Smash you?

[texmo]

Hey,
Does anyone here do any martial arts, I after something for selfdefence, fitness and for coordination, Ive heard that TaeKwonDo is really good plus you get to use weapons as well which is a bit of a bouns as I really wanna be able to use a sai.
Im only 17 so hopefully im not to old to pick a martial art. But if any of you do a martial art can you give me adivce on which is best?

[jazbug5]

Ah... it's really personal choice, preference and knowing what your own strengths and weaknesses are.
Personally I prefer more fluid styles like, say, Jeet Kune Do. (Which also often involves some knife/stick training, depending on the school.)
Being in Auckland, you should have a pretty decent choice. Most places will be happy for you to come along and have a look at first, plus one or two free classes to see if it's for you or not.
You are at a very good age to be taking something like this up- and you will never regret it. I wish you the best of luck with finding the right style for you...

Jaz

[texmo]

Thanks.
Is Jeet Kune Do an offensive or definsive art?

[Marknz]

doop

//Makes a mental note not to get too drunk around jazbug5 and go for the grope or anything like that!!//

:spudwave:

[Deano]

Thanks.
Is Jeet Kune Do an offensive or definsive art?

A good martial art would have both offensive and defensive techniques. But they say the best form of defence is offense.

I think the best idea in starting out would be to decide which style might suit you best. Then have a look at a few different dojo's etc to see how they are run and what the general feeling is. Is everyone having fun would be a main point.

I don't know a lot about many of the arts, but if you are after fitness, self defense and coordination, then Muay Thai is an excellent option. You may find it is less structured and perhaps less disciplined, but the good clubs train extremely hard, if thats what you are after.

17 years is definitely not too old, I didn't start until I was 23 and was competing within 18 months. In fact I used to train with a guy that had his first bout at age 40.

There are several really good kickboxing/muay thai clubs in Aucks. Lollo Hemuli runs one of them and has trained many world class fighters.

Anyway, check around and see what suits you best.

[jazbug5]

See Deano's post.

In fact, a lot of people who get into JKD team it with Muay Thai: balance, as he says, is good (der- isn't it always, in biking & life in general too!)
Ground fighting styles are also worth exploring, since most styles of this type don't expand on that beyond a few basic moves. (It's worth noting that most real-world fights do end up on the ground.)
I believe Ninjitsu reckons to be more of an all-round style (or at least, a guy I know who does it says it is..!)
Anyway, my all-time favourite response on the effectiveness of any one approach is one given by an old teacher of mine. When asked what stance he would adopt when being attacked by several attackers with weapons (and this guy is the best fighter I've ever seen) he simply laughed and said: "The best all round stance I have ever found is 'running stance'".
Style.

Jaz

PS Mark- just don't look at me funny... grrrrrrrrr

[Ms Piggy]

PS Mark- just don't look at me funny... grrrrrrrrr

Yeah or she'll look back at ya funny with her good eye!

[Marknz]

Yeah or she'll look back at ya funny with her good eye!

[ching_ching]

Hi Texmo,

Don't disregard any of the Western styles either.

Western styled boxers are some of the best conditioned athletes in the world.

Working in the jails you see some hard nuts roll through now and then and I've seen crims trained in Western styled boxing knock out some really big, tough guys. Maybe its the size of the fight in the fighter but tis good to know how to use your hands.

Just one of the arts you can look at to add to your repertoire.

ching

PS 17 too young? Phhtt. Haven't hit your stride yet bro.

[spudchucka]

Maybe its the size of the fight in the fighter but tis good to know how to use your hands.

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.

[StoneChucker]

Hiya!

I did Karate for 2 to 3 years, and I found it great! I just wish I was more fit back then when I did it, and I should really take it up again. The style I did was "Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate". What I liked was the fitness aspect, as well as the self control and self defence you learn. In Karate you also learn what are called Kata, which are controlled, organised movements. Some of them get really complicated. It's a great sense of achievement to move up through the belts.

Don't be drawn in to any one style from the "lure" of using weapons, UNLESS you purely want to learn the art form. In NZ, as I understand it, you will be arrested for carrying any sort of weapon around in public, so it's impractical if you plan to use it for self-defence, or to show your friends in public.

Oh, don't get attracted by a style that boasts of being able to break stone, or wood blocks. When last were you attacked by a seedy-looking piece of 2x4? But, as everyone has been saying, it's entirely up to you, and don't be afraid to change from one to another, if you find you don't like it.

Later,
Dave.

[Skyryder]

I used to be a Jitsu player a few years ago. If you want serious street cred there realy is only one martial art. That's ju jitsu. Nothing flashy with this style but once you have got hold of someone they history. Training is hard.

Skyryder

[Ghost Lemur]

I used to be a Jitsu player a few years ago. If you want serious street cred there realy is only one martial art. That's ju jitsu. Nothing flashy with this style but once you have got hold of someone they history. Training is hard.

Skyryder

Did a bit of Ju Jitsu in my teens. There was a japanese guy in the group. This guy would have wieghts around his feet wrists and waist. The speed and strength this guy displayed was phenominal. It's not what ya know it's how you apply it.

If I was ever going to get back into a martial art I'd look for the least westernized dojo I could find and be damned what disipline it was. Because if you learn asian style it won't matter you still be a well trained disiplined being.

Slightly OT: Anyone been to Jet Li's site and read his essays on his early years? That guy has incredible skill and has already lived about 3 lifetimes.

[カワサキキド]

The style isn't as important as finding a good teacher and dojo, visit all the dojo's around you will easily understand which ones are good after visiting just a few.

I have been looking for some traditional style martial arts here in Christchurch but all the ones I have visited seem very commercialised. Any recommendations?

[Deano]

I have been looking for some traditional style martial arts here in Christchurch but all the ones I have visited seem very commercialised. Any recommendations?

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.

No one style is the best, and don't believe any one who says otherwise. A lot of martial artists will spout on about how their art is best, but it is simply bias.

If you look at the best ultimate fighters (no holds barred) you will generally find they have trained under various styles.