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Starting in martial arts.
- Thread starter Josh123
- Start date
MagnusTheBrewer
IN MEMORIAM
What is your purpose in learning a martial art?
Josh123
Diamond Member
Fitness and enjoyment. I've always been interested in starting it but never have so I'd like to take a leap and try it out.
MagnusTheBrewer
IN MEMORIAM
You might look into Tai Chi Chuan to fill that bill or, Kendo, if you like weapons.
Since you have expressed no interest in the self defense or combat aspects, most traditional martial arts will fit the bill. You should have no trouble finding a Okinawan or Japanese karate-do dojo in your area, where Kata, various types of kihon, and conditioning are the emphasis.
Gung Fu, the ones listed above by Magnus, TKD, and many others can be fun and physically challenging.
The contact based striking centric systems like Boxing, Muay Thai, kick boxing, and knockdown karate require that you be willing to take punishment.
Even grappling based systems like BJJ are physically hard on your body at first, and requires you to fight fully resisting opponents. Judo and wrestling are also hard on the body. Fun? Hell yes, but getting injured is pretty much inevitable.
Most places offer free trials, so take a class or 2 at perspective places and see which is the best fit for you personally.
irishScott
Lifer
Honestly, even though practical self defense isn't one of your stated priorities I'd still go with Krav Maga. Find a good instructor and it's loads of fun, especially when you get into grappling. Great conditioning as well, and less emphasis on form so you don't have to worry about getting everything perfect. Leads to a more easy-going experience IMO. Plus if you ever do need to use it, you know it'll be as effective as you can practically get.
In case you don't know, Krav Maga is the self defense technique used by the Israeli military. Teaches everything from grappling to weapon defense and dis-arms. Focuses on groin kicks, eye gouges and other "dirty" techniques to maximize effectiveness. There are no true Krav Maga competitions, because if there were it would be over in seconds and one party would probably be severely injured.
That's just my experience though. If all you're looking for is a good workout and a good time, you're not lacking for options. One of the guys in my Krav Maga class was a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He easily threw me (I'm 5'11" 165 lbs) about 10 ft. May not be the most practical, but BJJ will get you ripped. 🙂
In case you don't know, Krav Maga is the self defense technique used by the Israeli military. Teaches everything from grappling to weapon defense and dis-arms. Focuses on groin kicks, eye gouges and other "dirty" techniques to maximize effectiveness. There are no true Krav Maga competitions, because if there were it would be over in seconds and one party would probably be severely injured.
That's just my experience though. If all you're looking for is a good workout and a good time, you're not lacking for options. One of the guys in my Krav Maga class was a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He easily threw me (I'm 5'11" 165 lbs) about 10 ft. May not be the most practical, but BJJ will get you ripped. 🙂
I think BJJ is very practical, how many times do fights get taken to the ground? from what I've seen, and what I can do, 99% of the time they end up there just by default not anyone having that as a plan. If you're any good at BJJ you're gonna try to get them on the ground and you're going to rip them apart once you get there. I train at a MMA gym and we focus on a little of everything but emphasize BJJ.
irishScott
Lifer
1v1 sure. Most street fights, however, are going to involve more than 2 people. Taking one guy to ground doesn't mean much when his friend(s) can just kick the shit out of you. Better to just strike and evade until you've got an opening to run (or access to a weapon). We basically train to kick the nearest guy in the groin and keep him between us/shove him into his friend(s), making sure you're up against as few people as possible at any given time.
Krav Maga does cover some groundwork/grappling though if you do end up in that situation.
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Do you guys do both gi and no gi?
In response to Krav Maga: It is a very inconsistent system in the U.S.; instruction varies from excellent to McDojo. Some places do almost no ground work, others do a lot. I understand it is very difficult to find instruction here in the states that is fully qualified too. I have read that many instructors are opportunistic Israelis that served, and then came here to make some bank. Their level of training being nothing special, but rather what most Israeli service personnel receive. I have been told it is similar to learning BJJ from a blue belt; what you learn can be solid fundamentals, but very limited in scope.
I train with a Krav dude, and his ground game was pretty weak coming in. He works for Homeland security at the port, and has been doing Krav a couple years out of SoCal, where he lives when not being assigned elsewhere. His stand up isn't exactly spectacular either. Overall I'd say he did the right thing taking up boxing and BJJ, and he would tell you the same thing.
Hell, there wasn't much they do in his Krav training beyond ground grappling, that did not have an analogous Shotokan technique. Groin kicks, eye gouges, elbows, knees, trips, sweeps, take downs, kicks, punches, open hand strikes, All in both systems.
:sneaky: Anyways, I just like these rare M.A. threads here, so try to keep them going.
Josh: You will have to spar to learn effective self-defense, period. Practicing on a compliant partner will never translate well to full speed, full contact, situations. So, if you want self-defense, you have to find a place that uses their techniques in a realistic way. BJJ and Boxing are great examples. Muay Thai and knockdown karate styles like Kyokushin are others.
Yep, I'm not so fond of the gi but it's ok. It's not so much the fact that I don't like the gi it's just not as practical as no gi. Gi is a lot more technical, I think.
