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

[Kinguendo]

i hope the toppic creator does not get the wrong picture though...most of the stuff here listed are sports, made for competetive reasons and recreation. no matter how good in in karate or whatever you are, an experienced thugh or violent barfighter will still hand your ass to yourself on a silver plate...

the only ones of those listed really usefull in actual self defense would be krav maga and sambo. everything else might help due to improved fitnes and such, but it's techniques will get you smacked to the ground by old-fashioned knee-to-groin^^ unfortunately it is not easy to find schools for krav maga and sambo outside isreal / russia.

<== 7 years krav maga

Just those two? Everything else gets taken down by a knee-to-groin?

Muay Thai trains with knee strikes and obviously how to counter knee strikes, a quick foot jab and you have stopped a person from getting close and put them into a defensive position allowing a follow up step-up knee-kick... which obviously involves a person getting knee'd in the face.

Know I dont know about you but I think that seems to have stopped a knee to the groin.

Lets be honest, unless this person has unusually long knees a form of self-defence is going to show you how to guard against something like that.

 

[Kinguendo]

I wouldn't suggest judo if your tall, having a low centre of gravity is pretty imperative for grappling arts. If you want to make the most out of your height do a striking style. If you want discipline just do regular boxing, within a month of proper training you will be the fitest you've ever been in your life. Mauy tai is good as well

Yeah, thats the same thing I said about Aikido because that is all about grappling.

 

[Treefingers]

Drunken boxing.

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

I'd say either wu-shu-kwan or wing-chun... but I have very little knowledge of martial arts

PS: wushu (as opposed to wu shu kwan) on it's own is more of a display than a fighting art.

 

[silasbufu]

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.

Also, I will add a poll to see which people prefer... but I wont put Jeet Kun Do on said poll because it would win AND as Bruce Lee said it isnt a figting style.

(For the poll I put some fairly common styles and some reltively unknown styles... just to mix it up a little.)

EDIT: Here are some characters from games and films that use some of the styles mentioned:

Spoiler: Wushu

Spoiler: Krav Maga

Spoiler: Muay Thai

Spoiler: Karate

Spoiler: Tae Kwon Do

Spoiler: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Yeah, cant think of anyone for this... :O Suggestions?

Spoiler: Boxing

Spoiler: Sambo

AND

SUPER EDIT: Keep in mind the style that you suggest does not have to be on the poll, those are just some styles.

I would suggest boxing or kick-boxing ..because if you ever get into a fight you might be surprised to find out that many fancy kung-fuey moves don't work like in the movies.
And sometimes self-defense by itself just doesn't work.
Although Hwoarang is the definition of awesome

 

[Kinguendo]

I'd say either wu-shu-kwan or wing-chun... but I have very little knowledge of martial arts

PS: wushu (as opposed to wu shu kwan) on it's own is more of a display than a fighting art.

Tell that to Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li... now I know they are all actors but they were martial artists first. (Apart from Bruce Lee and yet people always think that Bruce Lee was a martial artist before an actor.)

Actually I think Bruce Lee trained in Wing Chun...

 

[Deleted]

YAHOOO! Hey kid why don't you learn SAIKYO! Forget Muay Thai that's for scarred bald cyclops, the true path to glory is the one and only Saikyo!!! Here at the Saikyo gym we value your passion for fighting. We will teach you essential techniques like ---

The KORYUKEN!
and
The GADOKEN!

Sign up now and we will give you very own pink gi to symbolize the hidden power within you!!!! Saikyo!!!!!

 

[Kinguendo]

YAHOOO! Hey kid why don't you learn SAIKYO! Forget Muay Thai that's for scarred bald cyclops, the true path to glory is the one and only Saikyo!!! Here at the Saikyo gym we value your passion for fighting. We will teach you essential techniques like ---

The KORYUKEN!
and
The GADOKEN!

Sign up now and we will give you very own pink gi to symbolize the hidden power within you!!!! Saikyo!!!!!

Kid? I am older than you!

(Also, Dan sucks... Adon and Sagat are where it is at! )

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

I learned Jujitsu along with my own style because I hate fighting, but there WILL be a time where I need to defend myself and ending it quickly with as little mess as possible which is why I learned defence.

 

[Gh0st1y_H]

If you're tall and particularly lean, you can study Hapkido.

Well, you don't have to be lean, because you'll pick that up as you practice. But if you're thin, Hapkido is a good pick. I've actually just found a dojang to practice in myself, so I'm going to be learning about it now.

It's based mostly on soft martial arts, making people use their own strength against themselves instead of using force against force.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to mention that Hapkido's weakness is that it has no ground game.

