Self learned marital arts/room exercing?

[Rosiv]

Summary: Want to learn martial art alone or dorm room exercise

I am planning to go back to school soon, and i was considering using the exercise room to get back in shape. I also however want some side activities to do in the privacy of my dorm. So i want to consider a marital art. I know since marital arts revolve around combat, and combat involves more than one person, so it is probably not doable. And if that is the case then i would like to know about any exercises i could do aside from push-ups, since those are my go to ones.

 

[Vausch]

Well, I can tell you this: Instruction from someone that knows the art or can give tips would be fantastic, but it's actually rather possible to at least teach yourself the basics. I taught myself basic Muay Thai using instruction from books, youtube, and getting tips from friends that studied it to see if my technique was good.

Granted it is much better to have a partner that can spar with you now and again, help you learn real combat scenarios, but it's definitely possible to at least teach yourself the moves. I'd highly suggest a makiwara or something you can strike to help develop your hands and feet for impacts. I use a canvas bag filled with fine sand. Smaller than a basketball, takes up no room, makes your hands and feet callused in no time.

 

[CatLafitte]

If you think martial arts is about combat, you don't know a darn thing about it. Martial arts is two things:

1. Self defense.
2. Self-discipline.

It is NEVER about combat. Never. In fact, the best reasons to learn martial arts is to avoid having to fight in the first place. It's more about control, learning to know your own body and all that. If you look at a random martial arts movie, why do you think the master, sensei or whatever they call him is always a very peaceful guy? Think that's a coincidence? It's not. Martial art is for peace, not war.

 

[Rosiv]

If you think martial arts is about combat, you don't know a darn thing about it. Martial arts is two things:

1. Self defense.
2. Self-discipline.

It is NEVER about combat. Never. In fact, the best reasons to learn martial arts is to avoid having to fight in the first place. It's more about control, learning to know your own body and all that. If you look at a random martial arts movie, why do you think the master, sensei or whatever they call him is always a very peaceful guy? Think that's a coincidence? It's not. Martial art is for peace, not war.

I didn't mean any offence sorry if i was blunt. I was just reading on the origins of marital arts and i read that it was developed for training without weapons, and also used by monks during violent times. But yea i wouldnt learn it to look for a fight, just to get in shape in, what i thought would be, a fun way.

 

[CatLafitte]

Hehe, no worries. There are just so many people who think martial arts is about combat, so you can see why I thought you did too. I do recommend training it for exersize, getting in shape and all that. But why train on your own? Isn't it more fun to train with others? I'm sure there are school where you live that teach it. If not, at least there should be some nearby.

 

[Rosiv]

Have you considered Tai Chi? It is the base form for martial arts and has the benefit of being healthy, relaxing, and teaches you the base stances and forms if you ever moved onto a combat form (Tai Chi itself has combat variants including weapon) its something you could learn from videos or a few classes and practice alone

I guess i will now, it always seemed very relaxing, but i never really saw it as a work out. Wont hurt to try. Thank you.

 

[Frezzato]

Don't know why I didn't think of this before, but there's a product called the Door Gym that's relatively inexpensive. Like all things, there's a weight limit, but I have to admit that it's pretty good. I have a standalone pull-up thingie in my garage and frankly, it's kind of bad. The hand holds are somewhat far apart, and the thing about pull-ups is the farther apart your hand positions, the harder it is to do a pull-up.

The benefit to using a Door Gym is there are two basic positions: 1.) You can put your hands as close together as you want and 2.) you can go for an ultra-wide stance when you're ready for it. In addition, the construction of the Door Gym allows for an alternate grip in which your palms are facing each other as opposed to a pull-up (palms facing away from you) or a chin-up (palms facing towards you).

The construction of the Door Gym (I've seen/used the original and other imitations) is kind of clever in that it mounts without damaging the doorway. It can be easily installed/removed in a matter of seconds, but the problem is the doorway being used MUST be sturdy, or a "primary" doorway that's been constructed properly.