What Martial Arts are you into?

Howdy all.

Martial Arts are kind of a curiosity of mine. And being a curiosity, I am naturally curious as to what everyone elses take on them are. Anybody have anything they want to share?

 

After nearly a year my reaction to things has improved dramatically. I'm a lot faster, but also a lot more controlled and aware both of other's movements as well as my own. The only advice I could really give is don't go to some place that has 7 year olds sporting a black belt after just 2 years.

 

Do y'all have a particular discipline y'all prefer?

 

Kempo for me.
Edit: Kempo is what I study, runfu is what I practice. The moto of Runfu is "run, run away to run another day. But if you corner me you might find I am more than you can handle

 

Martial arts or Axes? AxesAreBetter

 

I generally do HEMA, Historical European Martial Arts. Mostly hitting things with axes, spears, and sword, but I do a little bit of grappling and empty hand. With my Living History persona, I also study Highland Broadsword and Tomahawk. Just my .02 dollars. And I love me some battle ax.

 

There is more to karate than just the ability to defend ones self, family and/or property. I studied Isshin-Ryu Karate as a child and i have to contribute my discipline and calm thought process during excited situations to this training. Isshin-Ryu is was developed much like Krav Maga and JuJitsu. Developed in the 1950's from a japanese Master who developed techniques to take someone out in most cases with one move and we were taught that we could kill someone with one move. (i always thought about this when responding to a threat and chose moves less lethal) It also gets into close quarter self defense in the event that an attacker does get you within arms reach. I have had to use this on very few occasions and i almost regretted my response do to the damage done but i gave him a chance to back down but when sucker punched immediately release a series of programmed moves that resulted in broken bones, blood and his regret to attack. needless to say word got around school pretty quickly and i didn't have another problem that i did not start. however the older i get, the more I seem to think about the things that i was taught. It is hard to find an Isshin-Ryu Dojo close by. Both Isshin-Ryu and Krav Maga are both an hour away. I don't have anything against Tang Soo Do or Tae Kwon Do other than the conservative approach to self defense (no expert just my opinion).

Commando Krav Maga - Israeli based Martial Arts | Home
Order Of Isshin Ryu
World Taekwondo Federation - Official Site
Tang Soo Do World

 

I studied TaeKwonDo in the ATA (American TaeKwonDo Association). When I started, it was a good school in my opinion. When I left, as a 3rd Degree Black Belt, Certified Instuctor, head instructor of my school (was not the owner sadly) the ATA became nothing more than another "Belt Factory".

After the founding Grand Master passed away, in my opinion, the organization went from teaching a martial art and generating competent students to an organization that just cared about getting you to the next belt, selling you the next package and getting more money from you. Though when you ask the instructors about that they don't see it that way. But when you promote students to the next rank based on the number of classes they attended and what "package" they have purchased - it IS a belt factory.

For my BB testing, I had to know all lower forms (kata's), one-steps (choreographed sparring), demonstrate my sparring, and much, much more. It was a TEST. Now, if you attend enough classes you'll get the BB regardless of your ability.

 

My biggest issue is there are NO dojo nearby. The nearest HEMA people to me are 4 hours. It sucks. Trying to start something more local.

 

Shotokan Karate, judo, sword and shield, fencing, staff, Florentine swords, sword and buckler, some cane work. archer/hunter, and I throw just about anything with a pointy end.

 

Mine is primarily Tae Kwan Do but he also has us study and work on other stuff primarily for sparring, like Ju Jitsu, Hapkido, Muy Thai, and even a little Krav Maga. And also traditional boxing. For belt tests we have to do all the TKD stuff, plus whatever we've learned from the other disciplines (I always forget the Hapkido crap) plus 3 minutes in the ring and you have to be able to fake him out while you're in there, no spending the whole 3 minutes just blocking and avoiding getting hit. I've been working on a Wushu back sweep for my next belt test spar, he never gonna suspect that one coming heh.

 

Most recently, Shotokan, with a heavy emphasis on weapons. Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, and Jiujitsu, in past years.

 

Ishootuass

 

Hakko-ryu Jujitsu.. as well as fencing in the round, throwing axes and Bowie knives and a Black belt in shotgun and the manual of arms for a colt 1911