Littledragon
Above The Law
Aikilove said:
Gung-Fu translates into hard work, Wu-Shu means Martial Arts.
What styles are the best for self-defense/ street situations?
- Thread starter Littledragon
- Start date
Gung-Fu translates into hard work, Wu-Shu means Martial Arts.
Amos Stevens
New Member
Anything worth doing,is worth doing well 
As in,Martial arts isn't suppose to be like crawling-it's hard work,but worth it
As in,Martial arts isn't suppose to be like crawling-it's hard work,but worth it
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
I'm starting to question the kung-fu practice I'm taking. The majority of the work is forms/stances/katas whatever you wanna call them. Can learning and practicing forms a lot without much application prepare you to use the moves on a real life opponent? Every now and then we do joint lock exercizes but that is rare, it seems.
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
That is the problem with tradition Zen.
In every Martial Art you will learn some stuff that you know will not work on the street, but they teach it because of tradition. You must question tradition and face reality!
Will you be in a stance in a street fight? Hell no! Kick the legs, kick the groin, choke him out, eye gouge, bite, etc.. In a hard core street fight, that is the best way, simplicity.
As a martial artist I practice the tradtion as well as the self defense because you must balance tradition if you want to be a good martial artist, the street fighters/ UFC fighters don't have tradition so they lack apart of the art aspect.
But I also practice just No Holds Barred/MMA sparring, anything goes, and that is not exactly reality since there are rules, but it is the closest thing to a street fight that you can actually train for.
So question tradition Zen and ask yourself is everything I am learning in the school, will it work in a street situation?
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
If not do I try to find a school that would teach something more street applicable? I'm not really sure learning all those crazy weapons and forms and stances (horse stance is pretty rediculous, for example) would be good for a real situation. At least when I took aikido we practiced "man to man". Course, the only problem with that was the lack of kicking involved. And, of course, Aikido seems to only really work when you are really really practiced. Most of those moves wouldn't be ideal if you hadn't practiced them for some time. I just really wanted to get back into practicing some type of martial art since that is something I enjoy; to take myself away from all the negativity I've been feeling. I enjoy the kung fu I'm taking but, I'm really not sure that if I were a black belt in kung fu that i could really stand up better in a self defense situation. Course, if I did drop that class I'd feel bad since I just started.
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
Really, I'd really like to be able to fight like Steven Seagal or Jet Li or Van Damme, etc. I really want to be able to fight like that but I'm wondering if any martial art could make you fight like that. I know the movies exaggerate but, I find some of the things believable.
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
It's more the person then the Martial Art Zen. Find what's right for you, it may take a while but once you know what it is, then you have found it. Rmember Martial Arts is just not one style it over 7,000...
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
Listen Zen, each Martial Arts has its pros and cons, as a beginner which you are you are asking too many questions, choose a style and stick with it. Later on you will evolve then it will be right to start questioning the art that is when you cross train in multiple styles. A Martial Artist is like a flower, in constant bloom, you have to go out and experience before you ask all these questions. Just go for it, feel comfortable with your striking first then switch to grappling or a joint lock art like Aikido or Hapkido, but I can not help you if you don't know what you want, figure out that first then you have established a path that will lead yourself to the way.
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
Let's pretend that I was interested in taking Aiki-Kai Aikido. How would I find a school that specifically teaches that form of Aikido? I'm not sure there are that many Aikido schools in my area and I have doubts that any teach that form. Is there a second best aikido? Anyway, I'm not new to martial arts. I've taken probably 3 years or Isshin Ryu karate (good for punches and kicks but, I thought it lacked with style and circular motions), about a few months of Aikido (I don't think it was Aiki-Kai, also I was going through another turbulant point in my life and didn't give it the attention it deserved), and about a year of Tang So Doo and Hapkido (I really liked the Hapkido but the teacher taught mostly the Tang so Doo which I thought was better than the Isshin Ryu Karate but, I really joined the school for the Hapkido). So, I wouldn't say that I am entirely unschooled. This kung-fu/wushu or whatever I'm learning seems to just be learning forms and stances. There is some weapon work but, other than how cool it looks what good is learning to fight with weapons right out of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Learning a sword is one thing, especially if you're into aikido because they seem to go together. Anyway, one of the reasons I wanted to get back into martial arts was for the self defense aspect. This kung fu school, I think it's been 3 weeks or so, really seems to be teaching movements without application. Sure, I could stick with it and practices forms/stances/obscure fighting weapons for a few years. But, when it comes down to it, if I got in a fight practicing things like a horse stance double hammer fist in a form won't do me any good. It would be a good martial art if I thought practicing the moves on "thin air" would give me the ability to use them in a real fight. I just have my doubts.
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
Have you ever thought about taking up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
Littledragon said:
I haven't really thought about it before. What is that like?
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
It is pure street self-defense.
Have you ever heard of UFC or No Holds Barred fighting?
ZenLateralus
Disposition Seagal
Littledragon said:
I do know what you mean. I'm just not sure I want to put the time/energy/money into this martial art. Have you ever taken anything like kung-fu/wushu? What do you think of kung-fu/wushu? I thought you had mentioned in a previous thread that you believed that this would be more for sport and I'm starting to believe that you may be right. I'd rather get back into something a little more "man to man" like hapkido, aikido, tang so do (though, I don't think I'd get into tang so do again. But something like it with circular motions). How would I find an Aiki-Kai Aikido school? Just call around and ask the aikido schools what version they teach? Is there a second best aikido?
Littledragon
Above The Law
ZenLateralus said:
If you want it for pure self-defense, I suggest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Littledragon
Above The Law
Lollipop said:
Ye me too, knowing this is a Seagal site I thought it would be approrpiate to have a Seagal avatar.
Littledragon
Above The Law
Lollipop said:
My avatar is Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do symbol.
I hope you feel better Lolipop!