Martial art choices?

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- Ishina
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #30 - April 24, 2012, 10:37 AM

I wouldn't rule out Tai Chi just because you might happen to end up with a crap teacher. Tai Chi will impart a great skillset if you're patent and dedicated. Clarity and awareness, healthier breathing, better flexibility, refined posture, graceful and instinctive positioning, ease of flow, faster natural form, confidence and calmness when reacting, familiarity with your own body. It isn't just standing in rows and making shapes. You'll also do a lot of partner work too.

It is a robust and practical exercise system on its own, but even better as a supplement to a main martial art or fitness regime.

Too fucking busy, and vice versa.
- BerberElla
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #31 - April 24, 2012, 10:48 AM

To be honest there was so many different suggestions that I am going with ishina's suggestion and trying out the ones I have found. I already told the kids the plan the way you suggested it and you were right, they were totally up for the adventure of checking it out. So that we can rate each one and see what feels best for us.

Lets hope we can have a democratic consensus for once amongst my offspring.

I'm liking the sound of the White crane kung fun and tai chi school not far from me (I live near a majority asian (as in east asian) population so there are a lot of places to choose from, but for the first test, I'm checking out that one.

I'm not interested in kickboxing or boxing classes, and the school my eldest goes to don't allow boxing lessons since it has a knock on effect with the disorder my son has. Plus have read too many articles like this http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120423104741.htm to subject myself or my children to it.

Looking to check it out 15th may, will give each class 2 sessions and hopefully find something I enjoy doing and benefit from.

Found out recently that vitamins really do make a difference to my energy levels and now that I am no longer medicated exercise should finally also offer me similar benefits. Can't wait.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

JnT, oddly for all the choices I couldn't find an akido place locally. I don't drive (yet) and my eldest is a pain on public transport. I will stretch out my search a bit further to see if there are any cycle routes though. But first will check out these local to me.

Inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit.
- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #32 - April 24, 2012, 10:54 AM

Quote from: Ishina on April 24, 2012, 10:37 AM
It is a robust and practical exercise system on its own, but even better as a supplement to a main martial art or fitness regime.

I agree wholeheartedly.

My point was that - normally - as a martial art it's as functional as learning yoga.

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #33 - April 24, 2012, 10:57 AM

I hope you and the kids enjoy the adventure Berbs .

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- moi
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #34 - April 24, 2012, 02:48 PM

What about this?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57419426/europes-latest-craze-chessboxing/?google_editors_picks=true

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- David
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #35 - April 24, 2012, 03:40 PM

Quote from: Ishina on April 24, 2012, 10:37 AM
I wouldn't rule out Tai Chi just because you might happen to end up with a crap teacher. Tai Chi will impart a great skillset if you're patent and dedicated. Clarity and awareness, healthier breathing, better flexibility, refined posture, graceful and instinctive positioning, ease of flow, faster natural form, confidence and calmness when reacting, familiarity with your own body. It isn't just standing in rows and making shapes.

Crap teachers are a menace in any discipline.

I briefly had a tai chi teacher with lots of barely-suppressed aggression. But what he did usefully do was link link tai chi with its martial arts roots. So instead of making shapes, we were making strong, stable, relaxed shapes. The kind I imagine any martial artist needs.
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #36 - April 24, 2012, 03:49 PM

Don't know if you've already made a choice Berbs, but one recommendation I forgot was judo. Did some of it "on the side" in my karate dojo, and it was easily the most practically useful thing I learned. Pluses are it teaches you how to use leverage to take on bigger opponents, which I think is essential for any martial art, especially one with self-defense type undertones. Also its not a striking art like boxing/kickboxing, so you don't have to worry too much about brain trauma/damage.

Only negative is you might have a hard time finding a "judo specific" dojo/gym in your are. Haven't really seen any around where I live.

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- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #37 - April 24, 2012, 04:11 PM

Yeah I wish I did Judo growing up. Though they keep changing the rules away from Ne Waza (ground fighting) which would be the aspect that I'd enjoy the most.

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #38 - April 24, 2012, 04:49 PM

Quote from: David on April 24, 2012, 03:40 PM
Crap teachers are a menace in any discipline.

I briefly had a tai chi teacher with lots of barely-suppressed aggression. But what he did usefully do was link link tai chi with its martial arts roots. So instead of making shapes, we were making strong, stable, relaxed shapes. The kind I imagine any martial artist needs.

You might enjoy this David.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy4TwtoDs50

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #39 - April 24, 2012, 05:28 PM

Just to clarify the main reason why I'm pressing this issue (so I don't come across as a prick) is because the bullshit taught in many martial arts can get people seriously hurt.

Most people here are skeptics regarding religious claims, and demand empirical justification when it's applicable - and I'd advise people to apply that same skepticism to martial arts.

If a teacher makes a claim that their art enables you to defend against common attacks, then try to find out if they pressure test it. The best self-protection system put on safety gear and act out common scenario's at full-contact every now and then - that means their art is pressure tested. And of course every combat sport gym encourages pressure testing by sparring.

If a gym/dojo claims to be teaching their students self defence or a functional martial art and they don't do full-contact pressure testing occasionally, then they are simply talking bullshit because they have no evidence supporting their assertion.

This is an example of how you can pressure test knife defence;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlXiSiX1tgg

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
- strangestdude
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #40 - April 24, 2012, 05:30 PM

If your art isn't pressure tested then ask yourself; What am I basing my belief in it's functionality on? Faith?

An alternative to religion;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nfXfTg92E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWNW-NXEudk
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Re: Martial art choices?
Reply #41 - June 30, 2012, 11:44 PM

I suggest brazilian jiu jitsu, its been proved 1000000 times to be the best and most effective for self defence and fighting......
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