Why do you think your stlye is effective?

[Karateka_latino]

okay,

 

I think my style is effective because its well rounded and its Progresive.

 

The Instructor have experience in both Ring and Street Fights. So you get very good advices from him. Experience is always the best teacher.

[Dekan]

Because it is versitile. We add anything that works for the individual if not they do something else. We teach strinking, joint locks and small amounts of grappling. Its well rounded.

 

Well I was looking for more of "how have you tested it to make sure it works" or "what reasoning do you have"

 

But those are all good aspects.

 

Not sure if this qualifies for what you are after, but I'll give it a shot.

 

I have been taking for about 2 to 3 years a self defense class. That is what the teacher advertises it as, not as a Martial Arts class. The tool he uses to teach self defense happens to be Shaolin and Wing Chung Kung Fu with a mix of other southern style techniques thrown in.

 

As Martial Arts schools go, it would be considered traditional(No belts, No formal forms/katas, etc.... Just Self Defense, here is how to protect yourself for a great variety of attacks.

 

One day several of us from class wanted to participate in a local Martial Arts tournament. The problem is the Instructor did not like tournaments, he felt they were an un-necessary way of proving skill, but after a bit of coaxing, he agreed to come and help organize us into appropriate levels of Kumite(Sparring). We couldn't enter the forms part of competition because we didn't do formal forms.

 

I don't remember exact numbers of how many of us got first, second, or whatever, but out of nine of us that participated, seven of us placed first or second place in our group.

 

Literally the only preparation we had for the Tournament fighting was the last class before the tournament, he went over the rules, where we would stand, how points are scored etc.

 

I thought it spoke volumes for the technique he taught us that we were winning over folks that trained extensively for tournament fighting.

 

I did realize something in my battles, we were very much taught the Defense part of Self-Defense. Whenever I would try to be the agresser to score the point, I would lose. Only when I held back, and waited for the other guy to make a move, then I did some defensive technique off of that, was I able to score the point. Maybe not the best strategy for a tournament, but it seemed to work well for our class.

[TJS]

Thanks for taking the time to respond decan. Nice post.

[Kensai]

I dont quite understand what you study there Decan? Is it self defence or a sort of muilti-kung Fu style?

[Dekan]

My primary purpose for getting into it in the first place is for Self Defense, and that is the primary focus of the class.

 

It just so happens that his self defense tool bag consists of Kung Fu techniques. Very effective techniques as it turns out.

 

We did not study strict forms/katas, as needed for promotion through the colored belts, or use the belt system. He considered himself very traditional, no belts and because we were self defense class, no formal forms/katas. The focus of everything we did was self defense, but Kung Fu was what he was actually teaching us without really telling us that is what he was teaching us.

 

Unfortunately, the Teacher died a year or so ago, and there is no one else that teaches his method of teaching.

 

There are several Martial Arts schools within half hour drive that I have been looking at, and none of them can compare.

 

So far, every other school stresses Forms/Katas and the colored belts system, both of which I could care less about. I want to learn how to take care of myself. What color belt I am is irrelevant. It is my understanding that the strict forms may be part of truely traditional MA, my understanding is the belt system is purely a Western, contemporary, thing.

 

Before people start flaming me, I know there is some merit to forms and people are very proud of their belts they have attained, but people's perceptions are based on their experiences, and from my experience, they have little to do with the true nature of Martial Arts. But, it appears that no matter which koon/dojo/school, I continue in I will have to conform to the strict forms/katas and belt system.

 

I have found a local school that again, preaches self defense, but uses TaeKwonDo as its primary toolbag. The teacher also has a fairly strong Kung Fu background and gives a more rounded self defense training than just the pretty kicks associated with a rigid TKD school. Although, he does use the forms/katas and belt system, this is the closest to my previous school's stressing of self defense that I have found. He does include more punching than a traditional TKD school, and also includes a fair amount of grappling.

 

After all that rambling on, to answer your question, from my understanding the style he taught was Wing Chun(hard) and Shaolin(soft) and other southern styles of Kung Fu.

 

The TKD style is very different than the smooth circular style that I learned previously, so wish me luck!!!!

[Kensai]

TKD could probably not be more different to Wing Chun, although there are some very vauge assocations with the Shaolin.

 

Dont let the belt idea put you off a good school. Just worry when they are handing out "Joint Lock Basics" patches to their Adult class.

 

Best of Luck.

[Big Game]

In my style we incorporate Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Kenpo-Jitsu, Kobudo, and Iaido Ken Jitsu. We do alot of self defense techniques and sparring. I won't say that mine is the best because I think different people like different styles for their own reasons. Ours teaches that we don't have all the right answers or the best techniques. We are also encouraged to find what works best for us and use it. If it is from a different style that is fine as well.

[ZR440]

Welcome Big Game. Nice to see a fellow Michiganian here. Does your name reflect the pusuit of the 30 point buck or gambling?

 

Your class philosophy is something to be admired.

[Big Game]

I frequent many hunting forums as well as Martial Arts forums. I use the same name on all of them to help keep things easy to remember. Big Game is because I am very active in hunting bears with hounds. I use Big Game on hound hunting boards to differentiate between hunting coons and big game (bears, bobcat, and coyote) What part of Michigan are you from? I live just north of Gaylord (northern Michigan)

 

Here is a link to a website about my style http://www.shihokarano.com/

[ZR440]

I'm near Traverse City. I'll send you private message in a few minutes.