How Many Martial Artists Do We Have?

[TheeGoatPig]

It comes up every once in a while, in different topics, that a few of us are martial artists. I was just wondering how many of us there are. What styles are you studying? How long have you been doing it? How much do you enjoy it? Just a general discussion on how you feela bout it all, in life, in the movies, and whatever else crosses your mind about it all.

 

[jomar]

I haven't studied any martial arts. I do like a good martial arts movie every now and then. Bruce Lee was fun. Jackie Chan is creative. Kill Bill was awesome.

 

[S-Des]

Hapkido, Tang-So-Do, & Judo in one school...Kung Foo in another. I don't watch much martial arts because of the silliness involved in it. The classic Bruce Lee stuff was awesome, but stuff like Jett Li flying around on wires is just lame. Jackie Chan is finally begging to show his age, but Drunken Master is one of the most superb demonstrations of martial arts and stunts I've ever seen. Billy Blanks was fun to watch, but there is a definite lull in the genre.

 

[rgraham666]

I did, many years ago.

I studied Shito-ryu, Wado-ryu and Hapkido.

I liked Hapkido the best. Most balanced of all the styles I studied.

I taught myself some kobudo. I still have my sai, kama and nunchucka.

 

[scriptordelecto]

It comes up every once in a while, in different topics, that a few of us are martial artists. I was just wondering how many of us there are. What styles are you studying? How long have you been doing it? How much do you enjoy it? Just a general discussion on how you feela bout it all, in life, in the movies, and whatever else crosses your mind about it all.

Haven't done anything beyond Tai Chi , but would love to get into something. Any recommendations about styles?

I find the fluid grace of martial arts beautiful. It reminds me of dance because of the muscle control you have to develop.

 

[S-Des]

Haven't done anything beyond Tai Chi , but would love to get into something. Any recommendations about styles?

I find the fluid grace of martial arts beautiful. It reminds me of dance because of the muscle control you have to develop.

Then you'd like Aikido or Hapkido. They're very circular arts (Hapkido has great pressure point techniques that are very useful). Some (Tae-Kwon-Do and Tang-Soo-Do) are about high, fancy kicks (we called them tournament arts because they wouldn't be the best in a real fight). Others are all about hand strikes and weapons (Kempo). Kung Foo is really cool and beautiful to watch.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I probably should have mentiond that I'm studying Shaolin Long Fist at the moment. Been at the same school for three and a half years now. Very fun. Very much to learn. I hope to move on to Tsing Yi, Tai Chi, and Ba Gwa someday (all taught at my school).

Right now I'm kind''ve stuck in place due to constant injuries (small stuff like pulled muscles and tendons, my body is a mess), and sickness. But I'll get back on track soon enough.

I also love the movies. Old movies with Bruce and Groden Liu (my favorite martial artist), to the new stuff with wires. I do get tired of it, but some of the more grounded action in those movies can be amazing.

For newer grounded movies? Spicy Turtle Soup/The Protector with Tony Jaa is just amaing. Jet Li also did a movie, the Master, which his zero wire work in it just to prove that he could do it. It's a silly movie, but the action is quite impressive.

Jackie Chan is amazing, and yes, finally showing his age (makes my mother happy, they are around the same age and she was jealous ).

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Haven't done anything beyond Tai Chi , but would love to get into something. Any recommendations about styles?

I find the fluid grace of martial arts beautiful. It reminds me of dance because of the muscle control you have to develop.

If you can find a school for it (very difficult in most areas), Ba Gwa (spelt a myriad of different ways) is very circular.

Shaolin has a lot of circular motions, but even for a soft style it's still very rigid.

 

[scriptordelecto]

Then you'd like Aikido or Hapkido. They're very circular arts (Hapkido has great pressure point techniques that are very useful). Some (Tae-Kwon-Do and Tang-Soo-Do) are about high, fancy kicks (we called them tournament arts because they wouldn't be the best in a real fight). Others are all about hand strikes and weapons (Kempo). Kung Foo is really cool and beautiful to watch.

Sweet! Thanks Des I'd welcome any other suggestions or input from anyone.

 

[scriptordelecto]

If you can find a school for it (very difficult in most areas), Ba Gwa (spelt a myriad of different ways) is very circular.

Shaolin has a lot of circular motions, but even for a soft style it's still very rigid.

Isn't Ba Gwa the style Jet Li (as the bad guy) used in The One?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Isn't Ba Gwa the style Jet Li (as the bad guy) used in The One?

He used two styles. Ba Gwa was one, the other was either Tai Chi or Tsing Yi, and I'[d be guessing which because I haven't seen the movie and a while and I was only told by my fellow students who practice both which it was. One of his characters used one style, and the other used the oppoiste.

 

[rgraham666]

Haven't done anything beyond Tai Chi , but would love to get into something. Any recommendations about styles?

I find the fluid grace of martial arts beautiful. It reminds me of dance because of the muscle control you have to develop.

I'll echo S-Des and say Aikido or Hapkido.

