Poll: So I am thinking of learning a fighting style...

[Eleima]

Spoiler

*lol* That was hilarious!!! Thanks for the laugh.

I voted for Krav Maga. As soon as I have more time on my hands, I want to learn something, for the sake of self-defense, and Krav Maga seems like an efficient hand-to-combat combat technique. Tae Kwon Do is also pretty popular where I live.

 

[Kinguendo]

If you're not a fan of fighting, then I recommend learning Judo, as it's the best way to get your opponent on the ground without causing either one of you major damage.

I abhor fighting BUT if I am going to have fight then I want to be sure that I dont have to do it more than once.

In the area I live in, word spreads quickly if you turn out to be a hard b*stard while still avoiding fights. Fear is the best deterrent.

Also, I have seen some of the people who study Judo and I gotta say... some look like they could do with working on the abdominal region a bit more.

Then I would say ninjitsu. The whole point of that style is to do maximum damage for minimum movement, without sacrificing deception. Nothing scares people more than being able to knock out a guy and break more than one bone in only two hits and with no apparent special moves being used. That and you can get behind (or around) someone without them even noticing.

Haha, yeah but I have already started learning the basics of Muay Thai. Also, isnt ninjitsu better suited to shorter people? I am 6'4.

 

[zen5887]

First off I'll stick to the topic.

If your after discipline and fitness you might want to look at the traditional martial arts. They are really intense (assuming you get a good teacher) in the discipline factor, with drills and Kata, and the fitness will come with that. The more modern stuff (BJJ, MMA, Krav Maga) are very hands on and combat based, so expect a lot of sparing or at least sparing focused drills. Having said that, the exercise and fitness aspect of the Modern martial arts is going to be a lot better. My advice is to go around to your local schools and try it out. Most of them will offer at least 1 night free, so have a go and see how you feel. I did that and it really helped. In one week I did BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai and Wrestling, I found out exacly what I could and couldn't do and I found out what I want. Now I'm training twice a week and loving it.

To add on to that, I have found out that every (assuming you're school isn't shit) Martial Art is going to give you the same overall thing. Don't get me wrong, the skills are going to be totally different, Taekwon do will teach you how to kick, BJJ will teach you ground work ect. but the fundamentals are going to be quite similar. You'll learn how to throw a punch, your confidence will build and your fitness will raise. I'm pretty much saying any (again, assuming your school isn't shit) Martial Art is going to help you.

So, good luck with finding a school, let us know how it goes. I do enjoy chatting about this stuff.

So, There's a debate that Bruce Lee, if he were in his prime and alive today, would be terrible at MMA fighting. I disagree, because he pretty much invented MMA, and would sweep the floor adapting to the new styles. Anyone have input on that?

I think that, after about a year of training he would destroy. But, if he came back right now and stepped in with someone like GSP, he wouldn't do very well. Its a totally different set of skills and totally different kind of fitness. Bruce Lee is amazing, but these guys are pretty amazing too. But yes, if he came back and started training he would learn really quickly and do very very well.

 

[Kinguendo]

It might not be a traditional Martial Art, and it requires learning a bit of other disciplines but wrestling is pretty much universally accepted as the best base for MMA. It is so good that some high quality wrestlers (Div 1 college champs) can win titles in the UFC with very little else but wrestling (of course they know the basics of other styles, but to nowhere near the extent a striker/bjj has). No other base can say the same (except for BJJ in the early UFC's/Pride when everyone was using mostly one fighting style). Once you learn some Muay Thai and BJJ after being a high quality college wrestler you are probably going to win a UFC belt someday.

However since you are wanting a fighting style for fun/exercise/discipline and don't have a good frame for wrestling I'd recommend either Muay Thai, BJJ or Judo.

I am not going to lie and say I am built like a brick sh*t house because I am not... I am not exactly skinny more "athletic" I guess. And yeah, I have already started learning the basics of Muay Thai and it does seem to be better suited to someone of my frame and height because with the step ins for elbows I can close the gap from much further away because of my naturally larger step.

 

[The Heik]

If you're not a fan of fighting, then I recommend learning Judo, as it's the best way to get your opponent on the ground without causing either one of you major damage.

I abhor fighting BUT if I am going to have fight then I want to be sure that I dont have to do it more than once.

In the area I live in, word spreads quickly if you turn out to be a hard b*stard while still avoiding fights. Fear is the best deterrent.

Also, I have seen some of the people who study Judo and I gotta say... some look like they could do with working on the abdominal region a bit more.

