Martial Arts

[Vuk]

A recent post made by a member of this board has got me wondering how many Orgahs practice martial arts, and which ones they practice.
I am an avid practitioner of martial arts, and practice the Eastern arts of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Tai Chi, as well as the Western arts of Boxing, Fencing, Kick-Boxing. I also enjoy using different close range weapons, including the spear. :P

While I do get into a lot of Martial Arts, that doesn't mean that I am very good at them. I have only been practicing Judo and Tai Chi for under a year. :P
Even though it isn't a way of life, it is still very fun.

What martial arts do you practice?

[Warmaster Horus]

I used to practice Judo (got up to blue belt) until my school timetables didn't permit me to continue.
I did some fencing once, and I liked it, but once again the timetable struck (well, school did, at least) and I was unable to inform myself about taking lessons.

[Lemur]

I trained in Judo and boxing. Haven't kept up, sadly. When my boy lemur is old enough, I figure we may take it up together. Problem is, all the dojos hereabouts are Tae Kwan Do, which I'm not very keen on. (I saw a black-belt TKD practitioner get utterly destroyed by a big, drunk Irish guy. Tends to take the shine off.)

[Mouzafphaerre]

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I'm practicing the most ultimate martial art:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

eating!

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[discovery1]

I am an avid practitioner of martial arts, and practice the Eastern arts of Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Tai Chi, as well as the Western arts of Boxing, Fencing, Kick-Boxing.

And how often do you practice each of these combat styles Vuk?


I practice Choy Lei Fut Kung Fu, a style dominated by large arching attacks. I practice for 3 hours each week with actually instructors, along with a varying amount of time each week on my own.

[Fragony]

Kickboxing, the only one that matters

[Samurai Waki]

I was into boxing as a young kid, my dad would take me to the gym when I was about six, and one of the guys there was an old fighter and decided he would teach me a few tricks in his spare time. I did that until I was about ten or eleven, lot of fun, even though I was never in an actual boxing match. Then I when I turned about nineteen I got into Brazilian Jujitsu, which is something I still practice(d) about three times a week. However, where I'm living now there isn't any Dojos, so I might be forced to take Judo instead.

[Ronin]

Practiced Yoseikan Budo for a number of years....

Wiki link

then an ankle injury and getting into college conspired to get me to drop it about 5 years ago.

[Slug For A Butt]

I was into my Bushido Karate many many years ago. I actually achieved Brown belt first tab and did a lot of free fighting before I eventually threw away all the hard work to pursue a career with girls and beer.

Kickboxing, the only one that matters

You want to tell that to a mixed martial artist?

[macsen rufus]

I haven't kept it up in recent years, but when I was younger I did Tae Kwon Do, Kyokushinkai karate and a smattering of judo. The judo is the only one that I ever needed, thanks to a drunken lout in a nightclub who kept going for me even though he couldn't work out how he ended up flat on his back every time Luckily the bouncers knew me as a regular and soon escorted him to the door... I suppose you could call archery and javelin martial arts too, both of which I enjoyed immensely.

I much preferred the TKD to the karate, though, but that has more to do with the teacher and the size of the dojo. The karate dojo was much larger, and more "sport" oriented - all katas and push-ups - whereas the TKD was a small group and definitely aimed at self-defence, with more time on the mats, 2 on 1, 3 on 1, up to 5 on 1 (only the teacher excelled at those odds though ), dealing with knife attacks etc etc. But the main outcome really was self-discipline and confidence.

[English assassin]

I did about three years of shotokan karate at school. I'm sort of with Lemur on karate, (well, he said TKD, but its pretty similar) in that its more of a sport with some possible self defence use than a real self defence thing any more. Not that I would have wanted to meet my Sensei on a dark night. Still enjoyed it though.

Then I did a year of Jujitsu, that definitely rocked. This is the one that the little assassins will be doing.

After that I too fell victim to the dreaded timetable.

[The_Mark]

I just began practicing longsword in The School of European Swordsmanship.

[Subedei]

6 years of Shotokan Karate [brown belt]. I got a nasty permanent inflammation on my knees...that was it for me. It was very interesting after all & I loved the kumite with other more experienced fighters.

[Vuk]

I trained in Judo and boxing. Haven't kept up, sadly. When my boy lemur is old enough, I figure we may take it up together. Problem is, all the dojos hereabouts are Tae Kwan Do, which I'm not very keen on. (I saw a black-belt TKD practitioner get utterly destroyed by a big, drunk Irish guy. Tends to take the shine off.)

lol Lemur, TWD rocks. I am testing for my Bo Dan next semester. :P
TWD is a distance fighting skill, and usually becomes useless at close range. (though there are exceptions) That is why you need to know fighting skills for close combat and REALLY close combat. :P Where TWD leaves off, Tai Chi takes over. :P

And how often do you practice each of these combat styles Vuk?

