[Ricky Meehan]

You're not gonna leave yourself exposed doing either, but you can be brought up on charges depending on what you do, not to mention possibly exposing yourself to pathogens if you bite.

If you're an experienced grappler, you have a lot of weapons at your disposal. I've seen non-grappler blackbelts get wrecked by even blue belt grapplers, because all that kicking, punching and fancy wrist locks and throws go out the window when you're in a grappler's grasp. It's actually the highlight of the first few UFC events, where grappling just dominated.

Highly recommended viewing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A6jQulFXN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhTo7xErnnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjK0g-cDJI4 (this is pretty much what happened in the early UFCs, before jiu jitsu became an integral part of every MMA fighter's repertoire)

That's exactly what I'm saying. So when you try to gouge someone's eyes out, you extend your arm for an "extended" period of time, thus exposing yourself to be draw in by a grappler or let someone who is experienced in wrist manipulating techniques (for lack of a better term) such as judo or aikido.. Neither is a good situation to be in. However, this may not be a problem when you're a grappler yourself. And I'm pretty sure that when you bite, you expose the back of your head, though that may depend on where you bite. Nice vids though.

[Reanan-Marie Olsen]

That's exactly what I'm saying. So when you try to gouge someone's eyes out, you extend your arm for an "extended" period of time, thus exposing yourself to be draw in by a grappler or let someone who is experienced in wrist manipulating techniques (for lack of a better term) such as judo or aikido.. Neither is a good situation to be in. However, this may not be a problem when you're a grappler yourself. And I'm pretty sure that when you bite, you expose the back of your head, though that may depend on where you bite. Nice vids though.

Jamming a thumb or finger in someones eye takes a fraction of a second I would not discard it as an effective technique.
I am a huge fan of jujitsu as it is an extreamly effective style against a single opponent. On the other side I have broken a couple of fingers in a quick backwards snap that I believe would remove any hold but have not found volunteers to test it on.

A good martial artist will have to know a mixture of grappling and striking skills.

[Nikki Hype]

Jamming a thumb or finger in someones eye takes a fraction of a second I would not discard it as an effective technique.
I am a huge fan of jujitsu as it is an extreamly effective style against a single opponent. On the other side I have broken a couple of fingers in a quick backwards snap that I believe would remove any hold but have not found volunteers to test it on.

A good martial artist will have to know a mixture of grappling and striking skills.

I agree with you on ju-jitsu, it's very effective against one person at a time (hence great in MMA and any normal fighting competition) however, you have a real hard time going up against two. I recently heard of a technique called brawl-and-sprawl that is utilized by strikers to avoid getting taken down by wrestlers/grapplers. Here is a link to it, it would be hard to explain; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KviIkLyHTQ

I also agree on the mixed styles, I plan to continue with Aikido and then go into Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and Muay Thai (always admired it greatly )

[Kelly Tomlinson]

Peace, i answered your question in the other thread but i'd thought we'd continue here...

I see we do have similar ways, as i've said in the other thread i study aikido and notice here that you do as well....you dont study the spiritual/philosophical side? I think learning only the physical forms makes you miss out on the true "art" of any marial arts. I read the art of peace, the teachings of osensei are like words of wisdom that keep me centered while studying the techniques...

My 1st lessons were not physical at all...

[Dean Ashcroft]

Peace, i answered your question in the other thread but i'd thought we'd continue here...

I see we do have similar ways, as i've said in the other thread i study aikido and notice here that you do as well....you dont study the spiritual/philosophical side? I think learning only the physical forms makes you miss out on the true "art" of any marial arts. I read the art of peace, the teachings of osensei are like words of wisdom that keep me centered while studying the techniques...

My 1st lessons were not physical at all...

I would like to get immersed in it and achieve Budo, but unfortunately I don't have the chance to practice things like tea ceremonies, sword-making and calligraphy. I actually study at a dojo where there is more emphasis on the physical side, and it was pretty hands-on from day one. The Japanese Community Centre where I practice at also has Iaido, this was my first choice but I could not afford a sword so I went with Aikido. Iaido is still in my future plans though. Do you enjoy it? I heard it is as good as a form of meditation.

[Kelly James]

I would like to get immersed in it and achieve Budo, but unfortunately I don't have the chance to practice things like tea ceremonies, sword-making and calligraphy. I actually study at a dojo where there is more emphasis on the physical side, and it was pretty hands-on from day one. The Japanese Community Centre where I practice at also has Iaido, this was my first choice but I could not afford a sword so I went with Aikido. Iaido is still in my future plans though. Do you enjoy it? I heard it is as good as a form of meditation.

Ha i dont have the time for tea ceremonies and all that either but i do try to have tea time once a day and usually read during it...a basterdized system of their beliefs ha but i follow my own path and beliefs. As for meditation, my life is too hectic and my mind isnt in the right place for that. I've tried to learn the ways of chi by studying qi gong (chi kung) but an experience i had made me realize im not ready for that yet...

