Another "Suggest a style" thread

[casualbb]

I've been wanting to do some kind of martial art for a while

A little history... I did bullshit tae kwon do when I was in grade school. I hated it, too focused on tradition and seemed extremely impractical with all the forms and "ki-yah" etc.

Wrestled in high school, which I very much enjoyed. So you could say my groundwork is decent, although I've only ever focused on pinning people.

I'm looking for a style that is a sort of no-bullshit, here's-how-to-actually-fight system. From what I've heard krav maga sounds quite optimal, but it would be logistically difficult for me to attend a krav maga gym (although I'm willing if it's the right style)

any input?

 

[gimp]

are you looking for something that would translate well in the street or on the mat/in the ring?

 

[CleanMan]

If you want to win fights S&W fighting style is without a doubt the best 1 on 1 fighting style...not great for fitness though.

 

[Judo Tom]

do you know what styles are available in your area..

wrestlers normally do really well in other martial arts because of there conditioning and work ethic

Got Judo?

 

[theoak01]

with these threads you will basically get people telling you their favs, I personally loved Krav,with I could have keep taking it,but logistics were a bitch for me to.

IMO it is the most practical if you just want to take one style, otherwise id reccomend maybe something like pancration where you learn various styles such as bjj ,muay thai,kick boxing,and grappling at one school

 

[Big Rick Rock]

Bro,


First see what is avalible in your are then post it up here and we can help you pick.... Go check out the gyms, then post about it here and we can tell you what to look for... It is a process bro, you have to go anc check the places out.


I'm luck enough to be in the NYC area. Some of the best gyms and trainers are here. Hate me, hate me!


-BRR

 

[SofaGeorge]

Learn to box. You aren't ready for another martial art till you can throw a simple punch... and throwing a good punch takes more than you realize.

 

[casualbb]

The styles offered by my college gym are...
taekwondo, hankido, judo, karate, taiji, wushu

Local gyms/dojos... I'm seeing
-kuk sool won?
-mixed martial arts, this sounds cool http://www.moderncombatives.com/adults_intro.html
-capoeir and tai chi. heh, right.

And lastly I could do krav maga, of which there are two gyms 30-45 minutes from me by public transit

 

[Judo Tom]

that mixed martial arts class sounds real cool but i really think you have to check out a few schools before you pick one

 

[Sy Ali]

I'm looking for a style that is a sort of no-bullshit, here's-how-to-actually-fight system. From what I've heard krav maga sounds quite optimal...

I've heard a lot of people give high marks to Krav.

"actually-fight" -- Be careful to draw a distinction between competing and fighting, and even then it's a touchy subject.

For example, the MMA school sounds great if you wanted to train towards MMA competition. Does such competition translate to real-world defence? Hmm.. well sure, the practitioners could certainly kick some serious butt outside the ring, and yet that's not quite what they're training towards. Would you, an amateur, feel safe on the streets with those skills? Sure, you're all tough and stuff. Would you actually be, as they say, "street-proofed". Maybe. That would probably depend more on you than your training.

I'd still say the generic rules apply:

* Read about the style
* Ask people about the style
* Try a couple of classes
* Be critical about the gym, the teacher and the students. There are many things to learn.. the social environment, the scheduling, the costs, the requirements.

Not that I have much clout, but I would say definite no to that particular MMA gym and a tentitive yes to the Krav gym.

Mind you, from what I've heard of it I have issues with Krav. Sure you could kick the holy hell out of one guy.. but the adrenaline dump and effort would leave you tired. What if his buddies came after you five minutes after you ruined their friend? Another adrenaline dump? Nope, it's time to test out the ol' running shoes. =) Still, this is my perspective.. I would have probably gone with the Judo myself.


Is it difficult for you to get to Dallas from there? Maybe there are REALLY good options over there, which you could think about visiting, if even only on the weekends.

 

[Kane Fan]

I've been wanting to do some kind of martial art for a while

A little history... I did bullshit tae kwon do when I was in grade school. I hated it, too focused on tradition and seemed extremely impractical with all the forms and "ki-yah" etc.

Wrestled in high school, which I very much enjoyed. So you could say my groundwork is decent, although I've only ever focused on pinning people.

