martial arts
Author
Discussion

bite-me

Original Poster:

524 posts

258 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
hi guy's

thinking of doing some martial arts, for a few reasons, self defense, fitness.

have a history of lower back probs, but since doing back exercises been a lot better,
doc suggested doing exercise to keep me supple., also not a youngster anymore was thinking of Taekwon-do.

any one got any advise ?

as a self-defense what is it like ?

Heskey

4,048 posts

224 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
bite-me said:
as a self-defense what is it like ?
Not as useful as a knife (officer) yes

Fittster

20,120 posts

244 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Heskey said:
bite-me said:
as a self-defense what is it like ?
Not as useful as a knife (officer) yes
Or a gun to deal with people with knives.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

229 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Only leave the house wearing this and you won't have to bother spending hours aching and bruised whilst you learn chop socky.


Dr_Gonzo

962 posts

256 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Most martial arts are nothing more than ballet with kicks. There's no real self-defense to them. If you got in a pub brawl you probably wouldn't fair much better than anyone else. If you want something decent try: Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu, i.e. MMA. It can be tough on the body though.

chris_w666

22,655 posts

230 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Tried aikido that was fun and not too agressive.

bite-me

Original Poster:

524 posts

258 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
thankxs

shadowninja

80,169 posts

313 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Dr_Gonzo said:
Most martial arts are nothing more than ballet with kicks. There's no real self-defense to them. If you got in a pub brawl you probably wouldn't fair much better than anyone else. If you want something decent try: Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu, i.e. MMA. It can be tough on the body though.
scratchchin

What's the MA in MMA stand for?wink

shadowninja

80,169 posts

313 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
bite-me said:
have a history of lower back probs, but since doing back exercises been a lot better,
doc suggested doing exercise to keep me supple., also not a youngster anymore was thinking of Taekwon-do.
Did he suggest how vigorous this exercise should be? If you got into a grapple with a 100kg bruiser, would you be back to the doctor?

satchbot

1,916 posts

227 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Krav Maga - the PH self defence of choice?

micky g

1,579 posts

266 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Dr_Gonzo said:
Most martial arts are nothing more than ballet with kicks. There's no real self-defense to them. If you got in a pub brawl you probably wouldn't fair much better than anyone else. If you want something decent try: Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu, i.e. MMA. It can be tough on the body though.
Not sure which martial arts you are referring to as "ballet with kicks," but most Martial arts will increase your fitness, confidence and ergo,your ability to defend yourself, irrespective of the techniques taught.

Considering your physical condition I would have a look at Wing Chun.

It's practical as a form of self defence and unlike Tae Kwon Do, doesn't involve difficult kicks.

Good luck with it and keep us posted!

Muzzer

3,814 posts

252 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
micky g said:
Dr_Gonzo said:
Most martial arts are nothing more than ballet with kicks. There's no real self-defense to them. If you got in a pub brawl you probably wouldn't fair much better than anyone else. If you want something decent try: Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazilian Jujitsu, i.e. MMA. It can be tough on the body though.
Not sure which martial arts you are referring to as "ballet with kicks," but most Martial arts will increase your fitness, confidence and ergo,your ability to defend yourself, irrespective of the techniques taught.

Considering your physical condition I would have a look at Wing Chun.

It's practical as a form of self defence and unlike Tae Kwon Do, doesn't involve difficult kicks.

Good luck with it and keep us posted!
yes

I do Wing Chun. Rather than being taught how to do kicks that would probably be batted away in a real fight situation, we are taught practical techniques and close-quarter combat.

I was certainly surprised when I was taught how to do eye gauges in the first weeks!

okgo

42,364 posts

229 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Can give the thumbs up to boxing..

I have been going along now for a couple of weeks, since my thread about freind being punched..

Its great, noticble fitness improvement, finaly sorted out my left hook, now prefer it to my right almost. Lost some body fat..

All good, and as said if you were caught in a brawl then using your fists effectivly will be good.

Any man can kick and headlock. Not many can punch well..

EmmaP

11,758 posts

270 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Tae Kwon-Do will be excellent at increasing fitness, muscle strength and tone and will increase suppleness. Make sure that you stretch from the waist when doing leg stretches though to avoid straining back. Not particularly useful in my opinion or experience with regard to self-defence.

dave_s13

14,031 posts

300 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
MMA is the best allround system in my opinion but takes years to get to a decent level with it.

Muay Thai is great as you learn to punch, knee, elbow and grapple a bit. These are all things you need to do if your in your usual pub fight. Which usually goes punch, grab each other, roll around a bit, get pulled apart and off home.

You soon get used to being at close quarters but able to deliver a nasty knee to wherever or a cheeky elbow to the head (causes nice big cuts). I used to train a lot, and fought too so I know a bit about it.

It's eaier to learn this than full on MMA/grappling moves which take loads of practice to do properly. Also you might find MT clubs are cheaper than MMA places (sweeping generalisation I know).

Western boxing is also great and the cheapest gyms are your local ABA places. You can usually go down and train for a couple of quid.

Jasandjules

72,683 posts

260 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Ju Jitsu.

Learn how to drop someone, and/or hold them in a lock which makes them wish their arms were no longer attached. Plus, actually avoid the hits in the first place.

Road_Terrorist

5,591 posts

273 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
okgo said:
Any man can kick and headlock. Not many can punch well..
Well you could say the same for kicking and headlocks, all are useless if you can't do it properly.

IMO the main benefit of boxing is that you get used to being punched and taking hits in general. All the technique in the world wont be much good if you turn into a stunned mullet the first time you actually get properly hit on the noggin. Learning how to fight without ever having taking full contact hits is like training how to hold and operate a gun but never actually firing it.

CLK-GTR

1,764 posts

276 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Dont bother with martial arts for self defence. Boxing will work wonders for your fitness and no street fight will ever last more than one or two well struck punches.

Martial arts take years to get good at, and the traditional ones only start to become more effective than boxing and other popular MMA styles when you have being doing them years and know all the tricks that are outlawed/not part of most MMA techniques.

Raify

6,556 posts

279 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
more important than which martial art, is which teacher / school.Sit and watch a few classes before choosing, a good teacher will stand out (and not mind you spectating)

Dilligaf10

2,431 posts

241 months

Tuesday 8th July 2008
quotequote all
Disappointed.....thought it said marital arts.