MuayThai Fighter

Chokes are the best when grappling I find,so I'd have to agree with you on that.

Very true,but broken bones is better then sliced bones.But neither is obviously better.

Well obviously a sword would be more effective then a bo,because of it's shape and sharpness,however if you are wanting to do weapons training to know how to defend yourself on street,bo is probably your best choice,because no one these days walks around with a sword in their jacket or carried on the back,that's just in movies like the High Lander. You may not carry a bo either,but you can use a piece of wood on street,if you're lucky to find one near you,in same way as you would use the bo. In a night club,where there's almost always fights, if the club has a pool table you can use the pool cues in exact same way as the bo. However, if in a club with no pool tables you could also use one of the chairs to block against a knife in almost same way as a bo. Any kind of stick defense is your best bet for weapon training for self-defense,because stick fighting techniques can be used with almost anything you can pick up. If you want weapons training just for fun,then any weapons training can be good. I know how to use bo,sai,tonfa.My favourite is bo.

How about elbow strikes to temple instead of fist or open hand? Actually it's effective but unless you can do it with control I don't suggest it,since a person can die that way and many Thai boxers in Thailand have been killed by it,because in Thailand they allow just about everything,they have very few rules and don't wear head gear. Besides most countries don't allow the use of elbow strikes during sparring although they are no doubt effective.

In part I think you are "sort of" correct. Different styles serve different purposes. If someone studies an art which is for a specific purpose it should be clear to them that other arts and methods are less suited for that purpose. Studying towards the goal of fighting against other fighters in a minimal/no rules environment is one goal. Many arts are poorly suited to that goal, in fact most traditional styles are. That doesn't mean they are no good, just not good for that goal. AT the same time if your goal is to be a martial arts movie star and "real" fighting art is not a good choice. There are also personal limits as to how far each person is willing to go. No face contact, no grappling and minimal bumps and bruises may be the conditions neccessary for someone to train. Not everyone is willing to do those things. They deserve an option as well. There are lines I won't cross, same for most people. Now the "problem" is that full contact fighters, Mixed martial artists, etc. come out and say this art is not as good for fighting full contact (real fights ARE full contact) very often they are right. Thats not what that "art" does. Grapplers come out and say this art can't fight on the ground, they can't thats not what they do. Problem is everyone wants to be "the big bad" and they are not. If you're training is not full contact, a full contact fighter will beat you. If you don't train all ranges, someone who does will beat you. I don't think that makes arts that don't "bad", it just makes them not as good for that purpose. But not everyone is willing to do those things, and they shouldn't have to. But I do think that they should admit that they don't and we could all get along much better. But some of those that don't still want to claim to have the "best" stuff. So naturally they get annoyed when they get told they don't, and those that tell them they do get annoyed as well because they do those things. They put in the work, do the conditioning, get the bruises and pay in blood and sweat. Then they get these others who don't tell them how they are better, or "just as good" despite not doing the "dirty work". Now yes I've stepped on a lot of toes, and yes I've made some pretty big generalizations. There are some "traditional" schools which do train hard and fight hard, but that is no longer the norm. Just like we think keypad and not rotary dial when we picture a phone. Some have the dial, but most don't. Cross the lines, you'll feel better. The lines need to be crossed. If we all just dance around being PC about everything we might as well admit that Tae Bo can be as effective in the UFC, if used by the right person in the right way. It can't, anyone who says so is full of it. Nothing wrong with tae bo though, thats just not what it does... I 100% agree,couldn't have said it better,guess that's why lots of fights started in my first post when I was saying Muay Thai is best for stand up.I tried explaining that traditional arts aren't good for fighting for same reason you mentioned but good arts no doubt in other ways,it all depends why you want to do martial arts,but I guess it came out wrong so almost everyone started ganging up on me.

To some people,I may have been considered to have bad mouth karate although I only gave my opinions from my own experience and compared to Muay Thai. Karate is a great martial arts no doubt,but it depends why you chose to do martial arts,like any other art. For example: In my opinion,like I say my opion,I think karate is great if all you want to do is practice forms,but not worth doing if you joined martial arts for self-defense purposes.My reason for this only comes from my own experience.I truly believe to be a good martial arts fighter you have to spar,I mean full contact spar,no B.S point sparring. That's why I believe Muay Thai to be the best for stand up and also agree that jujitsu would beat any traditional arts that practice forms,when it comes to ground.Although I don't find karate and other arts to be practical whether stand up or not,I'd have to say karate would beat jujitsu in stand up,but obviously not on the ground. But once again,that's my opinion and everyone has a right to their own opinion.

