Martial art for self defense

[Hector Smith]

Hello,

I'm thirty, in shape, I finally have time in my life, yes it's about time, to start a martial art. I've always thought about it, but I always were at the wrong location, mainly abroad in countries were nothing was available or when in the US I never found a school I liked because I lived in small mid west towns. Finally I'm in a big city, Chicago. I'd like to pick up a martial art that's good for self defense too. I don't want to waste time doing katas, thinking about philosophy. I'll manage to find the meaning of life elsewhere. I need something practical and efficient that will be good exercise and good self defense too. I want to be able to "survive" any aggression? I was thinking about Jeet Kune Do or Krav Maga, but I'm not expert. What do you think?
I'm being highly impressed by a couple of tapes I've seen about Shamrock, what kind of style is that? What about that Brazilian style, Capeira?
Thanks for any advice.
Hector

[booksie_girl]

Hi Hector and wecome to MAP

If you want something practical and efficient, then Jeet Kune Do or Krav Maga would be a good way to go. Visit some of the schools in your area, and see if you like them. Try and get a free lesson to see if they teach what you want.

Meaning no disrespect to Capoeira, I don't think that's what you're after. While, in my limited knowledge, it doesn't have kata, it is not one of the most practical MAs, and is almost a form of dance.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[morphus]

Hello Hector - Firstly welcome to MAP:)

The arts you've mentioned are both good & decent.

Things to look out for when choosing a style.... The instructor, it helps if he is approachable - talk to him, ask questions. The students, talk to them get the vibe of whats going on in the class. Visit as many styles & classes as you can then choose after TRYING (take part in the lessons) as many as you can. Ask around for advice(you're already doing that - which is good)

When you do pick an art stick with it as long as it feels right(careful here - there can be many reasons for it not feeling right) but don't be affraid of asking questions of it once you're in there.....you CAN always change direction if you feel things are not going in the right direction.

Good luck in finding what you want in martial arts, it'll change you're life.....& it's great!

[RobP]

Hi Hector

You might find this site of interest

http://system-chicago.com

Good luck

Rob

[Hector Smith]

Thank you all for your input.
I'll tell you what I've found.
Hector

[mild7]

Hector,

I can't help you much with Jeet Kune Do or Krav Maga as I have done neither.
But what I will say is that some Jeet Kune Do(concepts) schools I have seen are pretty good and openminded. However, some schools I saw also taught what I felt was unrealistic, and as a result students really believed they could handle themselves against drug-crazed armed assailants, when what they should be doing here is to just run!!


With rgd to the Shamrock tapes, it is mainly submission fighting that you are seeing there. Submission Fighting also goes under the name of Vale Tudo, or No Rules Fighting. It's pretty good if you can actually find a school!! Bad point is, that is a sport oriented style.

For Capoeira, I was kind of bewildered that you mentioned it after talking about Shamrock etc. Maybe you are thinking of BRAZILIAN JIUJITSU, which is an entirely different matter. Brazilian Jiujitsu(BJJ) is a good style, and focuses on realistic fighting, unlike Capoeira(which I respect as well although it is more of a dance). I personally train in BJJ and this is after being in other martial arts for a long time. BJJ's good points is that it is technique based, and that it will not give you false promises like defeating 10 psycho machete-wielding attackers. Bad point is that it could do with a little more striking techniques.


Do some research on JKD, Krav Maga, BJJ, Submission Fighting. Then attend different schools and see which one you like.

remember that no martial art will make you 'invincible'. They will only improve your chances of survival.

[Hector Smith]

Mild 7, yes, I made a mistake I was talking about BJJ and I said capoera instead. I didn't know Brazil had more than one style. YOu're right, I've searched for schools where one can be trained in Vale Tudo and I haven't found any. Why do you say :"Bad point is, that is a sport oriented style."?
Being invincible is not a realistic goal, I agree, and I also don't believe anybody in this country will seriously mess with me without a gun. Not that I'm impressive by any means, but I've just noticed it's the American mentality. American humans whether they're crooks, cops, or else won't take any risk. I live half the year in Europe where guns are much less prevalent, so I guess Martial art training can be used in the metro in Paris, London or other cities, but in the street of America, forget about it. Sure, you can always survive that idiot who tried to mess up with you in that bar, but I don't go into bars, so? The only places where people tried to punch me because I open my mouth was in France or Italy. There I've been chased in cars for stupid traffic stuff, but here I know I'll just be shot, so personally I don't understand people spending years and years or martial training in a country that allow people to carry guns. But I've lived in Africa and other places where there's no gun, and over there it makes totally sense to know some martial art techiques to improve survival as you said.
Hector

[mild7]

Yup,

MA is just to improve survival chances.... therefore, you can theoretically apply any MA, e.g. using a TKD kick to a guy's knee before running away, or using a Judo grip break to get away from a guy holding on to your shirt, or even to use a BJJ escape to get that bar brawler off your chest!!

It is all good.

With rgd to Submission Fighting, what I meant by it being sport oriented is that they won't teach foul tactics, and don't teach the general self-defence portions(e.g. get away from a guy who does this etc).
In all fairness, a lot of BJJ schools are also becoming sport oriented as well. In their argument, a good Submission Fighter or Sport BJJer have such solid skills developed by fullforce sparring, they often have no need for foul tactics etc. It could also be argued that common sense and personal research can substitute for the lack of 'street smarts' taught by some instructors.

I used to go to a BJJ school where the instructor would teach a self-defense move at the beginning of the session(like getting out of standing headlock), and throughout the class he'd give hints like, you can bite him here if you really want. The BJJ class I go to now is 100% sport, i.e. straight up sparring, which is an important aspect as well.... so I mainly do my own research on street smarts. Tony Blauer tapes are excellent. I find this works very well for me, advantage of this is that you really are taking full responsibility for your well being!!!

ok, hope that was'nt too long. just trying to be helpful!

[Hector Smith]

No, that wasn't too long.
Thanks
Hector

[smee193]

hi there,

I train in freestyle combat jujitsu!

its a combination of traditional jujitsu and kick boxing!
unlike BJJ which mild said doesnt have a great deal of strikes this does, it is also geared towards street defense with a lot of emphasis on hit them and run like the clappers!

personally i think all styles have some attribute that will work on the street even if its only stamina and fitness!

good luck and let us know what you decide!
Mark

[snailfist]

I do ju-shin-jitsu, fair bit of strikes but mostly in my (LIMITED) experience throws, armlocks etc. I like it because i'm not the hardest guy about, so anything mostly relying on strikes to incapacitate them is not gona find me a gifted student, wheras throwing and pinning them to the floor before breaking their wrist is both effective and relatively physically undemanding as it is technique based, not strength based. I think that krav maga was developed with guns in mind, so that may be good to learn if you live in the US and wana disarm them- if theirs is pointed at you that may be a better option than trying to pull your own. Or you could watch Rush Hour frame by frame :D