Dazed and Confused

Unfortunately there's nowhere that teaches this near me or my search for the perfect art would indeed be over... I put in one, the TKD I studied up till a couple of years ago. Come New Year however it'll be at least two EDITED to improve appalling grammar

Richard Clarke First School eh? Pah, I always suspected it was in fact a ninjitsu training camp sponsored by Ashida Kim.

Thanks for your opinion fujau, thats the Lau Gar club I was referring to. Looks v.impressive, and is very top heavy, lots of black sashes willing to help out beginners. I think my new year's resolution may well be two days a week training there, till they let me join their weekly sport/sparring session as well!

Say what you like about his ninjitsu credentials, say what you like about the fashion issues concerning disco shirts under a Gi, say what you like about the $10,000 challenge b*llox, say what you like about the slightly odd "you've caught me wearing women's underwear" look of shock in his photo, but don't try and pretend you don't love the music on his homepage.

A damaged knee support group! What's this?

I'm becoming increasingly glad I joined this forum. As a commited Christian considering ordained ministry in the CoE I have been pondering this issue. I really appreciate how open Americans are about matters of faith. There's a lot of stigma attached to open Christianity in the UK and while I do not shrink from that particular fight it does make seeking answers quite a challenge. I can only imagine the response I would have gotten had I asked the Vale Tudo instructor I met last week about the theological and moral implications of his art!

I am considering starting to train at my local MMA gym, and having been to look at it and met the instructors I'm quite keen. The programme they have devised for me is one night a week of vale tudo/grappling, one of kick boxing and one of "kung fu". My concern is that no one can tell me what style it is, only that the grading system is accredited by the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts. I want to combine a hard fighting style with something a little softer that can take years to master, so was intially very happy there was a kung fu aspect to the syllabus, but I thought all kung fu had to be of a certain style. Should I be concerned that there doesn't seem to be one? There's a very impressive local Lau Gar club that I'm tempted by, and this issue could well be the deciding factor! I have mentioned this on a different board, but I figure the broadest range of opinions on this would be on this board. Cheers, D+C

Well while its true that its been freezing and raining for about 90% of the last decade, last week we had a day that was overcast and dry, which was great. Any excuse to wear shorts you know... A_Train, I've actually scaled back on the equestrianism, tend to ride in my uni team which is cost effective and less time consuming. Still hunt though (Fight the Ban!). So I'm actually looking to take my martial arts training more seriously this time. I want to be training at least three times a week, which is one of the problems, finding a gym/dojo that trains that often in my area. Cross training may well be the way forward. I'll be found sniffing around the cross training boards on here to find what seems to work well together. Cheers, D+C

Hey there, I didn't notice this board lurking down here! I apologise for posting elsewhere without a proper introduction. I'm a 21 year old student from God's own village, Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire. I'm a passionate horseman and enjoy all field sports. I used to play rugby and football but due to being chronically useless I stopped and now follow both from the stands, being as I am a life long Gooner (Arsenal fan). Martial Arts wise I took up TKD when I was 15, studied for two years then began competing at very time-demanding levels on the national showjumping circuit, so I stopped. I'm now regretting that greatly, and am searching for the right art for me. So far I've figured out that its not boxing... the search continues. Thank you for tolerating my presence on your forum, D+C

On the knee brace subject, my physiotherapist told me to get a magnetised one as part of my rehab when I tore my cruciate ligament. This combined with glucosamine sulphate helped a lot, but the pain has never gone away fully. The aching when sitting down is painfully familiar!

TKD was good, but not quite as hard core as I was looking for. Having visited that gym I linked to, I think I may have found a home. Vale Tudo/Grappling on Monday, kick boxing on Wednesday and Kung Fu on the Friday, all of which are taught in a way that complements the others if required. And the gym is open for weight training etc full time, so thats good. No one seems to be able to tell me what style of Kung Fu is practised, just that its practical Chinese self defence and is accredited by the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts. Any thoughts on this?

Well I finally tracked down the instructor. He told me that although he himself practices Tai Chi Chuan as a fighting art there is no market for this, and as such all his classes are taught for therapeutic benefit with the application of techniques not being discussed. He has also told me that he doesn't think I'll find anywhere that will do in the area which is a shame.

Well I had my first boxing lesson (not at the gym I posted the link to) and it wasn't great. The training was the sort of thing I was looking for but I could do without the talk about breaking bouncer's jaws and beating folk up etc. Oh well, you live and learn. Returning to my formerly beloved TKD on monday, so I'll let you know how that goes. The local instructor was very keen to impress on me the fact that he was willing to help me condition my knee if need be, and apparently I needn't go back to 10th Geup, but can keep my old belt and train till I'm back up to scratch. I'm not convinced by the self defence aspects of the art, but can hopefully address this through cross training. Thanks for your help everybody, I'll let you know how the TKD goes.

Oh right, I has wondered about this. I am keen to cross train, is there anything that particularly clashes with/compliments Tai Chi? That said I am struggling greatly to actually contact the school I quoted above, so this may all be academic.

As you may have seen elsewhere on these boards I'm about to return to martial arts training and having listened to advice elsewhere on this forum I think I'm going to take up boxing, thai boxing or shotokan. I would however like to combine this with something a little deeper that I can still be doing in 60 years time, and have just spotted this. "Classes in Wudang Style Tai Chi Chuan, Push Hands, Weapons Forms, Chi Kung & Sun Style Arthritis Form. The Classes are open to all abilities and ages. Student of Master Kew Yuan Wong" I always thought Tai Chai was a sort of meditative exercise with no combat relevance, so if anyone could explain what this is offering I would be very grateful. Cheers, D+C

Thanks for your advice everybody. I probably should have mentioned that the reason I stopped TKD was that I tore the cruciate ligament in my right knee playing football (or, seeing as I think most of you folk are Americans: soccer ). Its healed now but I don't think it'll ever be as strong as it was. Still gets stiff every now and then. Should this influence my decision? Also been told about a slightly further afield gym that runs beginners classes, with kickboxing training available three days a week and vale tudo once a week. Got to be honest though I'm slightly intimidated by the place, please tell me any thoughts you have from the look of the website. http://www.fightingfitcombatsports.co.uk/ (MODS I'm not using this link by way of advertising, so hope its OK)

Hi everybody, new here. I'm returning to Martial Arts after a few years off having previously studied TKD. I know nothing about the various arts available in my area and was wondering what you would suggest I try. I'm afraid I have neither the money nor the time to try them all, so any help would be greatly received. I'm 6'4", about 190lbs and looking to something physical and athletic, preferably with a practical self defence side. My options are boxing, wing tyun kung fu, kick boxing, muay tai, shotokan, iaido (I have no idea what this is), aikido, judo, lau gar, contact karate, and wado ryu karate. so quite a selection. All views hugely appreciated.