[b]Martial Arts/Fighting/MMA/Full Contact Sparring Thread[/b]
[i]A bit of background info about your friendly OP...[/i]
Well, seeing the Parkour thread going on awesomely, I thought about my own experiences in martial arts and I thought, man, I bet Facepunch would enjoy a nice comprehensive thread on martial arts. So I did it. My own experience in martial arts is, by any account, [i]minimal[/i], but I've done enough, fought enough, and looked and read up enough to be able to put this together as well as provide pointers and tips.
[b]Index[/b]
I. Introduction and Disclaimers
- 1. What do you mean by MA/Fighting/MMA/FCS?
- 2. What This Thread Is And Isn't
- 3. [highlight]Precautions and Warnings[/highlight] - YOU BETTER FUCKIN' READ THIS
II. The Basics
- 1. What is all this stuff?
- 2. What are the pros and cons of such activity?
- 3. Why would I want to do this?
- 4. What are the characteristics of the different martial arts?
- 5. Body weapons, concepts, and physics
III. The Actual Stuff
IV. The Actual Stuff (That You Can Do)
- 1. Preparations
- 2. What Your Body Can and Cannot Take
- 3. Sparring!
- 4. Learning to Fight
V. Afterthoughts
[b]I. Introduction and Disclaimers[/b]
[b]1. What do you mean by MA/Fighting/MMA/FCS?[/b]
What is meant here is all disciplines of using the body as a weapon or tool to defend, attack, kill, or incapacitate an enemy or assailant, but more specifically for this thread, the more well-known and common fighting styles that are used in competitive, non-point based ring fights such as UFC. However, a distinction to note is that UFC has a very narrow range of styles that enter it most of the time, often grappling styles or brutal "hard" styles that are characteristic to MMA fighting. This thread hopes to incorporate other styles of fighting as well, regardless of their efficiency in a ring or whatever combat situation. But don't you worry, we'll go over the styles commonly used in UFC as well.
[b]2. What This Thread Is And Isn't[/b]
First off, this thread is not a pissing contest, a dick comparing contest, or a place for you internet badasses to pump your guns. Granted, it'll happen anyway, but I'm hoping saying this will encourage the rest of us to screen the idiots out. This is also [b]not[/b] a place to discuss how one style is inherently better than another--it's perfectly reasonable to point out advantages and disadvantages between the styles, but don't say one is just better than another, period. Also, for you clever assholes who say "well, I'll just pull out my gun and shoot you", that's not the point. We've all heard that argument before, and this isn't a thread for debate about the logistics of self defense situations involving hand to hand combat versus using a gun, nor the philosophical whatever the hell. So just leave it.
More specifically, this thread covers [b]full contact fighting[/b], fighting in which little to no sparring gear is used (chest guards, helmets, gloves, shin/thigh/foot/arm pads, etc.). This thread is aimed to arm (with knowledge :P) users who may have little to no experience in fighting or martial arts whatsoever, but also be an interesting read and discussion forum for those who do. It assumes that you will be probably practicing with some friends in a sporting manner, establishing basic rules for your own safety, and you won't fight to incapacitation or at least death (though either can happen accidentally). With that said, let's move on.
[b]3. [highlight]Precautions and Warnings, I'M SERIOUS AS FUCK[/highlight][/b]
Even [i]with[/i] sparring gear that makes you feel all fuzzy and protected and weighs an ungodly amount of pounds, even if you're [i]not[/i] sparring but practicing independently, [b]you can become seriously injured or you can [u]die[/u][/b]. Let me stress that again: you can [b][u]die[/u][/b] while practicing martial arts, and will definitely become injured one way or another. It's inevitable. Just to strike the fear into your hearts more properly, let me make a list of what can happen to you:
[list]Incapacitation[/list]
[list]Sprained muscles[/list]
[list]Torn ligaments[/list]
[list]Broken bones[/list]
[list]Fucked up nerves[/list]
[list]Disfigurement through conditioning[/list]
[list]Pain, lots of pain[/list]
[list]Internal organ damage[/list]
[list]Permanent/recurring pain in the future from accidents/injuries now[/list]
[list]And a whole gamut of other injuries/risks too numerous and varied to think up and list[/list]
What you need to do is not be stupid. Don't do anything that's far beyond your comfort zone, don't try stupid shit you've seen in movies or games (some of them [i]can[/i] be done, but are likely way beyond your capacity and you'll end up hurting yourself).
[IMG]http://cade14.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/neo-keanu-reeves.jpg[/img]
Pictured: not you.
Also, note that if you do spar with other people, the way this thread treats it, you [i]will[/i] get hurt. To drive this point home, at the moment of writing this I currently have a messed up toe that I can't stand on, and my left wrist is totally screwed up.
If you have preexisting INJURIES or CONDITIONS that might complicate or make these things even worse, such as asthma, metal tendons (you think I'm joking, I know a guy), diabetes, heart conditions, or whatever the hell, I don't know, it's your body, avoid anything that would aggravate those conditions, or best of all, [b]don't fight[/b].
[highlight]Disclaimer: By reading this, even clicking on this thread, you agree that I am completely irresponsible and unaccountable for any discomfort, injuries, or death that occurs to you whether physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, astral, or otherwise.
Final disclaimer: Also note that what you are reading here, and what this thread attempts to teach you, is being taught to you online, through a Facepunch thread, by some random internet guy who practices in his free time and sustains injuries while doing so. Learning from your friends or an internet friend will NEVER give you the kind of discipline, self-control, motivation, and skill that taking a real martial arts class will.[/highlight]
[b]II. The Basics[/b]
[b]1. What is all this stuff?[/b]
Dictionary.com says that a martial art is:
[list]Any of the traditional forms of Oriental self-defense or combat that utilize physical skill and coordination
without weapons, as Karate, Aikido, Judo, or Kung Fu, often practiced as sport.[/list]
Wikipedia says that a martial art is:
[list]Martial arts or fighting arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for combat. While they may be studied for various reasons, martial arts share a single objective: to physically defeat other persons and to defend oneself or others from physical threat.[/list]
That's just about it. The goal of martial arts as known by most are to defeat an opponent--some deal with immobilization (Aikido, Aikibujutsu) with minimal blunt trauma and involvement to defeat the opponent, others with pure stopping power (Muay Thai, Wing Chun/Tsun, Tae Kwon Do, Karate), and others with grappling to get an opponent to submit (wrestling, Jiu Jutsu, Judo). While many martial arts are warlike in manner and goal, some are developed as means of physical meditation, spiritual enlightenment, (many forms of Wu Shu) and at its most commercial, a workout at the YMCA (nowadays, Tai Chi).
[b]2. What are the pros and cons of such activity?[/b]
[b]Pros[/b]
The most obvious upside for many is learning to defend yourself. However, beneath it, learning a martial art teaches you many other incredible empowering things, such as self-confidence, self-control, self-discipline, respect
(sometimes), and mental awareness. It can even give you inner peace. But don't expect this thread to give you that. On the physical side of things, depending on what you practice you can gain a lot of strength, become more aware of your body (kinesthetic awareness), flexibility, and agility.