 

[Xiorell]

I've been boxing for many years now and I found it a good sport for pyhsical conditioning and a good place to use as a "jump off" to other styles. Long as you find a good gym to start with anyway.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

having practiced for several years Full Contact, I am partial to that style, however I suggest to try a bit of all the styles you like and see which one fits you best. I am strongly against taekwondo, but again this is only my personal preference.

 

[Higurashi]

I've done Krav Maga, Western boxing, Muay Thai, Wushu, Tae Kwon Do and some other arts to a lesser extent, and I can tell you that Wushu was the most fun. I like kicking, so Tae Kwon Do worked well for me as well, but if you don't like brutality and want to have fun while getting into shape, do Wushu. As a bonus, you will probably get a lot of mental training out of it as well, and a more varied practise. Wushu incorporates all Chinese martial arts after all.

 

[Buffoon]

Capoeira. It's fun. And it's good exercise (it sure nearly kills me... um, I could do with being fitter).

That, or Tae Kwon Do. Seems pretty good all round.

 

[MortyMnemonic]

Ninjutsu. Really brought me further in life.

 

[USSR]

You definitely learn the drunken monkey!

 

[BGH122]

-snip-

So far I've had several years of Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun, Kickboxing (that one was worse than useless) and Krav maga. Go for Krav Maga, it's brutal and ridiculously easy to pick up. Seriously, it shouldn't be so easy to snap someone's shoulder or knee out of the socket.

Failing that go for Wing Chun, that was brilliant for punching. Krav Maga's punches feel, to me, too slow. Wing Chun allows for very rapid punching and deflection.

 

[Kinguendo]

-snip-

So far I've had several years of Shotokan Karate, Wing Chun, Kickboxing (that one was worse than useless) and Krav maga. Go for Krav Maga, it's brutal and ridiculously easy to pick up. Seriously, it shouldn't be so easy to snap someone's shoulder or knee out of the socket.

Failing that go for Wing Chun, that was brilliant for punching. Krav Maga's punches feel, to me, too slow. Wing Chun allows for very rapid punching and deflection.

I dont want to break people into tiny pieces and I dont want to pummel them into dust in 10 seconds or less, I am looking for some exercise and discipline whilst learning some self-defense (almost put elf defense... I dont think any of these martial arts can help with that problem.)... and I have already started learning the basics of Muay Thai too. (Dammit, almost mispelled Muay Thai... what I really need is a god damn dictionary to help me spell good! XD)

 

[ShotgunSmoke]

Wait, if there's Krav Maga in the poll...why is there any contest?

 

[Kathinka]

i hope the toppic creator does not get the wrong picture though...most of the stuff here listed are sports, made for competetive reasons and recreation. no matter how good in in karate or whatever you are, an experienced thugh or violent barfighter will still hand your ass to yourself on a silver plate...

the only ones of those listed really usefull in actual self defense would be krav maga and sambo. everything else might help due to improved fitnes and such, but it's techniques will get you smacked to the ground by old-fashioned knee-to-groin^^ unfortunately it is not easy to find schools for krav maga and sambo outside isreal / russia.

<== 7 years krav maga

Its pretty much impossible to doubt the effectiveness of Krav Maga, but not everyone is looking for something like that. I don't do Martial Arts to learn how to fuck up anyone who looks at me wrong, I like learning Martial Arts for the fun of it. I'm really into BJJ (Mainly 10th Planet stuff) right now because the techniques are enjoyable and challenging to learn. I'm not saying the Krav Maga stuff isn't enjoyable for some people, I am just not into the brutality.

that's 100% right. just..the toppic creator expressed his desire to learn a form of self defense that he could applie to...well, defend himself, hence my statement. no doubt there is great enjoyment in any martial art.

Just those two? Everything else gets taken down by a knee-to-groin?

Muay Thai trains with knee strikes and obviously how to counter knee strikes, a quick foot jab and you have stopped a person from getting close and put them into a defensive position allowing a follow up step-up knee-kick... which obviously involves a person getting knee'd in the face.

Know I dont know about you but I think that seems to have stopped a knee to the groin.

Lets be honest, unless this person has unusually long knees a form of self-defense is going to show you how to guard against something like that.

that was just a random example. the actual point is: almost all of them are sports, meant to work in an arena with specific rules, or as physical form of recreation and enjoyment. in a real defense-situation, most of the stuff that works in a ring will end with you to collect your bloody teeth from the floor. to complicated, to elaborate, no match for an agressive person that wishes you harm and possibly is quite experienced in attacking people.