what is your martial art?

[swissknife]

hey :spyder:fellas!

since i started out again last week in MA, i was wondering who of this great place would practice the one or other martial art.. since probably most of us also carry their :spyder: for SD use, the question is pretty close.

as a kid i did quite a few years of judo, moved on to karate for a short period and got engaged in kickboxing again. there i stayed for a couple of years too. mostly i sticked to kickboxing because of its "street credibility". personally i think, being a kickboxer has all what it needs to go through urban survival. the :spyder: still as a last ditch. in schol we could attend trainings of western fencing. that was also pretty cool, but somehow i did not do that any further. its, as iaido, not the cheapest MA, and at the time being a student.. or maybe i was just too lazy, as trainings were always quite hard!

so, last week i started of with some more japanese budo stuff. one might find this is not so "practical", but i like the perfection and attention to detail in japanese MA's. probably because that is somehow lacking with me in normal life.. :D

so iaido is my new thing. why iaido you want to ask. mhm, first its "weapon technique". i did pretty a lot of hand-to-hand stuff, so its something (almost) completely new. second, its got to do with blades! you will understand my point on this.. :D and not having the possibility to get some knivetraining, i dont mind sticking to a katana. third, the katana is a very scary weapon. being able to handel this i think is pretty amazing.

in the future i will also attend some escrima seminars. there you go with knifes..

so what about my fellow forumites? whats your thing?

[BlackNinja]

I study Jeet Kune Do. I used to train in a Dojo, but have not in years. I have practiced on my own in those years, though. As soon as my back heals, myself and my daughter will start formal training.

[Manifest]

I don't carry my :spyder: s for self-defense but I do train in Mixed Martial Arts. I started in Judo, did a little bit of MMA, stopped for about a year or so, and just started doing MMA again last month. Not for SD, but just for fun. :)

[Jimd]

I began at age sixteen, studying a style that was a mixture of the following: Judo, Shorin Ryu, Go Ju Ryu, Pai Lum, and a few others. Moved on to Hapkido for a short time. A bit of Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts was next (mostly studied this on my own and with a friend, incorporating it into my martial base).

I have also been certified instructor in all levels of my agency's Defensive Tactics program, as well as being a combat shooting instructor, riot control tactics instructor, baton instructor, chemical munitions instructor, immediate responder instructor, threat groups (gangs) instructor, tactical team member, use of restraints insctructor, and sniper/coverman.

Unfortunately, I've had to use my martial skills on the job quite a few times.

Aside from that, I haven't really done very much.

[swissknife]

I began at age sixteen, studying a style that was a mixture of the following: Judo, Shorin Ryu, Go Ju Ryu, Pai Lum, and a few others. Moved on to Hapkido for a short time. A bit of Jeet Kune Do and the Filipino Martial Arts was next (mostly studied this on my own and with a friend, incorporating it into my martial base).

I have also been certified instructor in all levels of my agency's Defensive Tactics program, as well as being a combat shooting instructor, riot control tactics instructor, baton instructor, chemical munitions instructor, immediate responder instructor, threat groups (gangs) instructor, tactical team member, use of restraints insctructor, and sniper/coverman.

Unfortunately, I've had to use my martial skills on the job quite a few times.

Aside from that, I haven't really done very much.

what are you talking about, you did, are doing, pretty much there..

and using it on your job is not the worst in some sense, is it? you would probably rather have a hard time surviving in there without your training.. so no need to be unfortunate about, we would if you wouldnt have done so!!

[Gerard Breuker]

For the last 5 years I have been doing Karate again after some 10 to 15 years without martial arts training. Added Krav Maga about 1.5 years ago and I will probably add more knife oriented training once my Krav Maga instructor becomes qualified to teach knife fighting too.
Did about 6 to 7 years of Karate before quiting because of study and work at the time and 1.5 years of Aikido before deciding I liked my wrists more.