[b]Cons[/b]
As stressed before, you can get hurt. On top of that, it's possible to fall into a cesspool of idiocy surrounding martial arts--which style is better, what works better than what, etc. Or even worse, you could become power hungry through what you know and what you can do. Correct yourself or it will end badly. Haven't you seen like, any martial arts movies, ever, dude?
[b]3. Why would I want to do this?[/b]
There's a few reasons.
[list]To test your own abilities and faculties[/list]
[list]To lose weight, work out, gain strength/flexibility etc.[/list]
[list]To learn how to defend yourself[/list]
[list]To learn self discipline, usually a hidden bonus[/list]
[list]To learn how to intimidate and beat people up[/list]
[list]To show off and get chicks[/list]
I hope you noticed that the last two on the list are the [b]wrong[/b] reasons to enter into the world of martial arts. Okay, maybe the last one is all right, but seriously, nobody likes a showoff anyway. If you're entering into this with either one of those mindsets, turn back and get your head checked. Of course, some of you might do it anyway, but don't worry: you'll regret it eventually.
[b]4. What are the characteristics of the different martial arts?[/b]
Martial arts are as varied as the people and the cultures they come from, and thus the way they express themselves varies just as much. As I said earlier, some martial arts focus on submission while others focus on limb-breaking. Some use fists, others knife hands, some are specifically designed to disarm people with knives/weapons, while others are not focused around this but utilize many of the same techniques and ideas. Many martial arts blend in together, and you can usually find a common ground in the principles across all of them. Some martial arts bring in the use of melee weapons, some grapple and choke, some kill, others capacitate, and yet others break. As many levels of self-control, technique, and goals as you can imagine have been used in the creation of martial arts. Really, if you're the kind of person who wants to practice, it's about choosing the style that is right for you.
[b]5. Body weapons, concepts, and physics[/b]
[i]Types of strikes[/i]
There are many kinds of strikes in martial arts--in fact, any part of the body that can be used as a blunt or edged weapon has most likely been used. I'll try to cover as many as I know.
[b]Hands[/b]
The most frequent use of the hand is to form a fist in order to punch.
[img]http://www.zoukini.com/images/al-hakim-shaking-fist.jpg[/img]
Don't google fist without safesearch on.
[list]Fisting :v:[/list]
This can extend from any imaginable position (with varying efficiency), may twist to torque during the extension of the arm, can strike with the front two knuckles or the back two or both, and many other variations. The fist shape can also be used to backhand (an outward swinging motion in which the back of the knuckles strike an opponent, often horizontally), or as a hammer (a downwards striking motion using the fleshy but hard area under area of the palm; if you don't get what I mean, it's what you slam on tables with when you're angry).
[list]Open hand[/list]
Not too many styles use open hand, and most insist that you keep a clenched fist at all times. However, an open hand can be used as a form of knife hand when tensed, using the same portion of the hand as the hammer (the edge of the palm opposite the thumb). It can also be used as a palm strike, and the free fingers can curl easily around contours such as the face when striking the nose or chin (usually in an upwards motion). The palm strike can also be used as a forward blunt attack by curling the fingers tightly and tucking the thumb in so that your fingers are protected from being retardedly smashed on an opponent and also isolating the area used to strike, causing more damage.
[img]http://www.crimepreventiontips.org/images/stories/palm_strike.jpg[/img]
Open hands are also used for redirection techniques, grabs, or grapples and can range from as simple to grabbing the opponent somewhere to grabbing in a very specific spot in a very specific manner to reduce their control. The open hand can also use the top of the hand and the knuckles as a form of block, as well as part of the wrist.
[list]Knife hand[/list]
The knife hand is used as a strike as well as a block, again utilizing the edge of the hand opposite the thumb. To form the knife hand, you simply put your fingers together and curl your thumb inwards (to see how to curl your thumb properly, take a look at the image in Open hand). Because the hand is straightened and the fingers pressed together, you have a longer edge to your hand and the location with which you strike or defend can vary. The knife hand is frequently used at more vital, fragile points such as the neck, throat, jugular, clavicle (collar bones), and more. It's possible to do a reverse knife hand by curling your thumb over to meet your pinky and using the knuckle of your index finger to strike.
[list]Less known/uncommon hand strikes[/list]
Many of these require heavy conditioning to use properly, and some are very dangerous to both the user and the person it is being used on.
[i]Curled finger knuckle strikes[/i]--I don't know the real name for them. One example of where they are used is in Leopard Style Kung Fu.
[img]http://www.londonkungfu.co.uk/images/Leopardweb.jpg[/img]
By concentrating the area of the blow into primarily the center knuckles, the strikes become much more pointed and dangerous, putting pressure into one concentrated spot.
[i]Poking strikes[/i]. Yes, there are people who can actually do this--it quite literally is using a knife hand to stab the opponent, but it requires heavy finger conditioning to do. It's most commonly used on vital points.
[i]Tiger claw strikes[/i]. These are done by curling the hand and tensing the fingers so that they become shaped like a claw, and are usually accompanied by nails. The strikes are designed to rip and tear at the skin, digging in hard with finger and nail. It requires conditioning as well.
[b]Arms and elbows (and maybe shoulders)[/b]
Arms, forearms, and elbows are used as deadly weapons and defenses. The arms are frequently used to block strikes, whether they use the arm, or the whole arm and forearm as a solid wall to defend (frequently against kicks). At the same time, they can also be utilized as blunt weapons. The elbows in particular are used to strike enemies, often in a downwards, upwards, or sideways motion. An elbow is sometimes supported by gripping the elbowing arm by the hand with the other arm, and swinging as a lever. The purpose of this is to control better the direction and force used in an elbow. Elbows can be used to strike nearly anywhere within range, and can also come into play frequently in groundplay where striking is being used. A common use for arms in groundplay is to either use the arm as a bar to chokehold someone or bar another limb to cause pain to the point of a submission. Shoulders can also be used, though these come into play more defensively and in less articulated fighting styles; logistically speaking, using a shoulder as a weapon is dangerous. Defensively, the most they usually do is serve as a good couch to rest an intercepted kick on before you perform a counter move.
[b]Legs; shins, thighs, knees, and feet[/b]
Legwork takes a huge role in many, many martial arts. Whether it's the graceful kicks of the Eastern martial arts or the brutal and efficient kicks of Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and MMA, the legs come into play everywhere. The shins and the feet are used most frequently to strike the opponent when executing a roundhouse kick, whereas the feet are utilized in many different ways for multiple kicks. For instance, a side kick (a kick that extends straight out, turning the body sideways) uses either the sole or the outside edge of the foot, a crescent kick (bringing the foot around to strike sideways) uses either edge of the foot to strike, and an axe kick uses anything from the heel of the foot to the ball and toes to strike downwards, usually on the collarbone or front of the face. Knees are frequently used as (can you see this one coming?) knees, though their utilization can far exceed the classic "knee someone in the stomach when they're bowled over" technique--though that's plenty useful as well. As defensive weapons, the shins and knees can be used to counter opponent's kicks at the legs, and can be raised completely along with an arm to create a full body wall (a common practice in Muay Thai) that is useful for blocking middle kicks. Feet and legs are also used for jumping. Just in case you didn't know. :v:
[b]Your head![/b]
HEADBUTTS! Okay, kidding. No, the head can be used for headbutting, obviously. And your face can bite, but don't do that.
