Martial Arts

**Proinsias** · 01-02-2009, 04:17 PM

Just curious if there are any other martial artists about and what it is you do.

I started off in Shotokan Karate at a young age then fell in love with a Wing Chun class at 14 and have been a lazy, on-off student for about 12 years. I had the good fortune to work around the corner from my instructor for around six months over the summer which resulted in a huge amount of free private training in a back alley which would have otherwise bankrupted me

Due to university and evening work my training has been rather scarce recently. I have a wooden dummy and a partially interested friend to help me through the slow times.

I've long since abandoned self defense as the driving force behind my love of the martial arts. I don't cope well with the gym and I've never got around to properly learning chess or Go, martial arts is a nice middle ground for me. I was of the opinion I should learn the full Wing Chun system thoroughly before jumping into something else but recently I've been feeling the need to experiment further. I tried out a few Aikido lessons and was rather taken, it seemed like many of the same principles of Wing Chun only applied in a completely different way - in grossly simple terms it was straight lines versus circles. The more I move away from the idea that I'm learning it to beat people up the more I'm tentatively taking steps towards finding a decent Tai Chi or Ba Gua class.

I do think it's set the mold for a lot of the other obsessions that I've gathered through the years. I had a revelation about 5 years ago when I found out you could kung fu tea and more recently I found out it's possible to kung fu my stubble!, in a sort of round about way.

Not sure if this should be in the Barbershop or here but as I equate it, like tea and shaving, as one of the finer things in life I thought I'd opt for here.

**olps** · 01-02-2009, 04:35 PM

Well, when I was young I took karate for a very short time; it was fun and I've wanted to try martial arts since. I think tai chi interests me, anyone here have experience with it? (would I be the only one under 30 practicing it?) All I remember from the time I took the classes at the community centre was the discipline and structure, which is probably the most useful aspect i could have retained.

**kenpojay** · 01-02-2009, 04:38 PM

I've been involved with martial arts for about 12 years now, having blackbelts in Muay Tai, Tae kwon Do, and American Karate. I also rank in Kenpo and Jiujitsu. I just can't get enough of it. The mixture of culture, strategy, and psysicality really keep me interested. I enjoy the fact that you will never know it all, and if you want you'll spend your life chasing more knowledge. I'd think that ther'd be more martial arts minded folk into wet shaving. The idea of applying a learned skill that takes discpline and patience to gain success would be very appealing to martial artists.

**jsarche** · 01-02-2009, 04:48 PM

I started playing judo (my first time ever working at a martial art) at about age 36 and within about three years worked my way to a brown belt and to a much, much leaner and stronger body.

I competed in a few local tournaments and did pretty well. But I also found myself in physical therapy -- twice -- for the first time in my life for sports-related injuries.

I love the sport. (Note I don't use the past tense.) It's like taking the strategic skills required in chess, the strength needed for wrestling and the versatility and imagination required in origami and wrapping them all up in one big intellectually and physically demanding package. And it teaches willing learners wonderful lessons in respect for themselves, opponents and elders and in self-discipline.

When I stopped playing about a year ago, it was because my then-39-year-old body just couldn't take it any more. I now scratch the competition itch with masters swimming.

Luckily, my injuries were fairly minor, but I still get pangs from some of them. My one regret is that I didn't start judo when I was a kid.

I would recommend studying a martial art for anybody -- but make sure you choose the right dojo. You don't want one that will whip you through the ranks just because it makes money each time you test for a new belt. Look for one that takes the time to make sure students progress when they've proved they're ready, not just by writing another check.

**Proinsias** · 01-02-2009, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by jsarche

I would recommend studying a martial art for anybody -- but make sure you choose the right dojo. You don't want one that will whip you through the ranks just because it makes money each time you test for a new belt. Look for one that takes the time to make sure students progress when they've proved they're ready, not just by writing another check.

By that meter I think I picked the right class. After getting to brown belt in Karate at a young age I realised belts don't mean too much in some schools. After 12 years of Wing Chun I've still not been for a grading, I'm enjoying progressing through it at my own pace. My instructor has told me that if I ever wanted to pursue teaching then I need to knuckle down and go through the grading system but aside from that it's rather a moot point. Or as he put it: 'better to win as a white belt than lose as a black belt'.

**netsurfr** · 01-02-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by Proinsias

I had a revelation about 5 years ago when I found out you could kung fu tea and more recently I found out it's possible to kung fu my stubble!, in a sort of round about way.

Nothing better than a nice relaxing kung fu session with your yixing pot and pu-erh tea followed by a little sword play with an ultra sharp straight razor on your face. The tea session allows you to achieve a zen state so that you can be one with your straight razor and your face.

And, I wrote all of that without any emoticons.

**Proinsias** · 01-02-2009, 06:01 PM

I also love whiskey but gong fu cha seems to work better than whiskey as a pre shave routine.

**General Burnside** · 01-02-2009, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by olps

Well, when I was young I took karate for a very short time; it was fun and I've wanted to try martial arts since. I think tai chi interests me, anyone here have experience with it? (would I be the only one under 30 practicing it?) All I remember from the time I took the classes at the community centre was the discipline and structure, which is probably the most useful aspect i could have retained.

