Martial Arts. Who has practiced/practices them?

[Hitman]

Many years ago I was a devoted fan and practicer of amateur boxing (Helmet and big gloves; my big nose would not hold up anything else) but now two litte kids, a real life job, and the SH series have killed any chance of having time again for that. And I miss it....really. So I'm curious to know who of you have practiced/practice any form of martial arts and which one do you like best. I'm not asking the typichal "who beats who" question; it is very clear to me that boxing is more a sport than a martial art and there are many fighting techniques that are much better for survivor and self-defence, but I'm interested in knowing how many people here have that gut-desire I have always felt to put the body, reflexes and mind to a test in the ultimate challenge: The one that gives the looser a good kick or hit in the face:p Those of you who have that feeling inside...that irresistible pleasure in teaching your body to become a fighting machine and challenge another guy will know what I'm talking about. Those are the ones I expect to reply and tell me their experience

[Takeda Shingen]

I hold a black belt of the second degree in Aikido. However, I abhor physical violence, and have never been interested in competition. I was 'mugged' once, although I was not harmed. The thief wanted my wallet, and pulled a large bowie knife from his jacket. He was holding the knife too close to his body, and I could have disarmed him easily, but I, instead, handed the wallet over and went home to cancel my cards. He was caught later as he tried to use my debit card to buy cigarettes.

Had it been my life that he wanted, rather than my money, I would have reacted differently.

[ASWnut101]

Well, I don't go to classes, but I more have taught myself unarmed fighting techniques from a book. Me and my brother used to get together and spar. Pretty fun, he throws a punch and ends up with my knee on his face. I don't consider myself to be as good as TK even if I never met him (He'd probably whoop my A$$ given the right conditions, which I hope never happens:p), but I can take down more than your "Average Joe." Because of the more...lethal...techniques (Those are hard to practice, so I don't do them often) in the book, I will not post the name.

[elite_hunter_sh3]

muay thai kickboxing, gu ju ryu (cant spell it correctly) karate (most effective against street fighting(how wanna be gansters fight..) and brazilian jujistu(BJJ), these combos made me a lethal fighter, ive had 8 fights all wins, 4 won by judge decision and the other won by knockout(KO)

[1mPHUNit0]

15 years
wing chung and tai chi quan

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I was 'mugged' once, although I was not harmed.

I didn't want to take up space with the whole thing, but that's a good story. I once saw an interview with Jean-Claude van Damme, in which the interviewer asked him what he would do if someone pulled a gun on him and demanded his wallet. He said "I'd give it to him, and hope he didn't shoot me."

Myself, I was in a few fights when I was younger. That's about the extent of my training.

[Skybird]

Ten years of private training 4-5 times a week in freestyle but closest description would be Wing Tsun, and Japanese swords. Before and after those years was less privileged individual training, but always outside a club context. All in all roughly twenty years. I was extremely lucky with my teachers, my mentor in Berlin was a colleague of my father who trained me together with his son for almost ten years, he was more than just a teacher for me, and he was an real expert with swords, old Samurai tradition in his family. One of my swords I got from him, an ancient original. A bit of archery I also learned from him, and he helped me to realise where I was picking wrong paths in my zen meditations, but then always let me found my own ways, and learn from my mistakes. A marvellous teacher, and sometimes I miss him very much. I avoided sport clubs and organizations, i also never liked tournaments and sport clubs in general (I'm no club-animal, I even did not like chess clubs when I played tournament chess, I always hated the regular timetable, and the expectations of others concerning oneself needing to perform good. so i played club chess only for a limited time, then switched to correspondence chess, which was much better for me). Don't train anymore since over ten years (which unfortunately can be seen in my physical appearance ) Some people like competition atmosphere and sport championships, but I never liked such things. Training to fight is a tool to educate myself or to fight in seriousness if needed, a point scoring or a paper means nothing to me. All this did me repeatedly good service when being in the ME region.

That advise by van-Damme is a good one once weapons come into play, especially firarms. It doesn't need more than an idiot to master a pistol at short range, and that is really bad. I think today that some of my past decisions maybe werent especially clever, although I always kept our equipement or money and the others took the beating - but firearms never were involved. Except that Turkish soldier idiot who managed to almost kill me with a shot that got loose unintentionally... Freak...

[1mPHUNit0]

Umm.....very interesting....
And now....sex, drugs, beer, and rock and roll?

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I didn't want to take up space with the whole thing, but that's a good story. I once saw an interview with Jean-Claude van Damme, in which the interviewer asked him what he would do if someone pulled a gun on him and demanded his wallet. He said "I'd give it to him, and hope he didn't shoot me."

Myself, I was in a few fights when I was younger. That's about the extent of my training.

Guns are the great equailizer aren't they?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by 1mPHUNit0

Umm.....very interesting....
And now....sex, drugs, beer, and rock and roll?

No sex, no drugs, beer has been sorted out, but good red vine and good Scottish whiskey (occasionally) came to my awareness. Music: enjoying good music of various styles from classic over Jazz to some types of pop very much, but don't play anything myself. My father is the musician in the family, professionally.

[ASWnut101]

Anyone want to post any useful moves/tips?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by ASWnut101

Anyone want to post any useful moves/tips?

"It's not the sword that hits, but your mind. Sharpen your mind, and your sword never will be blunt."

My mentor.

[1mPHUNit0]

Guns are the great equailizer aren't they

No they aren't for sure.
Stability
Dinamics
Calm
knowledge
And so on....they are
Guns alone are nothing

[ASWnut101]

Originally Posted by 1mPHUNit0

No they aren't for sure.
Stability
Dinamics
Calm
knowledge
And so on....they are
Guns alone are nothing

....

Originally Posted by Skybird

"It's not the sword that hits, but your mind. Sharpen your mind, and your sword never will be blunt."

My mentor.

Thankfully I do both! Are we not sharpening our minds by helping others?

Originally Posted by 1mPHUNit0

No they aren't for sure.
Stability
Dinamics
Calm
knowledge
And so on....they are

All the same disciplines used when firearms are involved and as Sailor Steve quoted for Jean-Claude:

I once saw an interview with Jean-Claude van Damme, in which the interviewer asked him what he would do if someone pulled a gun on him and demanded his wallet. He said "I'd give it to him, and hope he didn't shoot me.

The difference is that it allows the non martial arts trained individual to protect him/herself.