[i]Body concepts and physics[/i]
In all martial arts there are multiple concepts and strategies at play--here's some of the most common ones.
[b]Torque[/b]
There is no martial art that does not use this--torque is a force applied about an axis, or you can imagine it as "turning force". When you rotate your torso, wrist, arm, hips, legs, anything, you are generating a torque. The more torque, the more twist there is, the more power there is behind a strike. This is why martial artists frequently turn their bodies to strike with a punch or elbow--it delivers even more force and also extends your reach. The same applies for kicks--the staple of Tae Kwon Do is a roundhouse kick, in which a fighting stance is assumed, the back leg swings forward while the front leg pivots completely so that it actually faces left, and the entire body is rotated along with the leg, giving it a huge amount of torque to deal out damage. One style, Baguazhang, moves in an entirely circular fashion, and this gives its strikes more torque.
[b]Conditioning[/b]
Conditioning essentially means, to you, preparing the body for a beating. Chances are that many of you haven't ever punched something full force that is very dense, or had your fist compressed against an opponent's arm or chest without any protection. Basically, it hurts, a lot. Your knuckle, your muscles, and your wrist become compressed, and this hurts and can sprain you. If you try to kick something or someone very hard for the first time with no protection, you will enter a world of pain (I frequently call my legs "pain sticks"). Many commercial dojos will not have you conditioning, and instead any sparring must be done with protective gear. Not us! Conditioning is the practice of having your body become accustomed to impact and pain through repetitive striking or stress on said bones/muscles. Muay Thai fighters are known to kick trees with their shins (try it sometime, it really hurts) in order to make the bone stronger and kill the nerves. Yes, conditioning can be pushed to the point where your nerves literally die and you can no longer feel pain in those spots; the only real indicator that your body can take no more is when it starts shaking and just doesn't work right. Conditioning can be toned down slightly with wraps or protective gear until you feel acclimated enough to the point where you can take them off. [highlight]Note![/highlight] If your bones take a strong enough impact they could break. Well, duh. Alternatively, when a bone is struck hard enough, calcium deposits form which make the bones thicker and stronger, and becomes a visible and [b]permanent[/b] tactile bulge on your bone. It doesn't look horrifying or anything, it just may scare you the first time you experience it. If you don't want to experience it, don't beat on your bones. Conditioning ALSO means general strength and flexibility training.
[b]Stance[/b]
[img]http://www.answerfitness.com/wp-content/uploads/Woman_Judo.jpg[/img][img]http://taichidallas.com/pics/105-ready%20stance4_IMG_s.JPG[/img][img]http://www.muaythaikickboxingtraining.com/stance.jpg[/img][img]http://uobshaolin.co.uk/leopard.jpg-for-web-normal.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.tkdsoe.org.uk/Artwork/leftstance[/img][img]http://www.theonetwopunch.com/images/fittip1199.jpg[/img][img]http://www.ele-mental.org/lodge/images/Acordeon-studentsginga.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.8stepusa.com/images/photo_page/111.jpg[/img]
Can you tell I had fun here?
Stance varies widely from style to style--many forms of shaolin kung fu, such as the animal styles, have some of the strangest stances imaginable and it becomes hard to imagine how they can be useful (don't ask me, I'm really not trained enough to know). However, all stances have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. All stances should afford you balance as well a point of potential power. For instance, the wider a stance is, the more force a kick with the back leg can have because it has more room to travel and gain momentum. However, as a kickback (hurr), the front leg has less room to kick from, making kicks with the front leg in a very wide stance ineffectual. A wider stance may be more susceptible to being swept by the legs. A small stance gives a little bit more flexibility of options, though it has less inherent stopping power in it. A stance that is too small can be akin to standing normally and will be able to push off balance. A stance that is too large will leave its user wobbly and inefficient, and also easy to knock off balance. Capoeira, a style of Brazillian dance-fighting, uses a constant movement and swaying during a regular stance and a multitude of kicks and techniques reminiscent of breakdancing to keep up momentum and to disorient the opponent. Some stances are harder to learn than others. For instance, look at the praying mantis stance (last image) and the one of the many Shaolin stances (fourth image); can you imagine doing either of those without loads of practice?
[b]Balance[/b]
Essential to stance is balance. Essential to everything in martial arts, fighting, and even life itself (according to some), is balance. At the most obvious level, your stance and style has to keep you balanced--you need a center line that runs through your body at all times and remains stable. You can imagine this as a vertical line running through your center of gravity--this is your center line. If you don't have this, if you cannot feel it, you are a leaf in the wind in a world of flamethrowers. I know people who can barely stay on two feet, let alone one. Every martial art's stance has balance, but not all of their maneuvers do--keep this in mind when executing them, because these are the key spots when you are most vulnerable. A Tae Kwon Do kick can be frozen at the point of impact and then the practitioner can balance on one foot, rotate their body up and down to lower and raise the kicking foot, and return to a fighting stance. Shaolin martial artists can execute some of the most incredible movements all the while maintaining perfect equilibrium and balance.
[b]Grappling/Throwing/Groundwork[/b]
Grappling and throwing are staples of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and many Mixed Martial Arts styles. They involved taking the enemy down to the ground through either dragging, forcing, or throwing. This can either lead to a "win" (a situation in which the opponent would die in real battle), or to a groundfight in which both fighters struggle for supremacy until a submission is found.
[b]Safe Falling, or Ukemi[/b]
The art of ukemi is used mostly in Aikido and related Aiki-something arts. It is the practice of landing safely with minimal damage to a person, and are used in throwing techniques which would otherwise break a person's wrist, arm, etc., if the ukemi were not performed. Ukemi can be done in any direction and can be done in the form of a roll, on the ground, or through the air. Take a look at these videos.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kItc4PJtCa4[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMpBpM38TMg[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx4GLiyPZz0[/media]
[b]III. The Actual Stuff[/b]
Well, after reading all that (if you did), I'm sure you want to see the actual stuff in action. All right! [b]First off and foremost[/b], though, note that the way in which I treat the different martial arts is from the complete standpoint of a casual observer, commentating for an amateur who might take a year or two at most in a certain style (with no previous martial arts training), and aims at emphasizing the pros and cons at this level. Also, there are MANY different schools of [i]every[/i] martial art style, and while I'll try to be as general as possible, my knowledge is incomplete and training and technique can differ from dojo to dojo.
