Hi I have just joined and would like some advice please? :)

I hope you didn't mind me sending you this e-mail. I would like to join a self defence class, I used to do Ju-Jitsu but gave up when I had my son. I have curvature of the spine but I would still like to learn. I have been told that Akido is the nearest to Ju-Jitsu or Karate. Please can you advise me? Many thanks.

Hi Aura

Few years ago I trained with a Wado 2nd DAN lady who dabbled in aikido from Eastwood Notts, who had a similar problem with curvature of the spine ''sorry cannot remember the correct term for her condition''
But she found Karate, Aikido to much for the lumbar region after a while.

Similar to this I have a student who has been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis
he also suffers curvature of the spine and rounding of the shulders.

You probably do the required swimming and other exercises your doctor or consultant has prescribed to take strain from the spine.

I agree with Lesley try a Tai Chi class or a system that has a basis that uses posture
for the least generation of movement for the power system.
To me simplicity is the key to all;
We are aware this is may not easy due to the fact ''we all like to get dirty hands so to speak''
Yet we have had some success with the ERGONOMICS of both these students. By this process of the posture to promote compensation to body weakness.

I suffer from Fibromialgia (This was through over training the body in power lifting in my younger years)so i have found ways to compensate for the condition through my martial arts training.

''I feel happy that I have found my little niche''

Hope you find what you are really looking for

Best Regards
Pike

Hi Aura.

All the arts have their idiosyncracies.
What is it that you want to learn?

Aikido does involve a lot of 'rolling', would that be a problem for you?

Hello Aura and welcome to Martial Edge.

Meant to reply to you earlier but I got interrupted by my boss!

To further advise you, we would need to know more about the condition regarding your back. What sort of movement do you have?

I guess you would also want to think about whether you want to do a grappling art (such as Jiu Jitsu) or a striking one (such as Karate), and which your back will allow you to do. Also, what do you want to do the martial art for?

Mind you, most martial arts will allow for people's various physical conditions, so you should find that you will be catered for and allowances made.

There is, of course, always Tai Chi (which is harder than it looks!), which is very good for mobility and general well-being.

Hope that helps and best of luck.

Please do post again to ask any questions, and let us know how you get on.

Hi All. Its really frustrating looking for a style as I went to an Akido class tonight but I don't think it's the style for me. Want do i want to learn?

How to get out of strangles, wristlocks, grabs etc. I used to do Ju-Jitsu but they don't teach it in Salisbury any more. Any advice would be most helpful :)

Aura wrote:
Hi All. Its really frustrating looking for a style as I went to an Akido class tonight but I don't think it's the style for me. Want do i want to learn?

How to get out of strangles, wristlocks, grabs etc. I used to do Ju-Jitsu but they don't teach it in Salisbury any more. Any advice would be most helpful :)


I'm still a newbie to all this, so don't know much! I am learning Wudang or Practical tai chi chuan, which might include what you're looking for?
If you're interested, there might be a teacher in your area: http://www.taichichuan.co.uk/database/database.html

With my mobility issues, I find some of the posture work a challenge but I am making progress - I'm always encouraged to work to 70% of my range of movement.

The best advice I've been given, is try to experience as broad a range of classes and styles as possible.

Aura wrote:
Want do i want to learn?

How to get out of strangles, wristlocks, grabs etc. I used to do Ju-Jitsu but they don't teach it in Salisbury any more. Any advice would be most helpful :)

Well, there are a few other 'grab my wrist and make my day' arts you could look for.
Hapkido springs to mind.

What do you do in that style if you don't mind me asking? Can anyonne also tell me what Karate is like?

I'm am a bit cross with yahoo at the moment because all replies from this site keep ending up in my spam file!

Hapkido family tree. http://koti.mbnet.fi/~vide/Hapkido%20Family%20Tree.htm

In action; http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0yZihj8Fi98&feature=related