Like you i focus mainly on the physical but reading teachings of old masters doesnt hurt anything but it does create more questions...the more i read, the less i understood what i thought i knew as i read teachings/philosophy of all forms. I now understand why genius and insanity go hand in hand

So how long have you studied and what have you learned? Iaido should be learned with a bokken first but your school might teach differently...they dont have blunt training swords or bokken to lend? Cutting mats should come much later so you wont need a edged blade

I think i will save the peaceful ways of enligjtenment for old age, im too much of a warrior spirit to turn the other cheek like jesus..if someone slaps me i will slap them back

[Hazel Sian ogden]

I really want to start again with Wing Tsung (or some other martial arts, if you can convience me that it's better than wing tsung, I will go for it), but I'm still kinda afraid of the training, because the advlt groups are very advanced and would beat the hell out of me. I currently work out to decrease my disadvantage.

[Prue]

Ha i dont have the time for tea ceremonies and all that either but i do try to have tea time once a day and usually read during it...a basterdized system of their beliefs ha but i follow my own path and beliefs. As for meditation, my life is too hectic and my mind isnt in the right place for that. I've tried to learn the ways of chi by studying qi gong (chi kung) but an experience i had made me realize im not ready for that yet...

Like you i focus mainly on the physical but reading teachings of old masters doesnt hurt anything but it does create more questions...the more i read, the less i understood what i thought i knew as i read teachings/philosophy of all forms. I now understand why genius and insanity go hand in hand

So how long have you studied and what have you learned? Iaido should be learned with a bokken first but your school might teach differently...they dont have blunt training swords or bokken to lend? Cutting mats should come much later so you wont need a edged blade

I think i will save the peaceful ways of enligjtenment for old age, im too much of a warrior spirit to turn the other cheek like jesus..if someone slaps me i will slap them back

The dojo I was going to go to, gives you a bokken for the first few classes but really encourages you to get an iaito as soon a possible. I think we're talking about different forms of iaido here since, the only thing they cut is oxygen. It's just practicing katas and aiming for perfection and I suppose that's why it's like meditation. As for books, I like to read books like Sun Tzu's Art of War, Hagakure (Shadow of the Leaves) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. Hope to get them on Amazon soon.

[Mistress trades Melissa]

I really want to start again with Wing Tsung (or some other martial arts, if you can convience me that it's better than wing tsung, I will go for it), but I'm still kinda afraid of the training, because the advlt groups are very advanced and would beat the hell out of me. I currently work out to decrease my disadvantage.

I don't know much about Wing Tsung (didn't know it had violent training). I am currently also fascinated by Muay Thai and Ju-Jitsu and I want to start that in a year or two (provided I find a school). It's harsh punishment but it looks fun, and I'm also kind of used to taking hits because of rugby. I'd recommend you try Aikido or Judo as well, as they aren't too physically punishing.

[Wayne Cole]

I don't know much about Wing Tsung (didn't know it had violent training). I am currently also fascinated by Muay Thai and Ju-Jitsu and I want to start that in a year or two (provided I find a school). It's harsh punishment but it looks fun, and I'm also kind of used to taking hits because of rugby. I'd recommend you try Aikido or Judo as well, as they aren't too physically punishing.

Maybe it sounded harsher than it actually is. I don't know the correct terms in english, but there are some techniques you can't really pull softly on someone. I only was in the kids group, never in the advlt. But my father had some blue marks after the training and he was pretty good.

[Lauren Dale]

The dojo I was going to go to, gives you a bokken for the first few classes but really encourages you to get an iaito as soon a possible. I think we're talking about different forms of iaido here since, the only thing they cut is oxygen. It's just practicing katas and aiming for perfection and I suppose that's why it's like meditation. As for books, I like to read books like Sun Tzu's Art of War, Hagakure (Shadow of the Leaves) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo and The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. Hope to get them on Amazon soon.

True, i've read those books and you'll see that musashi was a warrior in youth but became very philosophical and peaceful in his elder years...the same applies to ueshiba, thats why im saving much of the peace and art for later and focusing on the martial side of martial arts. I'm absorbing what is useful to me and discarding what is not...i eventually hope to unravel the mysteries of chi and enlightenment because i've witnessed the power of the life force and its amazing...

[Emma Louise Adams]

Maybe it sounded harsher than it actually is. I don't know the correct terms in english, but there are some techniques you can't really pull softly on someone. I only was in the kids group, never in the advlt. But my father had some blue marks after the training and he was pretty good.

all forms of martial arts have hard aspects of training...even aikido which isnt aggressive is rough on the wrists and is painful to learn how to fall right when your partner "sends you on your way"

Isnt wing tsun a form of wing chun? If so do you practice "sticky hands"?

