Do you train in a martial art and why?
- Thread starter janus
- Start date
Definitely. Karate will do a much better job of keeping you loose and limber into your 60s and 70s than sport jui-jitsu, which will just destroy your body. Trust me on that one.
I don't have a problem with learning self defense techniques, either; that's a part of any martial art. My thing is, I hate these blood thirsty, dripping in testosterone, "reality based" martial arts that attempt to make you some sort of lethal weapon. I run fast and far away from that sort of bs.
Been kickboxing for 20 years. Why? It's a great full body workout and it gives you great confidence in many situations but never abuse it . You learn disapline. Walking away from assholes knowing you could knock him out is very cool I think. Teach my kids too.
Boxed in my younger days. I still have the right hook. There's no better exercise than boxing and no better way to defend yourself, if you want the matter settled quickly. And before an argument developes, boxers are conditioned to take a hit and to stay on their feet. Two crucial points in surviving any fight.
Did Tai Chi for a while. Never really mastered to a point of being applicable in a fight but it did increase my flexibility (i.e. can touch my feet). I chose it because it was low impact and I just wanted to be active, social and learn something new. But I have no illusions of street fighting with it or any other form.
To be honest while BJJ is very effective in the MMA world the three friends of mine who do it all have injuries from practice.... mainly their partner hyper extending a joint. I'm too old to have time to recover from that shit.
To be honest while BJJ is very effective in the MMA world the three friends of mine who do it all have injuries from practice.... mainly their partner hyper extending a joint. I'm too old to have time to recover from that shit.
Trained in kung fu when I was a younger for many years in the 70's, mainly because of Bruce Lee and Jacky Chan influence who were mega stars at the time. I mainly did it for the fitness level I was able to achieve. I never got into a real fight for the same reasons kodiac posted. I felt super confident knowing I could kick ass anytime, but chose not to.
I have been told a few times that I when I walk out in public that I looked super confidant and real tough and no one would would want to mess with me, this of course was in my younger days, lol.
I'm a couch potato these days!
I have been told a few times that I when I walk out in public that I looked super confidant and real tough and no one would would want to mess with me, this of course was in my younger days, lol.
I'm a couch potato these days!
Boxing is some serious business! People make the mistake of thinking that because it's limited to punching it's easy to learn. The narrowness of the art, in fact, is what makes it so hard. You will sweat blood to master those, what is it, eight or nine punches.
My neighbor growing up was a boxer and sometimes I'd watch him workout in his garage. He was a slave to training and really he only made it to fringe-fringe contender/journeyman status as a pro.
Boxing has also inspired some incredible literature. Read Fat City by Leonard Gardner and On Boxing by Joyce Carol Oates. Also, Norman Mailer's essay on Emile Griffith vs. Benny Paret.
My views on self defense are ... always in flux. Personally, I think training specifically self-defense - how to escape a headlock, etc. - is unfruitful. Over the long term it gets dull. How many times are you going to escape that headlock before boredom sinks in? Not many. And for what reason are you training this stuff, anyway? I mean, the chances of getting attacked in this city are pretty slim. And even if you are attacked, the chances of remembering what you've learned to handle the situation are almost nil. Because you've never been in the situation. I've been attacked twice, including once by four people who I'm sure where trying to stomp me to death, and the only thing that saved me was my fitness. That and the voice in my head that screamed, "Get up before they kill you!" Fear is quite the motivator.
Now if you do decide to train for self defense purposes, what you are doing is spot on. Sport training will toughen you physically and mentally like nothing else. Especially if you spar regularly. I've seen your pics; I wouldn't tangle with you!
I hear you on the injuries. I've dislocated both shoulders over the years and put all my joints under a considerable amount of stress. I can feel the arthritis developing in my knees and hands as I type. But it's like some disease in my blood at this point and I can't quit. In a few years, if I'm too broken to continue, I'll probably join you in the park with the Tai Chi people.
Isn't that wonderful to watch, by the way? All those nimble octogenarians doing shit I haven't been able to do since I was 16.
