Smash you?

[slob]

I've done Wing Chun kung fu on and off for about 6 months total. Wing Chun prides itself on being a martial art that is no-nonsense, practical and does not require a large physique. Bruce Lee started his kung fu studies in this style too. Once you're sufficiently advanced, there are opportunities to learn how to use the staff and butterfly swords (short, broad, single bladed swords).

From what I've read, both Jeet Kune Do (Bruce's creation) and Ju-Jitsu (esp. Brazilian) are supposed to be even more pragmatic forms of martial arts.

If you really are intent on training with the Sai, then your choices are limited to the Japanese styles only.

As a final note, from my limited experience I have come to the conclusion that form by itself is not enough to be effective in combat. It's the conditioning that counts. Hope you have more discipline than I do!

[texmo]

I have been doing boxing for about 1.5 yrs now and am bored with it. I want a new martial art for street fighting. Not fitness, not disapline or any of that shit just to fight. Not so I can go pick fights just so I can defend myself. I am after a combat style which has powerful attacks none of that grappling shit either cos then ifs its 2 on 1 Ill get smashed. I am seriously considering tai kick boxing because its fast powerful attacks you learn. Either that or Jiu Jitsu.

[Deano]

I have been doing boxing for about 1.5 yrs now and am bored with it. I want a new martial art for street fighting. Not fitness, not disapline or any of that shit just to fight. Not so I can go pick fights just so I can defend myself. I am after a combat style which has powerful attacks none of that grappling shit either cos then ifs its 2 on 1 Ill get smashed. I am seriously considering tai kick boxing because its fast powerful attacks you learn. Either that or Jiu Jitsu.

Thai boxing will complement the boxing skills you will already have. Find a club that trains knees and elbows (Muay Thai not kickboxing) for greater effect.

Muay Thai can be a very destructive art, but you generally won't be taught how to maim your opponent with one strike such as some others. Muay Thai is more focussed on ring fighting, where it should stay unless your using it for self defence. If you aren't interested in being fit, forget Muay Thai.

Streetfighting is about taking out your opponent(s) as quickly as possible, and minimising damage to yourself. Most streetfights will not last more than 30 seconds, hence not so much need to be fit. And most will inevitably end up on the ground. You should therefore learn some ground fighting techniques if you want to be an all rounder.

[カワサキキド]

Valhalla - used to be run by Geoff Aitken, not sure if he is still there.
Geoff taught Muay Thai and later on groundfighting such as Jiu Jitsu.
I believe he trained with the Gracie family, who did Jiu Jitsu and were top of their game.

It was Carlos Gracie who created the Brazilian ju-justu style.
I have a Japanese friend who studied it in Tokyo.

I will go and check out his dojo, he sounds intersesting having trained with the Gracies.

The Gracie brothers are awesome in K1
"All roads lead to Tokyo dome"

[ching_ching]

I've always found that it is not the dog in the fight that is the important thing but rather the fight in the dog that you should be wary of.

Very true Spuds

[Ghost Lemur]

Geoff Aitken now has Aitkens School of Combat.

What's this Brazilian Ju Jitsu? Is it anything like Capoeira?

[Deano]

Geoff Aitken now has Aitkens School of Combat.

What's this Brazilian Ju Jitsu? Is it anything like Capoeira?

Not much like Capoeira at all. As far as I know, they weren't allowed to practice martial arts so they disguised the techniques in a dance. Capoeira uses a lot of fakes to catch your opponent off guard.

I think the main aim of Brazilian Jui Jitsu is to take the opponent to the ground, and the Gracies were more than happy to fight on their back in a position called the cradle. From here they go for an arm or leg bar, or throat choke.

I didn't think the Gracies did K1, as that is more a hybrid of kickboxing. You can't even grapple in K1, whereas in Muay Thai you grapple and drive knees to the head, body or upper legs.

I really enjoyed Muay Thai as it is one of the closest arts to full contact you can do. You aren't allowed to strike the groin, joints, or back of the head. You are now allowed to knee to the head but can't use elbows in the ring.

No shin pads or body pads, just a pair of gloves, mouthguard and 'cup'. Muay Thai conditions you to take the hard knocks, whereas some other arts you can be penalised for excessive force. You don't stop fighting when a point is scored either, you go the length of the round. Always seemed more realistic fighting to me than some other types of tournaments I have seen.

