I am thinking of doing a Martial Art

[thecoolnessrune]

The Kumatay.

 

[JS80]

Ninja.

 

[videogames101]

This

 

[Terzo]

I recommend you check out www.bullshido.net
You'll want to clarify your desires though. If you want to be able to beat the shit out of some one, say it straight out; don't say "self-defense" (in which case the best method of defending yourself is not getting into trouble in the first place).
There's also a heavy emphasis on hard sparring. Be wary of "McDojos" which limit you to practicing kata or forms. The best way to learn is by getting the shit beat out of you.
Of course, that's assuming you want to be handy in fisticuffs.
If you just want some good exercise or to look cool, that's fine too. Just be sure to let 'em know.

 

[oddyager]

I highly recommend building up an unbelievable amount of rage inside of you. Then you flee your home city and go live among the criminal underworld. After a few years you'll develop some basic street fighting skills and some smarts and then you can go kick some ass in a prison. Surely you'll be recruited by a ninja sect there.

 

[DeliciousTacos]

Originally posted by: oddyager
I highly recommend building up an unbelievable amount of rage inside of you. Then you flee your home city and go live among the criminal underworld. After a few years you'll develop some basic street fighting skills and some smarts and then you can go kick some ass in a prison. Surely you'll be recruited by a ninja sect there.

Awesome, but way too much work...all you really need is this.
http://i269.photobucket.com/al...48/enjost/cb5f088b.jpg

 

[ZippyDan]

Originally posted by: MBrown
What is the most potent or deadliest form. I am mostly doing it for fun exercise.

MMA + krav maga

MMA basically = BJJ (brazilian jiu jitsu), Muay Thai, and Boxing combined

 

[Vehemence]

Piratese

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: MBrown
What is the most potent or deadliest form. I am mostly doing it for fun exercise.

why do you need to be potent and deadly if you're only doing it for exercise?

 

[Synomenon]

Go to China and train with a Shaolin monk.

 

[JulesMaximus]

What is the most potent/deadliest?

The one that you suck at the most?

 

[Xylitol]

this

 

[joesmoke]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: joesmoke

Originally posted by: rh71
how much bruising / broken bones should one expect from doing it? I know it's inherent with some contact sports and I've taken my lumps... anyone with actual experience in some martial arts?

I've taken a year of Jeet Kune Do. Had to spar at the end of the first class, so the "contact" aspect was worked from the beginning. Used 16 oz gloves, mouthpieces, and street clothes. Mostly just bruised shins from bone on bone contact... took a kick to the face once though and my nose bled.

Couldn't see any kind of good teacher allowing bones to be broken.

I was actually looking into JKD years back but the schools are limited and a bit far for after-work attending. How is it, generally speaking... because I know it's not a specific style being taught - how is such a program run? Feel free to PM... would love to know.

Figured Id just reply here. I absolutely loved it. You fight strong side forward... uses mostly western boxing style punches/various kicks along with centerline theory from wing chun and footwork from fencing. Emphasis on things like generating power without telegraphing, economy of motion, and intercepting opponents attacks with an attack of your own (theres more than that though...). The guy I learned from was very practical with the training (it was in dude's backyard)... lots of sparring, applying skills against a real moving person who's trying to hit you instead of a bag.

You are right though, finding a good teacher is important and difficult. I lived in San Bernardino for a year and happened to live right up the freeway from a group that had been doing it for a while. Unfortunately since leaving I haven't been able to find anything in my area.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: joesmoke

Originally posted by: rh71
how much bruising / broken bones should one expect from doing it? I know it's inherent with some contact sports and I've taken my lumps... anyone with actual experience in some martial arts?

I've taken a year of Jeet Kune Do. Had to spar at the end of the first class, so the "contact" aspect was worked from the beginning. Used 16 oz gloves, mouthpieces, and street clothes. Mostly just bruised shins from bone on bone contact... took a kick to the face once though and my nose bled.

Couldn't see any kind of good teacher allowing bones to be broken.

I don't see any kind of good teaching when you're sparing and making contact during the first class. What's the point of doing that? Students have neither skills nor control at that point. There's no point to physical sparring for weeks, even months, other than to make the class more attractive to the people who simply want to fight.

 

[joesmoke]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: joesmoke

Originally posted by: rh71
how much bruising / broken bones should one expect from doing it? I know it's inherent with some contact sports and I've taken my lumps... anyone with actual experience in some martial arts?

I've taken a year of Jeet Kune Do. Had to spar at the end of the first class, so the "contact" aspect was worked from the beginning. Used 16 oz gloves, mouthpieces, and street clothes. Mostly just bruised shins from bone on bone contact... took a kick to the face once though and my nose bled.

Couldn't see any kind of good teacher allowing bones to be broken.

I don't see any kind of good teaching when you're sparing and making contact during the first class. What's the point of doing that? Students have neither skills nor control at that point. There's no point to physical sparring for weeks, even months, other than to make the class more attractive to the people who simply want to fight.

Err... I read my post again and it sounds like i got the bruises and whatnot on the first night. I didn't. The first class I was shown basic footwork and the lead straight punch. The sparring was just using these two aspects.

As far as sparring on the first class, I disagree. I found working the things I was learning against a real person who was both trying to avoid them and use them back at me was very effective (if that made any sense). It also gets you used to the feeling of being hit, it can be disorienting if you've never really been hit before. I can definitely see how not everyone would enjoy this... it just seemed to speed up the learning process.