[Blaine]

all forms of martial arts have hard aspects of training...even aikido which isnt aggressive is rough on the wrists and is painful to learn how to fall right when your partner "sends you on your way"

Some are harder than others though. For example it's not recommended to practice Krav Maga without safety padding.

[Flash]

Some are harder than others though. For example it's not recommended to practice Krav Maga without safety padding.

ha true or real muay thai....i imagine 1 of the hardest things to learn is the iron forms of kung fu, especially "iron crotch". If your chi isnt strong and focused, getting blasted in the balls will probably be the most painful training of them all

[Bek Rideout]

I'm thinking of learning a martial art, but I don't really know what to take, any advice?

I'm not really fit so I could do with something that would get me in shape, and something that is good for self defence without killing or seriously harming someone. Has to be available in Liverpool.

[Assumptah George]

I'm thinking of learning a martial art, but I don't really know what to take, any advice?

I'm not really fit so I could do with something that would get me in shape, and something that is good for self defence without killing or seriously harming someone. Has to be available in Liverpool.

You can always find a good karate club. It fits all those descriptions. But be careful, avoid any clubs that train children as it will probably be good for nothing (you'll be dishing out cash to play tag with kids). I'd recommend judo or aikido as well but those won't get you fit. If you're flexible, you may want to give Teakwondo a try but I'd urge you no to.

[Kellymarie Heppell]

You can always find a good karate club. It fits all those descriptions. But be careful, avoid any clubs that train children as it will probably be good for nothing (you'll be dishing out cash to play tag with kids). I'd recommend judo or aikido as well but those won't get you fit. If you're flexible, you may want to give Teakwondo a try but I'd urge you no to.

I don't know what age range I would fit into, I'm 15, but I know what you're saying about playing tag with kiddies (my old Kung Fu club was like that). I have tried Tae Kwon Do but it wasn't really my thing. Karate sounds ok, I'll look around.

[Amy Smith]

I don't know what age range I would fit into, I'm 15, but I know what you're saying about playing tag with kiddies (my old Kung Fu club was like that). I have tried Tae Kwon Do but it wasn't really my thing. Karate sounds ok, I'll look around.

Yeah, it's a nice all-round martial art, a good base for going into other things later (I went up to green belt myself). Also pretty effective in itself, though I'll never understand why they don't punch to the head.

[Yama Pi]

Does Karate put any emphasis on grappling or is it just striking?

[Jack Bryan]

Does Karate put any emphasis on grappling or is it just striking?

Well what I did was almost exclusively striking. Punches specifically, they also use low kicks but none of the fancy footwork of Taekwondo.

[Adriana Lenzo]

I was never a fan of Karate...it annoyed me that most of it had no real-world application to it (having said that, I was learning at 14, so it may just be that I hadn't got to the 'juicy' stuff). It also didn't really play to my strengths.

After a conversation with Exorince the other day, I signed up at the Bulldog gym, around 30 miles from where I am. I've started Kickboxing again, and taken up Muay Thai aswell. I was considering doing a 3rd course in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but if I'm doing the other two properly, I shouldn't need a ground game

I like the look of the Kwonkicker video posted on page 1 though...that guy had a nice style. Could punch much harder though if he'd just loosen up a bit

[Sarah Edmunds]

I was never a fan of Karate...it annoyed me that most of it had no real-world application to it (having said that, I was learning at 14, so it may just be that I hadn't got to the 'juicy' stuff). It also didn't really play to my strengths.

After a conversation with Exorince the other day, I signed up at the Bulldog gym, around 30 miles from where I am. I've started Kickboxing again, and taken up Muay Thai aswell. I was considering doing a 3rd course in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but if I'm doing the other two properly, I shouldn't need a ground game

I like the look of the Kwonkicker video posted on page 1 though...that guy had a nice style. Could punch much harder though if he'd just loosen up a bit

Aren't kickboxing and Muay Thai very similar? If I were you'd I'd mix it up a bit with Jujitsu but that's just me.

[April]

not really martial arts, but I read a good book on calisthenic training called "convict conditioning"

I'm currently on the 100 pushups program, using close grip pushups. Just did day 1 yesterday, but that set nearly killed me.

[Roy Harris]

not really martial arts, but I read a good book on calisthenic training called "convict conditioning" I'm currently on the 100 pushups program, using close grip pushups. Just did day 1 yesterday, but that set nearly killed me.

I checked out a site for it and just started. Cool stuff.

[Chavala]

I'm thinking of learning a martial art, but I don't really know what to take, any advice?

I'm not really fit so I could do with something that would get me in shape, and something that is good for self defence without killing or seriously harming someone. Has to be available in Liverpool.

try kickboxing, it will definitely get you in shape and teach you how to handle yourself but its not really a self defense style