Right now? I am only being instructed in TWD, but still practice Tai Chi and Judo at least twice a week.
Haven't fenced in quite a few years I'm afraid. :P

Vuk

[Fragony]

6 years of Shotokan Karate [brown belt]. I got a nasty permanent inflammation on my knees...that was it for me. It was very interesting after all & I loved the kumite with other more experienced fighters.

Also have brown belt (jiu jitsu), barely made it, would be great to have black but I am too clumsy sadly. My knees aren't the best either, gave up on full contact, these lowkicks are just too painfull. Thinking of giving up kickboxing and going for regular boxing.

[Subedei]

Also have brown belt (jiu jitsu), barely made it, would be great to have black but I am too clumsy sadly. My knees aren't the best either, gave up on full contact, these lowkicks are just too painfull. Thinking of giving up kickboxing and going for regular boxing.

Yeah, it is very bad when your knees break away during a kick...I don´t know: you have to be very flexible on our feet while boxing too.

[Fragony]

You want to tell that to a mixed martial artist?

Well if you take it for the ability to give someone hell, judo and kickboxing (and a few jiu jitsu tricks) are the only really usefull ones. The oriental fighting skills are more of an art like ballet. Completily impractical, you never get to land these hits in a real situation. Kickboxing might me the least visualy appealing, but it's about endurance and how much hits you can handle, it's much 'rawer'.

Subedei, add to that that in kickboxing you kick down just above the knee, unless you have good knees you are swept from your feet. And even if you are not it's still incredibly painfull. No such problem in regular boxing, I hope

[Kralizec]

I did JuJitsu for a while but I never got further then the yellow belt, when the times at wich I used to train became inconvienient. Fun though.

Fencing sounds fun, and so does horse archery (yes it's still being tought, I remember Orda Khan posting a video about it ) but these obviously won't be of much use in a dark alley kind of scenario.

[drone]

I took TKD when I was a teen. I was lightweight and having played soccer for years it was good. Fun, but fairly useless in a fight. I've bulked up some since, and have wanted to take judo for a while, I think it would fit my body style better now.

[The Wizard]

I have a yellow belt blue tab in Judo, but I quit that over ten years ago. I've variously been thinking about trying out Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do, or Muay Thai, but I've never gotten down to doing it. Plus, I'm a bit out of shape right now, so motivating myself to get going to the gym regularly again holds more importance.

[Vuk]

I took TKD when I was a teen. I was lightweight and having played soccer for years it was good. Fun, but fairly useless in a fight. I've bulked up some since, and have wanted to take judo for a while, I think it would fit my body style better now.

Only up close. I have used it effectively in a selfdefence situation before. Everyone bashes TWD, but I think that unfair. You have to be VERY good at TWD and know how to use it practically in order for it to be any good, but if you do, it can be quite usefull.

Well if you take it for the ability to give someone hell, judo and kickboxing (and a few jiu jitsu tricks) are the only really usefull ones. The oriental fighting skills are more of an art like ballet. Completily impractical, you never get to land these hits in a real situation.

You forgot Tai Chi. It is probably the most usefull martial art that exists (though there may be some bias on my side. :P
Also, oriental fighting skills are not impractical. They just require a great mastery and a sense of practicality.

Vuk

[The Wizard]

Exactly. They were originally designed to kill so I doubt there's no practical use in them.

[Fragony]

Only up close. I have used it effectively in a selfdefence situation before. Everyone bashes TWD, but I think that unfair. You have to be VERY good at TWD and know how to use it practically in order for it to be any good, but if you do, it can be quite usefull.




You forgot Tai Chi. It is probably the most usefull martial art that exists (though there may be some bias on my side. :P
Also, oriental fighting skills are not impractical. They just require a great mastery and a sense of practicality.

Vuk

Ha if you want to see me dancing give me a beat. Oriental stuff is great for diverting a hit channelling it, but in kickboxing there are similary moves, for example when someone hits with right you catch him before his momentum and 'push' the movement, instant kidney faillure instead of absorbing it.

[HoreTore]

Football is the only thing that matters.

Why go for anything less than the best?

[Zain]

I have been taking Tae Kwon Do for 8 years now and have achieved Black Belt as of around 1 year ago.

I've been in a few self defense fights at school since my black belt was achieved, and I have yet to lose.

Those who say Martial Arts are useless should train under a better master, or train under one if they haven't.

Although it's not for everyone, I understand that.

[Vuk]

I have been taking Tae Kwon Do for 8 years now and have achieved Black Belt as of around 1 year ago.

I've been in a few self defense fights at school since my black belt was achieved, and I have yet to lose.

Those who say Martial Arts are useless should train under a better master, or train under one if they haven't.

Although it's not for everyone, I understand that.

You used TWD in school fights? O_o
I hope the situations called for it. One of the most imprtant things that TWD teaches is a way of life.

