Very Very new to it all

[crappyatticus]

Hi, I've always been interested in practicing a form of martial arts but never took it up. Everytime I would see something it was always about like Karate, or some type of hard style self-defense. I recently watched Kill Bill Vol. 2 (no I'm not doing this just because of the movie) but they practice some form of martial arts where they have their hands where their fingers are all pushed together kind of looking like a crane style look. If it's made up that's fine but I like it because it is almost more of a self-meditation style of martial arts rather than a purely defensive style.

What kind of types are there like that if that isn't one? I've researched a bit and for spiritual/health I found Tai Chi Chuan, Ba-qua, Hsing-i but I can't really find anything about them. Also, I'm like 19 and not very skinny so something maybe highly intensive obviously wouldn't be something to start off with.

[JusticeZero]

TJQ, XYQ, and BGZ are all effective if trained for combat. All internal and esoteric arts are prone to people failing to "keep it real" so you need to be extra careful with them. I did some TJQ for awhile, never got that deep into it but my cousin did. After awhile the teacher taught him a couple things to do with the movements (this was in Yang Taiji) that felt pretty impressive when he would use me as a training partner. He could knock the wind out of me with a pretty casual looking gesture.

The sifu we were studying with felt all three were parts of a whole, but other IMA practitioners disagree; I don't know who's correct. TJQ is mostly based on "typical" gung fu movements, it has the usual footwork - to me, the footwork is pretty limited, but honestly, everyone has limited footwork from my point of view.

Xingyiquan (XYQ) is a much more "explosive", "hard" style of internal MA. It features hand strikes that hit HARD that are strongly coordinated with body movement, as well as the usual manipulation etc. It's distinctive feature is that it is based on linear forward movement, sort've the 'straight blast' of chinese IMA.

Baguazhuang (BGZ) is an art constructed originally as an "extra toolkit" to modify preexisting MA training, but later, the system gained further material to flesh it out. It's often described as a "martial art developed to defeat martial artists and multiple attackers". It is based on manipulation and the like built on a foundation of walking in circular patterns around opponents; the very little i've seen in person left me reasonably satisfied as to the quality of their footwork.

All three can be painfully esoteric. It takes awhile to develop competence in them, because the priniples take some developing; make absolutely sure whoever teaches you can demonstrate fighting ability with their techniques because a lot of them can't, which usually means that their form is slop in all other ways as well. You can't just do forms (incorrectly at that) and magically gain the ability to fight with them.

There are also a few other less-known chinese IMA, but I don't recall their names offhand.

Aikido is also often included in the list of "internal martial arts". It's a Japanese art, descended from a style of jujutsu that had close ties to sword training. The founder cut away much of the attacks from it and refined the principles of entering and blending with attacks, and often there's lots of "ki" training.

In any case, MAKE SURE YOU LEARN HOW TO FIGHT. Make sure you learn what it feels like to be in conflict. There is a type of person I *dread* to encounter, and that is the person who studies an internal martial art because it's "non-agressive", "spiritual", and "peaceful", and they delve deeply into the philosophies of pacifism.

This type of person typically injures or abuses more people than any other type of martial artist.

Don't trust them for an instant. "your karma" will cause you to fall down two flights of stairs when they are standing behind you; "Your negative energy" will "force them" to follow a spur of the moment takedown with a full power groin stomp, they will slash your tires and key your car "to protect the newer students from your energy", but in their own mind, never will they have raised a finger in aggression. They can't hold their evil, because they refuse to acknowledge it.

[ramymensa]

crappyatticus, welcome

it's nice that you are interested in this, but Kill Bill is not quite the most accurate movie abotu MA. Anyway .. my advice would be to go into the area you live in and see some classes and get an idea. we can convince you about a style, but it should be available to you

So ... look around. Ask and see. Afterwards you'll find a place you'll love. See if the people are nice, the instructors involved and serious, the general feeling is good and so on. Try a class or two and then make a decision. There isn't such thing as @best@ style ... you need to find the best instruction and you'll get results.

[ninjanurse]

Good advice Ramymensa! I might add that being out of shape does not preclude you from beginning any martial art. As a beginner you are not required to leap tall buildings and you will get into shape as you progress. Good luck and please keep us updated!

[Belasko]

The only style you mentioned that I have seen in person is bagua. I don't know where you live but the person that I've met that practiced it lives in Philadelphia (if I remember correctly ). I can tell you that this style was very interesting and very detailed. This person however is one of the most dangerous people I've ever met. Part of that is that he is a master in this style, which is considered a circular, soft style. Plus he is a master in Chung Do Kwon TKD, which is primarily a linear, hard style. Together he has a truly impressive combination going for him. Getting back to the point though, he does teach in the town where he lives. If you live back East somewhere let me know & I'll find his name for you to look up his school.

[AnonymousOne]

Hollywoods rendition of martial arts to reality; is as about as far apart as Venus and Mars

[ivette_green]

I'm about as out of shape as they come and I still enjoy training three times a week doing kyokushin. Never let that stand in the way!

[Atalanta071]

I actually know what you are talking about. Our Sensei in Eugue-Ryu taught us about Kuji-in, "finger-cuts" that gave ninja their power. Eugue-Ryu is not exactly a wide-spread style and it's rather old fashioned, but our Sensei goes into that kind of stuff. It's not made up (well, it might be the movie version of the real thing).

But we do a lot of combat training as well...