Bryan Brown said:So. I’ve been having this little back-and-forth with myself lately, and I think I finally landed on a conclusion. I want to pick up some kind of sport or martial art, but here’s the catch: I’m looking at this strictly through the lens of self-defense. You know, something that actually works when things go south—fast, brutal, and efficient enough to handle one guy or a whole group of them. I’m not really interested in all that deep, flowery philosophy stuff. Just give me the moves that work. And honestly? It would be a nice bonus if the training was a total grind physically. I need something that’s going to tear me apart a bit just to build up the body and keep my health in check. Alright, you experts out there, got any suggestions that fit the bill? 🙂 Thanks a bunch!
I suppose I agree with Bruce. If you're looking for something that will quickly prepare you for common street encounters, I might suggest Krav Maga. You could check out www.kravmaga.com or maybe just do a quick Google search; I'm not entirely sure. If I recall correctly, someone runs a school over by the convention center.
placidbison20 said:It doesn’t have to cost him anything. But then again, he could die. Theoretically speaking.
There are often those scenarios where it’s either "worst case—you're fine" or "worst case—you have a month left to live."
Statistically speaking, you probably won't die. Maybe an earthquake, a door hitting him, or needing a few stitches (depends on what's on his foot, I suppose...) But then again, maybe there's just some underlying issue that causes him to drop dead on the spot. Or perhaps a bad landing leads to a broken neck—death or paralysis.
The range of potential injuries is, as you can see, quite vast... 😉
Bandages, as far as I can tell, vary in length, width, and elasticity, though there isn't really a specific rule for which one to use for what. I suppose you just have to let your trainer show you how to wrap them properly, and that's about it...
It depends on your perspective, I suppose. If you’re looking at it from the angle of "if I had started back then, I’d have ten years of experience by now," then it’s a missed opportunity. But if you view it as "who cares, I'm enjoying life right now," then it isn't. 🙂
quietpilot87 said:I always found myself drawn to that polished Eastern aesthetic.😁 But I suppose I was just being naive. I used to think mastering a craft was far too abstract for someone like me. Then I actually tried it.
Man... if I had a dollar for every person I know who felt that way... I’d probably have enough for a decent burger... 😬
I honestly can't remember how many times I've said this on this forum... we should probably be getting paid for advertising by now.
Since you seem to have plenty of information regarding your location, perhaps you could just check the directory at www.profightstore.com or maybe try www.google.com and search for "kickboxing club" within the US. It shouldn't be particularly difficult, I suppose.
You could head over to www.profightstore.com and then try reaching out to local gyms directly.
That said, I suspect there might not be enough interest in joining those specific circles. Regarding actual progress, you probably get the most value working with older practitioners—those who have more physical strength and technical skill. Of course, that’s assuming they’re decent people who actually want to teach you rather than just bully you. The only downside is that you might end up feeling a bit helpless at times. Training with people at your own level is arguably more fun—you can trade techniques and mess around—but your growth will likely be slower.
Have you done any training before?
edit: by the way, this is the first time I've encountered someone worrying about being too young compared to everyone else.
To be honest, martial arts have been on my mind since I was a kid, though I only actually stepped into the ring recently. Since I didn't grow up in Washington, D.C., I didn't really have a place to train back then. There were some Kyokushin and Taekwondo options around, but I always figured I wouldn't fit in; there was always a bunch of kids who had been bringing home medals since kindergarten. That was basically how elementary and high school passed by. Once I got to college, I stumbled upon the fact that a few people I knew were taking Kung Fu. It turned out they were all students and total beginners too. I showed up with a sort of "let's see if this counts as exercise credit" attitude, and somehow, I got hooked. The requirement was two sessions a week to get the sign-off, but I ended up showing up to five whenever I possibly could. Over the summer, I even started doing private lessons with a master, and so on...
Right now, unfortunately, I'm taking a break. I've got some things shifting in my head, and I'm dealing with some internal "demons" I need to clear out. Because of that, I'm considering trying out a few different disciplines and sports, just to be certain about what truly suits me. rustyangler02’s stance against being a "jack-of-all-trades, master of none" is a solid one, but since I'm a bit too old to—and frankly, don't want to—pursue a professional career in this, I'd rather try everything first. Then, I can decide which path to stick with for as long as my body allows.
Anonymous said:I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a good kickboxing club? I'm a beginner—I did about three months of training a few years back—and I'm 30 now. Ideally, I'm looking for classes either early in the morning or around 6:00 or 7:00 PM. If anyone has any tips, thanks!
I assume you mean somewhere in the Greater New York area... but for the sake of accuracy, it might be helpful to specify.
You have the directory if you want to call around, but if you're looking for a solid recommendation... maybe someone here knows a bit more.
What exactly is the difference between standard tonfa and Kung Fu tonfa? Maybe you could try checking out Kwonu. I think they have some isolated areas for training sessions, though they probably offer standard ones too, I guess.
By the way, it’s only been two years, not two yet. I guess.
I suppose you're asking about printing costs? I guess it depends on the volume. Maybe it's worth looking into some local print shops in town to get a better idea of the rates. I suppose that’s how it goes...