My wife says it looks like I am in training to be a Sumo Wrestler.

 

I currently am in Jeet Kune Do, Hapkido, and Akido. I have done Tae Kwon Do before also. As far as it goes I really enjoy Jeet Kune Do the most. It involves all ranges of attack including ground work. Jeet Kune Do was founded by the late Bruce Lee and is a awesome martial art. My instructor was taught by the late Jerry Poteat. Jerry was taught by Bruce Lee for seven years so my instructor teachers real lineage Jeet Kune do. (beware there are many schools that claim to teach Jeet Kune Do, but it is a very watered down version) JKD is a offensive art and has a strike first mentality. Like Wing Chun, JKD is also based on your center line. It is a great martial art for those interested in martial arts. If you cant find a reputable JKD instructor I would recommend Hapkido. Tae Kwon Do is fun but it is geared more to competition than self defense and lacks ground work, but the kicking techniques are awesome! But there is no bad martial art. Find what works for you the most. With the right deication you can become a great martial artist!

 

Well, I spent 15 yrs in Judo and 10 yrs in Shorin-ryu by the time I was 21. At that point I competed on the USA team in international competition. After that I knocked about in full contact competition for the next 15 years or so with a lot of Kyu Shin Kai. After that it was five years or so of Tai Kwan Do and Hapkido.

During this time I have competed mostly in hand-to-hand as well as many weapon types including knives, throwing knives, swords, short staffs, quarter staves, tonfa, nunchaku, etc. e.g. I have hunted rats with tonfa, collected rock samples with steel nunchaku.

At this point my favorite would be Hapkido but I am interested in Krav and Escrima.

 

I learned TaeKwando in Korea, and believe me, it has all sorts of grapplling, holds, takedowns and throws. For most people, learning the cane/walking stick makes far more sense. In fact, it's better than a gun, in lots of cases, because it's already in your hand, it offers a non lethal response, you needn't worry about innocents beyond the attacker, and it's got lots of other uses. Just seeing the stick in your hand deters a lot of mean dogs, with 2 or 4 legs.

 

You know I hear several people mention that Tae Kwon Do and Karate are taught quite a bit different overseas as opposed to here. My cousin took Karate while being stationed in Japan courtesy of the Navy. He said they learned far more throws, joint locks, etc. than any Karate school in the States that he went to ever taught. Think we have poor quality of instruction here compared to abroad?

 

I've been training in TKD for over 8 years. The original school owner was Grandmaster Hwang. He is one of three Grandmasters (9th Degree black belts) ever promoted by General Choi. Needless to say we train like they do in Korea. I remember my first belt test in front of Grandmaster Hwang, I don't remember ever being so scared in my life!

The current school owner continues the traditional training but also offer additional training for adults. This additional program does lots of knife/gun defense, MMA and BBJ work. I remember one night we were practicing getting used to being choked. My favorite drill is where we would stand against a wall and a partner would stick their thumb in your throat and push in as hard as they could. You had to stand there for 30 seconds before you were allowed to attack and get out. It really helped to prepare to not panic if you were attacked and could not breath. Just a few nights ago we had 6 200+ lbs guys in class. One person got in the middle and the other 5 circled around and took turns attacking from different directions. Lots of chokes and other attacks. Man it was fun but exhausting and I was sore for two days from the beating I took.

 

I'm not sure if it's techincally a martial art, and it definately isn't much use for self defense but Shin Kicking sure looks fun !!!

 

Being old, and old fashioned, I prefer "Chunk-Chunk, BOOM!" Martial arts are for those that have practiced for years, and/or are young. If a shotgun is too loud, or the situation warrants discretion, I prefer sneaky-Pete techniques... A suppressed G21, with appropriate bells and whistles does well for me, thanks...

 

Not every situation warrants the use of firearms. It's neither moral, ethical or legal (that last part is worth keeping in mind) to use deadly force if the problem can be dealt with in a different manner. And I doubt most of us will always have a firearm with us. Then of course is the classic argument that we can also get caught off-guard and not have the opprotunity to bring out the 12 ga. Better to have a bigger range of options.

