Considering other arts

Discussion in 'General Martial Arts Discussion' started by Xue Sheng, Jul 24, 2017.

  1. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    For the past 25 years I have been a Chinese martial arts guy and most of that would be labeled as internal
    Taijiquan, Xingyiquan, Baguazhang with a hint of Wing Chun and Shaolin styles. Even did a little Jeet Kune Do. It also looks like I will be back teaching Taijiquan and Qigong in October. Been awhile since I taught as the main teacher, spent many years teaching push hand for my Yang Shifu and helping teach other forms, but it has been a long time since I have done this on my own., but I am getting off topic here.

    But before I trained CMA styles I trained Japanese Jujutsu and Taekwondo (before it was an Olympic sport, like I said, I'm old - been doing this stuff since 1972)

    I had planned on returning to Jeet Kune Do over the summer and I was working on the JKD foot work. But my old arthritic hips just could not take it, found myself hobbling around more like a guy closer to a century old that one a bit past a half century. I actually expected my knees to be an issue, but it was my hips, which came as a bit of a surprise to me. I still have not ruled out spending August back in JKD, but it is not looking good. I also saw a new Krav Maga school open in my area, I know of the teacher, but form years ago when he was teaching Wing Chun (Moy Yat lineage). However there is no contact e-mail on hi website or on the sign on his door, and after multiple calls he has yet to return one so that is likely not happening.

    I then found a BJJ school, that interested me, (Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti lineage, but admittedly I am not sure what that means) not to far away, that is also a Kyokushin Karate school. They have a 3 month BJJ Fundamental program that looks interesting, but the only time I could commit to this is summer so possible next summer. since there is little over a month left and then the kids return to school and my schedule gets much more full.

    And lastly I am waiting for a response from a Hapkido school, they actually call what they teach "Defensive Hapkido"

    That is a long way around to get to my questions

    How crazy is an old CMA guy, that is over half a century old, for even considering this?

    Who is Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti and is this a good or bad in BJJ to have this association?

    Also I know what Hapkido is but does anyone have any idea what "Defensive Hapkido" might be?

    The website description is

    " The program is an off shoot of traditional Hap Ki Do, with techniques and fundamentals from many of the best systems including Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do and more. "

    Any other thoughts on this would also be appreciated.
     
  2. icefield

    icefield Valued Member

    Romero “Jacare” Cavalcanti is one of the best instructors in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu history, having coached hundreds of fighters and produced some of the best the world has seen in Grappling, including Fabio Gurgel, Alexandre Paiva, Leonardo Vieira, Ricardo Vieira, Rodrigo “Comprido”, to name a few. One of the founding fathers of the Alliance academy, Romero Cavalcanti moved to the United States from his native Brazil in 1995, where grew the team. Jacare was also awarded the “On The Mat” Instructor of the Year award in 2009.

    So umm train in his schools if you can!

    On a serious note as an older guy something like bjj which is low impact might be a good idea and blend well with the grappling you have done in CMA , just start slow, and take plenty of rest between class
     
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  3. Langenschwert

    Langenschwert Molon Labe

    The BJJ sounds awesome. I would also advise yoga to help with those hips. Also, consult with a physician before doing any of this.
     
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  4. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Thank you.

    And it might be possible for me to get there sooner than I thought, looking at their schedule it appears to fit with mine rather well.
     
  5. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Already do and it does help. It was the impact of the foot work in JKD, especially the hop step that was hurting me.
     
  6. Tom bayley

    Tom bayley Valued Member

    BJJ Good! :)

    Hot, sweaty, low impact, technical, done against active resistance. It's kung fu bridging hands done lying down. Whats not to like?
     
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  7. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    I got a call back from the Defensive Hapkido place and it is combined with TKD, which I do not want, and it is at a time that I cannot make it anyway so that is out.

    Found another Krav Maga place, 2 actually, but one is to far away to consider as well as rather expensive, the other I know little about, but then I know little about Krav Maga. The one I just found is Alhpa Krav Maga... whatever that means, but I suspect there may be a contract involved with that place and I do not do contracts. I will call them later to see.

    As for the BJJ Fundamentals, that is actually looking good as it applies to my schedule so it could be a possibility before next summer.
     
  8. Langenschwert

    Langenschwert Molon Labe

    Krav can be great or totally not. It had a huge popularity boom, resulting in a proliferation of "certificates" of varying quality. You could be amazed or underwhelmed. No way to tell until you check it out.
     
  9. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    I am starting to get that impression from what I am reading on the web, but so far all I can say is that Krav MAga schools do not like ot return calls or e-mails. The only one that responded is the one that is furthest away and possibly the most expensive. The price seems reasonable until you discover that is for one class a week and then the price doubles for 2 classes and then there are 2 classes that deal with applications and that is more.....it gets pretty pricey. But the other 2 have not yet responded.