[TazKristi]

Very interesting thread. My choice of study is Aikido. We have a wonderful dojo here called Nippon Kan (http://www.nippon-kan.org/new/whats_new.html). Gaku Homma Sensei was the last official uchideshi of O'Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of Aikido), so it's very traditional. It used to be just a Dojo, but it has expanded into a full cultural center. I haven't been able to go for quite some time, but I miss it horribly and I'm looking forward to my son and daughter training there when they are a bit older. :)

Kristi

[smcfalls13]

Unless you count sport fencing, which I personally don't consider a MA, than I have absolutely no training at all, which is pretty sad. Ironically enough that is something I decided to fix today. Before reading this thread I started researching different styles, trying to find something suitable for me(close range, more grappling as opposed to striking), but finding an instructor anywhere near my location is going to prove to be a pain.

I'll be watching this thread, for informational purposes.

[Pete1977]

I have started recently taking fencing instructions. prior to this, I took some karate when I was ten or so, and ju-jitsu in college until a sprained ankle ended that for a time, and I never got back into it.

That is it, save for some boxing lessons in the gym locker room in middle school prior to my first street fight. I was a hoodlum in my younger days :D
Pete

[swissknife]

Good post!
So, im doing four years Filipino Martial Art under leadership of Lord Of The Guntings/Master At Arms Bram Frank :cool: , www.cssdsc.com, he´s really cool guy ;)

one crazy girl, but going all the way.. :D

simona did it, now i also have to get a gunting.. :D

[WORKER#9]

I don't train in any Martial arts. I only work out 5x a week. Weights and cardio. I go road bike riding 30 to 40 miles when my back is good, my back is F***ed :mad: , That is a bicycle not a motorcycle ;) . I believe being in top physical condition is the most important of all aspects of self defense. I do train and follow Emersons programs and lately have been watching and learning the principles on his Combat Karambit DVD. I practice everyday with a Karambit. I have in the past taken classes in weaponless defense but don't have the time with my brutal work schedule. I believe strongly in training though, and if I had more time and a better work schedule I would certainly be into some sort of training. This old Dog is always willing to learn new tricks!

Simona YOU rule!

[Cameron23]

Like many who started in their teens (13 in my case, now 30) I've moved from one style to another (now BJJ). But I am a former Riddler (Riddle of Steel with Jim Keating). But I don't carry for SD ;) ...even though I usually carry 4 knives (if you count the keychain)...ah hem.... All of my steel is for utility purposes at work...officer.

Cameron

[JohnM]

Nice thread.
I did hardcore kyokushin karate from age 17-32, but after I hit the age of 30 the bruises didn't heal as quickly as before and I decided I got enough injuries so I switched to judo.
Still doing judo now at 38.

[DAYWALKER]

so, last week i started of with some more japanese budo stuff. one might find this is not so "practical", but i like the perfection and attention to detail in japanese MA's. probably because that is somehow lacking with me in normal life.. :D

so iaido is my new thing. why iaido you want to ask. mhm, first its "weapon technique". i did pretty a lot of hand-to-hand stuff, so its something (almost) completely new. second, its got to do with blades! you will understand my point on this.. :D and not having the possibility to get some knivetraining, i dont mind sticking to a katana. third, the katana is a very scary weapon. being able to handel this i think is pretty amazing.


Aloha swissknife,

Great thread. I can very much relate to the katana...one of my favorite "toys" to play with. I did a lot of empty hand stuff as well, and got very much into Kendo for a few years. We have 7 katana kata and three short sword kata, and ya need to know these (at least the katana 7) for shodan exams. Donning the Dogu was a blast into the past for sure, and for *me*, when ever I feel my hand speed, reactionary, footwork etc. lagging, I train with weapons to increase them again. It's different when there is a punch, kick, or a guy shooting in on you for a takedown as opposed to a sowrd coming at you, or a knife or stick...you WILL get the heck outta the way differently than you would against a kick or punch. I miss Kendo very much...Kendo training amplified my empty hand a great deal!!!

Dabbled in other sorts of weapons training, such as escrima/kali, tai chi sword, some Iaido...all of this was very informal. Lotsa empty hand stuff...

I try to never train in an organized fashion, like: "Okay, I do this and then you do that and then..." Nope...we "sharpen our weapons", focusing on speed and accuracy, technique of the moments, and then we go at it. We keep everything as simple as possible. Sure, we dabble in things like BJJ because it's fun, and we do "scenarios"...a co-worker of mine and I would wear catcher's masks and gloves, then we would take turns being thugs and perps, attacking as in REAL LIFE. Sometimes it can be very humbling, but like i tell the guys/gals I have trained: "Better to screw up NOW during training, than later when it is REALLY hitting the fan! There is NO shame...make your mistakes here and now, so you do not make them later, and IF you do make one later, you'll know how to get out of it."