Then I would say ninjitsu. The whole point of that style is to do maximum damage for minimum movement, without sacrificing deception. Nothing scares people more than being able to knock out a guy and break more than one bone in only two hits and with no apparent special moves being used. That and you can get behind (or around) someone without them even noticing.

Haha, yeah but I have already started learning the basics of Muay Thai. Also, isnt ninjitsu better suited to shorter people? I am 6'4.

I know a guy who knows ninjitsu. He is seven feet tall and weighs 250 pounds, yet he can sneak up on me like a ghost. Size doesn't really matter. But unless you really intend to become a master, then I would agree with your choice of Muay Thai, especially since you're already learning the basics.

Just remember, Muay Thai was specifically designed to kill, not just defend oneself, so it may contradict your nonviolent tendencies. Be careful with it.

 

[Kinguendo]

Well...Learning a dance style should give him what he wants from martial arts, plus he could try and get really good so that he can appear on reality TV.

OT: with a thread like this however, your probably going to have many of the people who do martial arts recommend the style that they do.

I personally would recommend Bjj though because it is pretty fun, however other people may find wrestling on the ground with a relative stranger and some of the basic drills pretty awkward.

I also recommend karate. Yes what I said above applies here.

Well, that is true... and muay thai does require co-ordination because you could throw your hip out doing a single high kick.

And I am just happy the thread hasnt devolved into people yelling how they could kick everyones arse or whatever.

 

[jhaughton]

I am the out come of 10 years of solid training with a style derived from karate
black belt first dan with extensive knowledge in many wepon forms

sooooo...........M.M.A (mixed martial arts) or karate

I agree, off topic, which style of karate did you do?

It's a special type called fushin karate
It uses karate as its base and other styles to reinforce the weakness of karate

 

[Souplex]

Spoiler

That would actually be Krav Maga.

 

[Kinguendo]

I know a guy who knows ninjitsu. He is seven feet tall and weighs 250 pounds, yet he can sneak up on me like a ghost. Size doesn't really matter. But unless you really intend to become a master, then I would agree with your choice of Muay Thai, especially since you're already learning the basics.

Just remember, Muay Thai was specifically designed to kill, not just defend oneself, so it may contradict your nonviolent tendencies. Be careful with it.

Haha, I could imagine "Thats a big ass bush... I bet my ninja friend is in there..." *Chop* "Haha, that was a decoy... I was behind that cat!"

But no, I have only ever been in one fight and I certainly didnt start it... in fact it was a fight I had been avoiding for a year or so.

And I dont know, I know some people who say their Muay Thai teachers are very traditional and dont accept students who say they are going to use Muay Thai for anything other than defence.

 

[jhaughton]

I am the out come of 10 years of solid training with a style derived from karate
black belt first dan with extensive knowledge in many wepon forms

sooooo...........M.M.A (mixed martial arts) or karate

I agree, off topic, which style of karate did you do?

It's a special type called fushin karate
It uses karate as its base and other styles to reinforce the weakness of karate

 

[Kinguendo]

Spoiler

That would actually be Krav Maga.

Come on man, just because he is Jewish doesnt mean his fighting style changes... that like saying a man from China who knows Sambo actually knows Wushu because he is Chinese.

And maybe this Jewish guy is American? Krav Maga is an Isreali fighting style.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Krav Maga, its designed for combat, not for show. I plan on learning it myself when I get into the service.

 

[TruthMan]

well Krav Manga if you want to actually ever want to use it for defense its defiantly the best in terms of that (the MMA doesn't even allow it because its so brutally effective) and i personally prefer Jeet kune do look it up its not as established but again highly effective and very adaptable

 

[inflamessoilwork]

I would say Muay Thai, best striking style IMO

 

[ace_of_something]

I am not particularly fond of fighting... I find violence upsetting and often unnecessary BUT I am thinking of learning a fighting style for the excercise and discipline it offers.

Obviously I need a fighting style suited for tall people, for example any northern shoalin styles seem to have been developed for the taller among us... but also I am leaning toward Muay Thai, traditional stance obviously as I dont plan on fighting in any UFC matches so I dont need a sturdy stance to avoid takedowns.

Do any Escapist study any martial arts? And please feel free to offer some other styles suited for tall people if you wish.

Dude, you realize there is such a thing as an ADVANCED martial art? A lot of the ones you listed are the kind you don't do unless you've trained in another art first.

My parents made each of me and my brothers take a martial art (and a sport) I myself took Hung Kuen because in the town we lived there was basically 3 or 4 options and I thought it looked neat when I was 9. I continued taking classess until I enrolled in police academy at age 20. Then between that and being a part time student could devote no time outside of regular exercises.