[jrandom]

Now, if this was a Merkin bike forum, someone would have mentioned gun fu by now, and recommended a nice Springfield 1911, or summat.

Being a slow, decadent, middle-class white boy with a black belt in the art of beer-glass lifting, I can't really comment on the various styles.

But back in t'day when I had the time and energy for powerlifting (sniff) I used to train at the gym downtown that Ray Sefu used (JustWorkout), and I have to say, the obvious conditioning and general functional strength on that guy was phenomenal.

[Blakamin]

Any of the weapons-based training these days is just for show more than fighting (be realistic, are you going to walk around with sai in your backpack? coz they aint light and they aint short) unless you are going to be competing in orginized events. then the only real one for that would be kendo! bloody brilliant sport. i did it during the '80s/early 90's. good for fitness and discipline.
TKD has its place as a korean un-armed combat. I did it for six years and never even saw a weapon. boxing is also good for the upper body.
try them all for a couple of years, you'll find that you will be too busy to get in a street-fight!

[Tigger]

As the others have already said, the best way to find a martial art which is for you is to try them. Most of the schools I know have one or two introductory lessons for free. The atmosphere of the place is really important, and what keeps you coming back, or gives you the reason not to. It also depends on how formal you want the style to be, how much grappling, ground work, kicking, kata, street fighting you prefer etc. And I must admit other things like proximity to school/work have influenced me in the past.

I have been training at Seido karate here in Wellington for about the last six years, and have also trained in okinawan goju-ryu for about 4 years when I was at University. The differences in the styles weren't that great apart from Seido is full contact sparring as opposed to semi-contact or points sparring which a lot of clubs seem to do. We don't use weapons much until black belt level, and the sai is a 4th dan weapon in Seido.

I'm a bit biased of course, but I think martial arts are fantastic, they are definitely a great way to get fit, increase stamina, strength and flexibility and they give you a certain degree of confidence that hopefully will serve you well in a self defence situation.

[texmo]

So what martial art is for me then if I want something to defend myself? Like which one teaches you to take out an opponent the quickest?

[Blakamin]

So what martial art is for me then if I want something to defend myself? Like which one teaches you to take out an opponent the quickest?

Dont do it to take out an opponent. do it for yourself, your mind and body.
you wanna take out an opponent, call the cops!... like someone said, the running stance is good!
to defend yourself, talk! conversation is your best weapon.
when everything else fails, theres no substitute for guts. stand up and take it and fight back... might cost you a few teeth (wont show you a picture of mine) this is only in a situation when nothing else works.
Martial arts wont help you in these situations because, most likely, your mind will go blank and it will be a brawl. shit, i've been stabbed, baseball batted and shot at over the years and my martial arts did fuck all! best defence is to not be there...run! if you dont, be prepared to be hurt
my 2 cents

[Sensei]

Hey Texmo: Have been training & teaching Martial Art's for over 25y. Have tryed every style > I would say in my opinion go for a Style that has a streetfigthing base to it , Zen Do Kai ,or a Pressure point Karate , as you will be more likely to have to use it on the Street than any where else . Try as many as you can so you can find one which suit's your body type & need's Good luck Sensei NP :sly:

[カワサキキド]

Not much like Capoeira at all. As far as I know, they weren't allowed to practice martial arts so they disguised the techniques in a dance. Capoeira uses a lot of fakes to catch your opponent off guard.
I think the main aim of Brazilian Jui Jitsu is to take the opponent to the ground, and the Gracies were more than happy to fight on their back in a position called the cradle. From here they go for an arm or leg bar, or throat choke.
I didn't think the Gracies did K1, as that is more a hybrid of kickboxing. You can't even grapple in K1, whereas in Muay Thai you grapple and drive knees to the head, body or upper legs.

They enter a lot of different competitions, K1 is the most popular one in japan (excluding sumo) then "Pride", which is more suited to their style.

[カワサキキド]

Hey Texmo: Have been training & teaching Martial Art's for over 25y. Have tryed every style > I would say in my opinion go for a Style that has a streetfigthing base to it , Zen Do Kai ,or a Pressure point Karate , as you will be more likely to have to use it on the Street than any where else . Try as many as you can so you can find one which suit's your body type & need's Good luck Sensei NP :sly:

Are you located in Christchurch?