Starting a martial art

[IronMonkey]

I'm 21 and relatively fit, but I haven't done any martial arts before. I want to start a martial art that's very effective at street fighting. Obviously I would like it to look good if possible but this isn't my main consideration. I'm finishing university and want to go to China or Japan for a year to practise. I'm 5'7 and have a malaysian mother so I'm slim but wiry. I'm thinking standard jui jitsu looks good but it hardly ever gets mentioned.

But, when I come back I'd love to make my own martial arts movies in a Jackie Chan sort of style (like in Young Master). Would JJ be good for that too or is there something else you reccomend?

thanks guys.

[Andy Pandy]

I can't tell you much about Jui Jitsu... but I think you would want to have more than a years practice in any martial art.

If all you want is to be a hard b*stad in a hurry then I would sugest Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) or Kick Boxing as they are more physicaly oriented than martial arts skill, however, to be GOOD good (if you know what I mean) you would need much more than a years practice... sure, with a years worth of Muay Thai training (if you are devote to it!) you could probably paste the sort of people that are likely to start a street brawl, but if you come across someone who has studied martial arts for a long time you may be in trouble...

[YODA]

Originally posted by IronMonkey
I'm 21 and relatively fit, but I haven't done any martial arts before. I want to start a martial art that's very effective at street fighting.

Why? Are you planning on fighting in streets a lot? I'd suggest you pick something that you enjoy and focus some of your time on NOT fighting.

Obviously I would like it to look good if possible but this isn't my main consideration.

Why obviously?

I'm finishing university and want to go to China or Japan for a year to practise.

Any particular reason why China or Japan? If you think you will necessarily get better training there you may be dissapointed. Also - how much do you think you'll achieve in a year?


I'm 5'7 and have a malaysian mother so I'm slim but wiry. I'm thinking standard jui jitsu looks good but it hardly ever gets mentioned.
But, when I come back I'd love to make my own martial arts movies in a Jackie Chan sort of style (like in Young Master). Would JJ be good for that too or is there something else you reccomend?


I would recommend MMA / Shooto - it focuses on performance i.e actually being able to perform that which you train, against fully resisting opponents. If you are intent on travelling to Asia then Japan is HUGE as far as MMA goes and I have some good contacts that would get you some excellent tuition.

As for films - the athleticism you'll get from MMA or Shoot will certainly be good - maybe supplement ot with a flashy kicking style and maybe some basic gymnastics - that stuff sells on screen.

[Andy Pandy]

Why? Are you planning on fighting in streets a lot? I'd suggest you pick something that you enjoy and focus some of your time on NOT fighting.

In defence of IronMonkey, I have to say that I also need to be an effective street fighter, not because I like fighting (although I don't dislike it), I try to avoid a fight whenever possible, but if you are forced into combat it can't hurt to have a little training on your side. Also, I am hopefully joining the Police Service and combat training is important if you are policing a high risk area in the UK as police officers are not armed.

What I am saying is, that fights come to you, and it is neccessary to defend yourself.

[YODA]

What I am saying is, that fights come to you, and it is neccessary to defend yourself.

Sometimes they do yes - And you need to DEFEND YOURSELF as you put it. Saying that you want to become a good STREET FIGHTER however, conjurs up a different picture in my mind.

[Andy Pandy]

Yeah, "street fighter" does sound... a tad agressive... but still, I can't think of another way to describe the sort of situation I think he means. (e.g. walking down the street, bunch of ***** come up and start to get aggressive. Defending yourself in that situation is... well... a STREET FIGHT!)







Edited for unsuitable language content by Yoda. i.e. using @ instead of "A" still reads the same and is still unacceptable on a forum aimed at all age groups.

[YODA]

Originally posted by Andy Pandy
[B]Yeah, "street fighter" does sound... a tad agressive... but still, I can't think of another way to describe the sort of situation I think he means. (e.g. walking down the street, bunch of ***** come up and start to get aggressive. Defending yourself in that situation is... well... a STREET FIGHT!)


So - if you get into a fight on a bus is that a BUS FIGHT? Or maybe you're home gets broken into and you're assaulted at 4am on your stairs - STAIR FIGHTER!!!!

I prefer to train to test myself in honourable combat against a fellow athlete - and rely primarily on my common sense & lifestyle for self protection outside of that environment - which negates 99% of so called "Street Fights". If they DO happen (and they have) then the 10% or so of my training that's geared to "adding dirt" and "Enviromental considerations" to my regular stuff serves me very well.

[Melanie]

Unfortunately it is the "Street Fighters" that capture the imagination of the movies and press and that is what we are set up against in the first place. Once you start training in what ever field you learn the basics and then start challenging these ideals and start to look around at others. Then "we" start to realise how some of what we have been taught would actually not suit us at all in the "street". Some moves are just plain unrealistic for such events. So we go along to clubs that promote "Street Defence" (unfortunately these are sometimes a little unrealistic too) but these are the clubs that once again get the promotion. I watched a small excerpt of a TV programme shown here in the UK on "Total Fighting" today...so much for unbiased reporting! I plan to set the record straight if at all possible on this forum over the next month or too!!

[IronMonkey]

Er, just in defence of myself...I wasn't planning on starting fights at all. I'm just not very big and look about 15 years old and I guess I've got the kind of face people want to smash in. I just don't feel confident walking down the street sometimes. Oh, and I was planning on continuing the martial art when I got back to England - I wasn't going to just do it for a year and then expect to be a grandmaster.

[IronMonkey]

and I didn't mean street fighting as in 'look how cool I am I'm a street fighter' I meant a martial art that's very useful in a non-tournament situation (you know - the kind of place where they don't stop smashing your face in when you say you've had enough). I think I've inadvertently started an argument on 'street fighting' here. whoops!

But Ken was obviously better than Ryu.

[Andy Pandy]

I know exactly what you mean IronMonkey!

Do Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) for fitness and another martial art that these guys can prolly tell you more about for skill. The Thai Boxing is very helpfull for use against unskilled opponants and doesn't take long to get good at, but you will need something more if you come accross a skilled martial artist.

I do 2 Muay Thai lessons (2 hours long each) a week and i've done that for a while and I am confident that I could kick the crap out of most of the people that I have been forced into a fight with (I diddn't kick the crap out of them I just "passified" them if you know what I mean. I don't like hurting people) but I am sure that if I wasn't a "special" case and had only done Thai Boxing that a skilled martial artist could easily beat me.

Can you guys recomend him a good martial art that the skill will nicely compliment the physical style of Muay Thai?

[UmYang]

dude ... most people who are 7 don blackbelts in three styles still cant start their own martial arts style. and you want to do it with no experience? i study martial arts 6-9 hours aday six days a week and im starting my own style and i KNOW i am going to fail. most masters dont even try improving on what they learned. atleast learn one style first. try tai kwon do, hapkido, and tang soo do. they are very effective and easy to find places that teach them. if you can find a place to teach choy lee fut kung fu learn that.

[shootodog]

dude ... most people who are 7 don blackbelts in three styles still cant start their own martial arts style. and you want to do it with no experience? i study martial arts 6-9 hours aday six days a week and im starting my own style and i KNOW i am going to fail. most masters dont even try improving on what they learned. atleast learn one style first. try tai kwon do, hapkido, and tang soo do. they are very effective and easy to find places that teach them. if you can find a place to teach choy lee fut kung fu learn that.

i don't think he wants to start his own style/ system. i think he was just asking about what style he should start on.

[Sandus]

I don't think it's even relevant. This thread is more than TWO YEARS OLD.

[Yohan]

LOL that's funny. I didn't even realize it.