Martial Arts

[Mr H]

Just wondering if anyone here does martial arts? Which ones you do and which ones you would recommend for a 41 year old middle aged guy to take up?

 

 

[Seeker]

3 hours ago, Mr H said:

Just wondering if anyone here does martial arts? Which ones you do and which ones you would recommend for a 41 year old middle aged guy to take up?

 

 

I used to do them, done a fair range of kickboxing, boxing, bjj, got a black belt in combat jiu jitsu, I would say the best by a mile was Krav Maga. It was the most practical and ruthless, with excellent fitness. There were middle aged people there who were very good at it, and fighting in general, far better than I’ll ever be. The most important thing is fitness, which boxing or punch bag is very good for. Fitness & movement. The fitness for bjj was insane too, that was another which was more about movement than strength, but it’s kinda more a sport than a martial art. Important thing is to have fun :)

 

Over the years I did end up losing interest in it, as I’m not an aggressive or violent person, and was more into lifting weights. But with gyms closed I have considered a punch bag because the fitness for it is very good, enjoy. 

[Mr H]

3 hours ago, Seeker said:

I used to do them, done a fair range of kickboxing, boxing, bjj, got a black belt in combat jiu jitsu, I would say the best by a mile was Krav Maga. It was the most practical and ruthless, with excellent fitness. There were middle aged people there who were very good at it, and fighting in general, far better than I’ll ever be. The most important thing is fitness, which boxing or punch bag is very good for. Fitness & movement. The fitness for bjj was insane too, that was another which was more about movement than strength, but it’s kinda more a sport than a martial art. Important thing is to have fun :)

 

Over the years I did end up losing interest in it, as I’m not an aggressive or violent person, and was more into lifting weights. But with gyms closed I have considered a punch bag because the fitness for it is very good, enjoy. 

Thanks man very helpful.

 

I don't wanna be Bruce Lee or anything. Just want to learn a few moves that a simpleton could use realistically.

 

I also do have a slight injury in my right arm. In regular state it's fine, but if I stress that arm with push ups or punches it gets flared up at the elbow so would prefer not to have to do this.

 

So preferably looking at one of the arts that can still be used, but is more likely to have an accomodating teacher who will understand that if they want me to strike or be in arm bar holds, that left arm only! And lay off all the crazy push up fitness stuff..

 

I'm not sure which one is best. I'm 6ft 5 so if I were younger I would be tempted by taekwondo or maybe kick boxing, but I'm not sure if taking that up in your 40s is a great idea.

 

I used to do ju jitsu but found it wasn't practical because if they teach you it properly you break people's necks and stuff so you end up not really practising properly. Brazilian Ju jitsu looks great, but worried about the arm bar holds.

 

Guess it may come down less to the actual art, but in finding a teacher who is accomodating to slightly order folks and their body issues! :) 

[Mr H]

Judo was the other one that really looked interesting to me. Not sure about the stress on joints....

[Itsa]

Depends why you want to start a martial art.

Why do you want to?

For example if it's solely to learn to defend yourself boxing is great, you get fit and get used to being repeatedly punched in the face whilst trying to stop your opponent.

 

That's not for me though and maybe not for you so it's good to have a clear idea of the reasons why you want to start. 

One of the biggest factors is who is teaching in your area, no point getting hyped up to learn something if the dude teaching is only interested in taking as much money off you as possible before you find out he's full of shit.

[shadowmoon]

8 hours ago, Mr H said:

Thanks man very helpful.

 

I don't wanna be Bruce Lee or anything. Just want to learn a few moves that a simpleton could use realistically.

 

I also do have a slight injury in my right arm. In regular state it's fine, but if I stress that arm with push ups or punches it gets flared up at the elbow so would prefer not to have to do this.

 

So preferably looking at one of the arts that can still be used, but is more likely to have an accomodating teacher who will understand that if they want me to strike or be in arm bar holds, that left arm only! And lay off all the crazy push up fitness stuff..

 

I'm not sure which one is best. I'm 6ft 5 so if I were younger I would be tempted by taekwondo or maybe kick boxing, but I'm not sure if taking that up in your 40s is a great idea.

 

I used to do ju jitsu but found it wasn't practical because if they teach you it properly you break people's necks and stuff so you end up not really practising properly. Brazilian Ju jitsu looks great, but worried about the arm bar holds.

 

Guess it may come down less to the actual art, but in finding a teacher who is accomodating to slightly order folks and their body issues! :) 

I use to do shotokan karate and a little bit of wing Chun kungfu. But that was back in the 90s.

Shotokan was/is the most popular style of karate around my area and most areas.   

 

Wing Chun is good if you are a smaller build person like myself as it was invented by a woman,so it's not about being strong(Bruce Lee originally trained in this style) if you have arm problems taekwondo might suit as it uses a lot of kicking skills. 