You are correct, many people who bash TWD have not trained under someone who knows what they are doing. I train directly under a Grand-Master, and am sometimes tutored by two other masters who work under him. He is one of the few Grand Masters in WI. :P
There are way to many people in the world who get certified to teach martial arts and don't know a darn thing. I would not suggest training under anyone who is not at least a Five Dan BlackBelt.


Vuk

[Zain]

You used TWD in school fights? O_o
I hope the situations called for it. One of the most imprtant things that TWD teaches is a way of life.

You are correct, many people who bash TWD have not trained under someone who knows what they are doing. I train directly under a Grand-Master, and am sometimes tutored by two other masters who work under him. He is one of the few Grand Masters in WI. :P
There are way to many people in the world who get certified to teach martial arts and don't know a darn thing. I would not suggest training under anyone who is not at least a Five Dan BlackBelt.


Vuk

I've been taught not to fight, but If it calls for it, I'd rather use it and win then not use it and lose.

[Noir]

WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) taekwondo is very much sport oriented, although still a good training and foundation to move into other martial arts. ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) taekwondo is dedicated into practising as a martial art, that is hits are generally more static and powerful aiming to ko (knock out) asap rather than score points at designated body areas.

Originally posted by Lemur
I trained in Judo and boxing. Haven't kept up, sadly. When my boy lemur is old enough, I figure we may take it up together. Problem is, all the dojos hereabouts are Tae Kwan Do, which I'm not very keen on. (I saw a black-belt TKD practitioner get utterly destroyed by a big, drunk Irish guy. Tends to take the shine off.)

Heh - you sound a bit unfair. Black belts are awarded for dedication and perseverence into pursuing the art as much as they are for technical excellence and fighting prowess. They are a document of attendance, of a certain knowledge and of a certain standard in fitness and technique and not a guarantee for success in a fight.

Having said that, TKD is a very new martial art (1915) that basically embodies various pre-existing Korean styles as well as mainly Sotokan Karate; its style is fluid and based around a "modern" perception of martial arts that aims to act as educating and training/fitness tools rather than turning one into a good fighter in a real fight.

Besides, martial arts that focus too much on hits (punches and kicks) are almost useless against those that are based around throws and locks (judo & jujutsu that have common roots). One has only to close the distance to make years of training obsolete. Of course high level practicioners will be inevitably good fighters but usually they have slim chances against more all around styles that include throws and locks. Judo and boxing are way more "practical" fighting styles than TKD will ever be. Brazillian jujutsu that has emerged in the 1990's as a grandchild of jujutsu (a name given to a variety of fighting styles many of which eventually were systemised in judo), has actually proved the fact in point.

Generally nowdays there is a double edge in martial art specialisation, those sectors that emphasize the sport aspect (all the way to the Olympic level) and those that aim to reintroduce lethality and martial prowess into martial arts - generally the latter are expressed through the various "mixed" tournaments that actually show which techniques are trully effective in 1v1. 1v more is a different story altogether - for example TKD may give a considerable edge in 1v multiple opponents with its emphasis in high section kicks.

The best style ever though IMHO is matrix karate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dv13HOn4xY

Noir

[Orda Khan]

Years of Kyokushinkai, achieving 1st Kyu. Unforunately, arthritis prevented me achieving Shodan but I accept that. The level of achievement really does not matter anyway where a combat situation is concerned, I've seen lowly green belts flooring some supposedly experienced black belts, you meet hard b******s in all walks of life.
For instance, Dolph Lundgren. I had the pleasure of watching him fight for the British Knockdown Championships nearly 30 years ago, when he was known as Hans 'Hassa' Lundgren. He was a 1st Kyu brown belt and there was not a karate-ka who could live with him. He went on to be placed 9th in the World Knockdown in Japan (robbed) losing to Makoto Nakamura, the eventual winner, even though he knocked him down.
I also had the great pleasure of sparring with Shihan Howard Collins who 'Hassa' had trained under in Sweden. Howard Collins, who hailed from Mountain Ash in South Wales was definitely one of those 'special' people....a cold look in his eyes that defeated you before Hajime.
Kyokushinkai training is the ultimate in fitness training, however there tends to to be a few injuries as well. When you are young you tend to shrug off these injuries as a minor inconvenience but later in life you pay the price. If there was less attention to kumite and more focus on kata and basics and the discipline required, I would argue that there is no finer form of fitness training.
The hardest battle one will ever have is with one's self

....Orda

[Vuk]

What makes a TWDist good is if he can keep the opponent away. (preferably by flooring him :P)
If you know Tai Chi, you can try to keep him away, but if he gets too close, deal brutally with him.

Khan, it is funny you should post about injuries. :P Just today I tore a tendon in my ankle, and broke my right arm. :P I will not be able to practice for a while.
(I also stubbed my toe :P, and while this may sound small, it hurts like heck. I think I broke it also. :P)