Anyway, enjoy your Iaido, and IIRC, Wouter wears a hakama too!

God bless and take care!

[JaM]

I started with Judo and Jiu-Jitsu, but dropped Judo after a few years. When moving town, I dabbled in Pencak Silat, but I got a bad injury there (tripped over a mat, almost tore off my left big toe). After recovery I went with Hapkido, because I couldnt do Pencak at that time. After moving to another city, I started with Jiu-Jitsu again, later added Thai Boxing. After a few years I stopped with both, came back to Thai Boxing, but stopped again after a few years. Did Aikido for a year too, but it did not have too much appeal to me... It was probably the lack of "endurance work" at that moment that caused me to stop. Somwhere along the way I did a few years of Kung Fu, too.
At the moment I dont do a MA, but I might start again sometime with either Karate or some sort of MMA/Jiu-Jitsu mix. At the moment I just can not make enough time for it, it seems. But this thread makes me miss it, so perhaps I should start someday soon, again, and stick with it this time.

[spydutch]

I did Judo for about 5 years and Tae Kwon Do for 2 years.

Right now I'm doing nothing martial

[Hannibal Lecter]

Good day, all.

Ten years' experience in Chi Lin Kempo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Lin_Kempo

--------
Hannibal

[raven]

Hey All, I use a mix of various Martial Arts. Some Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics). Various Weapons training. I don't resort to just one thing while on the streets. When I instruct, it is usually PPCT. That is what our Department adopted through policy, and it is backed up through Court. While instructing for Officer Survival/Lethal Force Encounters, I instruct in various techniques depending on the situation. It is hard to just commit to one style. I remain open minded, and give my students and fellow Deputies whatever they need to survive. Take Care All.

God Bless


-raven-

[Mr Blonde]

My foundation is in Jiu Jitsu, the real stuff; ground techniques were only a third of the curriculum. I did that for about 10 years got all the bells and whistles to prove it. Our teacher was excellent in the sense that at a certain level, you paired up with a newer pupil and you helped prepare them for exams. You never learn you techniques as well as when you're teaching.

Then I started to dislike the national organization behind it and various 'ways' in which you could advance in rank. So I started to look around. Practiced Aikido for a year or two and also Iaido. The Hakama is kinda cool and somewhat of an instructional tool (you do pay attention to your movement with a big ol' frock!). I enjoyed the Iaido a lot, though in hindsight I feel we were taught Kenjutsu more than Iaido. We had lots of sparring as well, where empty hand and tantos were encouraged to challenge eachother.

I loved the formal stuff for what they were, but I took up informal training with good friends to explore weapons and practical techniques. I moved around a bit since then, and I am still looking for a new school in my area. In the mean time, whenever I visit my friends I bring my gym bag filled with sticks and drones and we go to our old Jiu Jitsu Dojo. If there's no class, we're allowed to train there. Lots of fun and very helpful, but it's hard to infuse new ideas or techniques for variations' sake alone.

Wouter

[swissknife]

that hakama is somehow.. hm, it made me laugh a little seen it the first time. pantskirt! for now i just do training in my karate-gi. but as i will continue, i might as well get one sooner or later. and an iaito too i suppose!

anyone has got recommendations on where to find a high quality iaito? here we have, but prices are pretty much around a grand or so! :eek: could be gettin a lot of :spyder: for that.

[ruxton]

I've been studying taijitsu 2-3 nights a week for about 3 years, I am currently 6th kyu. Taijitsu is a japanese art, basically a blend of karate, jujitsu, judo and aikido with some weapons thrown in for flavour.
I literally spend 60%+ of my time outside of the dojo messing around with weapons (my personal preference is nunchucks and knives but I also do a fair bit of stickwork along with swords and staffs) or practicing techniques on a heavy bag or with a friend. I have done research into lots of styles and I'm currently leaning towards the jeet kune do concept. I am going to take up another art combining escrima and vale tudo in the near future.
Like a hell of a lot of people I started MA after seeing Bruce Lee. ;)

[vampyrewolf]

lets see... some TKD, some kickboxing, greco-roman wrestling, run-fu('95-'00 in track), some baton training, reinactment training(archery, long/short swords, single or pair, shield, staff)... and learning after having my @ss handed to me(bruises teach far faster than dojo time)... speed and agility go further than brute strength.