There are different definitions of effective. Someone might see their personal/internal growth as the most important so, in their view, something like Tai Chi would be more effective than Jujutsu. Of course, I did misread an earlier post of yours which sent me off on this tangent. Still, it's something to keep in mind. Good point never thought of it that way,however when I say effective,I'm not talking about personal/internal growth,I'm talking about self-defense. Tai Chi is a martial arts more for stuff like Chi and for relaxation,although some Tai Chi people will tell you it's great for self-defense as well if used quickly on street,however I find that very,very hard to believe. Infact I don't even consider Tai Chi a martial arts even though it is a martial arts.

Thanks.I got to be mature,I'm turning 34, March.15 34 and young at heart.

I know what you mean,I started in 1987 and even that seems so long ago.

I disagree,I think best age is about 6-8 yrs.old.I wish I had started at that age,although I did judo at 8 but only for a year,had I stuck to it,I'd probably be a Judo champion by now.LOL 12-16 isn't too late,but it is better to start earlier,the earlier the better.I'd say starting at 19-21 is okay but it would be harder,since that's when you stop growing. Although I should have done martial arts much longer when I was younger,I still didn't start too late.I'm 34 next Saturday and because I started before I stopped growing,I think I'm doing great at martial arts,had I started later then that I probably wouldn't be where I am today. I'm not as flexible as I used to be,but I'm just as strong and better shape then when I was 18.

Any age is good for martial arts depending on what style you want to do. Muay Thai Kickboxing probably wouldn't be appropriate for someone in their 40's unless they've been doing martial arts for years. Obviously if you're in your 40's or 50's your best bet would be a martial arts that isn't based solely on self-defense and you'd probably not want to sparr at that age,at least not full contact anyways. I started martial arts when I was seventeen,I wish I could have started sooner,but being sick all the time would have made it impossible. I did Judo for about a year when I was 8 but then was pulled out of that for medical reasons and haven't been back since.I hated judo back then anyways and got bored easily. Now that I am older,I would probably enjoy it,I might try it in a couple years from now.

I disagree,most people who use only fists don't have any training in martial arts period. However most martial artists will use fists in a real fight depending on the situation,where as a street fighter will only use fists.I can't imagine striking somebody opened handed even though I did karate for many years.Punching is more effective.I won't argue the fact that open hand is great for grabbing and throwing,there is no doubt that it is true,but that's provided he's fighting you close up but as far striking,you're taking a big chance of him grabbing your fingers and breaking them. A punch to head will hurt him more then an open strike.It is true that the head is one of the strongest part of the body,but it doesn't stop a person from feeling pain or feeling dizzy from getting hit,unless he's like me or some other people who have an extremely high threshold for pain. Think about it if some people can still get hurt or dizzy by being punched in head even with head gear on,then imagine what it must be like without head gear,this means it must defenitely be effective on street when there is no head gear,especially since both people would be bear fisted in a real situation.

Don't forget that's only for grappling though. Just as I have never found anything more practical and effective as MuayThai for stand up. But everyone has their own opinion of what is best. Anyways,lets not start fighting in here by saying whose style is best or what is more practical,I don't want this thread locked.

No we're not,I don't even know him,why?

The combination of MuayThai and BJJ would be great for you.

If interested in my art,Muay Thai,please feel free to checkout this site that best explains it. http://members.aol.com/Thaiboxing2000/ I joined martial arts for self-defense purposes,to keep fit,and for motivation.After trying Goju Ryu Karate and Meibu-Kan,I decided to try Muay Thai,which I enjoyed most and find more effective,but of course that's my opinion. What I like most about Muay Thai is the quickness,speed,power and the amazing brutal shin kicks,knees, elbow strikes and the clinching,as well as the powerful punches of boxing in Muay Thai. One thing I really like about Muay Thai is how fast you can improve in the art and become a better fighter.

Ya,I've never done BJJ,but I've both heard and seen how effective it is,as long as you're in a position to grapple.

