niel0092

I think I'd prefer hapkido. I like the joint locks, throws, and other nastiness that hapkido has to offer. Kyokushin is a great art, all my respect to it, but I'm really not interested in full contact bareknuckle fighting which seems to be the most touted aspect of the art, at least on these boards.

That stinks man. I guess I'd say be sure to keep your guard up but if sensei says go easy just dont clock him too hard. If he cracks you like that again give him a little love tap back, he'll get the message

Taeguek 1-8 Palgwe 1-8 Chong Bong 1-3 and 6 Chong Bong are a set of local forms for Song Moo Kwan created by Jae Hyon. We only do a few of these to help remember our heritage, and not too often. Only #6 is actually required of us for BB. I beleive there are 7 forms in the set and I have yet to even see #5 or #7.

I really like kali. It starts with weapons but the techs are applicable for empty hand use right away. It includes lots of joint locks, standing grappling, and nasty strikes. here's the local kali school where lots of people at my school cross train. I really like it. http://www.mnkali.com/ As for the other arts, I really cant make a comparison as I dont have experience with them. My gut feeling is that as with any art it's really going to depend on your instructor and how much you can "take home" from your lessons. Not sure I was much help...

I hear ya there. The page even looks kinda cultish. Stay away people!

HA! found another one. This group scares the crap outta me though. The christian group they belong to is active on campus and extremely pushy about their beleifs, to the point of being invasive and insulting in my experience. More power to those that are into church and MA training, but it's just not my deal. Also, the part about being a "certified black belt school" and requireing a 4yr commitment send up warning flags for me. http://www.lwma.us/

Like I said, never saw an ATA school. I cant give an informed opinion about what it is they do. I have seen ITF and WTF though and for those organizations it was really more about the individual school than the governing body. Just what I've experienced.

All valid points, good job everyone. But you forgot to metion that it's kind of fun too. Sometimes that enough of a reason all on it's own.

I've never seen an ATA school. My general opinion is that the Organization has less to do with what is taught than the individual school or instructor. And welcome to the boards rnord1944!

Just be polite when you ask and the instructor should be ok with the question.

Again, it varies greatly depending on where you study. Hard to lump all TKD into one side or the other reguardless of assosiation. Better to judge by individual schools.

There is historical evidence for an art called Pancration in ancient Greece. Whether the current form of the style is in fact the same thing is up for debate.

Yep, that's the one. I didn't see anyone do any of the forms when I checked out the school though. New Hope, Minnetonka, same difference. Same general area

I think the cost had alot to do with location and the fact that the instructor was only a few years out of Korea. He didn't speak a ton of english, although his senior student did and translated well, so teaching hapkido was his sole source of income. The school was also located in a very affluent suburb of Minneapolis (Minnetonka is a very wealthy community), in a strip mall. Those factors weighed heavily in pricing I'm sure, more so than the style itself. So how do you like your art?

Good luck to you too! I got to help out at a BB test last weekend for one canidate and 2 guys going for second Dan. It was a very good test but it was sooo hot! I think it was about 95F outside and almost as hot inside. I really felt for the testers and promptly deceided to wait until it cools down a bit before I test! I mean, the floor under them was wet from all the sweat when I went out to spar, do one steps, and hold boards for them. That's just too hot for me.

Looks ok, but I'd suggest going to the school and talking with the instructor and some of the students. Watch a class or two and see if you can try it out. Make sure it fits what you're looking for training wise, philosophically, and financially. And people wise too. If the students are jerks you probably dont want to train there anyway.

My last test was for BB canidate back in march. I did all of my forms very well and nailed my one steps. It was also the first test where I got to make up my own self defense patterns. I tried to add things I had learned from judo and I got a great big smile and a "I like that one" from the head instructor when I defended a takedown with a sprawl and rolled my partner into a nasty armbar. He Never(!) says things like that durring tests. My break gave me a few problems though. The first break was a 180 jump back kick through 3 boards followed immediately by a jump front kick. The back kick took me several tries to get right. The front kick and the suspened board snap punch and knife hand I got first try. I'm planning on testing for BB sometime in Sept or Oct and I'm really excited. It's been a long (6years) and rewarding journey to this point and I cant wait for the next step. Wish me luck!

Heard of it, but I've never gone to a class so I didn't vote. I dont feel like I can give you an informed opinion. I did try traditional hapkido and I liked that, but it was too expensive at the school I tried.