And one can start martial arts later in life. We have many students that are middle-aged that are just now taking up classes. Granted as we grow older the needs and preferences changes. Yet we can still benifit from martial arts reguardless of having grown older. These days I have injuries and common sense that have altered my fight plan. Still it's never too late to learn.

 

Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Muay Thai.

 

This.

The most effective combination, though it doesn't hurt to mix in standard wrestling (I find Greco Roman to have the most real-world applications) and boxing.

 

I am starting Krav Maga. I'm 56 and I have not taken any martial arts since I was in my early 20's. TKD burned me out back then, it seemed to be a lot for the sport and not the self defense. I'm excited about krav maga.

 

I have to agree with you about TKD. Years back when I took TKD, they did not teach, in my opinion, much in the way of useful self-defense techniques for real life situations.

Krav Maga on the other hand seems to teach a lot of basic street survival techniques that can be used in real life.

 

Started out boxing with the ol' man, then boxing and Tae Kwon Do in the military.
Traveled to Asia specifically to study Tae Kwon Do and Kyokushin full time, with trips to Thailand for muay thai (Heat, and ancient bags hardened to cement...'great fun'). Branched out to Hapkido for traps and grappling.
Back in the west Judo while maintaining punches and kicks, plus all the stuff any life long martial artist picks up over the years. Now fight as realistically as possible.
Have avoided all the blatantly obvious bs tai chi chicken strike drunken arsemonkey styles, and curiously, proponents of those styles have all shut up over the past decade...

 

You know I REALLY try being open minded reguardless of what people tell me they practice. My view is that people can learn whatever they choose and go around making whatever claims they like. Yet at the end of the day it's quite a bit different proving something during sparring. Not to mention it's thier a&* if they are in a street fight and have been learning junk not mine. That's probably a rather cynical view yet I have been caught up in listening to someone tell me for hours why thier prefered martial art is the best.

Besides you never know..somebody might brag about the TKD they learned from the local mcdojo and can't fight thier way from a paper bag. Then you run into people that did TKD in Korea or somewhere else that are capable fighters.

 

Many years ago I was quite certain that arts like Karate or Tae Kwon Do made perfect sense while something like Aikido was just silly as they seemed to avoid trying to hit people. Then I had the opprotunity to practice with some rather hard-core Aikidoist. An enlightening if not painfull experience.

Still I understand where you are going with the 'exotic' stuff. Not long ago I watched some guys basically eat the mats after explaining how thier style made takedowns and holds impossible to work.

 

Ha, coincedentally, from our fighter discussin thread, the guy who made that standing collar choke on me has a strong background in aikido, and I've grabbed some good techniques from him. I also have a really useful straight blast from the hip and shoulder I took from some hung gar friends in Montreal. I'm more referring to the flowery, exotic, showboating styles.
Though I didn't really place aikido in the bs column, as I've learned too much useful stuff from it.

 

Here is where I have started training.
http://www.themartialartscenterofgillette.com/

I am 40yrs old and broke my back three years ago. Needless to say, I am not in the shape that I once was, or wish to be. I just recently started and have learned alot that has real world applications. My instructor asked me before I started what sports I have participated in in the past. When I said football, rodeo and barfights he laughed.

I always looked at barfights as fun and never got in one out of pure anger. Think saloon brawls in the old westerns where everybody buys a round when it's over. Anyhow, my instructor set up a routine that is working on my cardio and stamina as well as teaching me moves and techniques that work in real life situations. I would say most of it leans towards the MMA style while taking it easy on a 40yr old guy that is out of shape. When I finish each session my lungs are burning and I'm physically whipped and tired. I usually feel as if I have learned something useful.

