What martial arts stuff have you done today?
Discussion
Not today, but last Sunday... I'm now officially "ranked" 
Passed my Shodan grading with some of the most fantastic karateka, and still buzzing days on, though the aching seems to be abating finally.
Just another step in the journey, and strictly speaking, I'm now a beginner(!), but that doesn't mean I'm not allowing myself a few days to feel a little proud ;-)
Passed my Shodan grading with some of the most fantastic karateka, and still buzzing days on, though the aching seems to be abating finally.
Just another step in the journey, and strictly speaking, I'm now a beginner(!), but that doesn't mean I'm not allowing myself a few days to feel a little proud ;-)
I've been thinking about taking up a marshal art, I'm really unfit at the moment as I have never been into sports or gym. Fitness is the main reason I want to do it. I find running and weigtlifting boring and a martial art should be interesting enough to spur me on.
I've been reading up on the various martial arts. I don't want to do full on sparring like a boxer as becoming a great fighter or sportsman isn't my main aim, though if whatever I do helps with self defence it can only be a good thing.
I'd be grateful for any advice, but so far my reading has lead me to the below conclusions:
BJJ and judo - too much grappling. I wouldn't enjoy this.
Boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, taekwondo - too much getting hit and aggressive sparring.
Wing Chun/Kung Fu - too much work needed before being effective.
Krav Maga - too effective.
Aikido - Doesn't look fun as there's no punching or kicking.
Karate - seems about right? A mix of light sparring, exercising, technique work, pad work and has a syllabus with achievable goals.
Over the last three weeks I have been doing a combination of running, dumbbells, press ups etc. as preparation otherwise I would have been knackered in the first five minutes of the class.
There is a place near me that does Renshinkai karate that seems to be well priced and the times and location is convenient. It's not a traditional karate style, like Shotokan, it came about in the late 70s and seems to be a bit of a mix of styles with its own kata. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a more traditional karate school, but it's hard to find one locally and maybe it really doesn't matter?
I've been reading up on the various martial arts. I don't want to do full on sparring like a boxer as becoming a great fighter or sportsman isn't my main aim, though if whatever I do helps with self defence it can only be a good thing.
I'd be grateful for any advice, but so far my reading has lead me to the below conclusions:
BJJ and judo - too much grappling. I wouldn't enjoy this.
Boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, taekwondo - too much getting hit and aggressive sparring.
Wing Chun/Kung Fu - too much work needed before being effective.
Krav Maga - too effective.
Aikido - Doesn't look fun as there's no punching or kicking.
Karate - seems about right? A mix of light sparring, exercising, technique work, pad work and has a syllabus with achievable goals.
Over the last three weeks I have been doing a combination of running, dumbbells, press ups etc. as preparation otherwise I would have been knackered in the first five minutes of the class.
There is a place near me that does Renshinkai karate that seems to be well priced and the times and location is convenient. It's not a traditional karate style, like Shotokan, it came about in the late 70s and seems to be a bit of a mix of styles with its own kata. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a more traditional karate school, but it's hard to find one locally and maybe it really doesn't matter?
I think the quality of the instruction and location of the school /dojo / dojang etc is more important than what discipline you study. They will all improve your flexibility, muscle tone, fitness, strength, etc.
I chose my local MA school as it is round the corner and my kids went to it. That it was a Hapkido dojang was not a factor.
Hapkido borrows stuff from traditional karate, judo and Muay Thai, and from modern stuff like krav and BJJ so it is all-round.
Join your local karate school and have fun!
I chose my local MA school as it is round the corner and my kids went to it. That it was a Hapkido dojang was not a factor.
Hapkido borrows stuff from traditional karate, judo and Muay Thai, and from modern stuff like krav and BJJ so it is all-round.
Join your local karate school and have fun!
Pete102 said:
You could always try a trial class at each? Most schools don't charge for the first time, that way you could really get a handle on whether a particular style is for you or not.
I don't offer free trials. Bit old school I know but If others in the class have paid it's unfair to them to devote attention to those who haven't. Always winds me up when people turn up without money "Isn't the first class free?". To those who look like they'll return I might waive the fee until next time. People holding mobiles whilst inquiring, people not in appropriate kit etc I might even increase the fee for 
That's a fair approach, it's your school after all!
I've been lucky enough to travel with work and train at quite a few different clubs. I'd say 95% of them didn't charge me on my first visit, even though I train regularly elsewhere....for the most part i ended up buying a club t-shirt or putting money in the charity box.
I've been lucky enough to travel with work and train at quite a few different clubs. I'd say 95% of them didn't charge me on my first visit, even though I train regularly elsewhere....for the most part i ended up buying a club t-shirt or putting money in the charity box.
SVS said:
Ayahuasca said:
First week back at training after shoulder injury. It is still a bit stiff and clicks, but what the hell.
