Treebranch

Depends on whether you want to ring fight or simply learn a MA. Do you want to learn weapons? Have you looked at MA that intrigue you? I would do what you are drawn to do and try not to listen to anyone's reason why you should take a particular MA. Don't believe the hype, choose one that seems a good fit to you.

If you are interested in an art that is the viscious version of Aikido, look for a Daito Ryu Aikijutsu school near you. Aikijutsu is awesome.

Yes, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu or Ninjutsu as we know it today is basically Jujutsu, old Jujutsu. It's basically 6 schools of Jujutsu and 3 schools of Ninjutsu that make up Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu or Ninjutsu. The Ninjutsu ideals kind of permeates into the Jujutsu so the Jujutsu is a little different in some ways to TJJ. Some of the Kamaes or stances to my knowledge are different from TJJ. I hope that helps.

I was just exaggerating, but I think you see my point.

In the process of scaring someone away you may be attacked and be forced to use it. Don't carry one for your own sake.

In the ring go to the floor if you can grapple, why not? If you are on the street you're just plain stupid.

Yeah, but does BJJ even have multiple attacker defenses in it's curriculum, I've never seen it. That would be cool to have as an addition to NHB tournaments a multiple attacker match, let's see which MA would be best for that. I bet you it wouldn't be BJJ, no offense.

I think videos are fine as additional information to a Martial Artist, but not the primary source of study.

Personally I think he's dubious character. He also created his Dux Ryu Ninjitsu which from what I've seen has no ties to real Nujutsu. Seems like he's just another Marketing Genius who jumped on the Ninja bandwagon in the 80's. I don't think you can compare him to Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris.

Have you seen these guns, they're very cool. They have almost any gun you can think of. Some come in 90% metal with 10% plastic which feel like the real thing. Just don't carry these things around in public. You'll scare the hell out of someone or a cop may shoot you.

Does anyone here know what Airsoft Guns are? They are basically BB Guns that look like real guns and often act like real guns. The nicer ones from Japan have the same features and characteristics of a real gun. For example, I have a Desert Eagle and a Beretta Pietro, one by Tokyo Murai and the other by Western Arms. They are awesome. We are starting to incorporate them into our training. What do you guys think about using these guns for tacticle training and defenses against guns?

Great article.

Why would you want to carry it? Do you have a bad leg? Do you live in an environment where your need to carry a sword? I think you're hoping for trouble so you have an excuse to use it. I'd think carrying a small lock blade in your pocket is good enough. Now learning how to use a cane sword is something I encourage you to do, but carrying it around is only going to bring you trouble.

Butter Bean.

Have fun!

shazaam said: If you are moving off and back on a 45 angle you'll be taking his balance that's when the lock works. Just trying to put a lock on someone while they still have their balance is silling, it won't work. Also if you are taking his balance and your moving back on the 45 angle his haymaker will miss you if you are doing it right. There's a little more to it, but I think you can see my point.

Go to a school that teaches the sword. Daito Ryu Jujutsu has great sword training to offer.

Submission techniques can turn into breaking techniques quite easily. Pressure points come in handy when your in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend them as a form of attack. It's helpful, but not essential.

I pick tactics over strength if I could only have one. Tactics would come in handy more often than strength will in a fight. Strength is limited and tactics are limitless.

It's obvious that no matter what the tiger will win every time. So are you saying a larger person will win every time? I don't think comparing animals to people is helpful in this discussion whatsoever. I think tactics are more important in the span of your life than strength is. When you get old you get weaker and the only thing you have left is your cunning.

Screw the laws! If I feel someone has full intent to harm me, he's mine.

Warp Spider the analogies you are using with the tiger and dog are just completely extreme. A tiger a wild animal that kills to eat is going to be deadlier regardless of the size and strength, even if the tiger the same size as the dog. People are closer in size and strength than a tiger and a dog. Now if you're talking about fighting hand to hand for the most part a big guy who is well trained against a small guy who is well trained, the person with greater size and strength has a better chance. That's way tactics are so important. If you are small and very skilled you have to learn how to stack things in your favor. If that means concealing a weapon or having a really dirty trick up your sleeve to gain advantage, do it. A smaller person most of the time can probably out run the bigger one, there is no shame in surviving. Now a small person who picks a fight with a bigger one is just looking to prove themselves and vice versa. Plus the man with the rock 50lb rock hiding on higher ground waits until the unknowing man with gun gets right under him and lets the rock crash down on his unsuspecting skull will win. Thinking outside of the box is the key to survival, there are no rules and be a viscious as possible.

See this is the trouble we get into when we use the "STYLE" when describing a MA. System is much more appropriate. System is exactly what fighting is based on. For example, Kung Fu San Soo is based on moving to places where the attacker is at a disadvantage and only striking to vital areas of the body. Judo is based on countering into order to get in close for a powerful throw or lock. Karate is based on blocking, kicking and striking with power. Even though my descriptions might not be the most accurate they do illustrate the difference in each system of fighting. Each system is based on a certain set of principles that were developed for a specific purpose or ideology. Certain system require a person to be strong and able to take pain. Others require the person to be agile and limber. Others require the person to be sensitive to weight distribution and balance. So "Styles" vary based on the set of principles each system of fighting employs.

battousai16 very well put. I think to many people forget the importance of footwork or bodywork as I like to say, because you're using your whole body as one.

Iaido is very good. Kendo is good if the instructor teaches Kenjutsu as well. Kendo would probably be the most fun.