I am thoroughly enjoying what I'm doing and my body feels better because of it. Will I ever be able to compete in a MMA fight? Hell no, but that is'nt my intent for learning. It is strictly for self improvement and learning useful skills. The other day he had one of the fighters he trains work with me on grappling and ground work. For a skinny 20 something kid, he whipped my butt. I learned some things though.

Whatever a person trains in is a good thing. Getting into good physical shape is one of the best things a prepper can do for themselves. If you learn some useful skills along the way that is great. I know in my area there is not alot of choices when it comes to different disciplines in which to train. I am lucky that I was able to find what I did. Thankfully my instructor has experience in alot of different areas. Just do what you can and learn what you can and work on improving yourself.

Tex

 

miyama-ryu

 

I have always wanted to study Jogo Do Pau. Its a Portuguese staff and stickfighting art that has become sadly obscure, although it is starting to grow again.

 

I have always wanted to study Jogo Do Pau. Its a Portuguese staff and stickfighting art that has become sadly obscure, although it is starting to grow again.

Portuguese Stickfighting JOGO DO PAU - YouTube

sissy stuff. :

try http://dogbrothers.com/?p=192

 

Anything that does not involve me rolling around on the ground with another guy...Same reason I quit wrestling after 1 practice I don't like guys touching me or getting that hands on with me. Its just really weird in my opinion and I choose not to deal with it.

 

You sound a little paranoid and insecure in your manhood. I am guessing you have never been in a physical fight? It's always up close and personal. Or maybe you just need to grow up.

 

I still think Krav Maga is one of the best forms of self defense.

I have study over the years: TKD, Judo, and BJJ

 

I'm really interested in the Filipino martial arts. Kali, Escrima and Silat. The systems seem no-nonsense and effective. They also cover a large range of weapons from sticks/batons, knives, swords and tomahawks.

Second pick would be Krav Maga. Also no nonsense and effective, but just doesn't click the same on a personal level.

 

I've been training for a number of decades in several matiial arts and I'm a weapons collector. Since I've been on this board I've discovered Bataireacht and I want to learn more:

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=265203&highlight=blackthorn+walking+stick

 

Korean styles Kuk Sool Won, Hapkido, Japanese styles Kykushin Ki, Akijutsu, Chinese Wing Chun, Dragon Kung Fu, San Soo, Others Krav Maga, Wrestling.

 

TKD. My instructor is one of the North Americans who trained a lot under General Choi. Throw in military unarmed combat too.....

 

I studied Shotokan and achieved black belt status. I find it to be very useful.

 

Krav Maga

Real life stuff you can actually use that is straight to the point in a lot of situations. And not stylized fighting. Cause alot of the Fighting Arts are only on their feet. And where do most fights end up on if you dont get a good connect on your opponent?

Plus Krav adds in weaponry and Group fighting.

 

I have been in various forms of Martial Arts since I was 7! Started with Ryukyu Kempo when I was 7. While in High School I studied Hawaiian Kempo. During College I taught Martial Arts for free to those who wanted to work out with me. I also enjoyed taking 2 years of Jeet Kune Do. While earning my Masters I moved to Amateur Boxing for about 2 years. After College I enjoyed Shotokan Karate for about 3 years and for the last 8 years I have been learning and teaching TaeKwonDo/Hapkido.

I have to say that I learned a lot from each of the arts I studied but the one that I enjoyed the most was Jeet Kune Do. Bruce took the best of each Martial Art and built a single Martial Art that tried to bring them all together. I will say this though, I feel Jeet June Do is more for smaller quicker students as Larger students don't seem to do as well.

 

While on the subject of something that has caught my attention....I had thought about checking out Keysi Fighting Method. Recently I watched a few clips on Youtube and considered buying a dvd to see more of KFM. Weird thing is that I couldn't find any dvd's for sale or even an official site? Can't say that I would have liked KFM or not, yet curious where it disappeared to.

 

Currently studying BJJ, but am very interested in boxing. Simple and powerful.

If i had more time & there was a decent gym in town, i'd do boxing.