Aikido, in my opinion, is the most difficult martial art to learn. It has no offensive moves. Human beings, being essentially agressive, have a very difficult time with it.

Hapkido is also well balanced. They cover everything; punches, blocks, kicks, throws, pressure points, breaking falls (A really important thing many martial arts overlook). At higher levels they teach some weaponry, canes and staves as I recall.

 

[scriptordelecto]

He used two styles. Ba Gwa was one, the other was either Tai Chi or Tsing Yi, and I'[d be guessing which because I haven't seen the movie and a while and I was only told by my fellow students who practice both which it was. One of his characters used one style, and the other used the oppoiste.

Cool. I'm pretty sure I'd have a tough time finding a school for it around here. I live in a fairly rural area. *sigh*

 

[scriptordelecto]

I'll echo S-Des and say Aikido or Hapkido.

Aikido, in my opinion, is the most difficult martial art to learn. It has no offensive moves. Human beings, being essentially agressive, have a very difficult time with it.

Hapkido is also well balanced. They cover everything; punches, blocks, kicks, throws, pressure points, breaking falls (A really important thing many martial arts overlook). At higher levels they teach some weaponry, canes and staves as I recall.

Thanks Rob.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Cool. I'm pretty sure I'd have a tough time finding a school for it around here. I live in a fairly rural area. *sigh*

I was lucky to find my school. My sifu is one of the high masters of the art (he looks like a fit Harvey Firestein though), and it's apleasure to learn from him. Unfortunately I have to drive 45 minutes from home or work to get to classes.

 

[scriptordelecto]

I was lucky to find my school. My sifu is one of the high masters of the art (he looks like a fit Harvey Firestein though), and it's apleasure to learn from him. Unfortunately I have to drive 45 minutes from home or work to get to classes.

Sounds like it's worth it though. Thanks for the input. Maybe I'll look a bit further out. I'm about an hour from a decent sized city.

 

[rgraham666]

Thanks Rob.

Welcome Mischa.

Something to remember, practice constantly. Set aside an area at home where you can at least practice the basics. And warm up first.

When I was practicing I spent twenty minutes on calisthenics, twenty minutes on basic punches, kicks and blocks (with extra repetitions on my left side to overcome my right handedness) and twenty minutes shadow sparring. If I was up to it, and I usually was, I'd spend another twenty minutes with weaponry.

But I tend to be obsessive about things I'm interested in.

 

[scriptordelecto]

Welcome Mischa.

Something to remember, practice constantly. Set aside an area at home where you can at least practice the basics. And warm up first.

When I was practicing I spent twenty minutes on calisthenics, twenty minutes on basic punches, kicks and blocks (with extra repetitions on my left side to overcome my right handedness) and twenty minutes shadow sparring. If I was up to it, and I usually was, I'd spend another twenty minutes with weaponry.

But I tend to be obsessive about things I'm interested in.

I'm exactly the same way.

 

[R. Richard]

Haven't done anything beyond Tai Chi , but would love to get into something. Any recommendations about styles?

I find the fluid grace of martial arts beautiful. It reminds me of dance because of the muscle control you have to develop.

If you want fluidity of movement, you want the Brazilian art of capoeira. Capoeira was developed by Negro slaves and hidden within a dance. [For some unkown reason the slave masters did not want their slaves practicing a martial art.]

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Welcome Mischa.

Something to remember, practice constantly. Set aside an area at home where you can at least practice the basics. And warm up first.

When I was practicing I spent twenty minutes on calisthenics, twenty minutes on basic punches, kicks and blocks (with extra repetitions on my left side to overcome my right handedness) and twenty minutes shadow sparring. If I was up to it, and I usually was, I'd spend another twenty minutes with weaponry.

But I tend to be obsessive about things I'm interested in.

That's one of my problems. I don't have room to move at home. That's one of the reasons I went to classes four nights a week until my knees gave out. Once they heal up I'll be back at class for three or four nights again (I'll try not to overdo it this time though ).

 

[scriptordelecto]

If you want fluidity of movement, you want the Brazilian art of capoeira. Capoeira was developed by Negro slaves and hidden within a dance. [For some unkown reason the slave masters did not want their slaves practicing a martial art.]

Eddie Gordo!

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Does Tae Bo count?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Does Tae Bo count?

Not according to our other sifu. He's openly laughed at Tae Bo, calling it nothing more than exercise.

He feels the same way about almost all kickboxing.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Not according to our other sifu. He's openly laughed at Tae Bo, calling it nothing more than exercise.

He feels the same way about almost all kickboxing.

Well, the reason I used to do it, is for exercise. My ex used to laugh at it too, but more in an amused way. He has a brown belt in Yodu, so I guess he has reason to laugh.

It's excellent for muscles definition, though.

 

[S-Des]

Not according to our other sifu. He's openly laughed at Tae Bo, calling it nothing more than exercise.

He feels the same way about almost all kickboxing.

One universal truth about martial arts...the instructors are all snobs.

Tae Bo is just exercise, but it's a great way to improve your conditioning and flexibility. Besides, I'll agree to anything if it means I get to watch Vana work out.