[b]Tae Kwon Do[/b]
If you live in a big city, you can find a Tae Kwon Do dojo on almost every corner. A Korean martial art, it focuses almost completely on kicks, though it does sometimes give coverage of punches and sometimes basic self defense submission techniques. Black belts may proceed to learning bo staff, nunchaku (nunchucks), knives, and other weapons. Many people argue that Tae Kwon Do is a weaker style because of its sole reliance on kicks. Unfortunately, this is true and any style that has techniques to defend against kicks and go down to the ground can easily subdue any inexperienced Tae Kwon Do fighter; Tae Kwon Do is not the best choice for learning full contact sparring. However, it does give you a large amount of leg strength with some years of practice, so it is definitely useful in that aspect, as well as it teaches you a basic fighting stance and blocks (however, I find that the low-middle-high blocks they teach beginners take too long to execute properly, from a starting position with crossed arms and all). Given that Tae Kwon Do was the first encounter I ever had with martial arts, I have a good amount more to say about it than any other martial art.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEhkwwLh7_g[/media]
Though, frankly, after watching this video, you can really appreciate those who spend their time in it. At 4:32 you see, yes, [i]that[/i] is conditioning.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAhEvJMSlHg[/media]
Some more stuff, here you see the kind of sparring they do and some more of the way they practice. Of course, don't expect to be doing or learning those fancy moves and flips right away.
[b]Aikido[/b]
Aikido is the art of redirecting an opponent's energy and immobilizing them with graceful manipulations of their body. It is not a killing technique, and aims to preserve the opponent's body, but force them to stop fighting. Aikido is not a street-ready system; it takes years of practice to be able to use effectively in a street fight, or in a sparring match because the practice is done on opponents who will not struggle while you figure out how to execute the moves. However, the masters are some of the most unbelievable dudes around. Take a look.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAc-gQIeAaI[/media]
Yep, that's Steven Seagal. What it looks like to the untrained eye is a lot of wiggling and people flying around in an overdramatic Power Rangers fashion, but what's going on is actually the very subtle but powerful manipulation of limbs, hands, wrists, center of balance, etc. in coordination with a powerful balance and footwork to upset an enemy's balance. In Aikido, the recipient of a technique is called the "uke", and they perform the ukemi, or safe fall, in order to avoid being horrendously injured. Many of the throwing moves in Aikido can easily snap a wrist.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7LozQDAaY&feature=related[/media]
They mispelled his name on this video, but this is Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZuxfrIjRlI&feature=related[/media]
Check this out. He's [i]80[/i].
[b]Aikijujutsu[/b]
Aikijujutsu was what Ueshiba practiced before he changed the style and developed Aikido as he became more and more spiritual in later life. It has much more emphasis on strikes and linear attacks, and its movements are much more obvious.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T7lf4Pd9hk&feature=related[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saI5Ob3gTAM&feature=related[/media]
[b]Aikibujutsu[/b]
Aikibujutsu is a form of Aikido that is much more martial, and seems similar to Aikijujutsu except it barely registers any hits online (though youtube has a decent amount of videos on it), and instead of full body motions it tends to utilize a lot of wrist and elbow locks. I've started practicing this myself, and it's pretty cool. It emphasizes a lot of footwork and incorporates a good deal of striking and a very efficient method of blocking, not to mention a very solid stance. It seems like the sort of thing that can become street ready within a few years of practice, but you [i]must[/i] learn how to ukemi properly, just as with aikido and aikijujutsu, before you can learn anything more complex.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmkGa0XSmCQ[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1O5K5KCXWM&feature=related[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzBxEr9kvqM&feature=related[/media]
[b]Karate[/b]
Karate is nowadays a generally used term for Oriental martial arts based on striking (I didn't totally just reworded that from wikipedia :tinfoil:), but originated in Ryukyu Kingdom, before it was annexed by Japan in the 19th century. For us, we can just say it comes from Japan. According to wikipedia, "Karate is characterised as a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles." It's probably what some of you imagine to be the most cliched version of martial arts, a la movies like Karate Kid. Aside from that, there are an unbelievable amount of styles in Karate, and I have no idea where they range from, but I've tried to put some videos together that get a wide range.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK-23qBlMpg[/media]
This one is very kick-centric. While it might seem like Tae Kwon Do, punching does come into play more here, the way they kick is subtly different, and the range at which they fight is different from Tae Kwon Do as well.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkGP0AM14F0[/media]
This is Shotokan, a very frontal assault style of Karate that utilizes punches.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez-2WUDYtf0[/media]
This is Okinawa Karate. Honestly, I know nothing about it, but it sure is fun to watch.
[b]Kung Fu/Wushu[/b]
Wushu if you're Chinese (or just picky), Kung Fu if you want to refer to it by its popular name, gongfu if you want to refer to it by its popular name and are Chinese (or just picky). It refers to pretty much all of the Chinese martial arts, of which there are many. Some are focused on pure external power, others utilize internal power and chi (a form of vital life force). For instance, many laud Aikido's amazing internal power using the Japanese version of chi, ki. In this thread, we're thinking all external. There are so many forms of wushu that this isn't really a section but just a warning--you're about to some of the many types of wushu.
[b]Tai Chi Chuan[/b]
Often taught as a form of physical meditation and way to gain strength, flexibility, inner power and peace, you can find Tai Chi Chuan at your local YMCA. While these benefits seem willy-nilly, they are real--but Tai Chi Chuan is indeed used as a practical martial art, and is very powerful.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LX9Fl9Spc[/media]
Here, you can see the exhaustingly slow to watch movements of Tai Chi Chuan.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDwKyMvRrfA&feature=related[/media]
Here, you can see some of the practical defense applications of it.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqKHOg9DZfU&feature=related[/media]
And this is another cool one with descriptive English subtitles.
[b]Wing Chun/Tsun[/b]
Wing Chun was developed by a women, for women. The tale goes that a princess beat the crap out of a lord so she wouldn't have to marry him, and she received this training from one of the 5 Shaolin ancient priests who condensed many of the essential tenets of Shaolin wushu into a form that could be easily taught and learned. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? The style emphasizes almost completely punches, and it believes in taking the straight shortest path to the enemy and using a flurry of blows to keep up the damage--many people say if you are hit by one Wing Chun punch, you are hit by all of them. The arms are tucked in front of the chest and punches are designed to act both as an offense and a defense. Wing Chun practitioners also practice in a way that fighting is tactile, locking arms and trying to figure out a way to get past an opponent's defense. Eventually, it becomes easier and easier to predict an opponent's moves, and years of practice even lets you do it blindfolded.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7gFbUc2-d8[/media]
Speaks for itself.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ui6rj58DA0&feature=related[/media]
This is a really good Wing Chun demonstration, in my opinion.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g--mFsAJjM&feature=related[/media]
A long demonstration of Wing Chun forms.
