Anyone here do Martial Arts?

[Revolution]

I bouned around as a kid having NASA parent so I took 3 different styles. Taekwando(SPL?!), Shodokan, and a basic ass kickin style that skipped all the tradition and shit and went straight to 'what to do to fuck someone up who is attacking you' attitude.

The problem nowdays is that I wont say the majority but I shall use the word SOME of the martial arts schools is about money to some aspect, meaning, the more belts they give and keep you in class the more cash they can make. So you have to be weary about the school. Sometimes its about profit, not passing on knowledge and wisdom. The best ones seem to be the free classes at the gym or the YMCA in my opinion, when it came to wanting to TRAIN WITH MASTER type attitude, sorta like the KUNG FU show. The best one I had was in Florida at the gym I joined. It was just a dude, who didnt make jack for cash, just liked to teach the art. Just a white guy who was a bad ass mofo and wanted to pass on like what was passed on to him.

Anyways, I hope that helps. But just a word of advice, dont learn to fight, learn to defend yourself. The arts are for the purpose of defence, not to be the bad ass at school. I have never provoked a fight(xpt once but this dude picked on me for a year and he finally just pushed me over the edge), and I have never lost a fight aka gotten my ass kicked.

In conclusion, learn for the right reasons, positive in nature, check out the school before you start shelling out cash, and check the local gyms and such that might offer classes included. I'd rather have a full gym to use as well as classes if I am gonna shell out some duckets.

And thats all I have to say about that.

[theironfist]

my teacher for Wushu was about the same he did it because he loved it not to make money the fees payed for the gym and not much more I paid like $60/mth Canadian but the class was mabey 8 people

Originally posted by Spider

*needs to remember the type of martial arts that makes you ''not feel'' pain the guy got kicked 4 times in the crotch and didnt flinch (without a cup mind you)*

the chinees equivilant is Qui-gong/ironshirt/ironfist/ironcrotch most good teachers won't teach this unless you study some martal arts for aleast a few years you have to swear off alcohale and sex while training.

I've studied wataroo Karate for 5 years and wushu for 3
wushu basicly means martail arts and encompases several different chinees styles. I've studyed alot of hard styles, staff, sword, some Qui-gong and tiachi.

rule #1 ask the teach about somthing specific if he says "I think we can fit that in some where" LEAVE (It has happened)

try checking out some of the local martail art supply stores. traditional teachers tend to have a better base, with out that everything else falls

[Sp3ctre]

The sword/knife vs. Gun debate...

A master of a sword, or someone who is l33t with throwing knives would easily beat someone with a gun (Holstered though). The Iaido thing I'm thinking of doing tells you how to draw a sword and kill someone in the blink of an eye. It was developed because the Samurai needed to be able to defend themselves when walking down the street, unprepared for battle.

However, if the opponent had a minigun, aimed for you, the sword guy would die

[Cirkusphreak]

I've been studying Danzan Ryu Jujitsu for a few years now and have actually studied a few others including Aikido, White Tiger Boxing (Form of Kung Fu) and Kenpo. When finding the style that's right for you, you need to take into consideration a few things. Why are you studying? Do you want to make yourself a better person with renewed confidence and discipline or just beat someones ass? This is, I feel, the main distinguishing trait determining if you'll stick with it for years to come, maybe even your life, or whether you find out its more work than you'll ever know. One of the main things that mature martial artists want, is to never have to use what they've learned. As been said before, do not learn to cause pain and suffering, learn to prevent it. There are many different styles available (depending on where you live of course) and you'll need to do a little research before you commit to a dojo. First determine what suits you. I'm not a small person so Kenpo didn't last, it's designed for agile people, which I am certainly not. Go to a number of dojo's and talk with the instructors, and the other students there. Get a feel of the place, this will let you know if you'll be comfortable enough to come back time and again. If not, you'll make excuses to skip class and eventually stop going all together. Also, if you really enjoy the atmosphere and the style you'll be more apt to learn and practice more, even when not in class. Watch a few classes before you commit to joining. Talk about dues, class times etc. As for learning swordsmanship, I'll break it down like this. Iaido, Kendo, etc. are great to learn if its something you wish as a hobby. They are usually expensive to learn as well. You'll never use a sword on someone even in defense because you'll go to jail over it. I guarantee it. Even if someone breaks into your home and all you have is a sword, they'll probably run when you bring it out or be gone before you do. If you attack someone when they turn to run, it's considered assault and possibly manslaughter.This stands for anything, guns swords even martial arts. If someone is trying to get away from you, even though they attacked first, and you're chasing them..congratuations you're now the aggressor and could be punished as one. Sword-Canes are illegal and you'll pay fines and possibly serve time for them. Throwing knives? Chinese stars? Please, someone has been watching too many kung fu movies. Don't carry these in public, and for heaven's sake don't ever, i mean never use them on someone else. Anything else 'concealed' is also punishable by law. Switchblade knives, butterfly knives (also called 'balisong), darts, even paintball guns. I know this for a fact because I have a conceal carry permit in the state of NV. I carry a gun with me quite often, but there are numerous establishments that do not allow people to carry a weapon on the premises, and is punishable by fines, jail terms, revoking of permit etc. So in all practical terms, martial arts is always with me, no law prevents that. The argument has been raised about which is better: martial arts or a gun. Unquestionably a gun is, thats obvious. BUT, the majority of the time you won't be carrying a weapon with you.Many lesser lifeforms on the planet may be though. In the end these are a few thoughts, hope they help. Best of luck finding a style for you which you enjoy.

