Hi guys,

I would like your thoughts on a few things...

What do you look for in a club when deciding to join up?

What inspires you to train in a particular style?

What puts you off going to a club?


I would really appreciate your thoughts, and I'm sure there would be others who may find this interesting.

Peace

The things I looked for when I was looking for a club was somewhere local that taught kick boxing or TKD and had lessons at times I could make, I didn't do any more research than that.

I chose kick boxing because I wanted to stay fit and also learn a bit of self defence, but also wanted to enjoy it and have some fun.

The things that would put me off a club would be arrogant instructors or instructors that made the lessons to serious.

I am new to martial arts and after reading books and surfing the net i thought i had found the perfect art for me [hapkido] and find out there is no schools in my area [leeds].
so the search starts again.

Hi Stuart - welcome to Martial Edge. Where abouts in Leeds are you based as I know some great instructors in that area (with leeds been my hometown of course )


What are you looking for with Martial Arts practice?

I wanted self defence more than sport based, i wanted a combat based art to inclued karate,joint locks.jujitsu,pressure points, a history and weapon training eventually,maybe i need two martial arts,

stuart wrote:
I wanted self defence more than sport based, i wanted a combat based art to inclued karate,joint locks.jujitsu,pressure points, a history and weapon training eventually,maybe i need two martial arts,

Well Hapkido was an element that developed Aikido.
Aswell as jujitsu, aikijitsu.

Perhaps Aikido would be a good place to start as its purely defensive, and involves using the attackers energy against them. Find a good club and you will start a very interesting journey in the MA.

Look in the japanese section of this forum for a post on Aikido and clips of O'Sensei (they are old clips so in B&W) and see what you think.

Actually its a shame your in Leeds because everything you want my club teaches through the ranks!!
We do have an affiliated club in Leeds, but they don't teach Ryusui_Ryu only Aikido with their own take on things. Not the same method as us really.

But tradtional Aikido will be a good starting point for you as from what you describe that art will give it to you... I recommend staying away from tomiki Aikido as thats competition based.
Good luck!!

stuart wrote:
I wanted self defence more than sport based, i wanted a combat based art to inclued karate,joint locks.jujitsu,pressure points, a history and weapon training eventually,maybe i need two martial arts,

Hi Stuart,

If you're looking for something practical in self defense but still want it to retain some concepts/philosophy/etc etc then i'd check out WingTsun KungFu which is what i train in. Plus its in Leeds

Its a practical close combat fighting system which is effective in the street as well as against other martial arts. Includes Anti Grappling, Ground Fighting, Control and Restraint and Weapons (at later grades).

http://www.martialartsites.com/wtmartialarts/index.cfm?

Ignore the design of the site, they're trying to get it changed . Plus you can coem along for a session free to check it out.

Alternatively if you're just after pure close quarter combat with none of the traditional martial art stuff then give Krav Maga a go.

Either way Martial Edge and Wikipedia are your friend

Sometimes its better to look for an instructor who can teach you the elements you want to learn, and don't worry too much about what he calls his art.

You have to give time to evaluate the instructor, of course, and try to get the best fit for your needs. For example, if your main desire is self defense, and secondarily physical fitness, and then tradition/history, Aikido may not be the best fit.

It can take 10 years or longer to get proficient at self-defense in a style like Aikido, while 5 years in a good striking art can give you decent street-defense skills.

Having said that, it's not a bad idea however to train in more than one martial art AFTER you have become proficient in what you will come to consider your 'core' style.

You'll find that all arts contain similar elements, and at the highest levels, they all start to resemble one another very much.

"There are many paths to the top of the mountain. But once you are there, the view is pretty much the same." But you have to pick one and keep walking if you want to get there!