I think the underlying message from the UFC today is that you have to be balanced. No ground game? You'll get beat on the ground. Cant strike well? You're gonna eat someone's fist. The MT/BJJ combo works well because it covers two main ranges of a fight and both styles incorporate effective ring training methods. A Judo/MT,kyokushin/BJJ, or another striking and grappling combo would probably work too.

Hello. What styles are you interested maybe trying someday?

Kali sticks.

Found this on the net the other day. I laughed so hard at a few I almost fell out of my chair. It's all in good fun so dont take any of it too personally. Enjoy! Martial Arts Terms: Aikido: A martial art, which allows you to defeat your enemy without hurting him. Unless of course he does not know how to ukemi properly, in which case he has his wrist broken in about 20 places. Arnis: "Harness of the hand." A Filipino martial art, also known as Eskrima and Kali, centering on stick, blade and empty hand combat. Mispronunciation of the arts name guarantees a quick demonstration of the art itself. Dan: A term used in the Japanese martial arts for anyone who has achieved the rank of at least first-degree black belt. Not to be confused with “Darn” a term used by the wearer of a Dan when they realize that they will now get hit harder and more frequently during training. Hapkido: Think of it as “origami with people”. Hakama: A skirt sometimes worn in the Martial Arts but we don't really like to talk about it. Judo: "Gentle way." A Japanese art where grown men roll around cuddling each other without apparently doing any damage. These men are often closet Hakama wearers. Jujitsu: A lot like judo expect that these boys like to inflict slightly more damage. Tend to get very angry when accused of being Hakama wearers and often are heard saying "You gotta a big mouth" Karate: "Empty hand" or "China hand." The primary purpose of this art is the destruction of wood and other natural products. Most Karate styles have a placing on Green Peace's most wanted list. Karate people enjoy pain, this is shown by their habit of fighting with their fists on their hips. Kata: A series of prearranged maneuvers practiced in many of the Oriental martial arts in order to avoid free sparring or anything else that may involve pain. Kendo: A strange and unusual past-time involving hitting each other with sticks and making in-human sounds. Could be a cult?? Kung fu: A generic term for a majority of the Chinese martial arts. Many of these arts involve the emulation of animals. Many students of Praying Mantis spend years attempting to obtain the other 4 legs while students of Monkey Kung-fu tend to find themselves being carted off by men in white lab coats. Master: A title bestowed on a martial artist who has attained advanced rank after long years of study or has started his own style after achieving kyu grades in at least 4 arts, or has completed the "Become a Master by Video" course available for only 19.95 per month. Ninja: A rather confused individual who likes sneaking around at night in his pajamas. Ninjutsu: The art of being confused and sneaking around in your pajamas Sparring: Bashing each other senseless in the hope that nobody realizes that you don't know any kata or techniques. Tae Kwon Do: An unusual martial art that relies on its followers to have the flexibility of a professional ballet dancer. Tai Chi Chuan: Another unusual art that promises ultimate power from moving very slowly for many years. The drawbacks being that by the time you develop the ultimate power you are close to death anyway.

Not sure I agree with that. How much of that money goes to pay for rent for the dojang? I'd be willing to bet that $1500 a month for rent isn't out of the ordinary in some locals depending on their facility and location. Think about retail space costs in strip malls for example. Now I know for a fact that our instructors dont get paid and our fees go to pay rent on the building, heat, electricity, etc and if there's any left over at the end of the month we buy new equipment (it doesn't happen all that often). I think this is what really happens in most schools, regardless of style. Now the excessive belt fees I dont understand at all, but we dont pay those so I dont know how common a practice that is in reality. Maybe we should do a poll to find out how many people on this site pay that much. My guess is that it's not too many. Respectfully, niel0092

Looks like a scam. Any reputable place will let you see the school before you ever send them money.

Mostly it's just frustration I guess. It's tiresome to see that look other MA'ist give you when you talk shop with them. You know, the "oh you don't do a "real" art" look. It's silly I know, and 90% of the time I could care less what other people think but today I feel like complaining That, and the bad reputation among martial arts can hinder the growth of your art. When a group of knowledgeable people belittle your style it's a definate turn off to potential new students. Not saying TKD needs any more people but I think you get the idea. And for the record, I do realize that many other MA's get bashed. It's part of the game but it doesn't mean I have to like it.