Martial Arts / Self Defense
Martial Arts / Self Defense
Author
Discussion

Badgerboy

Original Poster:

1,794 posts

221 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
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Currently upping my fitness regime, and am considering some form of self defence course to supplement it. (As cardio alone in the gym is particularly tedious)

Can anyone recommend any particular style to take up? Obviously something more practical day to day would preferable.

Halb

53,012 posts

212 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
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shouldbworking

4,801 posts

241 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
quotequote all
I think theres a thread about this in the sports forum, but the rule is that the style is a lot less important than the person practicing it. Find out whats near you, look for recommendations of the instructors, go along (most places will offer a few free trial lessons) and see what suits you.

There are a lot of bullst artists out there running classes with no credentials and no ability - places like the Matt Fiddes schools for example. These sort of places are commonly referred to as McDojos.


ShadownINja

79,974 posts

311 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
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Blimey. I'd never heard of him until now.

Badgerboy

Original Poster:

1,794 posts

221 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
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Think I'll go for a wander tomorrow.

Badgerboy

Original Poster:

1,794 posts

221 months

Saturday 18th December 2010
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Found a Krav Maga place quite near by, would seem pretty ideal. Any thoughts/experiences on this style?

TheCoolerKing

347 posts

191 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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Yes do it.

Krav Maga if taught well is both a good workout and extremely effective as a martila art, I wouldn't even really call it a martial art in the bowing sh*t sense. I've done aikido for years but Krav is a hell of a lot more dangerous.

There is no dress code, no ceremony, no kneeling just very simple techniques for putting anyone stupid enough to attack you in a wheel chair.

The SAS use it, what more proof do you need.biglaugh


Animal

5,666 posts

297 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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Badgerboy said:
Found a Krav Maga place quite near by, would seem pretty ideal. Any thoughts/experiences on this style?
http://www.krav-maga-uk.com/find_a_krav_maga_instr...

If you're lucky enough to live in or near Acton, get along to Nick Maison's class: he's very good indeed.

Jonny_693

5,492 posts

205 months

Monday 20th December 2010
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I've been doing MMA for the last 3 months and I'm hooked on it now biggrin

Carrot

7,294 posts

231 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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Animal said:
Badgerboy said:
Found a Krav Maga place quite near by, would seem pretty ideal. Any thoughts/experiences on this style?
http://www.krav-maga-uk.com/find_a_krav_maga_instr...

If you're lucky enough to live in or near Acton, get along to Nick Maison's class: he's very good indeed.
Second that, I used to do Krav with his group until I did my back in (unrelated to the lessons, me being a plank on the mountain bike hehe )

It is VERY hard work if, like me, you are not of a good relative fitness.

PintOfKittens

1,336 posts

219 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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Carrot said:
Animal said:
Badgerboy said:
Found a Krav Maga place quite near by, would seem pretty ideal. Any thoughts/experiences on this style?
http://www.krav-maga-uk.com/find_a_krav_maga_instr...

If you're lucky enough to live in or near Acton, get along to Nick Maison's class: he's very good indeed.
Second that, I used to do Krav with his group until I did my back in (unrelated to the lessons, me being a plank on the mountain bike hehe )

It is VERY hard work if, like me, you are not of a good relative fitness.
+1 Krav maga's bloody good for a decent work out, and finding new places for your body to ache for weeks!

andy_s

19,852 posts

288 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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I started KM for similar reasons, a 2hr sweaty work-out indeed. From a self-defense point of view I also rate it - very non-bull. Firmly rec'd.

Carrot

7,294 posts

231 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
andy_s said:
I started KM for similar reasons, a 2hr sweaty work-out indeed. From a self-defense point of view I also rate it - very non-bull. Firmly rec'd.
That is what I loved about it. Having done Judo as a kid, Karate for 3 years, a bit of Ju-Jitsu and Aikido in the middle, I almost wished I could have just started and done a full round of Krav.

No bullst, no "chi" or any other mystical crap, no bowing to some dead dude to having to count in japanese, Just practical, usable self defence and a hard workout with like minded people.