[b]Animal Styles[/b]
There are a huge amount of styles of wushu that are inspired by animals; Monkey Fist, Dog Fist, Snake Fist, White Dragon, White Crane, Praying Mantis, Eagle Claw, Tiger Claw, Leopard Fist, and god knows how many others... I'll post a few videos of the most interesting looking ones.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8wq9KwBvQQ[/media]
Interesting segment on Snake Style Kung Fu.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uTkI8UGfJo&feature=fvw[/media]
Seven Star Praying Mantis compilation (different from the Southern Praying Mantis, which you should also look up).
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBliSUSynOk[/media]
I honestly don't know which forms of wushu are in here, but I'll be damned if they're not awesome. At 5:08, there's an incredible Shaolin Monk demonstration, with Tiger Claw at 5:37. Which brings us to...
[b]Shaolin Wushu[/b]
Shaolin is just unbelievably insanely incredible. Chances are you will never do anything like this, [b]ever[/b].
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMJ_b9uV1Lo[/media]
A taste.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHL2PSpecI[/media]
Shaolin practices.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUXB38ShMdw[/media]
Even more.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRxhlJGYe1o&feature=related[/media]
And then, just no way.
[b]Judo[/b]
Finally, ground styles! One of the main disadvantages of many of the Oriental styles is that they have little to no groundplay, the way many MMA styles do. Judo is the Japanese ground style, using no strikes in competition but plenty of grapples, arm/wrist/elbow locks and bars in order to force a submission.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be-BoM-WokY[/media]
Pure Judo takedowns and throws.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP3kpm4FDZo[/media]
More Judo, this time covered by Human Weapon.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZjWWMwFaQs&feature=related[/media]
Ne waza, or ground fighting, is pictured here.
[b]Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[/b]
One of the most profilic groundfighting styles, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a style that goes down to the ground and stays there, using a huge amount of moves and dynamic use of leverage and technique rather than pure strength in order to force a submission out of somebody. The idea is that a much smaller person should be able to tackle a larger person and take them out on the ground using proper technique and leverage.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVCKEbiEJNc[/media]
Here you can see a prime example of a guy who has absolutely [i]no clue[/i] how to groundfight, entering into the dojo of the Gracie family, the sole originators of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It's a very good video, nonetheless.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjK0g-cDJI4&feature=related[/media]
Here's an example of how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu likes to take it to the ground and keep it there.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNR9IBuDGDc[/media]
And this video's quite a good demonstration.
[b]Muay Thai (and a bit of Muay Boran)[/b]
Muay Thai is the home combative style of Thailand, and believes in turning the limbs into weapons and incorporates a large amount of knees and elbows, a major characteristic of Muay Thai. Muay Thai kicks are known to crack ribs, and fights are usually brutal. They also believe in heavy conditioning to strengthen the shins and elbows, as well.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2vAHD5VmCo[/media]
Yes, this is a guy literally beating on a heavy training bag for 2 straight minutes.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgp9ed-kFpo[/media]
Human Weapon on Muay Thai!
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZicUB8FTwc[/media]
Muay Boran, as mentioned in the previous video. (Look for the rest of the Human Weapon series to see even more Thai fighting styles.)
[b]Silat[/b]
Coming from the Malay of Southeast Asia, Silat is a general term for hundreds of different styles that "tend to focus either on strikes, joint manipulation, bladed weapons, throws or animal-based techniques", ala wikipedia (and we know by now that "animal-based techniques" are attacks performed by throwing enraged animals on your opponent). It is characterized by very quick strikes and emphasizes closing distance in order to strike and end a fight as quickly as possible. It's generally really fast. Also, they have some pretty dang cool sweeps.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR7V54EBkyk[/media]
Said sweeps in action.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LNQZFYOGW0[/media]
So I might have just fallen in love with Human Weapon, so what?
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp7OpfecaZM&feature=fvw[/media]
[b]Krav Maga[/b]
Krav Maga was developed by one man during the Holocaust who used it to protect himself and others from the Nazis. As a result, it developed an eclectic range of moves, many involving execution/handcuffing/gunpoint situations, on top of a very simple and powerful philosophy: using the least amount of power to do the most damage. It's a self-defense system, and is meant to be usable by anyone--however, many of its moves are lethal.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HaY2gV5seg[/media]
The guys pictured here do a load of video tutorials on Krav Maga techniques.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ajaQ2j0Al0[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i7N6Y7OYwI[/media]
[b]Kickboxing[/b]
Kickboxing is similar to Muay Thai, but it is Western based and uses Western boxing with incorporated kicks and does not use elbows or knees. It is practiced as self defense, a full-contact, competitive sport, or merely for fitness. A lot of the kicks are very similar to those used in Tae Kwon Do, as well.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnkKuI-YAY[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8YYZGvKM-8[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtp2ibwd2Ms&feature=related[/media]
[b]IV. The Actual Stuff (That You Can Do)[/b]
Now that you're all excited about it, what can you actually [i]do[/i] to get your blood boiling? Let's face it--fighting for the sake of fighting amongst friends is pretty damn fun. It's also one of the most invigorating feelings, and believe it or not, getting hit really feels empowering--so does hitting someone else. But before you can get to all that, you need some things first...
[b]1. Preparations[/b]
[i]Location[/i]
First, you need to find a place you can actually fight where you won't get in trouble, arrested, stared at, or whatever. For me, this is at my old high school--the faculty knows our group and don't really care what we get down to anymore. Potential spots could be a gym, a backyard, or something of the sort. Places with grass or soft floors are ideal (if you can fight on an actual mat, that's lovely).
[i]Supplies and Gear[/i]
If you need sparring gear, joint braces, or whatever, bring them. Make sure that if you spar with shoes, that your shoes are not shitkickers, steel-toe boots, or anything of the sort. If you spar barefoot, bring some spare socks just in case the skin on the bottom of your feet tears or opens--those kind of wounds can easily get infected. Bring band-aids, possibly bandages, and make sure to bring Gatorade or a similar sports drink, or at the very least bring plenty of water and something with plenty of sodium (soy sauce packets work well in a pinch), because you need electrolytes after exercising. For a cheaper alternative, try and [url="http://sportsgirlsplay.com/recipes-for-homemade-sports-drinks/"]make your own homemade sports drinks[/url].
[i][b]Rules[/b][/i]
Make sure you establish some rules before you get down to fighting. Are you fighting with or without kicks? Allowing head blows? Are you allowing kicks at the legs? Are you willing to go down to a groundfight if one of you goes down? One strike before disengaging (point system), a few for punishment and practice, or an all out brawl until one of you breaks it off? Are you allowing groin shots? Probably not. :v:
[i]Stretch![/i]
Once you've found a spot and you're ready to go, make sure you do a [i]full body[/i] stretch. Try these, and make sure to do them in both directions where applicable:
[list]Touch your toes, standing and sitting[/list]
[list]Roll your head around slowly to stretch your neck in a circle, turn head left, right, up, and down[/list]
[list]Turn your wrists and ankles about[/list]
[list]Do some splits until your legs feel comfortable[/list]
[list]Raise your leg as high as you can without straining until you feel more limber[/list]
[list]Rotate your arms about[/list]
[list]Stretch your back out[/list]
[list]Straighten out your back leg, place your foot far behind you, and with your front leg bent, bend into this[/list]
[list]Put your heel on the floor with the top of your foot against a wall or similar surface and bend forward to stretch[/list]
And stretch anything else you possibly can.