Kung fu guys have such fast hands and it makes establishing grips a real pain in the ass. You should go back to it.
If you train, you have to. I repeat you have to get in the ring and face another person . I remember the first time I went into the ring i was shaking and not able to even throw a proper punch and clueless on what to do, ie. Slide side to side slip a punch or kick. You need an almost real life situation and real sparing gives you that . Real life is different because 30 seconds into a real fight and your gassed. The more you practice the more your muscles will remember what to do naturally. Muscle memory . I practice in my head also , seems to help .
Yeah, in the ring or on the mats, you have to spar/roll. Practicing a technique on a willing partner is worlds apart from attempting it on a resisting one.
And competition is a whole different thing. I spoke with a friend once who was a national level competitor and he told me that at the highest levels, when you are standing across from your opponent, if you aren't ready to kill him you aren't ready to win. Of course, no one gets killed in judo or bjj. That's just the intensity you need to be the best.
My intensity when I was competing was more like: who is this kid and why are we fighting?
Anyway, I'm going to head out and roll with some sweaty guys now.
I also trained in a Chinese External MA for many years. I remember fondly when a friend and I would go to a remote area in a park in the morning to train in a two-person sparring routine. Recently, I have picked up the Internal styles and a South East Asian knife and stick fighting style. We cross train in some punching and kicking as well as some close-contact sparring/training.
I love MA's for many reasons. Besides a good workout, it teaches me discipline and self-control, as well it gives me confidence. I don't look for a fight but I am confident that I can protect myself. A trade person who came to fix something in our house one day. One question he raised was - are you a martial artist? I asked why. He said he could tell from the way I moved - he was a karate practitioner.
I trained MuayThai kickboxing for about a year and a half.
The place I went to focussed too much on cardio and unfortunately I lost too much weight.
Good skills to have. Not complete self defence but it does prepare you in reacting to punches and how to counter attack.
It also gives you insight into how amazingly tough the pros in MMA are. Some of the leg kicks I took while holding a bag was rough. The pros don't have any protection.
The place I went to focussed too much on cardio and unfortunately I lost too much weight.
Good skills to have. Not complete self defence but it does prepare you in reacting to punches and how to counter attack.
It also gives you insight into how amazingly tough the pros in MMA are. Some of the leg kicks I took while holding a bag was rough. The pros don't have any protection.
I've taken two months of Muay Thai in my life. I absolutely loved it! If I could've gotten my head around actually hitting another person I probably would have taken it up instead of bjj.
Probably excellent for self defense, too, mainly because of the emphasis on striking with knees and elbows. Honestly, the last thing you want to do is punch someone in the head with an ungloved hand. At the very least you will break it; or, if you're really unlucky, you'll catch the guy's tooth and develop a horrible infection. I've seen a few of those. Nasty.
Steven Seagal is an Aikido practitioner and wouldn't likely use closed hand strikes. Strikes would be open handed and delivered to provide a distraction during which a technique could be applied.Funny how when Seagal or those other guys hit someone they never do anything to their hands.
I remember when Tyson hit Mitch Green in the face and broke his hand in a street fight. (no gloves of course).
Here's what Mitch looked like:
It's all about fitness and self confidence for me. Was well trained while in army and practice regularly with my son until he broke 2 of my ribs a few yrs back. My doc told me to slow down cuz I am getting old and my bones are no longer as strong as it used to. I still do regular stretching, push ups, sit ups and power walking which suits my age better. It helps me a lot with my golf game as well. I was able to put two on yesterday on a par 5, 510 yds hole. I am quite surprised I am still able to kick high and still able to split and still able to do sit up with one leg. Its all about keeping up as much as you can bearing in mind muscles are make to use and move. You will lose it if you don't use it.
I'm amazed at how much training is about the mastery of fear for me. Everyday, about an hour before leaving the house for my club, I start to feel the butterflies. The closer I get to the club the worse they get. I've had days when I'm near full panic attack mode during the class. I'm not sure why. Perhaps the highly competitive nature of jiu jitsu. But the anxiety has always burned itself off by the end of the first roll and I feel reborn in a way.