    I also found a 4th and the teacher is a pretty reputable guy when it comes to the other things he teaches: Muay Thai, BJJ, MMA, so I thought that might be the best place to start...then I discovered he is giving out week long instructor certifications and I now thing it may not be the best place to start
     
  10. philosoraptor

    philosoraptor carnivore in a top hat Supporter

    BJJ is a lot of fun. I've trained with older gentlemen and, while they occasionally had trouble with some things, were largely entirely able to keep up.
     
  11. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Well after getting virtually no response form 2 out of 3 Krav maga schools and discovering a 4th that is into the "1 week instructor training program", which I have no interest in. Only one responded and it is the most expensive, and by web page seems to be the most reputable as well as the furthest away. If I try Krav Maga it would likely be there. The BJJ school is a bit closer and has a better schedule and although the monthly price is the same as the Expensive Krav Maga school, it is offering 3 classes a week for that price as opposed to 2 and it offers a further discount if I decided to pay for a 3 month run, which is the length of the BJJ basics class
     
  12. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    One of the Krav Maga places actually called me back. In a couple weeks I may go try a couple free lessons to see what I think
     
  13. Vince Millett

    Vince Millett Haec manus inimica tyrannis MAP 2017 Gold Award

    I started BJJ at age 52...and I keep up pretty well with guys half my age. It's a flexible enough art (no pun intended) that you can develop your own game around any physical strengths or weaknesses you may have. Quite a few people I train with have much previous experience in other arts - BJJ makes a good addition to round out someone's skills and it is also a good art for those who have got to a point where they still want to train "full impact" but without being kicked or punched in the head regularly.
     
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  14. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    well...I done went and dood it..... suppose to go to my first Krav Maga class next week.... now to see if this old, out of shape, arthritic body, with 2 retina surgeries behind, with an ankle I broke 3 times (twice in Long Fist) and a knee I tore the meniscus in.... will actually show up and actually survive the class... I will go to class one to see what I think, then there is a discount on the next 2 classes, should I survive and decide to go on. There is also the possibility that Mrs Xue will get overly protective and fight me tooth and nail about going at all.... she has been intermittently overly protective since the first detached retina incident that was directly related to getting hit directly in the eye training a bit of Wing Chun.

    If it works out I will train it for a bit...if it does not fit me...I will look to giving the BJJ a try....it is about the same price, just further away and out of the way for me. If it hospitalizes me, I guess I will go back and stick solely with my taijiquan...once I am out of the hospital that is :D


    Should I survive and enjoy it... they close the school down for about a month in the summer for vacations.... at that time...if I am not badly crippled... I will likely give BJJ a try.
     
  15. Dead_pool

    Dead_pool Spes mea in nihil Deus MAP 2017 Moi Award

    What made you pick krav over BJJ, just the location?
     
  16. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Nope, it is just what I wanted to try first to see where goes. I was looking for something that had a little bit of everything at this point. I started with Japanese Jujutsu over 40 years ago, and I hope ti get around to BJJ eventually, but right now I want to work on a little bit of everything to see if I can get my flexibility back as well as my kicks, striking , locks, throws and some ground work.

    But being between on office and my house and not 15 miles past my house, did help with the decision.
     
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  17. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Krav Maga tonight.
    Nervous and excited, been awhile since training a hard style. Last time was about 8 years ago when I was training Police Sanda.
     
  18. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Well that wasn't bad, it was mostly foot work and straight punches. But it is as expensive same per month as the most expensive one, but it does have one more class per week for that price.

    Also if I can handle that foot work I think I can handle JKD, it is rather similar, and the JKD school is considerably cheaper.
     
  19. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Going to check out JKD soon, and I am rather nervous about it. Even though I did briefly do some JKD before, I am still a bit nervous.

    But on the Krav Maga front
    The one I checked out is not one I would go to, it is associated with a McDojos and although it may be a good Krav Maga school I just do not feel right about it, something does not feel right and I have learned over the years to go with my gut on these things.

    The one I thought would be the best due to its history as an MMA/BJJ/Muay Thai school, has changed drastically and it now all about money and sales, can't even talk to an instructor without an appointment and getting the monthly coast over the phone is next to impossible. The one that did not respond at all; I noticed their schedule changed again from 3 classes a week to 1, still no response and no thought of ever going there to check it out. the 4th one, which was the first one I discovered and thought was the most expensive, turns out to not be the most expensive, it just happens to be the one that is more open and honest as to what it costs and what you get. Also further checking I discovered that the instructor is (truthfully) ex-US special forces. I will be checking this place out in a couple weeks.
     
  20. Xue Sheng

    Xue Sheng All weight is underside

    Tried the class, it is probably the best Krav Maga class in the area, but it is 20 miles past my house and I just did not feel like I belonged there, probably because I was a good 15 to 20 years older than the oldest student, also older than the teacher by 10 years....or it could be that I have spent to many years hanging out in guans and the occasional dojo.

    I think my look down the Krav Maga path has come to an end.
     

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