Clicking is sometimes a warning sign. What’s your physiotherapist said?Personally, I’d drop the wrist weights. Even if you weren’t recovering from injury, modern thinking is that they’re bad for your boxing: wrist weights force your body to perform at a different speed, recruiting different muscles and using different patterns of muscular functioning than you want. In short, the weights train your muscles to punch slowly (despite the fact that your hands ‘feel faster’ when you drop the weights).
A better alternative would be to use something like 16oz bag gloves. This should be safer for your rotator cuff too, but check with your physio.
Also, a Reflex Ball for Boxing is brilliant for hand-eye coordination and used by professional boxers.
Musculoskeletal injuries can take weeks or months to reach 100% recovery. Doing a high volume of training with wrist weights is asking for trouble! If my shoulder was still clicking, then I’d definitely go back to my physio for advice on easing back into training. A gradual buildup is surely better than diving into hundreds of punches!
A better alternative would be to use something like 16oz bag gloves. This should be safer for your rotator cuff too, but check with your physio.
Also, a Reflex Ball for Boxing is brilliant for hand-eye coordination and used by professional boxers.Musculoskeletal injuries can take weeks or months to reach 100% recovery. Doing a high volume of training with wrist weights is asking for trouble! If my shoulder was still clicking, then I’d definitely go back to my physio for advice on easing back into training. A gradual buildup is surely better than diving into hundreds of punches!
AlexC1981 said:
I've been thinking about taking up a marshal art, I'm really unfit at the moment as I have never been into sports or gym. Fitness is the main reason I want to do it. I find running and weigtlifting boring and a martial art should be interesting enough to spur me on.
I've been reading up on the various martial arts. I don't want to do full on sparring like a boxer as becoming a great fighter or sportsman isn't my main aim, though if whatever I do helps with self defence it can only be a good thing.
I'd be grateful for any advice, but so far my reading has lead me to the below conclusions:
BJJ and judo - too much grappling. I wouldn't enjoy this.
Boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, taekwondo - too much getting hit and aggressive sparring.
Wing Chun/Kung Fu - too much work needed before being effective.
Krav Maga - too effective.
Aikido - Doesn't look fun as there's no punching or kicking.
Karate - seems about right? A mix of light sparring, exercising, technique work, pad work and has a syllabus with achievable goals.
Over the last three weeks I have been doing a combination of running, dumbbells, press ups etc. as preparation otherwise I would have been knackered in the first five minutes of the class.
There is a place near me that does Renshinkai karate that seems to be well priced and the times and location is convenient. It's not a traditional karate style, like Shotokan, it came about in the late 70s and seems to be a bit of a mix of styles with its own kata. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a more traditional karate school, but it's hard to find one locally and maybe it really doesn't matter?
Surely that is the whole point?I've been reading up on the various martial arts. I don't want to do full on sparring like a boxer as becoming a great fighter or sportsman isn't my main aim, though if whatever I do helps with self defence it can only be a good thing.
I'd be grateful for any advice, but so far my reading has lead me to the below conclusions:
BJJ and judo - too much grappling. I wouldn't enjoy this.
Boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Muay Thai, taekwondo - too much getting hit and aggressive sparring.
Wing Chun/Kung Fu - too much work needed before being effective.
Krav Maga - too effective.
Aikido - Doesn't look fun as there's no punching or kicking.
Karate - seems about right? A mix of light sparring, exercising, technique work, pad work and has a syllabus with achievable goals.
Over the last three weeks I have been doing a combination of running, dumbbells, press ups etc. as preparation otherwise I would have been knackered in the first five minutes of the class.
There is a place near me that does Renshinkai karate that seems to be well priced and the times and location is convenient. It's not a traditional karate style, like Shotokan, it came about in the late 70s and seems to be a bit of a mix of styles with its own kata. I'm not sure if I should be looking for a more traditional karate school, but it's hard to find one locally and maybe it really doesn't matter?
7 hours training this week. Pretty solid.
Strength, conditioning, balance, joint lock techniques, kicks and some punching. Insane amounts of squats and push-ups.
Today worked the heavy bag with jab-cross-left hook-right roundhouse-left roundhouse-spinning back fist combinations.
My forward rolls don't look as much a collapsing giraffe, and don't hurt anymore.
I can now place my hands almost flat on the floor whilst touching my toes, something I have never been able to do before.
I am still hopeless at cartwheels, and useless at throwing punches whilst balanced on my knees on a big squishy ball.
Strength, conditioning, balance, joint lock techniques, kicks and some punching. Insane amounts of squats and push-ups.
Today worked the heavy bag with jab-cross-left hook-right roundhouse-left roundhouse-spinning back fist combinations.
My forward rolls don't look as much a collapsing giraffe, and don't hurt anymore.
I can now place my hands almost flat on the floor whilst touching my toes, something I have never been able to do before.
I am still hopeless at cartwheels, and useless at throwing punches whilst balanced on my knees on a big squishy ball.
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