sunchaser Posted July 17, 2003 Posted July 17, 2003 Hello Everyone, Let me start by saying that I am brand new and havent even picked an Art to study yet. I have tons of questions and am just looking for some opinions and some ideas of what I can expect. I'm 29 years old and have never taken a MA class in my life. However I have played soccer for 17 years and I am an avid Gym Rat and runner. I pride myself on my level of fitness. I also MountainBike Ski and Surf. Over the course of my soccer career (17 years of playing Keeper) I've been knocked out cold unconscious more than a few times. I've also been knocked out skiing and MountainBiking. I have never had anything more than what was termed a mild concussion though and have never had any problems recovering. From what I've read so far based on my personality and what I think I'd like I think I'm looking for a hard external style. (I apologize if I'm using the wrong terms) One that stresses fitness and is full contact and combative. If i study such an art what is the likelyhood that I will at some point be knocked out. Weather in training or in a tournament setting are the chances of getting knocked unconscious studying such an art good or if I was to get knocked out would it be a freak thing. Getting knocked out is not a big deal to me. I get deal and recover both psychologically and physically. I just wanted to know what I should expect. Is getting knocked out a foregone conclusion or is it the exception rather than the rule. Thanks Jill
Tibby Posted July 17, 2003 Posted July 17, 2003 Depends on the Art. Jujitsu is a hard art, but unless you get put into a choke, blacking out will probably not happen. Karate can be pretty rough to, in the right class. If you take Kick Boxing and Boxing, the real thing, not some fitness no contact class, you might get KOed , in the right league. I think one of those arts sounds like your kind of style, Muay Thai or Boxing or some kind.
sunchaser Posted July 17, 2003 Author Posted July 17, 2003 Hi thanks for your reply. What styles of Karate are the "hardest" or roughest? Or does the level of contact depend on the individual instructor and how they teach? Thanks Again
telsun Posted July 17, 2003 Posted July 17, 2003 Hiya sunchaser. Nice to see you're keeping fit. In regards to karate style Kyokushin is pretty much considered to be the hardest as it includes full contact knockdown tournaments, so the training is pretty hard. The beauty of this is that head shots are not allowed so you are unlikely to be ko'd. Other styles can train extremely hard also though. I practice Goju-ryu karate which has a strong emphasis on self-defence/ practical fighting. Our training is extremely hard. It really does pretty much depend on your instructor. Have you looked into what styles are local to you? It is pretty fruitless choosing a particular style only to find that there is not a club within 100 miles. My advice to you in choosing a club/style would be to go and have a look. You'll get a much better idea of what it's all about than asking about it all. Better still try the clubs out, then you'll really appreciate whats going on. Being ko'd easily may cause me concern. Have you consulted with a doc? I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me........."gee I'm not sure!"
sunchaser Posted July 17, 2003 Author Posted July 17, 2003 Telsun, Thanks for your reply. That is good advice to just take a look and see what is in my area. I guess it doesnt make sense to find something you think you might like and then find out the closest class offering is 100 miles away. About getting knocked out; I have seen a lot of Doctors especially when I was in college. I've been told I've never had anything more than a mild concussion. Most of the times I've been knocked out have been a result of getting hit in the jaw or the chin rather than hitting my head. One Doctor told me that its atually possible to get knocked cold by a blow to the jaw and not have a concussion. I didnt think that was possible I always thought knocked unconscious = concussion but I guess I was wrong. Also I was told that any head injury with a loss of consciousness of less than 25 minutes is considered a mild head injury. With the exception of surgery I've never been out for more than five minutes and most of the times I've been knocked cold I've started to come around in less than a minute. But I do tend to get knocked out easily. In college I was knocked out twice in a six week period and my Doctor told me I was fine and some people just get knocked out easier than others. I of course got a second opinion which was some people just get knocked out easier than others. Oh well if I get knocked cold I get knocked cold there's nothing I can do about it and I can deal
telsun Posted July 17, 2003 Posted July 17, 2003 sunchaser I think you would be a boxers dream!! Glad that you have had it checked out, always good to have peace of mind. I have been training a fair few years now. I have never been knocked out, although I have taken blows to the face and head. I have only knocked out 2 people, by accident of course. Not something I am proud of due my lack of control. I think that you should be okay but I would advise that where ever you decide to train make sure that the instructor is fully aware that there is a possiblity that you are knocked out easily. Strange sport to choose given the fact of your ko history. Whats your motivation? I keep asking God what I'm for and he tells me........."gee I'm not sure!"
sunchaser Posted July 17, 2003 Author Posted July 17, 2003 My motivation . . .that's a good one. One thing I believe in life is that there is nothing worse than wasted potential. I guess part of my motivation is to live up to my potential. As I've gotten older and matured (somewhat) I've realized that I've been blessed with a strong body and stronger mind. However I've also realized that I havent been using either to its full poyential. And I look at the arts as a way to work towards fullfilling that potential.
Kirves Posted July 18, 2003 Posted July 18, 2003 If you pick up an art like Muay Thai (a.k.a. thai boxing) you will be knocked out many times. If you pick up an art like Kyokushin Karate, you will be knocked out some times (someone said head shots aren't allowed, that meant with hands or elbows, kicks to the head are allowed and sometimes KO happens from kicks). If you take Taekwondo, your frequency of being KO'd will drop again dramatically as they use helmets, and pads and often aren't allowed to punch the face (depends on the rules though). So, it really depends on the art and style you choose. PS. To make it harder to KO you, strengthen your neck muscles. They are your brain's safety belt, if they are stronger, your head and brains will move less and KO will happen less frequently.
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