Thinking about joining a group again closer to home when I lose a bit more weight and get fit again (on target for a couple of months time the way things are going smile )

DarrenL

459 posts

204 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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KM is very good, but remember it is full on contact- which can leave your feeling very sore and possibly injured at work the next day!

KM is an efficient fighting style developed by the Israeli Army IIRC.

Personally, I study Tae Kwon Do, and I love it.

ZesPak

26,049 posts

225 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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+6 on the Krav Maga, have been doing it for several months now and enjoying it very much!
As said, you'll have pain in places you didn't know you could have pain in.

I have a desk job, but to go and "work" or "move" a couple of days after the first lessons would have been very ambitious on my part.

But it betters every lesson and now I hardly feel soar after a lesson. A lot depends on who is teaching, learning techniques for an hour isn't that tiring, "sparring" for 10 minutes however, is!

ShadownINja

79,974 posts

311 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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NeMiSiS said:
This and Bacon buttie time, doesn't mix.
You don't approve of KM?

TheCoolerKing

347 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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Like I said way back its all to do with the teaching.

One of the principals is fitness more importantly, endurance. what's the point of getting into a situation where you are attacked and get out of breath in the first 2 minutes.

The one I go to involves 10 minutes of really intense cardio, running, jumping, squats, etc none stop, some guys are over weight and sit it out, kinda defeats the object for me but hey, if the training is good you might even feel the need to give up some cardio at the gym.

I remember the next day after session one I had to take the lift at work for the first time in 2 years.laugh

ShadownINja

79,974 posts

311 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
TheCoolerKing said:
Like I said way back its all to do with the teaching.

One of the principals is fitness more importantly, endurance. what's the point of getting into a situation where you are attacked and get out of breath in the first 2 minutes.

The one I go to involves 10 minutes of really intense cardio, running, jumping, squats, etc none stop, some guys are over weight and sit it out, kinda defeats the object for me but hey, if the training is good you might even feel the need to give up some cardio at the gym.

I remember the next day after session one I had to take the lift at work for the first time in 2 years.laugh
I agree... but tbh
1) You've got a real problem if any street situation goes on more than 30 seconds and probably should join a running club.
2) I'd rather the teacher didn't waste my time doing fitness training that I could do elsewhere and instead give me what I am paying him for.

TheCoolerKing

347 posts

191 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
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ShadownINja said:
TheCoolerKing said:
Like I said way back its all to do with the teaching.

One of the principals is fitness more importantly, endurance. what's the point of getting into a situation where you are attacked and get out of breath in the first 2 minutes.

The one I go to involves 10 minutes of really intense cardio, running, jumping, squats, etc none stop, some guys are over weight and sit it out, kinda defeats the object for me but hey, if the training is good you might even feel the need to give up some cardio at the gym.

I remember the next day after session one I had to take the lift at work for the first time in 2 years.laugh
I agree... but tbh
1) You've got a real problem if any street situation goes on more than 30 seconds and probably should join a running club.
2) I'd rather the teacher didn't waste my time doing fitness training that I could do elsewhere and instead give me what I am paying him for.
10 mins is hardly a lot and like I said fitness is important. We are going to have agree to disagree with your 30 seconds. All i'm saying is good KM is both a good workout and fighting style. If the instructor gets you to do star shapes for 2 minutes then the instructor would need to have an israeli accentlaugh

andy_s

19,852 posts

288 months

Tuesday 21st December 2010
quotequote all
ShadownINja said:
2) I'd rather the teacher didn't waste my time doing fitness training that I could do elsewhere and instead give me what I am paying him for.
That was exactly my attitude when I first went, but I found that the workouts are for a bit of phys, yes, but it's not the main aim; that's both to loosen off/warm up and also to increase tiredness to increase 'stress' in a situation.

One of the aspects I like about Krav is that it recognises that fighting is stressful. Some of the multiple attacker stuff isn't to teach you how to dispose of 5 Bond henchmen with your bare hands but rather to get you used to being aware of what's around you when your stressed and trying to use techniques instinctivly rather than deliberately. What is always stressed is also anticipating an attack or problem and how to deal with it before it escalates, primarily by running away...

If it were target shooting it would be the 'combat pistol' variety.

All in my very humble etc.