spec me a Martial Art!

Chaosboss

Chaosboss

Chaosboss

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422
Location
Leeds
I am interested in learning Martial Arts, the main driver is to help build my personality and help me to be more disciplined, so something that teaches you to get into a good 'frame of mind'? I am not so bothered about the combat/fitness side of it as I just see that as bonus gains.

All advice appreciated :D

CB
 
Thai chi - no i'm being serious! Against popular belief it's actually a proper combat Martial Art, but it's foucued on what you just mentioned
 
Tia Chi - Supposed to relax the body and mind... at the same time can be deadly way to protect your self.

Am looking to take up Tia Chi
 
I did Tae Kwon Do for five years - ignore what you saw in the Olympics though, that was in general incredibly boring!

Tae Kwon Do is all about kicking, generally to the head and body, with quite a few jumps etc. thrown in for good measure.

It's cracking for fitness and stretching...not so good if you actually needed it in self defence.

The lack of emphasis on punching, take downs and defense (though there was some) hobble it as an all rounder.

Building your personality and be more disciplined etc. depend on two things:

1. Actually going - if you're not disciplined you may not actually be bothered to get there ;)

2. The instructor, I've seen some instructors who are as strict as they could be. That works for some people not for others.

Personally if I'm going along to learn something I don't appreciate being shouted at, not being able to talk etc., so the best idea is to approach some of your local centres and just watch what's going on and see what you like.


Thinking about it, I'd love to learn Jeet Kuno Do...may have to look into that.
 
ninja.jpg


= WIN!
 
to be honest, if you're not over interested in the fitness or self defense side, but really want to concentrate on the discipline building side, i'd suggest the style of martial art is way less important than the quality of teaching.

find yourself a good (ie. well respected in the martial arts community) local instructor in any art and just go learn from him/her, and put the years in.

sunday karate clubs down the local church hall are ten a penny and the vast majority of them are a waste of time more or less. ok, you'll maybe get a bit fit, maybe learn a few basics, and pass some time and spend a few quid. but there's a world of difference between that and training with a quality instructor.
 
MrWhippy said:
sunday karate clubs down the local church hall are ten a penny and the vast majority of them are a waste of time more or less. ok, you'll maybe get a bit fit, maybe learn a few basics, and pass some time and spend a few quid. but there's a world of difference between that and training with a quality instructor.
Click to expand...

Yea, I think finding a passionate instructor is the key, still can't decide on the type of MA though.
 
Chaosboss said:
Yea, I think finding a passionate instructor is the key, still can't decide on the type of MA though.
Click to expand...

Just go along to some local clubs and watch them at it, see what the instructors are like, see how much the members are actually trying (do they look passionate or are they having a laugh) and see what martial art appeals to you whilst you are there.
 
Aikido. Used to do it as a kid. Thought it would't be that useful due to the complete ephasis on defence. A few years after I stopped it someone waved a broken bottle at me threateningly and I went into autopilot. Next think I knew I was holding the bottle and the other guy was looking scared. This was years after I stopped doing it.

Edit: a bit different from the rubber knife we used in practice I suppose ;)
 
from personal experience, if you're within travelling distance of :

east anglia - Alex Barrowman
manchester - Chris Boughey

(google them for contact details / venues etc)

are worth checking out. like TheBigCheese said above though, you really should go train with them. coz even if you find the most disciplined and passionate instructor in the country, you might just not get on with them or their way. almost every club (and any club worth going to) will let you train for a couple of lessons with them without any major financial commitment, so go try a few, see what you think.

all you have to lose is a few hours of your life and a few pounds (trainig fees or lard :) )

also, once you've tried 2 or 3 different instructors/styles you'll start to get to understand the difference in quality.
 
Krav Marga.

Or for a non Violent one you could try Parkour(SP?)Some people class that as a martial art, plus its free
 
I do Aikido and it's good fun, hard to consider it practical at first as its all wrist hold defence in the beginning. It does hurt but most people don't bother putting the holds on properly once they know how to do them properly

Don't have any real basis for comparison as I've never done any other martial art, probably gonna try Jujitsu soon though and choose between the two
 
What's stupid? Joint pain isn't a good thing over time in my books, it's not like you aren't getting the practise in as you still do the pins and the lock, you just don't force a tap out...
 
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