[Pilgrim]

Kewl the leagal stuff!

I live in Colorado... with all the Texans and Californians!

We have 2 laws that apply!

One is the leathal weapon law, this requires you to warn someone that you are trained before smashing them into noting.

Bad guy: Give me your money PUNK

Me (in kewl NEO voice) I know Kung fu!

Bad guy: UMMMM... yeah

The other great Colorado law is the Make My Day law... God bless the wild west! It is leagal in Colorado to KILL anyone breaking into your property if you feel they are a threat to you or your property.

So run from me and my sword you pussy... just hope you make it out the front door!

The gist here is know the local laws. And never carry a weapon you are learning anywhere but too and from the dojo

Funny story

When I was younger and poorer I lived in a really crappy apartment. going to work was ok but comming home and then going out at night always made one feel a bit unsafe.

So I started carrying my Sword and a few other assorted weapons the cracxk heads never messed with me! Fun fun.


And if you wanna learn iado please go take a year of Aikido first!

You'll have a much better platform from which to start!

PAX

[Febnon]

me a thhird division black belt lder cousin 6th in martial art:o

[Sp3ctre]

I'm only doing it for fun! I don't know how you can conceal a Samurai sword! yeah, just a hobby. I think Guns are cool, but I'm NEVER gonna kill someone! Movies are movies, reality is a WHOLE different thing

[JonnyK]

I have a friend who's from cuba. I don't know exatcly what kind of fighting he knows, but he owns and knows how to use a staff(big stick), nunchucks, katana, ninja stars, the two fork things that the orange ninja turtle used, and some ofther cool ass weapons

[EineBeBoP]

Originally posted by Sp3ctre
I'm only doing it for fun! I don't know how you can conceal a Samurai sword! yeah, just a hobby. I think Guns are cool, but I'm NEVER gonna kill someone! Movies are movies, reality is a WHOLE different thing

...reality? what are ya talking about?

[Spider]

The ''two forked things'' are Sa�'s (cant make the sutpid two little dots of the ''I''

I've used them too... pretty easy to use

The staff is probly bo stick's or quarterstaves.

The ''ninja stars'' are named shirukens.

Samurai sword = katanai or Dai-katana if big.

I Used both of them :o I own at any kind of swords, my draw speed is currently timed at .75 seconds or so wich is quite fast but not fast enough so I need to pratice with a heavier and hard to unsheat sword to raise my speed.

[shinken]

Originally posted by Sp3ctre
Hey people! I wanna learn how to kick serious buttocks, a.k.a learning a Martial Art, and I don't have a clue what to do! Does anyone here 'know the ways of [insert random dead japanese warrior name here]' and what does it involve?

I'm thinking of doing Iaido, involving the drawing of a sword, the death cut, the cleaning of blood from the blade (!) and the final returning of sword to the scabbard.

yeah iaido, sry i love katanas anyway, i was going to do kendo but i couldnt get my shinai in time so i have to wait for october, i would like to do kenjutsu (kendo is a way of improving yourself through mastry of the sword, kenjutsu is learning to kill ppl w/ a katana also niten ichi ryu {myamoto musashis style btw} is only kenjutsu ) but there are no kenjutsu dojos any where in oregon.
i used to do tai kwan do but the sensei made us do the splits for 20 minutes every day, naturly being a guy i quit after a week or two, it was when i was younger so i was more flexable, i'd also like to do jeet kun do which it the martial art bruce lee founded, i'd rather do shaolin kung fu but the whole vow of chastity living in the mountains w/ no technology thing wouldnt be very fun but again no jeet kun do dojos in oregon so just doing kendo for now.

i think this is the longest post ive ever written, /pats self on back
*edit* brain fart (1) katana is a general referance to nihon-to (japanese swords) the specific ones are shinken (a true samurai sword at least around 10 folds very strong around 3 shaku[11.9 inches] with a slight curve from the tsuba{hand guard} to the kisaki{the tip} note my user name. tachi, a straight sword,
wakazashi or kotachi: short sword a little more than half as big as a shinken/tachi and tanto which is a knife basicly also what is commonly known as a ninja sword is the wakazashi, mistakes abound in what people commonly think of as a ninja btw
also i would love to learn how to throw shuriken and kunai which is a throwing knife, if youve played Shinobi[which means ninja basicly] he has kunai on the back of his arms
ok now i know this is the longest post ive ever written

[Ghost06]

I have one fighting style and one only: Jeet kune do. I also fence, with the eppe being my best weapon. I have been in swordplay (mostly broadswords and hand and a half blades) since I was 6.

[Ghost06]

If it was up to me, I'd be in a Shaolin monestary, but I've seen some of the things they do, and I think I'd pass Jeet kun do is all about interception, and using your opponents force against them. Longest weapon vs. their closest target.

P.S. to the guy above me:
There is no such thing as a Jeet kun do dojo. Finding someone proficient enough in it to train you is a rare thing. You usually train yourself.

[shinken]

Originally posted by Ghost06
(mostly broadswords and hand and a half blades)

yay bastard swords, sry i just like to say that