[b]2. [highlight]What Your Body Can and Cannot Take[/highlight][/b]
The human body can take a lot of damage. If it's the first time you've ever done full contact sparring and you're not using any gear, you'll most likely be surprised by just how much suffering you can, well, suffer. The arms, thighs, sides of the upper back (not on the spine), stomach, and pectorals can a lot of strikes of large force, and to a degree, so can your sides (rib area and a bit lower). [b]However[/b], there are some places you must be VERY CAREFUL when striking, or preferably, not strike at all.
[list]The head and neck area[/list]
It's generally a good idea to agree not to strike the head and face at all (however, the only downside to this is you get lazy and forget to defend the head and face). Unless you're fighting for a knockout (which isn't a very good idea), avoid striking the head. Avoid hitting the eyes for obvious reasons. Don't strike the temples, as a hard enough hit there can kill someone. Don't hit the jaw--it can force someone to bite their own tongue, and if struck hard enough could make them snap their neck. Don't strike the neck area in general, especially near the Adam's apple, like the trachea. This can crush someone's windpipe. On the sides of the neck, beware of striking the jugular. Striking the nose on the tip is very painful and can seriously disorient someone, as can striking the bridge of the nose. I've heard that striking the fulcrum (area between the nose and upper lip) can also mess someone up, but I've never seen it or experienced it. Don't try it, anyways. Don't strike the back of the neck--this can kill someone if the blow is hard enough, as well. If you're lucky, paralysis. Ears; don't hit them. I've heard that clapping both hands over someone's ears will burst their eardrums and cause internal bleeding. I don't know if this is true, but I do know that getting a blow to the ears SUCKS. In general, stay away from the head and neck.
[list]Torso and back area and below[/list]
Don't strike the sternum or below, the area on the torso where the ribs come to meet. Don't strike the solar plexus. Being hit there or a good strike to the sternum (especially at the base of the sternum) can cause you to become disoriented and unable to breathe, and a strong hit can result in unconsciousness. Do not kidney shot. On the back, avoid striking the lower sides, and [i]anywhere[/i] on the center of the back, where the spine runs down. You run the risk of paralysis there. Finally, don't strike the groin unless you really hate your friend's mojo and gene pool.
[list]Hands, fingers, feet, toes, and joints[/list]
BE VERY CAREFUL. Always be aware that you can get injured, there is no guarantee it will not be your dominant hand, and keep in mind the fact that you may have to limp home when deciding to go out to a sparring location a mile away without bus money. In particular, be careful of your fingers and toes--fingers, when using open hand styles, can easily be stubbed by an incoming fist and trust me, it HURTS. Even a moderate jam can render you unable to use a fist, and for some, this is a technique to be relied on. It depends on your rules. Your wrists and joints can easily get messed up in the same manner. Beware of your feet--it's very easy to sprain an ankle as well (I was once limping like a gimp for 3 weeks because of a nasty sprain). Be particularly careful not to stomp on your opponent's feet, or be careful not to have your feet stomped on if you're allowing that sort of thing--it can really mess up your foot (just how I am limping now because of it).
[highlight]Note that it is very possible to kill or knock someone out with a strong enough strike nearly anywhere on the torso, neck or head--you don't need to break bones to cause internal damage, and there may come a point when you are so strong that you cannot spar another person using full force unless you want blood on your hands.[/highlight]
[list]Breaking arms, wrists, submissions, etc.[/list]
When fighting, please make sure you know what moves actually do break bones, and don't carry them through all the way. If you think there's any chance you could accidentally break something, don't use it. Make sure to be aware of your partner's attempts to tap out.
[b]3. Sparring![/b]
So, sparring! How do you do it? Well, you just pretty much get a partner, take a stance, raise your fists (or not, you know, whatever), and start fighting. Bouts can end at a certain number of points, until one or both of you is tired, or you're too hurt or afraid of getting hurt more to go on, or however you want to determine it. A fight might end at a full submission, or one might simply tap out, get up, dust themself off, and continue fighting.
If you've never fought or taken a martial art/MMA/whatever in your life before, a good practice is using simple open hand slaps without kicking to get used to the idea of attacking, defending, striking, and being struck. Eventually, you can inch it up by incorporating kicks, trying to learn how to assume the stances and use the techniques of various styles. Have fun with it, and be safe. That's pretty much all there is to it.
[b]4. Learning to Fight[/b]
Now, if you're [i]serious[/i] about learning the stuff, you'll need to practice a good amount. It's a good idea to learn how to do a kick from an existing style rather than making one up--if you're kinesthetically challenged (body stupid), then chances are you'll be teaching yourself a very improper, vulnerable, or inefficient form. Be aware of your body and the way techniques should be, to the utmost of your abilities. Try to perceive each technique and stance's particular uses, and what the philosophies behind them are. You'll need to practice your strikes, blocking, and techniques a lot. Some of these will require a partner. Make sure they're willing, and don't hurt them. I'll try and give you some basics here.
[i]Appropriate Stance and Guard[/i]
As mentioned in the Stance section, a good stance should be stable, secure, and balanced. If someone tries to push on you, you should be either immovable or will not fall over, but step backwards into the stance again. Your guard, or where your hands are, should be somewhere near the face--at the very least, one hand should be so that it can defend the head and torso area quickly. Often, one hand is held back and another forward--the forward hand is often the same side as the forward leg, so if the left leg is forward, the left hand will be forward as well, while the other hand will be farther back. This happens naturally if your body is turned sideways into the stance, just because that arm will naturally be farther ahead. At the same time, this is a good idea because if you step forward with your back leg, you can punch forward with your back arm as well, bringing a lot of momentum with it. At the same time, your back hand can defend the area of your body that's farther away from the opponent, while the front hand is up front and ready to defend and perhaps attack if the opportunity arises. Make sure that your hands are not directly in front of your face--an opponent can easily punch your hand into your face and make you feel really stupid in the process. When guarding, make sure the tops of your hands face the outside. In other words, the blunt "hammer" part of the hand should face your opponent.
[i]How to Punch[/i]
When punching, the starting position of your hands should not be farther out than your shoulder--if they are, you lose force. You can either twist your hand so that the top of your hand is on top after a punch, or extend it straight out, leaving the top of your hand to face outward, a common punch seen in wushu. Never overextend your arm--it should not even extend to full length, because if you strike too hard, you can pop your elbow or pull something. The optimal point to strike someone is not at the very end of your punch, but about 90% before it ends where the power is the greatest. If you hit someone when your punch is just ending, you'll have no power; it'll be like tapping them. The same applies to kicks. There are types of punches aside from a simple twist punch or straight extending punch--what immediately come to mind are uppercuts and hooks. An uppercut uses the whole torso and shoulder as the driving force alongside movement of the arm muscles. As such, your arm will make an L shape and that shape itself, along with the arm's orientation, should not change much. The same sort of thing applies when doing a hook--the hips' rotation is what gives it its power. Mind that when punching, always rotate your hips; this is what gives a punch true momentum and power, and it also serves to extend the distance your punch reaches.
