Mtal

Yes I do go to a gym. So what should I do? Try weighted pull ups? A little scary since I hardly do a regular one.

I cannot do one pull up. I know it is sad. I weigh between 185 to 195. When I am working out consistantly, I probably can do 200 once or twice on the lat pull down machine. I like one day to bang out like 10 pull ups one day. Maybe even do like 3 sets of it. What can I do to be able to do this? Cross training? Something I can do on the pull up bar? Help. Oh I am in my mid 30's hope I am not too old. These things are such so hard for me. It always seemed like my pushing mucles were always a little bit stronger. My tries are stronger than my biceps, etc.... Thanks.

try holds rather than locks, they are easier to apply and can make it easier to move your advesary around quickly. I use the rear naked choke and both the full and half nelson all the time, as well as some other holds. elbows_and_knees, you rang a bell for me, there was something else I was thinking about when I put up this joint lock post. I forgot about holds. I do feel I can probably apply then better than joint locks. What styles would I take to learn these? Thanks everyone, I kind of had this feeling about joint locks from my experiences, but wanted to hear about what more experienced people thought of it.

I was wondering, like to hear what people thing. Ok, we have martial arts that are mostly striking, and then with the UFC, ones that shoot in, grapple you, etc...... Now I was thinking about the styles like Ju Jitsu, Eagle Claw, ok help me out, I am sure there are a few more. First, are they effective? It could be a situation you have to control some one, you don't need to knock his head off with a punch, but also maybe taking him to the ground might not be be the best for that situation (well its ok for him to go to the ground, but maybe you should not). Then I was thinking if I was using a style that had a lot of locks, what would my strategy be against a boxer, kick boxer, or a grappler. I have dabbled in a little Ju Jitus (also used to watch a really good school before my JKD class) and for what I notice (not sure if other styles that deal with locks) really try to put a lock on there oppenent. Ok I under stand you usually try to fake him out with a kick or puch somewhere, but the lock seems to be the ends. So do you guys feel a style like this is effective, practical, etc? Oh one realy important question. Now I am in my 30's, now getting older, what's most effective, striking, locking, grappling. Just wanting to make sure I have a long martial arts life. Well thanks, I would like to hear any thoughts anyone might have.

Anyone see V for Vendetta? The previews look good, but have not heard much talk about the movie. How is it?

Do Filipino Martial Arts favor joint locks to strikes? I have never really got into the empty hand aspects of Filipino martial arts, just did some stick work and a little knife, but when I go to a barnes and noble or pick up a martial arts magazine, if there is any empty hand work being shown, it seems like someone is putting an lock or arm bar most the time. If this is so, why did the Filipino martial arts develop like this?

Thanks for the detailed post. I will take your advice, do a little more research, and also give it a little time to see if more test are done. I kind of felt the same way, I have not seen anything in any of the workout magazines, and nothing really on the net. I was feeling a little hesitant. Thanks again.

Not to get off topic here, but I never hear that one. What was it about Bruce's training that did him in? Oh as for the training, well when I am using creatine, pretty much it bulks me up and I get a heck of a lot stronger, is that what you want? It might not be the thing for you. Plus if your working out hard, at your age, I dont think you really need to get into the supplements, just get in your protien and eat right. Diet is really the key. I am sure Bruce did not take anything (but then again did he?) and look at him.

I had a torn meniscus and had my knee scoped a few years ago. After the operation my knee was sore for a while. I started taking Glucosamine and chondroiten, and also MSM, I felt it helped. I dont think there are really any side effects to taking them, it can't hurt to give it a try, especially if you have pain. I really felt it helped.

I saw a artical in men's health (actually, I think it was on there web site), they reconmend centrum silver for someone active.

I was by the good old GNC the other day and saw this new product, Gakic. They say it gives you a 10.5% increase in stenght (ok it might just be marketing there). Has anyone tried it? What is it? It seems like it is different amimno acids. Are there side effects (probably too early to answer that)? Do you have to cycle it like creatine? Well I am interested in hearing any info on it. I kind of like to try something other than creatine. Oh speaking of creatine, can you take the stuff together (for some reason, I just feel it would be too much for the body). Thanks.

Well, don't want to sound like a crotchety old timer, but here's my take. I'm 54, and tried aikido--didn't work because I'm a more natural striker than grappler (injury background: have two bad knees, herniated disc in lower back from 20 years ago, have broken somewhere around 18 bones--all after age of 35, arthritis in neck, hands, and feet). Hapkido worked for me, but with the knees, I couldn't work it. Watched my daughter do Shotokan during her years in college, and what I saw definitely wears on the body, especially over time. Haven't done the speicfic type of kung fu called wing chun, but have done two other types (basically stand-up, striking arts), and for the long haul, that's what I'd recommend. Has great self-defense applications, and don't believe it will break down the body as karate might. I don't know about tournaments, but then I don't care about them either. That's something you'd have to check on. Best of luck, and hope to hear a followup post on what you chose and how it's going. HarmoniousWarrior What is the style of kung fu you are talking about? Oh I did try Wing Chung way back, it was just not for me. Also, I checked out an Xing-yi Class today. I actually liked it. I saw some simularities to tai chi, but more powerful. It looked like stuff I can handle. There is another school in that style I want to check out before I make my decision, but I am leaning toward that and if I can fit in something like Kali, I think I have a nice mix.

