Thinking about taking up Kickboxing, Muay Thai or Boxing?

[ravenzoom]

I'm guessing Goergi has reached an age and a mindframe where the pure fighting abilities, and physical conditioning some martial arts can bring to you such as kickboxing/Muay Thai, boxing, etc. are not what he's searching for. When he says 'richer' I think he means spiritually richer, or internally, what a martial art can bring you not physically but internally. I respect that, I have not reached that point in my life and don't know if I will/want, but i can understand someone who wants to. Back when I did Wing Chun, my Sifu both teached wing chun and Tai Chi, so perhaps if Georgi still wants to practice a martial art for its physical and fighting abilitites and have at the same time something spiritual or more internal he should seek a dojo like this one.

[italian_guy]

I don't understand the concept of "richer" I left TMA for sport MA - I don't care about "richness"...that's why there are still a ton of MAs in existence though - because different people are attracted to different MA for various reasons.

I agree with that, but a person evolves (both physically and mentally) during its life, and what can be good today may be not longer good tomorrow... and this for several reason, when you are not longer at the edge of your physical capabilities you may ( I use the word "may" and not the word " should") look for something which have more aspetcs then just the physical aspect. This is what I mean by "richer".

I think what SS is trying to say is, people take kickboxing because it's right for them: the competitiveness, cardio, drive, and challenge it offers allows those of us that are athletic to really enjoy it. There's also people who enjoy discipline, perfection, and mindful martial arts too, and that's fine and dandy, but to say doing something non-physical is better is outrageous and unfair to those of us that enjoy it in that sense.

 

Never said that non-physical is better, and btw MA is always at least partly physical (for example I can tell you that even martial Tai chi chuan is physical and depends on how you do it can be also quite physically demanding, during a Tai chi class I sweat almost as much as in my karate class ). My message is: I understand people who started, at a certain age with a sport and purely combative martial art like kickboxing, and at a certain age feel the need to turn to other more traditional MA, and this is also my experience.

[baronbvp]

My interest has varied over my life (I am 43). When I was young I wrestled in high school and did some judo but found them a little hard on my long skinny frame. Later in the military I did some boxing, kickboxing, and military combat arts. I've also done a very little kung fu and TKD. Now after a long hiatus I'm into shorin-ryu. I am trying to stick with this and get very good at one martial art that is suited for my body style. But I still spar more as a kickboxer.

For spiritual richness, I seek new experiences and mastery over my body: the moves, the breathing, the emotions, the humility. In each of these arts I have found things I liked and things I didn't. Tai chi may offer some people an answer. Someone mentioned reading, which is also good. So is smooth jazz.

I personally find the mind-body-spirit integration of martial arts to be more rewarding than ever. I love the physical activity of weightlifting and sparring. I may not be able to do a very good horse stance because of the pressure on my knees, but I love watching the kids do it. It all makes me happy.

It's all perspective.

[SevenStar]

I don't understand the concept of "richer" I left TMA for sport MA - I don't care about "richness"...that's why there are still a ton of MAs in existence though - because different people are attracted to different MA for various reasons.

I agree with that, but a person evolves (both physically and mentally) during its life, and what can be good today may be not longer good tomorrow... and this for several reason, when you are not longer at the edge of your physical capabilities you may ( I use the word "may" and not the word " should") look for something which have more aspetcs then just the physical aspect. This is what I mean by "richer".

I understand what you mean - by saying that, I was saying that it has no place in my life. I'm of the oppinion that MA are just that - martial arts. for philosophy, I have books, school, etc. I go to church at least once a week - my spitiruality. I think those are to be kept separate from the martial arts.

[SevenStar]

My interest has varied over my life (I am 43). When I was young I wrestled in high school and did some judo but found them a little hard on my long skinny frame. Later in the military I did some boxing, kickboxing, and military combat arts. I've also done a very little kung fu and TKD. Now after a long hiatus I'm into shorin-ryu. I am trying to stick with this and get very good at one martial art that is suited for my body style. But I still spar more as a kickboxer.

For spiritual richness, I seek new experiences and mastery over my body: the moves, the breathing, the emotions, the humility. In each of these arts I have found things I liked and things I didn't. Tai chi may offer some people an answer. Someone mentioned reading, which is also good. So is smooth jazz.

I personally find the mind-body-spirit integration of martial arts to be more rewarding than ever. I love the physical activity of weightlifting and sparring. I may not be able to do a very good horse stance because of the pressure on my knees, but I love watching the kids do it. It all makes me happy.

It's all perspective.

good post.

[Infrazael]

okay - do you think that your average kung fu student will become as skilled as chang tung sheng? what about wong fei hung? sun lu tang? To become extremely proficient at ANY martial art takes extreme dedication. Most people will never reach such a level.

Good point. Old school Shaolin guys used to train about 12 hours a day. If we do that nowadays, of course we'll be good.

[baronbvp]

Jobless and divorced, but good.