Prefer to keep em at kicking range, but love to close in to elbows and hit the ground with em. I'll take a hit if it means digging an elbow or knee into flesh.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: While I have been training in Aikido (ASU) for the past nine years I've also been incorporating technical training I've learned from other arts into my personal skill set; Michael Janich's MBC, Silat's adhesion and wiplash theories, doce pares Eskrima's stick grappling and compression locking, wing chun's mook john drills (hit the wood!) and Steve Grody's gunting and trapping drills are some of the things I train to supplemant my Aikido training. Remember, as master Lee Jun Fan taught; "utilize all ways and be bound by none."

[zenheretic]

Let's see: as Vampyrewolf puts it "run-fu" for 8 years, then kyukushin kai style karate for 11 years (I miss that), now Shotokan karate for the past 5-6 years which is very linear which I love for its direct speed of attack but hate as it is straight and not circular enough (ying yang love hate).

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the original American martial art, the art of the handgun...done that since I was about 8. This art has really developed in the past 30 or so years, prior to that it was burdened with the art of dueling from the previous age, which really messed it up. I'm not fond of the age of dueling as it also watered down western European martial arts so much that no realizes that the Europeans were just as skilled as the Japanese in swordsmanship....Europe just forgot due to the age of the gun and dueling, while Japan stayed isolated until Meiji.

I love to read and practice from my decent sized library (been neglecting that since Spyderco came back into my focus). My oldest book was copywritten in 1904, titled "Jiu-Jitsu Combat Tricks". I'm fairly certain that Jiu-jitsu was the first Asian martial art to be widely practiced in the US. I know the cops have been using it for at least 100 years....leads up to that pressure point stuff that Raven works on.

anyone else get bummed when Simona pics don't show up...some days I have more chance of winning the lottery than seeing her stuff...which is a real bummer as you never know what sort of thong...er knife she will show.

[spydutch]

anyone else get bummed when Simona pics don't show up...some days I have more chance of winning the lottery than seeing her stuff...which is a real bummer as you never know what sort of thong...er knife she will show.

Finally, I thought I was the only one who couldn't see those beautiful pics of her :( :mad:

[JaM]

Same here :( .

@Wouter; I know what you mean, I feel the same about that organization.

[Jonny8642]

When i was young I did young olympion karate. Nice program for kids not so much when you get older. I've been studying Tae Kwon-Do for two and half years now. I realy love Tae Kwon-Do it's defenately a way of life. Once you learn the history and philosophy behind why people learn and teach the martial arts.

[Mr Blonde]

Same here :( .

@Wouter; I know what you mean, I feel the same about that organization.


Yep, the JBN is horrible if you're not interested in winning trophies or belts. Even if you just want to train actually... :D

Wouter

[speyederlover]

I've been studying Shaolin Kung Fu for the last 5 years. Many, many different weapons and animal forms along with grappling, close fighting techniques, and tai chi. A very complete style of martial arts.

[Outlaw]

The only martial art I ever "studied" :o involved using John Brownings last design. Mr. Browning patented the design in 1927, which was completed in 1935 by Dieudonne J. Saive at FN.

The Grand Puissance Model 1935 or the GP35
AKA... The Browning High Power. :cool:

[markg]

Been training in the Bujinkan for almost 9 years now...

http://www.daytonbujinkan.com/BlueAshBudo/index.html

Gad, it has been that long! I feel old... :)

[zenheretic]

Been training in the Bujinkan for almost 9 years now...

http://www.daytonbujinkan.com/BlueAshBudo/index.html

Gad, it has been that long! I feel old... :)
Man it took me a long time to figure out what art this is, the websites couldn't be more obscure. I could only really tell from the pictures. First it looked like a Sword school, then some jujitsu was thrown it, so it looked like maybe a overall samurai school, but some of other weapons started showing up and mind whispered "ninja". Then I saw Stephen K. Hayes and confirmation was attained. When it change from ninjitsu to bujinkan? :confused:

[Crafft]

At the age of 10 I studied TKD for 2 years but that was 30 yrs ago :eek:

Mountainbiking is my thing nowadays.