Hung Kuen (aka Hun Gar, Hung Gar, or Gung Fu) is mostly upper body with strong wide stances that do well for us tall folk (I'm 6'6") Among us Hung Kuen, TKD, and Judo were taken.

edit: for some hieght perspective.
Brother who took Judo: 6'7"
Brothers in TKD: 6'8", 6'9" 6'7" and 6'6 1/2"
My twin bro and I who took HK 6'6"
Of those listed I've got to say TKD. I didn't take TKD but many of my brothers did and they're cops and say they use it to much greater effect than what is taught in academy. It's also a little easier to start. We're all built like 'brick shit houses' as you said earlier.

 

[Kinguendo]

well Krav Manga if you want to actually ever want to use it for defense its defiantly the best in terms of that (the MMA doesn't even allow it because its so brutally effective) and i personally prefer Jeet kune do look it up its not as established but again highly effective and very adaptable

I already mentioned JKD in my opening post... and I think its been mentioned a couple of times already. I think pretty much anyone who knows about martial arts knows about JKD and anyone who like martial arts films knows about it too, also people who pay computer games might know about it... and given the site we are on... I would say there are people here who only know about it through gaming.

 

[Kinguendo]

Dude, you realize there is such a thing as an ADVANCED martial art? A lot of the ones you listed are the kind you don't do unless you've trained in another art first.

My parents made each of me and my brothers take a martial art (and a sport) I myself took Hung Kuen because in the town we lived there was basically 3 or 4 options and I thought it looked neat when I was 9. I continued taking classess until I enrolled in police academy at age 20. Then between that and being a part time student could devote no time outside of regular exercises.

Of those listed I've got to say TKD. I didn't take TKD but many of my brothers did and they're cops and say they use it to much greater effect than what is taught in academy. It's also a little easier to start.

Hung Kuen (aka Hun Gar, Hung Gar, or Gung Fu) is mostly upper body with strong wide stances that do well for us tall folk (I'm 6'6") Among us Hung Kuen, TKD, and Judo were taken. Only my twin brother and I did HK and my eldest brother did Judo. The rest took TKD.

Yes I realise... look at the bottom of my opening post were it says those are just some random martial arts... I was not planning on taking them.

I have already started learning the basics of Muay Thai and I asked for peoples thoughts on a good beginning martial art or just their favourite.

 

[The Heik]

I know a guy who knows ninjitsu. He is seven feet tall and weighs 250 pounds, yet he can sneak up on me like a ghost. Size doesn't really matter. But unless you really intend to become a master, then I would agree with your choice of Muay Thai, especially since you're already learning the basics.

Just remember, Muay Thai was specifically designed to kill, not just defend oneself, so it may contradict your nonviolent tendencies. Be careful with it.

Haha, I could imagine "Thats a big ass bush... I bet my ninja friend is in there..." *Chop* "Haha, that was a decoy... I was behind that cat!"

But no, I have only ever been in one fight and I certainly didnt start it... in fact it was a fight I had been avoiding for a year or so.

And I dont know, I know some people who say their Muay Thai teachers are very traditional and dont accept students who say they are going to use Muay Thai for anything other than defence.

You know, surprisingly enough, something like that actually happened, except that instead of hiding behind a cat he dropped down from the roof. Gave our art teacher a heart attack. We couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the day.

And while instructors do have strict rules regarding the practice of Muay Thai, you can't pass a shotgun off as a stick. It's powers are still designed for death no matter the user's intent.

 

[Kinguendo]

You know, surprisingly enough, something like that actually happened, except that instead of hiding behind a cat he dropped down from the roof. Gave our art teacher a heart attack. We couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the day.

And while instructors do have strict rules regarding the practice of Muay Thai, you can't pass a shotgun off as a stick. It's powers are still designed for death no matter the user's intent.

That is an interesting analogy... never heard it before.

I will certainly keep that in mind, and I dont intend on killing anyone let alone starting fights.

 

[The Heik]

You know, surprisingly enough, something like that actually happened, except that instead of hiding behind a cat he dropped down from the roof. Gave our art teacher a heart attack. We couldn't stop laughing for the rest of the day.

And while instructors do have strict rules regarding the practice of Muay Thai, you can't pass a shotgun off as a stick. It's powers are still designed for death no matter the user's intent.

That is an interesting analogy... never heard it before.

I will certainly keep that in mind, and I dont intend on killing anyone let alone starting fights.

And that's why you deserve to learn it all the more. One who knows how to fight but uses it only as a final option is a true martial artist.

And thank you, I thought it up myself. Goodnight!