 

Many clubs will hold taster sessions where you can do say a six week beginner course or less, some clubs even hold over forties training sessions.

 

If I could now get taught I would like to learn Pakua chang a martial art based around the i-ching and walking a circle, I tried to learn some of it from a book, but that didn't work and there weren't any teachers round here.

 

Edited June 12, 2021 by shadowmoon

[TetraG]

4 hours ago, shadowmoon said:

 

If I could now get taught I would like to learn Pakua chang a martial art based around the i-ching and walking a circle, I tried to learn some of it from a book, but that didn't work and there weren't any teachers round here.

 

Sounds interesting being based on I-ching. Will look it up! 

[Brad the lad]

I done karate for 16 years and represented England as a youth. Up until last year I trained in Muay thai but I have not trained since all this covid bullshit unfortunately. I doubt I ever will again due to a very bad shoulder injury which isn't healing very well. I didn't take up Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) until I was 37 years old and had my first fight at 39 years old. I was competing well into my 40s. This is an extreme martial art but the training is as physical as you make it. Lessons are catered to your needs and if you are in a good gym they will take care of that. The respect aspect (which is what I love about martial arts) is huge in Muay Thai.

 

Now I have gone back into playing the piano as my main hobby again...no masks needed, no injuries but also no fitness.

 

You may have just been the kick up the butt I needed to get my arse back down there for some light work.

 

Tell me your ruff location and I will recommend a gym or Dojo in either martial art.

[Fluke]

I joined a mixed martial arts club the start of 2019 never been into clubs and stuff but got into martial arts. But since the covid does not look like i will be starting again. 

 

Does anyone have any tips for solo work on general self defense? This was why i started because you cant really train for self defense situations properly on your own. You need the shock and adrenaline factor. 

 

Was reading a book called 'meditations on violence' by an american retired marine. Straight to the point no bullshit. He said even professional boxers and MA fighters can be caught a cropper and shit themselves in a street confrontation because its not in a combat for sport situation. You could die, and other factors come into it. In sport the opponent usually isn't trying to kill you, and if they are they normally wouldn't get the chance. 

 

 

I hear a lot of people speaking highly about systema, others taekwondo so would be interesting to get someone who knows their shit to give their opinion. Others swear by boxing as an art of self defense but i think you would need to train as a youngster really? 

 

I might even get into something like tai chi (for the dicipline element). 

 

I did buy 2 pairs of professional boxing gloves for me and my brother because he said he would do a bit of training with me. As usual he lets me down. Probably for the best as we would end up killing each other. 

 

Been meaning to put my boxing bag up and do some drills.

 

Edited June 23, 2021 by Fluke

[shadowmoon]

6 hours ago, Fluke said:

I joined a mixed martial arts club the start of 2019 never been into clubs and stuff but got into martial arts. But since the covid does not look like i will be starting again. 

 

Does anyone have any tips for solo work on general self defense? This was why i started because you cant really train for self defense situations properly on your own. You need the shock and adrenaline factor. 

 

Was reading a book called 'meditations on violence' by an american retired marine. Straight to the point no bullshit. He said even professional boxers and MA fighters can be caught a cropper and shit themselves in a street confrontation because its not in a combat for sport situation. You could die, and other factors come into it. In sport the opponent usually isn't trying to kill you, and if they are they normally wouldn't get the chance. 

 

 

I hear a lot of people speaking highly about systema, others taekwondo so would be interesting to get someone who knows their shit to give their opinion. Others swear by boxing as an art of self defense but i think you would need to train as a youngster really? 

 

I might even get into something like tai chi (for the dicipline element). 

 

I did buy 2 pairs of professional boxing gloves for me and my brother because he said he would do a bit of training with me. As usual he lets me down. Probably for the best as we would end up killing each other. 

 

Been meaning to put my boxing bag up and do some drills.

 

I did a few lessons in Choi kwang do, it was created by a guy who was a taekwondo 'expert' (9th dan iirc?) and was beaten up in a street fight.

Are martial arts clubs open now?

[Weedo]

On 6/12/2021 at 1:35 AM, Mr H said:

Just wondering if anyone here does martial arts? Which ones you do and which ones you would recommend for a 41 year old middle aged guy to take up?

 

 

I'd start with chi gong first to slowly but surely strengthen muscles, tendons and ligaments, while also helping bones and bone marrow. Then the sky's the limit. What do you want to train for? Health mostly or actual real combat abilities? 

[Mr H]

On 6/12/2021 at 8:56 AM, Itsa said:

Depends why you want to start a martial art.

Why do you want to?