I'm looking for a style that is a sort of no-bullshit, here's-how-to-actually-fight system. From what I've heard krav maga sounds quite optimal, but it would be logistically difficult for me to attend a krav maga gym (although I'm willing if it's the right style)

any input?

my friend is a teacher of MMA style fighting
there are different styles of fighting of course
his preference is a Boxing BJJ mix I believe
(Western and Thai style Boxing)
or if there is a MMA style school in yoru area that would be fine
but, be preared for injuries
the better a fighter you want to be, the more you should spar
spar = injury chance
ground game is good, if you find someone really good at standup but with not much ground experience grounding them is great
but, grappling has one major disadvantage in real life situations, if you are outnumbered you are screwed
you MIGHT be able to take 2 on 1 grappling if you are very good, but 3 on 1 will just about smash any grappler unless the 3 are the 3 stooges
but you could go with Boxing and Ground And Pound ifyour takedowns from highschool are still good

 

[Kane Fan]

The styles offered by my college gym are...
taekwondo, hankido, judo, karate, taiji, wushu

Local gyms/dojos... I'm seeing
-kuk sool won?
-mixed martial arts, this sounds cool http://www.moderncombatives.com/adults_intro.html
-capoeir and tai chi. heh, right.

And lastly I could do krav maga, of which there are two gyms 30-45 minutes from me by public transit

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there is roughly a 1 in a million chance you can learn somthing truely effective at a college gym
no offense to the people that are teaching people there
but of those options I'd say Judo is the best, on the other hand Judo has some weaknesses for overall fighting, like striking for example
of those options, go with mixed martial arts

 

[casualbb]

Thanks for the input... I ended up going with the MMA gym.

It's pretty cool, they're in association with SBGi, which apparently is a big name in MMA. The techniques are pretty solid, my one caveat is they move too slowly. Most of what's going on isn't that complicated, and while I'm down with drilling I just hunger for more, man!

 

[Big Rick Rock]

Thanks for the input... I ended up going with the MMA gym.

It's pretty cool, they're in association with SBGi, which apparently is a big name in MMA. The techniques are pretty solid, my one caveat is they move too slowly. Most of what's going on isn't that complicated, and while I'm down with drilling I just hunger for more, man!

Basics, basics, basics.... Don't be in a rush.




-BRR

 

[Judo Tom]

definately!

if you start to develop bad habits now it will be hard to break them and you will most likely make them at bad times

stick to the basics and build a solid base a year or two from now you will be happy they moved you along slowly..

good luck

 

[Sy Ali]

The techniques are pretty solid, my one caveat is they move too slowly.

Hey.. if you can't do it slow, then you shouldn't think that you can do it fast. Once you get confident, maybe you could ask a couple of students to stay late for faster stuff, just to see what it feels like. Just try to keep the aggression to a minumum (for now.. hehe).

 

[casualbb]

heh... I don't mean move slowly in the physical sense (shoot, we do alive training against fully resisting opponents)

I mean that new material is presented almost frustratingly slowly. That may change later because right now most of the ground game overlaps with the wrestling I already know

 

[Judo Tom]

sounds cool!

have you learned any attacks while you are on your back.. thats normally something wrestlers take a lil getting used to cause they are coming from a sport where there is really no way for them to win while on there back but in judo there are tons of ways to do this.

good luck!

 

[Sy Ali]

I mean that new material is presented almost frustratingly slowly. That may change later because right now most of the ground game overlaps with the wrestling I already know

Aah, I understand. Well.. maybe if you understand the immediate material well, you can begin to perceive the more subtle things.. balance, footwork, tension and such. You can pay attention to the lesson at its face, and once you understand it and it's repeated a little later, you can try to look at it from another angle... and try to keep yourself mentally occupied with those other angles.

 

[casualbb]

sounds cool!

have you learned any attacks while you are on your back.. thats normally something wrestlers take a lil getting used to cause they are coming from a sport where there is really no way for them to win while on there back but in judo there are tons of ways to do this.

good luck!

lol, my "roll to the stomach" instinct didn't take long to banish. I've taken very quickly to BJJ, it's a lot of fun. Using wrestling instincts I can usually pass guard or defend guard on more experienced foes but I have no actual techniques. So I'll get to mount or side control and then be like "haha, you're pinned! I win!... oh wait... not really"

oh, and I know a basic armbar and triangle choke using the legs. So the repertoire is expanding. I like BJJ because it's very technical, with move-and-countermove stuff.