I have done different martial arts styles,but still interested in what people have to say about their art. What do you enjoy about your particular style?Do you find it to be effective both in and out of ring? or Do you not do martial arts for self-defense?What is your reason for doing martial arts? etc. Please share with me,your reasons and opinions. This thread is not meant for fighting,just as the others weren't either,however doesn't seem to stop moderators from shutting down all my threads,thanks to those who,take everything so personal and don't know how to discuss without being hurt,so please be as nice and friendly as possible in here. I would like to have at least one thread that doesn't close down soon after opening it.

Head gear is good to avoid death although it helps only to some degree. However if martial arts schools want to make us wear head gear they should make ones that are more comfortable to wear yet does its job. Sometimes I think the headgear can do more damage then good. I don't know about you guys,but sometimes I feel like the band around the head gear is choking me.I've fought guys where the head gear sometimes fall off,infact sometime 2 or 3 times during a fight.With how easy they can fall off there is almost no point in wearing head gear. I also find head gear sometimes can block vision allowing the other person to smoke you in head. So how good is the head gear really? Personally I'd have to say although it has many disadvantages,it also has some advantages,such as avoiding going deaf and having to wear hearing aid,like someone else mentioned in this thread,and decreasing chances of death. I believe only full contact fighters like myself really need head gear,it makes no sense to wear it in point sparring,like I used to have to in karate. Mouth guards are more uncomfortable then head gear I'd say, because you have it in your mouth for sometime,gather up saliva and then find it hard to breath,however I'd rather keep my teeth in place then find them in the middle of the ring.

"Punches to hard areas such as the face with closed fist very often result in a broken hand" So does that mean in most regular street fights or bar fights both people will end up with broken knuckles? After all you never see people using open hand strikes in a real fight at least I've never seen it.Infact some people get knocked out after being punched a few times,or if the person is a really good fighter he might even knock his opponent unconcious with one punch which is unlikely of course,but possible. I have a friend who has been in many street fights and doesn't know any martial arts,so he knows nothing about open hand strikes,and yet has never broken any knuckles,only damage he has ever been unfortunate to have is end up with 15 stitches going down his face from having somebody breaking a bottle on side of his face from behind,due to some gangster mistaking him for someone else and then apologizes to him.

Well in most real fights people punch whether they're in martial arts or not,so wearing gloves has nothing to do with punching. You're right though when competeing we wear gloves,does that mean we couldn't punch effectively without them on the street? I would sure think we could,it may be hard on bear knuckles but the guy getting punched would hurt alot more then you even if your knuckles do get busted,well depending how hard you hit him.I would have to assume if you managed to break your knuckles from punching someone you would have had to hit your opponent pretty damn hard. I've never busted my knuckles in a real fight,but I've broken a person's nose with my fists.I've also punched somebody over and over again in mouth that his braises came out and ripped his whole mouth a part that he ended up bleeding all over the place,the only thing I got was a bit of skin broken by his braises,never broke my knuckles.To do the damage I did to that guy,you could tell I punched him pretty damn hard. This was when I was younger and had a very,very bad temper,and when a person has a bad temper and gets in a fight they don't punch softly. So can you explain to me why I've never broken my knuckles from punching in a real fight?,after all no one wears gloves in a real fight.

I suppose,but personally I'd rather punch someone in the jaw then use an open hand knife technique. The only time I'd use an open hand technique is if I've been slammed against a wall and both of opponent's hands are around my neck,then I'd knife hand him to throat or use my first two fingers to jap him in throat. Other then that I'd never use an open hand strike.If I kept my hand open during a fight it would only be to pull a person's shirt or jacket over his head so he can't see what's coming and start punching him,and I would also use it for clinching so I can throw person off balance and start using knee kicks. I would say having hands open are more for grabbing then striking,personally I'd rather punch.I've only used a knife hand chop in a real fight once when a guy came to attack me while I was walking on the street and that was when I had him leaning forward already from missing his punch and extending forward then from the chop,I got him into headlock,but in most cases I'd rather punch. It's easier to punch at least for me anyways.

attemting to parry, block or evade a strike would be much more prudent I agree parrying,blocking and evading a strike make more sense.

The point is I'm only talking about the martial arts styles that are combat and competition oriented,otherwise I wouldn't be talking about effectiveness,would I?

Never driven whether a car,motorbike,go cart,or moped,I can't drive due to medical reasons,not out of choice. I shouldn't even be doing martial arts especially something like muaythai that is full contact,but it's what I enjoy and what I do best,and beats staying home all the time. Please don't ask what my medical condition is,it's not something I want to advertize to the whole world.