For example if it's solely to learn to defend yourself boxing is great, you get fit and get used to being repeatedly punched in the face whilst trying to stop your opponent.

 

That's not for me though and maybe not for you so it's good to have a clear idea of the reasons why you want to start. 

One of the biggest factors is who is teaching in your area, no point getting hyped up to learn something if the dude teaching is only interested in taking as much money off you as possible before you find out he's full of shit.

The reason why I want to start is simply to learn how to defend myself. i don't want to do anything fancy particularly just some basic stuff for the most common situations.

 

Boxing in my opinion is one of the best forms of fighting for defending yourself. My only concern for this is I would need a very understanding trainer because one of my arms doesn't function perfectly.

 

I agree I think in my situation teacher is of primary importance.

[Mr H]

On 6/15/2021 at 10:42 PM, Brad the lad said:

I done karate for 16 years and represented England as a youth. Up until last year I trained in Muay thai but I have not trained since all this covid bullshit unfortunately. I doubt I ever will again due to a very bad shoulder injury which isn't healing very well. I didn't take up Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) until I was 37 years old and had my first fight at 39 years old. I was competing well into my 40s. This is an extreme martial art but the training is as physical as you make it. Lessons are catered to your needs and if you are in a good gym they will take care of that. The respect aspect (which is what I love about martial arts) is huge in Muay Thai.

 

Now I have gone back into playing the piano as my main hobby again...no masks needed, no injuries but also no fitness.

 

You may have just been the kick up the butt I needed to get my arse back down there for some light work.

 

Tell me your ruff location and I will recommend a gym or Dojo in either martial art.

Thank you so much. I will have a look at this martial art. The respect aspect really appeals to me too.

 

I am in Leeds Central - any recomendations appreciated so I can go and take a look. Thank you

[Mr H]

1 hour ago, Weedo said:

I'd start with chi gong first to slowly but surely strengthen muscles, tendons and ligaments, while also helping bones and bone marrow. Then the sky's the limit. What do you want to train for? Health mostly or actual real combat abilities? 

Thank you . I have done some Chi Gong on occasion in the past and really enjoy it but If I did it again it would probably be for a different reason - energy work.

 

The purpose here, is I think we're heading for some tough times - and I want to know, or be relatively confident that I can take someone out (or have a good chance) should they attack me or the ones I care about or decide to enter my property

Edited June 24, 2021 by Mr H

[Brad the lad]

Leeds has one of the best Muay Thai gyms in the UK called Bad Company. Jordon Watson and Liam Harrison who are both still active and pro fighters train there.

Another great gym in Leeds is Kiatphontip and that's coached by Jompop.

 

You live in an excellent area of the UK  for Muay Thai gyms.

Good luck.

[Weedo]

9 minutes ago, Mr H said:

Thank you . I have done some Chi Gong on occasion in the past and really enjoy it but If I did it again it would probably be for a different reason - energy work.

 

The purpose here, is I think we're heading for some tough times - and I want to know, or be relatively confident that I can take someone out (or have a good chance) should they attack me or the ones I care about or decide to enter my property

From my experience I feel that the closest combat sport that can be applied by anybody quite effectively is western boxing. It is easy to learn and relies on very simple and effective principles that have been tested to death. You basically have jabs, hooks and undercuts, with the rest being evasion and defence moves that are basically hands, forearms or elbows defending the face, head, neck and the vital organs. Once you have that base you can attach any technique to that. No need to be able to do splits or butterfly kicks. Then I'd try to borrow some knee kick moves as well as low kicks (and elbow shots). from Muay Thai. Then of course some very basic grappling would be of benefit, but chances are not that high that criminals will have an mma or grappling background, as that belongs rather to the subtle and soft arts. But if you want to learn them at home you need a trusted training partner, and I'd recommend making a membership at the Gracie University to have access to - what I see as - the best bjj training curriculum in the world, for basic defence against things like a guy sitting on you and trying to punch you for instance. 

 

What I have learned is that one doesn't need that many techniques in one's arsenal of moves, but the ones one has should be effective, safe for you, and easy. 

 

If you take up non sport combat training, like Krav Maga, you can use the same footwork of western boxing and same principles to optimise speed, precision, and stability, for moves designed for naked fists without gloves. (never use gloves if you intend to train fire real life, just be very careful and work on wrists before each striking training). So you can train shots with open palms to the chin, or the area between thumb and index to the throat, etc. But these applications should almost only be used for life and death self defence situations. 

 

In Western boxing as well as any martial art, the leg work is most important, and staying rooted on one's feet. The coordination of hands and feet are vital and can only be trained properly alone in shadow boxing. I don't believe one needs to spar in order to be ready to fight.