Further I'm very much in to sport.......watching it on the tele.... :D

[markg]

Man it took me a long time to figure out what art this is, the websites couldn't be more obscure. I could only really tell from the pictures. First it looked like a Sword school, then some jujitsu was thrown it, so it looked like maybe a overall samurai school, but some of other weapons started showing up and mind whispered "ninja". Then I saw Stephen K. Hayes and confirmation was attained. When it change from ninjitsu to bujinkan? :confused:

This article might be more informative...

http://www.tacticalselfdefense.com/Bujinkan/History/BujHisto.htm

It was always the "Bujinkan" (which means "Divine Warrior Training Hall, or Palace).

Mr. Hayes has moved on to new ventures outside of the Bujinkan. He was one of a handful of students who brought the art to the United States in the 80's. He is more "known" because of his many books he wrote on the subject. I will say that the stuff from the 80's is much more (for a lack of a better term) "ninja" than it is now. There are 9 schools in Bujinkan, two are Ninjutsu and really one of them was taught in great detail (Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu, the other being Gyokushin Ninjutsu) There other 7 are traditional Japanese martial arts linages, and some of Samurai linages also. If you look today, you will find most Bujinkan Dojo's look like normal, traditional Japanese marital arts schools. No one is mixing posion, brushing up on a blow gun or making flippers from reeds... ;)

I have often told students that the Bujinkan is like the "Old Country Buffet" of Japanese Martial Arts. There is throwing, joint manipulation, striking, ground fighting, and dizzying mulititude of weapons (however edged weapons and staff's are the most used). Keep in mind the 9 ryu-ha encompase over 1000 years of history. Each indifidual dojo and teacher might favor a certain aspect of the above... and that is to be expected.


Hope that helps

[pjrocco]

When I was younger I used to study Drunken Boxing. Although, it was just me and some friends getting drunk and putting on boxing gloves. :rolleyes:

[GrossPolluter]

Tang Soo Do, TKD, Tai Chi :)

[EarthDog]

Smith&Wesson-jitsu. ;)

[zenheretic]

Thanks Markg, hope you didn't think I was trying to be insulting or anything. It was just really weird how I couldn't figure out what it was from the initial links you gave. (I don't speak Japanese after all and none of the terms were familiar.) Seems like the websites would be more useful if they just included a bit of your paragraph...Something like "We study joint locks/throws/ground work/weapons/strikes,punches,kicks"...something like that so people surfing know what to expect if they sign up. My 2 cents.

Sounds like a fun place to study. I wouldn't mind more joint locks/throws/ ground stuff in my school.

[markg]

Thanks Markg, hope you didn't think I was trying to be insulting or anything. It was just really weird how I couldn't figure out what it was from the initial links you gave. (I don't speak Japanese after all and none of the terms were familiar.) Seems like the websites would be more useful if they just included a bit of your paragraph...Something like "We study joint locks/throws/ground work/weapons/strikes,punches,kicks"...something like that so people surfing know what to expect if they sign up. My 2 cents.

Sounds like a fun place to study. I wouldn't mind more joint locks/throws/ ground stuff in my school.

Not sure if you also checked out our "parent site" (www.daytonbujinkan.com). It used to have a page with more info like you were looking for. However I think it might have changed, and it might be missing too. I will talk to my teacher about it, as I can see your point. :)

[dialex]

I see many people here started with judo, and I'm no exception. I started when I was 16, with modest results. I guess now what I wanted was not to learn judo, but to become strong, that's why I spent the most of the time in the dojo lifting weights :eek:. The victories I had were not because of my technique, but because of my strength. However, when I was in the army, I realized how important speed and balance is, so when I started again, I focused on the technique rather than strength.
Unfortunately, there are more than 10 years since I didn't go to a dojo (boy, how I miss the dojo sometimes). Now I am practicing a little Taijiquan, you can do it anytime, anywhere, and it is very relaxing for a 40 yrs. old fart like me. ;)

[navman]

Not really a martial art, more common sense martial training..Krav Maga, and none of that "Kardio Krav" krap that has become so popular. Also a few others that don't fall under the martial art title.

However, in the past I was a dedicated Shuri Ryu practitioner for years.