Any Martial Artists on board...? General Discussion...

[Dublinjeff]

Having recently sold up the majority of my Luke Farmboy Focus for a specific reason, getting back training, I was wondering if there were any other SWFUK board members involved in Martial arts..?

I took the decision to go back into Martial arts training and plummed for Karate and Brazilian jiu jitsu. I wanted to train in both a striking art and a grappling art. I had done a good bit of Tae-Kwon-Do a number of years ago.

Anyway, I recently graded for my Yellow belt in Wado Ryu Karate.

I'm currently a 3 stripe, White Belt in BJJ (Hopefully 4 stripes next week) Working towards my Blue belt...which is a few months away!

Here's a recent picture from a seminar with Matt Thornton, USA, One of Jiu jitsu's top practitioners. I'm the baldy fella by the red dot!
Lucky enough to be training in SBG gym in Dublin which is run by Irelands first Jiu jitsu Black belt, John Kavanagh. He's in the red T-shirt middle of photo...

Looking forward to hearing from any other practitioners.

Jeff

 

[Stargeezer]

Well i do practice okinawan Kobudo for about 3 years now. Just recently got my Orange belt and now have start my new year practicing 2 new weapons (Eku and Kama's, wich are a basicly a paddle and the other 2 sickles).
Moves are basicly the same as karate, but here you are armed with a weapon (or 2 for short range weapons).

 

[weasel]

Often thought about taking up a martial art, but never got round to it.

Gary is big into martial arts, no doubt he'll chime in.

 

[Stormtrooper37]

I used to do Karate back in the early 80's as a kid at the same time as collecting vintage Star Wars.

I don't know what 'type' of Karate it was. I remember doing 'Katas' which were different to every belt & had to be performed in a series of moves.

I got to a brown belt, then gave up. Did for about 4 years. I was super supple though and could cross my legs on top of one another and walk on my knees!!

The teacher was dead strict and used to kick at your legs if you had the stance wrong, not sure they could get away with that today.

 

[Mr-shifter]

I used to do White Crane Kung Fu about 15 or so years ago. Also did Tai Chi to compliment it. I really enjoyed it. I did it for about 5 years. The problem was the club I joined was a splinter of a splinter of club that was based in london. The head honcho was authentic in terms of the lineage of the style but also a greedy bastard and the club was a bit cultish. My instructor left and I ended up training at his club with his instructor who saw us as nothing more than walking wallets. He was a full time martial arts instructor and would get angry when not enough students turned up to his lessons. You could also pay for lessons up to one year in advance and those couple of students who did got preferential treatment.

It was like the Mafia the way the financial kickbacks worked, with the Don up in london.

Couldn't do it now. I have a ****ed knee

 

[Richard_H]

I trained in Aiki-Jujitsu and got up to orange belt. Our instructor never put us in for grading because his motto was "your belt holds your trousers up who gives a **** about the colour." :lol:
He refused to grade anyone beyond 2nd Dan black unless they'd studied in Asia. He was a real nutcase.

 

[Dublinjeff]

Our instructor never put us in for grading because his motto was "your belt holds your trousers up who gives a **** about the colour." :lol:
.

Reminds me of the saying "A belt covers about 2 inches of your arse, the rest you have to cover yourself"

That's why I'm liking the Jiu jitsu at the moment, training/fighting against fully resistant opponents is a great way to gauge if you are learning.

 

[sith-smith]

I hold a 7th Dan In Ninjutsu

however a slight joint disorder that caused me some serious problems in the 90's onwards has really slowed me down

So much so that I stopped training in 2005. still teach but not rally the same as training by any means.

Also asked to be dropped down to 5th Dan as I felt I couldn't perform in the way needed to hold a 7th. not entirely sure I still can for 5th, but that was the lowest I was allowed to drop, and even that took some persuading!

 

[Dublinjeff]

7th Dan :shock:

Excellent stuff. I'm really just starting back out on the road. Hopefully achieve some sort of level. Really doing it for the fitness and enjoyment level.

 

[BlueDog]

I used to do Karate back in the day, actually won a tournament too.

Got into it when my Mum got transferred to another state for work, being the new kid in town I was feeling a little out of place and had trouble fitting in.

Met some cool kids went to a beach party and got into a fight over a chick, thankfully our maintenance man kicked these kids arses and taught me his special brand of Karate. Won the comp, went to Japan kicked some more arse over there and then came home and opened a Bonzai shop. Good times! :wink:

In all seriousness I would have loved to learnt a martial art of some kind especially as a kid, thinking of enrolling our 6 yr old soon.

 

[sith-smith]

In all seriousness I would have loved to learnt a martial art of some kind especially as a kid, thinking of enrolling our 6 yr old soon.

Why not enrol yourself as well. Great thing to do together

 

[BlueDog]

I have been considering doing that, tried when we first moved to where we are living now. Problem was the lessons were taught in a school gymnasium it was a bloody freezing cold night no mats just a cold timber floor and the first thing they tell us to do is kneel on our knees while the instructor talked to us for 15 mins. I couldn't feel my knees after 5 mins and my feet started to cramp up :lol:

At the end of the lesson they thought it would be fun to make us play leap frog, I declined to participant sighting the fact I might kill one of the kids if I slipped and fell. I'm looking for a dedicated training facility over a travelling type lesson setup.