[i]How to Kick[/i]
Learning how to kick is a good deal trickier than learning how to punch. A lot of people kick with their back hunched over, their balance completely off, and they tend to overshoot with their legs, knocking them off balance and leaving them vulnerable. The back needs to be straight. The basic front kick is the same across the board--you lift a leg up and kick forward, striking with the ball and heel of the foot, generally aimed at the torso area. It can either be an forceful snap kick, or a push kick, forcing the opponent away. The proper way to do a front kick is to lift the thigh up, the shin bent downwards to face the ground like in a knee, and then to snap the shin up and kick with a forward motion. Another version is just to lift up with a slightly bent knee and then straighten the leg out into the opponent, leaning forward into it (akin to taking a very big step). Depending on the exaggeration of this, it can just be another version of the front kick, a front push kick, or an elephant kick. To do a roundhouse kick in the Tae Kwon Do style, you rotate your entire body, and lean back with your torso while lifting your back leg up with knee bent, spinning on your heel so that it gives you a large turn, and then unleashing your bent leg in a snapping motion to strike an opponent with the top of the foot (though the shin is fine too). MMA and other styles frequently use, instead of this rotating and then snapping out kick, a swinging kick that involves using the back arm as a counterweight to avoid overshooting. You lift your leg, slightly bent, swing it sideways into the opponent while swinging your back arm in the opposite direction. Doing this, you do not have to spin on the your heel, but all the power comes from the leg and slight turn of the hip itself. A sidekick in Tae Kwon Do style is done in the same manner, except instead of swinging out with the leg, the foot is bent upwards to strike with the outer edge of the foot or the sole, with the toes being on the same horizontal level as the heel or even lower. I'm not entirely sure how it is done in other styles, but it's arguably the same technique as an MMA roundhouse, using the counterweight and more turning of the hip.
[i]Strength Training[/i]
If you want to increase your strength, you can either go to the gym and lift weights, or simply do the usual independent strength exercises (pushups, outhand and V-shape, situps, pullups, that sort of thing). However, another way to train strength is by tensing your muscles. Do a certain technique and do it slowly (such as a strike or block) and tense the associated muscles, gradually extending to the full length (such as in a block or punch). This tensing helps to work the muscles as well. Alternatively, there are many endurance training practices that build a great amount of strength. For instance, standing in horse stance (when you stand with your feet placed far apart, faced forward, bend the knees, and stay in that position with your back straight) with your arms outstretched and some sort of weight on your outstretched hands will [i]seriously[/i] work out your muscles. The longer you can do it for, the better. You can do as many exercises like this as you can possibly create.
[i]Flexibility Training[/i]
If you want to train flexibility, push your stretches to their max. I've heard that if you dedicate yourself to flexibility seriously, you can become EXTREMELY flexible within two months. Practice sitting splits. When you're watching TV or some idle activity, sit on the floor in a split position and pull yourself wider every time you get comfortable. Learn to do a bridge; learn to walk like that, and to bring your feet and hands very close together when doing so. Another part of strength training would be learning to pull yourself up out of a bridge into standing. Any stretch you can imagine that you can't do to its fullest, try to and with constant practice, you will be able to. Even the dreaded scissor split, where you put one leg forward and then the other straight back behind you and try to touch your butt to the floor.
[i]Conditioning[/i]
So, you want to condition your body? Well, the best way to do that is by hitting things. The safest way to do that is by going to a gym and hitting heavy bags specifically designed for practicing on. The most awesome and entertaining way might be by getting one of those Chinese combat dummies. The most painful and dangerous way is by just hitting stuff. Kicking trees (which makes your shins hurt more than you possibly believe they could), punching walls, elbowing and kneeing poles, stuff like that. Anything around you can be used... Though you (or others) may experience varied levels of satisfaction and happiness depending on what you decide to condition with. For instance, conditioning with your computer monitor isn't a good idea.
[b]And there will be more...[/b]
[b]V. Afterthoughts[/b]
Jesus, that's a lot! Well, I hope it's helpful and either proved an interesting and informative read, or might even encourage you to give this "sparring" stuff a try. Just don't hurt yourself too much. There will be more coming eventually--I intend to add a section on finding a proper dojo for yourself, if you want to actually take formal lessons. I might add some video tutorials or more reference pictures--I might make some myself. Feel free to ask questions and for advice!
[b]Is there an awesome martial art/style you think I should have up here? Think I got something wrong, or you have more important information to add? Let me know! If it's good stuff, I'll add it up to the main post![/b]
[b]Thanks for reading![/b]
If you typed all that up with no copypasta, holllyyyyy craaaaaaaapppp
[QUOTE=Magnitude;16556571]If you typed all that up with no copypasta, holllyyyyy craaaaaaaapppp[/QUOTE]
I did. :v:
I wish I had the willpower to give you more than just an informative.
Alas, I do not.
Enjoy your blue icon.
i gave a funny because of the matrix thing and the fisting thing.
Holy shit, this is what you call a proper thread.
05'ers. :salute:
Very, very nice thread. Do you have any stories of any great bouts you've had in an amateur tourney or something?
Add Jeet Kune Do, it was the style developed by Bruce Lee. I'd like to learn it, but it seems quite painful since you defend by attacking your opponent's fist.
[QUOTE=lil_n00blett;16556837]Very, very nice thread. Do you have any stories of any great bouts you've had in an amateur tourney or something?[/QUOTE]
I've got a couple, but I've particularly avoided talking about them in particular in the thread, because I didn't want to seem like I was just trying to show off. I've never participated in actual tourneys, but I fight with some of the most insane martial arts guys at my school. One guy, the leader of our group, is this guy whose uncle put him through a rigorous training system as a kid, his entire family is into martial arts, he practiced Muay Thai for 3 years and is basically INVINCIBLE. Not to mention he has a cousin who he's about equally matched with, and his [i]mother[/i] can kick both their asses in a two on one. There's another guy who practices Shotokan, and then the other guys aren't as good as them but still fighters. And then there's two chicks who I've been trying to teach Tae Kwon Do, but they're squishy.
A lot of my stories at this point are injury stories. :P But I guess one story would be when I first fought the Shotokan fighter, I didn't have my blocks down very well, and he could step into me extremely easily. I must have taken about 7 pretty strong hits to the chest, and you could see red bruises (that eventually turned purple) in the shape of [i]knuckles[/i] on me. At one point, we kicked each other at the same time, locked legs (I think we struck in the ankles) and somehow we both got our legs messed up and couldn't walk for 3 weeks, which I mentioned in the original post. It looked like I had a concrete leg I was dragging around, because that was the most comfortable way to walk with it. Aside from that, I ripped my toe up doing spin kicks and also somehow got this really strange double cut on the edge of my foot. Didn't get a single good hit in.