 

[Djimbe]

Bay Area :




Kumar Frantzis
P.O. Box 99
Fairfax, CA 94978
(415) 454-5243
www.energyarts.com
Hsing I Chuan
Pa Kua Chang
Tai Chi Chuan
Chi Kung
http://www.energyarts.com/hires/bagua/fighting/fightmov.html
(Watch this Movie , this dude is ILL - probably the best near you - he studied with the Greatest MAist of the 20th century)

George Xu
4309 Lincoln Way
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 664-4578
Honan Hsing I
Chen Tai Chi
Second Best youre going to get in your Area , an AMAZING Trainer with skills for days . This guy is respected by ALL in his community that have crossed hands with him .


Liu Jishun
395 Orchard Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408) 523-1526
www.wuhaotaichi.com
Wu Tai Chi
Hao Tai Chi

Joseph Crandall
1564-A Fitzgerald Dr. #110
Pinole, CA 94564
(510) 223-9336
HeBei Hsing I
Pa Kua Chang

Bryant Fong
P.O. Box 210159
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 753-3838
Pa Kua Chang

Y.C. Wong
819A Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 781-4682
HeBei Hsing I

Zhang Hong Mei
750 Myra Way
San Francisco, CA 94127
(415) 334-8658
Pa Kua Chang

Jane Yao (Yao Pei Jing)
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94122
(Contact John Collins)
(650) 712-1261
Wu Chien Chuan Tai Chi
Wu Yu Hsiang Tai Chi
Liu Feng Chun Pa Kua

San Jose :

Sifu Paul Eng
Tai Mantis Kungfu Association
Suite H, 165 Cristich Lane, Campbell, CA 95008, USA
Phone (408) 377-0415
http://www.taimantiskungfu.com/home2.html


Michael Quijano Ving Tsun
1221 Blossom Hill Rd. #C-4, San Jose, CA 95118
Tel: (408) 264.1810
Contact: Master Michael Quijano
Notes: lineage - Moy Yat Ving Tsun and Sifu Pete Pajil.

Rey's Wing Chun Muay/Thai Academy
1991 Las Plumas Ave., San Jose, CA 95133
Tel: (408) 251.5989
Web: www.wingchunmuaythai.com
Contact: Sifu Rey Garcia
Notes: Ip Ching Wing Chun Athletic Association, California Representative.

Cung Le
http://www.cungle.com/schedule_sj.htm


San Jose State University Shuai Jiao Team Coach: Daniel Mina

Oakland , California :

Liang, Qiang-Ya
International WuDang Association
Master Liang primarily teaches the Fu Style Bagua Zhang in Oakland, California
and is available for private instruction. Because students travel from all across
America to study with Master Liang, classes are scheduled at least 3 to 4 weeks
in advance in Master Liang's appointment book. For further information or inquiries
send your inquiry to:
Liang, Qiang-Ya
280 28th Street, # 507
Oakland, CA 94611
For telephonic inquiries call (510) 451-1872.
Master Liang has over 55 years of internal martial arts experience and is master of
other wudang boxing styles such as Cheng, Liang, Jiang and Sha, which he also
teaches, if you prefer to learn them. Internal martial arts using weapons like the broadsword, straight
sword, spear, staff and others are also taught.
Master Liang has been featured extensively in several publications such as Pa Kua Chang Journal
(vol. 6. #6 - Oct '96), Tai Chi Magazine - June 1996, December 2000 and, more recently, February 2002
(Vol 26, #1).
http://www.wudangboxing.com/index.html

EBM Kung Fu:
EBM Kung Fu in Oakland is one of the few schools in the US that teaches traditional Chinese martial arts (kung fu, taichi, hsingi) with contemporary Chinese San Shou (kick boxing/grappling) in a single unified curriculum. Though this approach is revolutionary in the United States, it is the standard in China, Southeast Asia, Russia and the Middle East.
If you are interested in becoming a member of EBM Kung Fu Oakland, please take the time to read this page carefully. You may stop by to observe a class any time. We accept only serious applicants.
contact info: [email protected] or call us directly at (510) 658-3378.
The EBM Kung Fu Academy Oakland School is located at 6300 Shattuck Avenue in Oakland (just south of the Berkeley border). We practice in the gymnasium where Wong Jack Man formerly taught. This class started on Monday, November 2, 1998 and is an ongoing class. This class is taught by Brent Hamby.
http://www.kungfu.net/
[These guys Put it out there , as they Fight in the Ring , and on the Street] :
http://www.kungfu.net/fighters.html

Oakland Shuai-chiao/Kungfu Association
President: Mark J. Wong
653 Longridge Road
Oakland, CA, 94610
(510) 834-6151
email: [email protected]
http://www.shuai-chiao.org/
[another Full-Contact Environment , albeit their Webpadge was down at my last visit]

China Lo Man Kam Wing Chun Kung Fu Federation
77 - 8th Street, #182, Oakland, CA 94607
Tel: 510.703.9653
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.wingchun-sf.com
Contact: John Kang
Notes: The nephew of Grandmaster Yip Man, Sifu Lo Man Kam is well-known in Asia and Europe. His teaching methods emphasize developing a solid foundation, and stress sensitivity and feeling over speed and strength. Inexpensive classes are being offered in the San Francisco Bay area, held by John Kang, a student of Lo Man Kam in Taiwan. Please visit the above-listed website for more information about Lo Man Kam, his federation, and the class
http://www.wingchun-sf.com/calligraphy.htm

Moy Yat Ving Tsun East Bay Branch
3914 Everett Avenue, Oakland, CA 94602
Tel: (510) 482.7405
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Alan Potosnak
Notes: currently very informal. It's the second branch of Moy Yat Ving Tsun that exists in California. Lineage: Moy Yat/Master Pete Pajil and Master Miguel Quijano/Alan Potosnak.

National Neigong Research Society
325M Sharon Park Drive #729
Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
Tel and Fax: 650.618.1485 (US Voice)
Or Contact Dan Gere, 650-.653-5640 fax 650-323-3591
http://www.nnrs.org/

Cupertino :

United States Shuai-chiao Association
P.O. Box 1221
Cupertino, Ca 95015
(408) 253-2619 PH/FAX
[email protected]
Pao-ting Shuai-chiao (from Ch'ang Tung Sheng)
Ch'ang style Tai-chi ch'uan
http://www.shuai-chiao.org/shuaichiao_home.htm
http://www.mg-3d.com/drweng.html
http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine/article.php?article=270
***Dr. Weng , whom teaches here , has produced MANY Champions , including the FIRST American Shuai-Chiao champ to win the All-Chinas ! THIS guy BREEDS Champions !***http://www.mg-3d.com/drweng.html


Adam Hsu
P.O. Box 1075
Cupertino, CA 95015
(650) 326-8253
HeBei Xingyiquan
Baguazhang
Chen Taiji
http://www.adamhsu.com/



Cupertino Kung-fu Club
Co-sponsored by the City of Cupertino
Head coach: Jan-Yu Weng
Email: [email protected]
408-390-5617

DeAnza College Kung-fu/Tai-chi Club
Cupertino, CA
Coach: Kenichi Iwasaki
Email: [email protected]

Monta Vista Park Cupertino Community Center
Corner of Voss and Foothill off Stevens Creek Blvd.
Every Sunday
Beginner classes @ 4 pm
Tai-chi @ 4 pm
Intermediate @ 5:30
Advanced Sparring @ 6:30 - till we're tired

***I LOVE that ^ Statement !***

Check the first Cupertino school out HARD I would train there at LEAST and FIRST if I lived in your City . THey travel all over the WORLD whuppin ass , and they really do Clean up in the Medals .

BERKELEY :


Fong Ha
BERKELEY PARK - Small park in front of 1709 Tacoma Ave (corner of Ensenada)
BERKELEY CHURCH - Thousand Oaks Church, 1621 Catalina St. (Opposite to Thousand Oaks School)
510-524-4718
www.fongha.com

ALBANY :

Bernard J. Langan
In Motion Center
813 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706 USA
510.527.7760
[email protected]
http://www.stillnessinmotion.com/
Chi Gong, Wu style Tai Chi, Hsing-I Chuan, Ba Gua Zhang, Visayan Eskrima, Penjak Silat Serak, Bodywork & Taoist Yoga
Notes : Luo De Xiu teachers summer intensives annually at the school

 

[Judo Tom]

lol, my "roll to the stomach" instinct didn't take long to banish. I've taken very quickly to BJJ, it's a lot of fun. Using wrestling instincts I can usually pass guard or defend guard on more experienced foes but I have no actual techniques. So I'll get to mount or side control and then be like "haha, you're pinned! I win!... oh wait... not really"

oh, and I know a basic armbar and triangle choke using the legs. So the repertoire is expanding. I like BJJ because it's very technical, with move-and-countermove stuff.

hehe in judo i do win with just a pin!

but in most bjj tournaments if you could hold mount or side body long enough you would win as well.. and ive done that a lot in bjj/grappling tournaments ive been in.. even gotten booed a few times or chants of "juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudo" starts in the crowds but whatever if im there to win and i can hold a guy down for a few mins and he cant do anything too bad for him and i get to save my energy for teh later rounds.. but anyhow..

that is my favorite part of bjj.. you learn the guard then what to do from there then how to counter there attacks.. counter the counter.. setup a counter.. and it just builds and builds and builds

ive only had 2 judo instructors who would take the time to teach stuff like that..

keep at it.. with your attitude and background you will progress quickly..

good luck!

 

[Big Rick Rock]

lol, my "roll to the stomach" instinct didn't take long to banish. I've taken very quickly to BJJ, it's a lot of fun. Using wrestling instincts I can usually pass guard or defend guard on more experienced foes but I have no actual techniques. So I'll get to mount or side control and then be like "haha, you're pinned! I win!... oh wait... not really"

oh, and I know a basic armbar and triangle choke using the legs. So the repertoire is expanding. I like BJJ because it's very technical, with move-and-countermove stuff.

Good stuff bro!
Make sure you try and learn every variation of the Kimura possible... You can lock it up from almost any position. It is the notorious Gracie stoper, even Sakuraba defeted two gracies with it.

http://www.theultimatefighter.tv/training.php?vid=4




-BRR

 

[shamrock11]

Ok! These is no prefect fighting art. No one art is better than the other. The only thing that makes arts different is the person using it and his knowledge of the sport. I am a 2nd degree black belt in tae kwon do (open style) and a black belt in tang soo do and I believe I can stand and fight with anyone anywhere ring or street.

 

[casualbb]

Good stuff bro!
Make sure you try and learn every variation of the Kimura possible... You can lock it up from almost any position. It is the notorious Gracie stoper, even Sakuraba defeted two gracies with it.

http://www.theultimatefighter.tv/training.php?vid=4




-BRR

hey, thanks man, that looks like a pretty money submission.

WHat about stuff from guard? I'm very good at takedowns, so I can usually at least end up in guard or half-guard. Is there anything I can work from guard, or should I chiefly be concerned with improving position to side or top mount?

 

[Kane Fan]

Ok! These is no prefect fighting art. No one art is better than the other. The only thing that makes arts different is the person using it and his knowledge of the sport. I am a 2nd degree black belt in tae kwon do (open style) and a black belt in tang soo do and I believe I can stand and fight with anyone anywhere ring or street.

I can produce a 12 year old who can stand and fight with anyone anywhere but that dosn't mean they are going to win!

 

[Sy Ali]

Make sure you try and learn every variation of the Kimura possible... You can lock it up from almost any position. It is the notorious Gracie stoper, even Sakuraba defeted two gracies with it.

http://www.theultimatefighter.tv/training.php?vid=4

Wow, I looked at that video and said to myself "that couldn't work". I can't be right.. I think I need to get my ass handed to me more often. =)

 

[Judo Tom]

Wow, I looked at that video and said to myself "that couldn't work". I can't be right.. I think I need to get my ass handed to me more often. =)

ask helio if it works or not just kidding except its true
it is a very versatile sub especially for bigger guys cause they can use that if they isolate the arm even if they are not in the best position.. someones guard or half guard.

i almost got caught with it this weekend the guy was 30lbs heavier and in my guard and i relaxed and put my left arm down and the snatched it up pretty quick but i fought out and freed my arm

 

[Djimbe]

dont break your arm patting yourself on the back !!!


... oh , wait , I guess you didnt ...


erm <_< >_> *runs from Pun Poliece*