 

[pizzathehutt]

Ive been boxing on and off at my local amateur club for the past 2 years, loved it! at first it was a killer i almost had to stop and be sick a few times, once i got into and got to know everyone it was a lot of fun.

i got injured sparring a couple of months ago (took a body shot to the ribbs) and could hardly get out of bed for 2 weeks because of it, hoping to go back soon though, i really miss it!

 

[x-pack]

Stopped doing Shotokan Karate about 10 years ago after relocating to London and starting shift work. Back then I lived for Karate. Did two three hours classes a week, trained at home, and also did something called American kick boxing. The kick boxing was just for fitness. Full of show boaters. Can't say I liked it much.

The guys at Shotokan used to say they saw loads of people get to brown belt and then leave, which is almost exactly what happened to me - made it to 1st kyu and that was pretty much it. In my time I saw loads get a few belts up and leave. Takes an incredible amount of discipline to keep it up. Over the year I tried to go back at a lower grade but just couldn't commit. Shame really because I got a hell of a lot from training. Would have probably been 3rd dan by now :roll: Jesus, I can't even remember the kata names now

 

[x-pack]

I used to do Karate back in the day, actually won a tournament too.

Got into it when my Mum got transferred to another state for work, being the new kid in town I was feeling a little out of place and had trouble fitting in.

Met some cool kids went to a beach party and got into a fight over a chick, thankfully our maintenance man kicked these kids arses and taught me his special brand of Karate. Won the comp, went to Japan kicked some more arse over there and then came home and opened a Bonzai shop. Good times! :wink:

Um ...haven't we heard this story before somewhere :?


:lol: :lol:

 

[Simply Sci-fi]

Great to see so many martial artists here.

I practiced Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo for about four years. I got out of it in the end because being a well over six feet tall beanpole and having two left feet, I wasn't getting along too well with the more acrobatic side of things. Shame, because being extremely light and having long legs gave me a genuine advantage. My wrists have zero flesh on them, which makes my blocks extremely painful. One sparring opponent broke a bone in his fist on my wrist!

The footwork I was taught was incredible and was a long way away from the linear/static style I've seen on television. I'd like to get back into martial arts again – perhaps Jujitsu. My brother reached brown belt and he can tie anyone up in knots. I'd like to find a martial art style that combines holds and throws with the kind of mobile footwork in Moo Duk Kwan.

Craig.

 

[Dublinjeff]

Hey Craig,

Having gotten into the Jiu-jitsu myself only recently in the last few months, I would highly recommend it if you have a interest in the holds and throwing aspect. I haven't yet progressed fully to the standing start takedown drills, just done a few basic arm grabs and an introduction to the double leg takedown. Our instructor usually has us start from a Guard or mount position to learn the basic defensive position/techniques.

Invariably your on the bottom defending yourself anyway when you start out! And then find yourself Tapping out :lol:

Watching the more proficient members, they are incredibly quick on their feet and with takedowns which also might appeal to you if you're looking for that quickness aspect aswell?

I'm sure your brother could give you some good pointers, Brown belt in jiu-jitsu is a great level to achieve.

Cheers
Jeff

 

[Stormtrooper37]

Stopped doing Shotokan Karate about 10 years ago after relocating to London and starting shift work. Back then I lived for Karate. Did two three hours classes a week, trained at home, and also did something called American kick boxing. The kick boxing was just for fitness. Full of show boaters. Can't say I liked it much.

The guys at Shotokan used to say they saw loads of people get to brown belt and then leave, which is almost exactly what happened to me - made it to 1st kyu and that was pretty much it. In my time I saw loads get a few belts up and leave. Takes an incredible amount of discipline to keep it up. Over the year I tried to go back at a lower grade but just couldn't commit. Shame really because I got a hell of a lot from training. Would have probably been 3rd dan by now :roll: Jesus, I can't even remember the kata names now

The Kata's had names? I never knew that.

All I know from what I can remember was I wanted to get to be at least a purple belt as there was a 'jump move' in that Kata (how sad am I )

 

[db94]

Bassai Dai - Storm a castle

Will always be my favourite

 

[db94]

Stopped doing Shotokan Karate about 10 years ago after relocating to London and starting shift work. Back then I lived for Karate. Did two three hours classes a week, trained at home, and also did something called American kick boxing. The kick boxing was just for fitness. Full of show boaters. Can't say I liked it much.

The guys at Shotokan used to say they saw loads of people get to brown belt and then leave, which is almost exactly what happened to me - made it to 1st kyu and that was pretty much it. In my time I saw loads get a few belts up and leave. Takes an incredible amount of discipline to keep it up. Over the year I tried to go back at a lower grade but just couldn't commit. Shame really because I got a hell of a lot from training. Would have probably been 3rd dan by now :roll: Jesus, I can't even remember the kata names now

1st Kyu - training 3 times a week, loving every second of it. Met my wife and started going out with her instead of attending training. I do drop it into conversation now and again that she stopped me getting my Black belt

Tried to start again a few years back but it's amazing what a few years make - so many more commitments and demands on your time.