vallumlj

I want to get a bit fitter and do something i might enjoy. Does any one no any good clubs in kent.

what is the best marital arts to learn .

lightning101

How to satisfy your partner

Do you mean martial arts

The Chief

I'd say Tae-Kwondo - but i'm biased

mad_dr

My recommendation would be that you start off with one of the generic "kick boxing" clubs at a local sports-centre. This will provide good cardiovascular exercise to get you started and will be a nice gentle step into further advanced martial arts if you find you enjoy it.

Many of the more advanced clubs that I have been involved in over the years require a membership fee and often the purchasing of specific equipment and uniform which can be an expensive proposition - especially if you decide that it's not for you. Many offer a "taster" lesson, but in my opinion, it is only after a couple of months of lessons (at 3 per week) that you can decide whether it is something you wish to stick with for the forseeable future. The amount of people who join the clubs I attend, buy all the kit and then quit after a few weeks is amazing.

Additionally, I would avoid any of the more "rigid" arts and find out what you like by attending less-structured clubs until you discover your style and can then join a dedicated club.

Good luck and have fun!

King RA

lots of discussion on this subject here: http://www.martialartsplanet.com/

Grand Master King RA.

Daft Lad

warrenm2

Best Martial art - Wing Chun
Best for fitness - kickboxing

All IMHO of course

King RA

There is no BEST martial art. There are, however, martial arts which you PREFER.

Try a few, some are very different to others. I really like the sound of something Tai Chi based at the moment, may be worth trying it out.

I train Krav Maga and kickboxing. learn krav if you wanna become capable of defending yourself on the street and kickboxing if you wanna get fit and see a load of birds strech their legs in unimaginable positions

Brendan Hughes

So that's a marital art then?

King RA

??? What are you referring too?

gixer6

Think it probably depends on what you want to do the Martial Art for. Street defense or more of a sport style.

I would suggest that some form of kick boxing is great from a sport perspective but for the street you'd have to go a long way to beat Ju Jitsu. Of all the arts I've tried, kung fu / kick boxing / aikido, ju jitsu was by far the most realistic in dealing with real life situations.
Alternatively take a look at what Geoff Thompson and Peter Consterdine are up to. These fella's know what they're talking about.

Good luck with whatever you decide

AudiLover

want an invite to the monthly underground streetfighting?

King RA

As good as ju-jitsu is, which is very. It limits itself to 1 on 1 from what I can tell.

The Chief

Geoff Thompson is the dogs danglies - down right realistic street fighting.

although last time i enquired he does not do seminars anymore.

I think he's based in Coventry.


edited to add - you can always try Ian Freeman if your up north.
he does seminars

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/ian-freema...e/training.htm

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Not so; two-man attacks (both armed and unarmed) do certainly feature once you've gained enough experience to deal with a single attack efficiently and with confidence.

I did Jiu Jitsu at uni and started training again last year, and really wish I'd kept it up now. I train at two different clubs, and the Sensei at each one started around the same time as I did

For more information, www.planetjitsu.com is a great resource. Also check out http://www.jitsufoundation.org which, IMHO, isn't such a good site but will let you find your local club.

Ray_li

Are you big or small build?

Prefer hitting with your arms or Legs? (not everybody is fixable with their legs)

I do Jeet Kune Do (Bruce Lee's martial arts) and that's cross training and very practical for the streets.

Jeet Kune Do involves close quarter combat (arms+legs), long range combat, ground fighting, weapons training, multiple opponents, locks, trapping, take downs, sweeps and foot work, foot work and more foot work

The core of JKD is made up from Wing Chun, Weston boxing, fencing, wrestling and gung fu (Kung fu)

Ray_li

yes please

vallumlj

Krav Maga, ju-jitsu and Jeet Kune Do

all sound interesting. Do you no any where in the south east where they do these classes.

I am 15 st and about 6ft tall. I dont mind using my legs or arms.

I am more interested in learning how to look after my self than fitness. These days you hear of more and more attacks on people.

Thanks for all the help so far cant believe how many replies i have got so far.

gixer6

Where about's are you based?? If you're anywhere near Farnborough then pop along too www.wjjk.co.uk and watch these fella's train.

As others have already said, it's a good idea to visit a few different clubs and see what takes your fancy.

IMO i'd suggest you avoid the sort of clubs where the students are doing a lot of walking up and down whilst doing blocks n kicks (traditional long stance Karate). It might look impressive but really has no bearing of real self defense.

If you have a reasonable amount of spare time then the ultimate way is to cross train ie something like judo / ju jitsu as well as wing chun / muay thai / kadena de mano.

Good luck

vallumlj

i am based in kent mate nr maidstone

Ray_li

Who the ***** gonna pick a fight with you?

Jerome

Also bear in mind some martial arts use an evasive style and some use a non-evasive style.

With evasive, you try and avoid a blow, in non-evasive you block force with force.

I did karate for a while (****u Ryu), which was evasive. I quite like this style, because you didn't get the crap beaten out of you every week. I successfully defended myself against 2 guys who were bigger than me, using techniques learnt.

I also did kick boxing later on, which is non-evasive. Every week after training I felt like I had been beaten up. Getting roundhouse kicks to upper arms, still bruised from the week before, was not my cup of tea. For the record I don't bruise easily, I just got paired up with nutters each week.

Ray_li

I found the only down side to Jeet Kune Do (The way of intercepting fist) is that after years of train you're not specialised in one area of fighting. You train to be an all rounder which is very difficult to master.

Steve Whitehorn

iTrader: (13)

Agree

Ju jitsu and Krav Maga also good from a pracitical point of view.

As a pure Martial Art - Wing Chun gets my vote.

Steve

AudiLover

Aaquil

To be an all rounded fighter I would say Muay Tai and Brazilian Ju Jitsu... to be able to defend yourself on the street against knifes, baseball bats etc. Krav Maga. These have been proven to be the best combination in the fight rings (UFC and Pride) and the other against people tying to kill you in Israel.

wakeboardar

judo is the best for self defence , (how many fights have you seen that turn into a wrestle)
thai boxing is the most fun (get in the ring for a fight night within 10 weeks)

warrenm2

Krav Maga is just a cut down / quick teaching of wing chun, and JKD is also heavily influenced by Wing Chun.

Can recommend these guys http://www.wtdefence.com/clublist.html

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

another for thai boxing(muay thai) basically dirty fighting. and it will get you fit!! i think its most suited to the street as it also conditions you to blows

pauly

iTrader: (1)

another vote for muay thai
i'm 15 st and 6ft 1.
it's hard on the shins, ankles and arms though.
but great great fun.

you'd know enough to defend yourself competantly in a couple of lessons.