You'd be the only one under 70 practicing it.

GB

**Proinsias** · 01-02-2009, 06:32 PM

You may be a spring chicken in the class but I doubt that most would be over seventy.

**kmarriner** · 01-02-2009, 11:43 PM

I started doing Aikido and loved it but had to stop practicing due to work conflicting with dojo times. Then I moved jobs and finally was able to go but before I got a chance I had my accident and due to the contact involved I don't think I will ever be able to return, but I'd love to it was amazing.

**Kiel** · 01-03-2009, 12:20 AM

I've been boxing for MBA (my city's boxing academy) for coming-up 6 years now :D

Not quite martial arts though. Great thread!

**Oxi** · 01-03-2009, 12:57 AM

I have practiced Shaolin Kempo for 7 years, but due to the workload of my study I had to give up the weekly training. And unfortunatly I haven't done much with it since, which is almost 2.5 years ago. I do hold the brown belt with one red stripe (third Kyu), but I know I'm not as good as I used to be.

I took the training serious, although I knew I wouldn't compete in any competition. It's just for fun and to improve myself. I used to bang into chairs, tables and doors while walking. Never found out why, because there isn't anything wrong with me. But soon after I started training I discovered I didn't walk against everything, my balance improved and I breathed better! Martial Arts are great, and not just for your fighting/defensive skills.

Highly recommended for just about anyone. But be carefull in the sport and dojo you choose. Shaolin Kempo is full contact, but my dojo wasn't for the die hards or else I wouldn't have stuck with it for 7 years.

**King of Kailua** · 01-03-2009, 01:54 AM

10 years Aikido with Ki. Busted my knee shooting hills with my skateboard, so I'm 86'd from the flipping arts. I miss it a lot. My gi and belt still greet me in my closet daily.

**Dharion** · 01-03-2009, 02:09 AM

Had the chance of training a little Taekwondo when I was 10. I liked it but the Dojang moved and so it became impossible for me to continue. Maybe one time I'll pick it up again.

**Spacegeezer** · 01-03-2009, 02:33 AM

I did a little bit of Tai Chi. I was one of perhaps three people under, well, let's say 65 in the class. However, it scales to your abilities, and can still be a very effective workout if you focus on your form. There are some schools which have fast cycles, too.

I've also done some stick fighting (eskrima). That's pretty neat too, it's interesting how you learn to think quicker after a couple months of that. I've been tossing around the idea of learning some Hapkido lately, along with more Tai Chi.

**profsaffel** · 01-03-2009, 05:27 AM

I took a mere year of Tae Kwon Do (didn't like how my knees felt after all those snapping kicks). I also dabbled in Brazilian Jujitsu and Tai Chi.

**citizensoldierny** · 01-03-2009, 05:52 AM

Started out like most martial artists in New England in my age group (36) in Tae Kwon Do as the popularity of it at the art made for a studio in just about every neighborhood. Instructor was much more about defense than sport but also very much about the discipline also which my parents loved. Did this for a year or two then nothing till I was about 18, when I discovered Aikido. Gave Aikido a year or two and really liked the philosophy , my buying into kept me out of a bunch of trouble and the art gave me a good base for Jiu-Jitsu when I got into that in my mid-late 20's. I did the stand up variety of Jiu-Jitsu which the instructor billed as a very traditiona style but in reality was more of a Kenpo jiu-jitsu but that was o.k. as the instructor was an ex-cop and taught at the academy and had a hell of lot of knowledge to impart, even if he wasn't really selling what he marketing , intentioally or otherwise. My latest martial arts experience though has been modern army combatives. Not all that in favor of the whole ground based approach it takes at the lower levels but love the mindset and the chokes and submissions.

**ouch** · 01-03-2009, 06:48 AM

I took a bit of Wing Chun back in the 70's from a guy named Moy Yat. He was a student of Yip Man, who was pretty well known in the field. Boy, do I wish I kept that up. A little Goju in the 80's until my knees started to give out. Great fun, and a terrific way to get in shape.

**Proinsias** · 01-03-2009, 07:58 AM

My cousin is just back from 4 weeks in Hong Kong and Canton training with various Yip Man branch instructors, they were on TV doing the first form!

Unfortunately he lives to far away for it to be of much use to me leeching stuff from him.

**Zonian** · 01-03-2009, 08:15 AM

I have been studying Judo seriously for over 25 years now and agree with jsarche on its physical fitness benefits.

Originally Posted by jsarche

I started playing judo (my first time ever working at a martial art) at about age 36 and within about three years worked my way to a brown belt and to a much, much leaner and stronger body.

I too started learning the sport of Judo and competed for many years before meeting "Dusty" Moore. He taught me the art of Judo and after 18 years of competing it was not easy to make the switch. Once I began to embrace the art completely I slowly stop competing. My last tournament was in 2001. I still enjoy watching it and keeping up with the latest goings on with the sport but am focused on learning as much as I can about the art and maximizing the efficiency of my techniques.

I always tell anyone interested in studying a new art to seriously consider Judo. If the person is competitive then sport Judo is usually very appealing but I always suggest trying to find a traditional dojo that teaches the art of Judo especially for people who may not be that interested in competing or are above the age of 35 or so.