But a better story would be one time, I was sparring the Muay Thai fighter, and he does a huge flying knee in my direction, I sidestep and literally punch him in the throat. It was pretty cool, but he just sort of twisted his neck around and shrugged it off. :raise:
Oh, one time I was fighting another black belt Tae Kwon Do fighter and he kicked at me, and I kicked him so hard in the knee it literally knocked him onto his butt. That was cool. :v:
[QUOTE=Kabuto;16557010]Add Jeet Kune Do, it was the style developed by Bruce Lee. I'd like to learn it, but it seems quite painful since you defend by attacking your opponent's fist.[/QUOTE]
I'll look into that, for sure. :patriot:
[QUOTE=Scyze;16557078]*Humble stories*[/QUOTE]
That's cool. Do you plan on taking this anywhere professionally, or is it just a hobby?
very good thread, i've been getting into some MMA and this helped. :)
i am an amateur boxer hth
[QUOTE=derekjeterfan;16557119]i am an amateur boxer hth[/QUOTE]
cool! and this is an MMA thread.
[QUOTE=lil_n00blett;16557111]That's cool. Do you plan on taking this anywhere professionally, or is it just a hobby?[/QUOTE]
At the moment, it's just a hobby. I'm going into art school, so I don't know how much fighting I'll be doing there. I really do love learning about the different cultures and styles, and to go around the world and learn them more in depth would be an amazing thing. At the moment though, I just like to practice and come up with new, fun little styles. Maybe if I get really good sometime in the near future I might enter tournaments or some kind of professional area, but I get the feeling that by that point I'll be kind of old and might just end up getting whipped one way or another. So, who knows!
[QUOTE=efeX;16557138]cool! and this is an MMA thread.[/QUOTE]
ok if youre here to flame thats fine but i was hoping we could combine similar sports ok
just because mine is more popular more successful and more historic doesn't mean we can't share a thread
[QUOTE=derekjeterfan;16557157]ok if youre here to flame thats fine but i was hoping we could combine similar sports ok
just because mine is more popular more successful and more historic doesn't mean we can't share a thread[/QUOTE]
Boxing and all forms of fighting are perfectly welcome here. How you decide to spar/fight is your choice to make, and I'm sure there's probably some other boxers around, as well. I'm sorry that I didn't include a bit on boxing itself, I may the next run of updates about--I felt like it was covered to an extent by Kickboxing, but I understand that the strategy involved is probably extremely different in boxing as well. Sorry about that.
[QUOTE=Scyze;16557181]Boxing and all forms of fighting are perfectly welcome here. How you decide to spar/fight is your choice to make, and I'm sure there's probably some other boxers around, as well. I'm sorry that I didn't include a bit on boxing itself, I may the next run of updates about--I felt like it was covered to an extent by Kickboxing, but I understand that the strategy involved is probably extremely different in boxing as well. Sorry about that.[/QUOTE]
it's ok just trolls like efex or w.e are making this tough. i box at chicago golden gloves but i'm not great yet.
[QUOTE=Scyze;16557154]At the moment, it's just a hobby. I'm going into art school, so I don't know how much fighting I'll be doing there. I really do love learning about the different cultures and styles, and to go around the world and learn them more in depth would be an amazing thing. At the moment though, I just like to practice and come up with new, fun little styles. Maybe if I get really good sometime in the near future I might enter tournaments or some kind of professional area, but I get the feeling that by that point I'll be kind of old and might just end up getting whipped one way or another. So, who knows![/QUOTE]
Yeah, travelling around the world doing that would be interesting. This thread, especially the section with all the different fighting styles, really opened my eyes to the culture in fighting. Thanks, it made me feel a little bit more like the world was a movie how you described the various people with their own styles.
[QUOTE=derekjeterfan;16557157]ok if youre here to flame thats fine but i was hoping we could combine similar sports ok
just because mine is more popular more successful and more historic doesn't mean we can't share a thread[/QUOTE]
Wow, really? I think boxing fits in here fine, but you don't need to be an asshole when somebody says something stupid. Also, he wasn't flaming.
Amateur boxer here. Also dabbled in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Karate.
And I'm sorry, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, any martial discipline that does not encourage full contact, live, dynamic sparring, is just setting you up for failure in a real confrontation. I.E 95% of traditional Asian martial arts.
[QUOTE=Kabuto;16557010]Add Jeet Kune Do, it was the style developed by Bruce Lee. I'd like to learn it, but it seems quite painful since you defend by attacking your opponent's fist.[/QUOTE]
JKD is not a style. It's a principle. Bruce Lee himself said he hated the fact that he had to put a name to it. It's just a way of thinking that faggots have exploited since he died to cash in on his name and steal money from ass loads of angry young teens who want to be badasses.
I've done a little boxing and BJJ... very fun stuff.
Tip: Don't box on a hard surface while barefoot... you will mess your foot up, and it will take a long time to fully heal.
I'm a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Is that cool?
[QUOTE=FPSDars;16557292]I'm a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Is that cool?[/QUOTE]
No. Refer to my post on lack of full contact.
You're probably still in early enough that you aren't too cocky in your (lack of) abilities and can switch to a discipline that encourages live, full contact sparring. DOEET.
[QUOTE=professional;16557300]No. Refer to my post on lack of full contact.
You're probably still in early enough that you aren't too cocky in your (lack of) abilities and can switch to a discipline that encourages live, full contact sparring. DOEET.[/QUOTE]
I should've probably also said that I received that yellow belt like 5 years ago and haven't done Tae Kwon Do since.
I don't practice any martial arts, but there was a teacher at my school who practiced Ninjutsu on a quite serious level. He even went to Japan a couple of times.
He also played World of Warcraft. :v:
Nice, detailed thread.
I started practising Karate a while back but there wasn't enough people willing to stay with the group, so they combined with another which led to an extremely crowded hall (literally not being able to stretch your leg out without kicking someone up the arse). I left after that and took up kick boxing for a bit.
i just carry a butterfly knife around and hope nothing bad will happen
these are good except for the aikido and the other 'OMG KUNG FU' bullshit. They're only good for tournaments because [i]gasp[/i] they teach you shit specifically for tournament these days. My nearest TKD dojo or whatever doesn't even teach how to defend against a headbutt or a groin kick.
not to mention, most kung fu guys aren't successful in places like UFC, PRIDE!, K-1, and etc.
i mean, look at bonnar. Black belt Tae-kwon-do and lost to fucking Coleman. Come on.
Good thread.
Also what the guy above me said, most traditional martial arts are ridiculous and useless. I'm a huge fan of MMA though.
Also the only thing bonnar has to be ashamed about with losing to Coleman is the fact that Coleman is a thousand years old. He could still double leg a T-Rex while on all fours gassed to hell. Coleman is awesome.
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