 

If you have a good sparring partner then great, and you have tons of resources online to study and test together, but the alone internal training is much more imortant in my opinion. Hence the Qigong, which focuses on breathing and energy is most vital. The breathing will help in what is most imortant, which is a cool head, and rational mind. Most fights are fought and finished on a psychological level. It also helps have better vision and being able to predict and control any situation. Without any doubt the best accessible (via books) teacher in the world today is Yang, Jwing-Ming. His books are truly a gem, and I believe he is in a league of his own, followed by the likes of Mantak Chia. 

 

After learning at least Westen boxing, also keep minimum fitness levels by some basic cardio by jogging, or in any other way, like using a stepper or jump roaps. It's important to be fit for fight. For me the best training for strength and conditioning is using quarrying and gardening tools to dig ditches or work in the garden. 

 

Good luck! 

 

 

[Mr H]

Was watching this in the meantime to get some self defence tips - actually turned out to be a really great informative and entertaining video! :) 

 

 

 

[Weedo]

On 7/16/2021 at 10:03 PM, Mr H said:

Was watching this in the meantime to get some self defence tips - actually turned out to be a really great informative and entertaining video! :) 

 

 

 

Lol "I dont believe in an eye for an eye, I believe in two eyes for an eye" 

[Mr H]

5 minutes ago, Weedo said:

Lol "I dont believe in an eye for an eye, I believe in two eyes for an eye" 

 

Yes I very much enjoyed his good humour.

 

He did also do a "comedy" version of the self defence class too.

 

 

[4444444444]

Try Tai Chi.... though search around as teacher quality massively varies. Try and find a good teacher of the Cheng man Ching shortened Yang form.

[TetraG]

 

 

This guy pulls this off well, considering he's probably quiet nackered from ski-ing.  Quite Slow and so yielding to full bodied moves as the energy flows more as a result, but he keeps composure and for this discipline, that is good, what you want.

Co-ordinations of the body can be better meditated on, and perfected in a quiet place such as this guy has planted his feet in to demonstrate, up on a snowy mountain.

 

 

This also is a nice video.... Chirp chirp!  

 

His channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/user/zdenalokeres (mostly skiing I guess, but there is at least one other Shaolin training style to learn you will see, called 8 Brocades, in his video feed where you see forest streams)

Edited October 24, 2022 by TetraG

[kj35]

Not sure how I missed this thread. Great thread. I'm a Brown belt in jeet kune do with kali ( Philipino stick fighting)also did some bjj. Jkd uses a lot of wing Chun kung fu and traditional boxing so as a female it helped me spar against much bigger and stronger males.  I had a car crash and seriously damaged my neck and back and the surgeons said the fact I was so fit from martial arts helped me recover nerve function. Obviously with the injury I cannot do my martial art any longer as it was full contact however as you say,  to learn some basic moves and drill them over and over gives you a muscle memory that doesn't go away. With your arm injury I'd seriously look a muay thai or taekwondo which use more leg power than the kung fus or karates. There's you tube for jkd but you really need a very good tutor and I don't know one in Leeds.

Edited October 24, 2022 by kj35

[webtrekker]

1 hour ago, kj35 said:

Not sure how I missed this thread. Great thread. I'm a Brown belt in jeet kune do with kali ( Philipino stick fighting)also did some bjj. Jkd uses a lot of wing Chun kung fu and traditional boxing so as a female it helped me spar against much bigger and stronger males.  I had a car crash and seriously damaged my neck and back and the surgeons said the fact I was so fit from martial arts helped me recover nerve function. Obviously with the injury I cannot do my martial art any longer as it was full contact however as you say,  to learn some basic moves and drill them over and over gives you a muscle memory that doesn't go away. With your arm injury I'd seriously look a muay thai or taekwondo which use more leg power than the kung fus or karates. There's you tube for jkd but you really need a very good tutor and I don't know one in Leeds.

 

Have you read Bruce Lee's 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do' book? Reading your post reminded me I have a copy to download ...

 

[Click imageor use link below]

 

 

https://webtrek.co.uk/ebooks/JKD.pdf

 

 

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by webtrekker
Fixed link url

[kj35]

20 minutes ago, webtrekker said:

 

Have you read Bruce Lee's 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do' book? Reading your post reminded me I have a copy to download ...

 

[Click imageor use link below]

 

 

https://webtrek.co.uk/ebooks/JKD.pdf

 

 

 

I have, yes. He had a whole philosophy and was quite the teacher.

[TheConsultant]

1 hour ago, webtrekker said:

 

Have you read Bruce Lee's 'Tao of Jeet Kune Do' book? Reading your post reminded me I have a copy to download ...

 

[Click imageor use link below]

 

 

https://webtrek.co.uk/ebooks/JKD.pdf

 

 

 

Dude, seriously!? were you born badass or does it come with age?