Gi can be practical too. I agree not so much at the beach or when someone is wearing shorts and t-shirt, but the rest of the time, gi chokes are money. Before I ever heard of BJJ, I did Chinese Kenpo, which has a grappling component called Chin-Na. The guy I trained with threw in some Judo newaza too. I can say from experience that a cross collar from mount works with just a golf shirt.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
Lol. When is the last time you guys got in a street fight? 99 percent of All the fights I've ever been in I could of walked away from. You want to be a bad ass? I'm sure there are some underground fights near you where some guy would be more than happy to kick your ass. Keep yourself in shape, keep yourself humble, and avoid shady places and you won't need to worry about being in a streetfight. Btw most people nowadays are carrying guns so you might wanna rethink the whole bad ass thing.
irishScott
Lifer
Hey, not everyone can be an internet badass like you OilField. 😉
In the off chance you're not just trolling: It's fun. Sparring is fun. Knowing I could probably maim you with my bare hands is fun. The potential practicality is a perk.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
I'll be the first to admit I'm no bad ass. Going to prison taught me a few things: I'm not hard, there are some just freaky genetically gifted people out there that You couldn't dream of beating their ass, I like being peaceful.
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I have not been a fight that was unsanctioned or in a uncontrolled environment/street fight in 25yrs. Do not plan to be either. I train because I get stoke from it, and it is a great workout.
And the "there is always someone better/that can kick your ass!" is played out. It adds nothing to the discussion. If it was in response to someone, I must have missed where they claimed training made them invincible. 🙄
Did you want to address the OP's question about where he can get some stoke, get a good workout, and maybe get some self defense skills to go with it? Or are you just going to continue to state the obvious?
Again, that has zero to do with anything being discussed in this thread. That some self-defense ability can result from training is a fact, period. That it will not make you invincible is as well.
So WTF is your point? I must be missing it. Because you seem to be addressing claims no one here has made.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
Hey I'm not the one puffing my chest out playing out the scenarios that could unfold if I was in a streetfight. I am merely pointing out the fact that if you mind your own business and stay humble you're not gonna be in a streetfight.
I also get a kick out of the fact all the mma fanboys believe training in some fake ass mma school somehow makes them a badass. I'm sure it benefits some people but more than likely if the shit hit the fan they'd crawl up in a ball and start crying. Can't teach being a fighter. You can teach a fighter better techniques and skills but can't train the fearlessness and ferocity it takes to be a fighter.
I also get a kick out of the fact all the mma fanboys believe training in some fake ass mma school somehow makes them a badass. I'm sure it benefits some people but more than likely if the shit hit the fan they'd crawl up in a ball and start crying. Can't teach being a fighter. You can teach a fighter better techniques and skills but can't train the fearlessness and ferocity it takes to be a fighter.
irishScott
Lifer
You'd be surprised, even in the good parts of town. Got class in 10 minutes so no time to type it out, but suffice to say I've been in a few situations where luck served me just as well as humility and good judgment. If my luck had gone sour I very well could have ended up in a street fight. Of course in a month or two my CCW will come in and the point will probably be moot, but you never know.
And like I said, I train first and foremost for fun. The potential practicality is a perk, and if I ever have to use it shit has really hit the fan.
It is still a straw man though. No one in this discussion made those claims, did they?
I strongly disagree with some of your assertions too. "Fake ass MMA gym"? Which gyms have you trained in? It is such an absurd statement, it is hard to take you seriously now.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
Why no recommendations to join a Boxing gym? I know he won't learn that desperately needed spinning head kick to fend off street thugs but it will be great exercise and fun.
If you read my first post
EDIT: I brought up boxing again
He initially expressed no desire for the self defense aspects, or for heavy contact. But I threw those out there to cover that area. Boxing is awesome, but not what most folks are thinking of when they ask about taking their first martial art. Usually they ask about boxing specifically, if that is what they are interested in. Most people do not even realize boxing, wrestling, and Muay Thai are traditional martial arts.
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I tend to not recommend contact arts as peoples first encounter as getting hit in the face is a quick deterrent for some people. But with some sort or grappling or throwing art(BJJ/Judo) people are much less likely to stop because they're getting hit/kicked in the face(or where ever). Even if they're not hard hits it's still annoying. I know I still don't like it. Also in a decent MMA gym they'd train boxing as well. So they would also get some variety, if they wanted it, and chose what they want to learn. I know at my gym boxing, kick-boxing and BJJ/Judo are all separate classes and you're not required to be in them all. That way if one doesn't like BJJ but they like to kick-box they've still got something to learn and their money wasn't wasted.
Good post.
This is the gym I go to http://forcefitnessgym.com/
Definitely a good variety of disciplines to choose from.
Josh123
Diamond Member
I'd be interested in boxing as well but like a previous poster said, I'm not sure how much I would enjoy it after being hit. I'm not saying I'm a vagina, I just think it would be kind of "overwhelming" if that makes sense. I made a call to a Taekwondo gym and I think I'm going to make it over to check it out today or Monday. I think I'd enjoy BJJ more but I can't find any place that trains in it here.
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