? Usually it's because they think they can win. I mean, Prince wouldn't start a fight with Lennox Lewis would he, because he would probably eye him up and think "well, he's bigger and stronger than me so I will probably lose." This means that you will usually be fighting stronger opponents in the street, in which case relying on a style that requires the one with the strongest technique will be useless for you, as your opponent will generally be bigger than you.

So based on this theory, we must be able to defend ourselves against bigger people. This is where Wing Tsun comes into it's own. In Wing Tsun, we take the opponent's energy and use it against them. This is hard to explain without a physical demonstration. The harder the opponent attacks you, the harder his own attack is deflected back onto him.

We also use many theories and principles in Wing Tsun such as...


Don't fight strength with strength

Simultaneous attack and defend

Economy of motion

The Centre Line theory



Please check out this link for more info www.wtdefence.com

tackam said:

I did Tae Kwon Doe for many many years... it's pretty tough going, and it's a huge commitment in terms of time, and it is also quite demanding physically. Shotokan karate is probably more practical - better punching, blocks, combos, better overall balance of bodyweight... the problem is that it is taught so poorly in the west compared to in Japan

Of course there's always stuff like aikido, and judo... depends what sort of a martial art you like really.

Unless you are really into doing a martial art specifically, I'd probably recommend doing a generic "women's self defence course" - without wishing to be patronising, I think these are really valuable and useful.

minneapolisgenious wrote:

So are you saying that you do martial arts so you'll be able to street fight?

I do it for physical and mental strength as well. I'm not in it for competitions. I do it so if I do wind up in a street fight, I'll be able to hang. Besides, the gain in confidence is worth every penny.

I can't praise Wing Chun enough and people who are even mildly interested in martial arts REALLY love practicing sticky hands, so I get to work with that a lot.

Oddly enough, I ALWAYS violate the don't fight strength with strength in situations as I am usually the stronger. It's a bad habit I developed when teaching people why they shouldn't try that themselves. Generally, once I feel resistence that should not be there, I start pushing against it and "shooting" to get inside position where elbow and knee strikes give way to grappling.

Plus, whenever I get to "high reference point," I always seem to start into empty hand kali. go figure.

JimmyNothing said: