Martial arts

[Chayak]

I trained in Kempo for a while during highshool. I've been trained in a few combatives since and played around with Sayoc Kali. I still prefer the art of Ching-Chang-Pow to rolling around on the dirt trying to choke someone.

[PackerfanXD]

Originally Posted by daveofspades

As a tall and wide man, think NFL lineman, what would be a good art for me? Anything requiring speed is probably out. I've considered Akido, Hapkido, Krav Magda, Judo or Jiu Jitsu.

DD

If you are as big as a lineman then I doubt you need martial arts. Alot of guys take martial arts so that guys like you don't take their lunch money.

[Talon]

Originally Posted by daveofspades

As a tall and wide man, think NFL lineman, what would be a good art for me? Anything requiring speed is probably out. I've considered Akido, Hapkido, Krav Magda, Judo or Jiu Jitsu.

DD

Hello Dave..

IMO I suggest
Jiu Jitsu , definitely will fit into your body style. (Brazilian style) I would suggest to not start with, Its pretty much ALL ground work. Fast paced

Traditional art Shotokan Karate or GOJU both are power arts GOJU especially. Not a lot of ground work a Big time investment

CQB Krav more towards today's needs not allot of ground work fast paced

Fillipino Modern Arnis weapons stick and blade and empty hand techs are taught at the same time. Even though filipinos are small the art is easily learned by big guys. (I'm 6'2 214) fast paced

Peace
Talon

[jdavionic]

I studied martial arts for many, many years. You'll see (as evident in this thread) folks have many varying opinions on the many different styles.

From my perspective, I wanted to learn the various techniques that were practical for street fighting. Either style that you mentioned would suffice. But I would add a strong caution. Beware of the "blackbelt factories". They are everywhere. These garbage schools that have half-assed individuals teaching the unknowing individuals horrible techniques and sucking their wallets dry as they promote them. Worse yet, they promote these people and promote a false sense of security - which can be very dangerous.

When I trained (used to kickbox, not the aerobics crap), we almost always fought guys from a variety of arts & schools that were ranked higher than us. We quickly learned that the color of the belt didn't mean didly in most studios. I see places around where I live now with little kids walking out with blackbelts. Absolutely ridiculous! Even if you had the technique down, you still needed the strength - along with mental aptitude, etc. A child literally could not even get tested in the school that I studied the longest. It was simply unsafe. We had very few blackbelts - and you didn't mess with any of them.

So what's my point. Look at both schools and look for signs as to whether they are serious or whether they fall into the category cited above. If the latter, I'd go elsewhere.

[Tomcat088]

Originally Posted by impcmonk

I studied Thai for a while. While I like it, it's geared more for sport fighting. It can be applied in a self defense situation though. Krav is just a simplified form of Kung Fu ( JKD ). I've been studing Praying Mantis Kung Fu for several years now. It's very direct and in CQB it's quite devestating. It's one of the highest forms of Kung Fu from Shaolin.

The main thing however is to find something your comfortable with. No matter what you study, it doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you aren't comfortable enough to use it. I tried Choy Li Fut for a while and just didn't like it. Your body type also will determine what works for you. Just get out and try different things.

I think that IMPC offered some good advice about finding a style that works for you and fits your body style. I'm not sure if he knows much else about what he's talking about. First off, Krav Maga has absolutely nothing to do with Kung Fu, much less a simplified version of it. I have studied Krav Maga, know the history of it, how it was derived, how it is currently changing, and it has NOTHING to do with Kung Fu OR Jeet Kune Do, much less mantis style shaolin kung fu. Secondly, Kung Fu and Jeet Kune Do (JKD) are two totally different styles with different philosophies and different purposes. It's true that Bruce Lee, the man that created Jeet Kune Do did study Shaolin Kung Fu, so it has some derivatives. With that said, Jeet Kune Do might be considered partially Kung Fu, but there's no way that you can consider Kung Fu, JKD. Jeet Kune Do is also a traditional martial art, and Krav Maga is not. He is right though when he says that Mantis style Kung Fu is one of the highest forms of Kung Fu. I also personally don't think that Kung Fu is that effective of a style for self defense, namely because it is a style that you learn from "wrote" learning, which is merely repetition. This means it can be easily forgotten and it is all about the forms, which can be easily forgotten. Krav Maga is based on an instinctual system, and no forms whatsoever. Anyway, just wanted to clarify those things for some of the people that might be interested in any of the martial arts that were mentioned

[cadejo69]

Boxing was my thing since I was 11, practice on and off since then, never seriusly, a little wrestling in my senior year in HS(never compited just practice), Tae Kwon Do for six month two hours a day, twice a day and almost every day during a West Pac while in the Corp(some but not all ports of call made us break the reutine), pick up this and that during my years, MMA seems to be the word of the day this days around Bragg, witch makes sence to me, but have always wanted to get more serius and formaly get in to some Brasilian Jiujitsu but have never been able(except for that time on ship, what else was I going to do?) to be a part of a dojo, not my thing.

[impcmonk]

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

I'm not sure if he knows much else about what he's talking about.

Since you like turning this into an attack which is apparently what you intended to do. I've studied MA since I was a young child. 20+ years

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

First off, Krav Maga has absolutely nothing to do with Kung Fu, much less a simplified version of it. I have studied Krav Maga, know the history of it, how it was derived, how it is currently changing, and it has NOTHING to do with Kung Fu OR Jeet Kune Do, much less mantis style shaolin kung fu.

Never claimed it was even related to mantis. JKD's fundemental drills and strikes are still based on Wing Chun. Fact of matter, all forms of Kung Fu the base training is essentially the same. It's when you get hybird systems that people try to blend together is when it starts to change. You can show me drills in Krav and I will give you the same drill in Kung Fu. Krav uses low "bump" kicks to attack legs, which is from Kung Fu.
Point is Imi Lichtenfeld learned several different martial art styles while traveling with a circus. He took the best of what he learned and created Krav Maga.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

It's true that Bruce Lee, the man that created Jeet Kune Do did study Shaolin Kung Fu, so it has some derivatives.

Bruce Lee studied Wing Chun under Master Yip Man, not Shaolin Kung Fu. Yes, there is a difference.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

With that said, Jeet Kune Do might be considered partially Kung Fu, but there's no way that you can consider Kung Fu, JKD.

Ok, follow me on this one. Bruce Lee, and thus JKD, was heavily influenced by western boxing and western fencing. Although the backbone concepts (such as centerline, vertical punching, and forward pressure) come from Wing Chun, Lee stopped using the Wing Chun stances in favor of what he claimed were more fluid/flexible fencing and boxing stances. The claim is that they allowed him to "flow", not to be stuck in stances. For instance, instead of using footwork to position the body for maximum fighting position vis-a-vis the opponent, JKD uses flowing "entries" that do not require "bridges" from Wing Chun. Bruce Lee wanted to create the "ultimate fighting form", but later in the development of Jeet Kune Do, he wanted to use the art for personal development as well, not just to become a better fighter.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

Jeet Kune Do is also a traditional martial art, and Krav Maga is not.

JKD is not a traditional ma. Bruce wanted to break away from tradiational martial arts thus taking out what he saw as "unnecessary." Wing Chun is a traditional ma.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

He is right though when he says that Mantis style Kung Fu is one of the highest forms of Kung Fu.

I thank you for that reference.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

I also personally don't think that Kung Fu is that effective of a style for self defense, namely because it is a style that you learn from "wrote" learning, which is merely repetition. This means it can be easily forgotten and it is all about the forms, which can be easily forgotten.

I really don't know what Kung Fu experience you have so I can't elaborate on that. However, Kung Fu is far from being "all about forms." Hand drills, leg drills, to person drills, two person sparing, all of these are what you do more than forms, especially mantis. Mantis is very direct. There is very little wasted energy. Just like any martial art, if you don't practice it, you won't remember it. Even in Krav. Our basic training and warm ups are the same excercises that the monks from Shaolin do. In fact, Shaolin is the birthplace of martial arts. If you've ever studied different styles you will see similar things in training and in attacks. If you would like and if your ever in Columbus, Ohio I would be glad to have you out for a class.

Originally Posted by Tomcat088

Krav Maga is based on an instinctual system, and no forms whatsoever. Anyway, just wanted to clarify those things for some of the people that might be interested in any of the martial arts that were mentioned

Honestly, forms are mostly for show. In the old days their purpose was to simiulate attacks and defense. That is also what the two person drills are for. Yes, there are many different styles out there that are crap and that are, as one poster put "black belt factories." However, I can trace my lineage back to Shaolin and Wong Long, the creator of Mantis. Again, I invite you to stop in if your ever out this way.

[impcmonk]

Come to think of it, there is a school in Texas I believe that is a guy from our Lineage. If you like, I will try to get his name for you. I can't remember it off hand.

[impcmonk]

Originally Posted by daveofspades

As a tall and wide man, think NFL lineman, what would be a good art for me? Anything requiring speed is probably out. I've considered Akido, Hapkido, Krav Magda, Judo or Jiu Jitsu.

DD

Out of those 5 I would say Krav. It's the most practical out of them. Akido, and Hapkido require a certain degree of flexability and speed. Being a big guy I wouldn't suggest any ground fighting art as you would be too slow. You get a smaller wirey guy and he might walk all over you if it goes to the ground.

[drewesque]

Originally Posted by impcmonk

Out of those 5 I would say Krav. It's the most practical out of them. Akido, and Hapkido require a certain degree of flexability and speed. Being a big guy I wouldn't suggest any ground fighting art as you would be too slow. You get a smaller wirey guy and he might walk all over you if it goes to the ground.

This is not necessarily true. Much ground work can be done very slowly, as it is about control, for the most part. In fact, one problem I had when studying Jiu Jitsu was my tendency to go fast. It won me a match or two based on surprise, but if you can get a solid bit of control, you don't need as much speed. I do agree that Krav is a highly practical way to go. Jiu Jitsu would be another decent one, if a big guy studies the right form. As for Judo, Aikido, and Hapkido, I would say that a larger guy could learn a bit from them, but would probably be better off with other forms as far as extensive training goes.
I've always been one who prefers to diversify, so I recommend a person try a little bit of several martial arts, just to get a bit of a background. You can still pick one and specialize, but don't limit yourself. I know some Jiu Jitsu, some Tae Kwon Do, a little bit of Aikido, some judo, and a bit of boxing. Beyond that, my wrestling experience and the football I used to play help a bit, too.
Of course, the XD in the waistband says I don't need to beat a person hand-to-hand if I can push them away just enough to draw. Like one sensei said, martial arts are great for getting to a point at which you can draw your gun.