Out of Curiosity, what did you find find wrong with these styles? JKD, Karate and Tai Chi seems like an overall good mix. Why did you stop taking them? The type of martial art you are looking for sounds alot like JKD. Well Karate I took when I was going to College, I had an awsome teacher. The workouts were great, but when I graduated, that was that. Tai Chi, I liked my teacher also, but it did not seem like he would ever really get into the martial aspect of it. I did learn alot surprisingly from the forms, but wanted more. I could not find a Tai Chi School that would give me what I wanted (there was one or two but they cost an arm and a leg and for some reason looked like they just wanted to take my money). JKD was cool too, that was very recent. I liked it, I really felt I could defend myself, but insome weird way something was missing from the class. Maybe I like the traditional aspects of the other arts I taken. Then time of the class was an issue.

What was it about the style you feel that was so hard to fight against?

I was wondering, now it seems kickboxing, Mui Tai, grappling are really popular these days, but is there a style out there that is off the beaten paths, different from the above, and if someone is use to fighting these styles, would be thrown off.

Thanks everyone for thier opions. Oh with Akido, wouldn't all the break falls be bad on my back (what can I say I am a mess).

Hi everyone, I am really thinking of getting back into martial arts hard core. I have dabled here and there through out my life, but like to finally take a stand and stick to one. Well frist thing I am looking for is something that works for me. First I am 35. Next, I had a meniscus tear in my knee a few years back, and the other knee they told me it was thinning. Ok the dont hurt me but i watch what i do. For instance I cannot bowl an more at all. Lets say I go out and dance all night or something, they might be a little sore. I have studdied some martial arts since then. I did Tai chi (maybe barther me a little when I did push hands), Jeet Ku Do, and Karate. It seemed ok. Still I think its just not the same. I also have a herniated disk in my back. Acts up if I lift something wrong in the gym. I just they might not be sore that much, but mabye they fell more stiff if anything. Now the martial art i want to pick, i like to do something that has some good self defence. I think that is fun, its interesting, and dam good to know. I also want something that will keep me in shape. Not just now, but the long run. I always like to see them old masters kicking butt. I would not mind sparing (but then wonder maybe I am too old for that stuff). Heck and tournaments would be fun, just cause i never did it, but not necesary. Oh probably like something with two person drills. Now the styles that are around me, and ones I think that would work are: Shoto Kan, school was a 7 day a week schedual and also offer Ju jitsu, self defence, and sparing. (oh but i worry, would the kicking and stances be good for the knees, i dont want to ware them out before there time). Dachengdao, hear they do a lot of standing (which is supposed to have a lot of benefits), but also sparing and push hands, but class is only once a week for 2 hours. Oh and the teacher takes them to tournaments. Xing-yi, two school i have to check out, i hear one does a lot of two person drills, the other applications. Only thing is i never saw xing-yi in person. Dont know what makes up a class, what the applications are like. I hear it is very linear, and also something a lot of martial artist take up in the later years. Both schools met twice a week at least. Next too that, there is a kali class once a week, for the month they do a different thing every week, first week double stick, next single, third knife, 4th empty hand, and i think there are some other schools in my area too i can check (i guess i like kali cause for the self defence and the drills). There is also a place that does Qinna once a week. I was thinking if i did these it would be in combination with the above. Ok sorry for the long post, but i like to hear what people think, i trying to decide on this, soon i am going to start looking at the schools (some i have not been too, others I have not been there in a long time, etc). Oh one other thing, if i had to pick two of the above styles, what would be a good mix? Thanks.

Oh the reason why i only take it on workout days is cause that is what the directions are on my creatine. I am taking track now. I might go back to the type you said, take everyday, etc.....

My goals are to get bigger and stronger. Is there something I should take into consideration?

I was wondering, i take creatine now and then, i like to work out with weights. now the stuff i been using lately (was off it a little while, but will go back on it) track, i only take on work out days. Now, would it help me to take it on a martial art day? I was thinking, would my martial arts work out, plus the creatine, help my muscles, etc......? Also, in general, is that a good mix, creatine, weight lifting and martial arts? Thanks, any advice would be great.

Looks like I can only work out 3 times a week, tuesday, thursday, and saturday. Any advice on what body parts I should do each day? What exercises I should do? Also, if I am doing a certain body part on tuesday, and have to wait till next tuesday to do it again, is that too long a wait (so I am doing a body part I guess every 7 days)? Also any other advice or something i should be aware of? Thanks.

Well I guess I asked this question just to find out how long it should take to get a black belt just to make sure I am learning and developing the right way in what ever style I pick. I guess also I did want to pick something I can really be dedicated right now get as far as I and not take forever, cause you never know what will come up (but I hope to study for a life time). Also this is probably my main reason, when I used to take shoto kan in college, we used to work out for 2 hours hard, then a few years ago, I went to a school to check it out, and the master warmed up the students the first half an hour, then just had the students to front stance across the floor and maybe put in a down block for the last half, that was it. A place like that, it probably take longer than usual to move up. So I get scared of being in a place like that, at least if I know the right pace, I can know I am in the right place.

I was looking on the net for school in my area (NYC) and came across this one, Ki Chuan Do, also called attckproof and Ghostfist (http://www.attackproof.com/). First they say "Ki Chuan Do is a true link between Internal and External Martial Arts" which is interesting. The style comes from Native American fighting, Combat Tai Chi, and ancient European/American Close quarters combat. I might check it out, but I was wondering anyone have any experience with this system. I mean I NEVER EVER HEARD ABOUT IT, so that why I am a little curious. Thanks..

I think it is also called Yi Quan.

Oh I just read something, it is also called, YiQuan. So if anyone has any experience with this please tell me about it. Thanks.