Rich_2k3

I would say for the most complete art, hapkido. It has throws, kicks, strikes, grappling, locks, weapons (as well as improvised weapons). Its got abit of everything. Here is a quote from a good source that should answer a few questions: "Hapkido is a Korean martial art, and combines techniques from Karate, Aikido and Judo. It also draws influence from other native Korean martial arts. Characteristic for Hapkido are the wrist locks and throws that can look quite spectacular. Hapkido uniforms are available in white and black and have a characteristic diamond pattern. Developed in the 1940s and 50s, its founder Grandmaster Choi had learned martial arts first in Japan, in a school of Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu, an ancient form of Jujutsu that was practiced mostly by Samurai. On Choi's return to Korea, he added many techniques to defend against particular types of attacks, and borrowed heavily from other styles. The name of what is known as Hapkido today changed several times, and famous students of Choi such as Ji Han Jae continued to develop the art and were instrumental in bringing Hapkido to the west, where it was taught to FBI and other US government agencies. During this time Ji Han Jae met Bruce Lee, who was very impressed with the techniques of Hapkido. Ji Han Jae coached Bruce Lee, who then went on and incorporated certain aspects of Hapkido into the development of his own emerging style, Jeet Kune Do."

I'm looking to go pro or anything, I just want to experience a few tourny's, i'm not bothered if i dont win, as long as I try my best and do well. My only worry is that I dont want to be pitted against a much higher grade and get my * whipped.

Pot, I'd like to introduce you to my friend kettle... Then your wrong too! firstly street fights have no rules, because thats what self defence is about, didnt you know? Secondly boxing isn't a martial, and its never been recognised as a martial art. Thats not putting boxing down, its stating fact. Just cuz its not a martial art doesnt mean thats a bad thing. Boxing is a sport and I cant be bothered to go into a huge long-winded argument about it with u, look it up 4 christ sake. Yes, that is what I said... are u lookin 4 an argument are somthing? I simply stated that boxing is good for self defence in a different way....so what. I never said that was a bad thing. Sevenstar you have obviously got the wrong end of the stick on this. U dont seem to understand that I have nothing agaisnt boxing. Wing chun and boxing are both very good in their own way. Wing Chun is a martial art, and is most commonly associated with self defence, when defending ur self there are no rules and yes you can kick to groin, gouge at eyes etc, etc. Obviously when ur training there are rules but then there has to be. Boxing is not a martial art, its not, and never has been recognised as one, just because your fighting someone does not make it a martial art. Many ppl think it is, in some ways it cud be thought as one, but technically and officially its not. Now plz lets drop this and stick to the subject.

oops posted twice soz.

http://www.senishow.com/ "Demonstrations, Seminars, Competitions, Bouts, Instruction, Workshops, Equipment" Theres a huge martial arts show next week (24th-25th april) in the birmingham NEC. Theres loads of tops fighters from around the world and from various martial arts. Many will be competeing against each other and demonstrating weapons/kata, theres also MMA, UFC, kickboxing and Muay Thai matches going on. It looks spectacular, Have a look. I was just wondering cuz i've seen a few posts about meet up's recently, and heres a good place for some of guys to get 2gether and go down.

I'm thinking about taking hapkido eventually (i'm joining the police force, so it'll be good 4 me), however I dont like the idea of lots of high kicking techniques, cuz at the mo I practice karate, and I love my punches. As you said its just for fitness purposes, but still, I dont like the idea, I love powerful punch combos backed up with kicks. I'm probably still gonna take it up. I'll cross train in Karate and Hapkido, good mix.

http://www.kyokushin.co.uk/full.htm These are the rules for a normal kyokushin match, there may be some slight changes for different countires and organisations but they'll still be more or less the same.

Guys, guys plz calm down, ok maybe saying it wont get u anywhere is a slight exaggeration, i was just abit pead off after reading the post that wing chun isnt good 4 self defence. However I dont think that boxing is gr8 for learning self defence techniques, the reason that ppl can win in fights when they have studied boxing is because they have gained strength and fitness while training for it and their punches pack an iron blow. kickboxing is similar but I admit there are some elements that help u 4 self defence. At the end of the day, they are not martial arts (there not, plz dont say they are) they are sports and based majorly around rules and restrictions. ????

Well, maybe, but there just pointers to help give u an advantage, try reading some more articles, and u may think differently.

Cash or cheque ?

A little town in Leicestershire called Ashby, dont know if u've heard of it. Havent spoken to him about it yet, but he'd be very supportive if I did. Several members of our club have been in tournements and won, we do have tournements popping up now and again, but the probably with them is, is that there're are only age and weight divisions, so I could be agaisnt an experienced dan grade.

I thought u were deducted points if u didnt use a minimum amount of kicks per round...

This ones abit pc, but take it light heartedly: whats black and dosent work: Half of Birmingham! copy and paste answer...

I think I'll give it a try in 2nights sparring.

Congratulations - I hope he continues to do well in the future!!

Oh no, i dont want to enter the world champs or anything! just maybe the AMA british nationals or regional tournements. I totally agree that theres more to karate than tournements, i was just thinking of entering in a few small ones and see how i do.

I prefer training in a shirt and my gi pants, although the shirts must be recognised, ie. AMA badges. I do like my gi, obviously it'll be worn for tournements.

I see. When doing a normal sweep with your front leg do you keep your toes straight and twist ur body like in a roundhouse, or do you use the underside of your foot and sort of parry it foot sideways? or do you do somthing else . I think the main reasons we dont do too many sweeps is because we have not mats in our dojo, however some of our experienced black belts use them constantly in sparring.

By the way, this person is iggnorent, and as u can see he's recieved abit of abuse, for good reasons. Wing Chun is renouned as an effective and technical martial art. Kickboxing/boxing wont get u anywhere for self defence, cuz there sports and all the techniques are based around rules and the condentdors wearing large gloves. They do however give u a good workout, especially boxing.

If you want self defence then definatley choose wing chun, if you want sport and fitness choose kickboxing. Wing chun is geared more towards short, powerful punches and relatively low kicks, it also utilizes pressure points. kickboxing on the other hand is lots of powerful kicks and dodging is preferred over blocking. Kickboxing is fought in the ring, with boxing style rules, except u are usually deducted points if u don't use a minimum amount of kicks in each round which is set by the judges. Kickboxing is usually always full-contact Just so you know, Wing Chun was the art that Bruce Lee mastered before he went on to create his own art, Jeet Kun do.

How do you guys sweep, because i've heard so many methods and i'd like to know how to sweep best. Different styles use different sweeps. Do you use your front or back leg? and what is your footwork like? do you use your instep or position like a roundhouse? where on the leg do you target? and do you wait until the leg is moving? Basically give a full explaination on how you sweep and any tips u've learnt, cuz I've been doing karate for a year and a half now and I dont know how to sweep properly. Be as comprehensive as you like in your answer.

Found a site, http://www.amauk.co.uk look on the "links & downloads" section, it has the British Nationals and Internatinal tournements and several regional and other UK tourneys.

Do you think a 1hr30 lesson every week is sufficient enough to be competeing in tournements. Bear in mind that we spar for about 5-10mins every lesson and I train heavily for fitness at home and at the gym. I also practice my karate at home. Do you think this is enough for entering tournements?

http://www.martialway.com/celebrities/snipes/wesley_snipes.htm Never knew that, wesley snipes studied Capoeira.

I've got a Blitz White Diamond gi but dont really wear it for training, I just wear my AMA shirt and my gi trousers/pants.