Any martial artists on board?

[Random Axe]

Just curious if there are any members here who have studied and what styles. I myself have a little experience in two styles. I've studied pencak silat and did a little thai boxing. I also took some valuable lessons from a friend of a friend who taught me quite a bit about "real world" techniques. All the knowledge you obtain, depending on the situation, can go right out the open window in a real life scenario.

Silat was cool because I'd never heard of it and it's principles are very uniquely structured. Every time you block you strike and every block is a strike. You block a punch and hit the opponent in the tricep. Those little blows add up to someone not being able to strike at you cause their arms hurt or are tired. Constant movement.

Thai boxing was made for someone of my stocky(okay, fat) stature. Kicks above the waist are a waste. Knees and sweeps are utilized. Seriously, what are the chances of kicking someone in the head and actually landing the blow? Aside from Norris it's pretty difficult. My stubby legs were made for this. I got out because I couldn't afford it any longer and I got tired of getting punched in the head.

I can't even remember dude's name but I learned survival techniques that are still with me today after 15 years. You end a fight as quickly as possible, no flashy stuff no bravado. Eyes, throat, crotch, knees. You destroy any of those the fight is over, period. All fights end up on the ground, so I got some cool grappling moves to subdue and submit.

My expereince is very limited, so I'm curious who else has done this and what did you study and learn?

Scott

[steelcouch]

I studied Judo along side my kids at the local Buddist Temple. Was fun but my kids grew out of it fast. Glad cause I was getting tired of being tossed around on the mats by the sensai.

[LonnieFisher]

Some Savat, some Aikido, and lots of fancy nunchaku swinging!

[knight errant00]

I've been fencing since college and teach it now.

I trained in aikido for several years, and also took up kendo and iaido at that dojo.

I've also dabbled in escrima and boxing.

As you can see, I tend to like sword and weapons training -- that's what really drew me to aikido, as one of the principles is to use your body as a sword, a principle that made complete sense to me having been fencing for over ten years at that point. Plus, the way it was taught at my dojo, it was all about avoiding getting hit or grabbed and controlling the situation at any given time, even with multiple attackers -- my old sensei has developed a solid business offering training to security at everything from bars to casinos to airlines to police because the techniques are more about control than busting people up (fewer follow-up lawsuits that way).

[spamn]

I studied Tae Kwon Do in college. I wanted to graduate with a black belt, but two years in, the belt system changed because we changed 'schools' and that meant I needed 4.5 years of study to achieve the black belt, and I had only 4. Never completed.

I spent a little time in 2000 trying Akido, but it wasn't convenient to attend, so I dropped it.

Beyond that, I was an instructor for Turbo Kick, one of those aerobic kick boxing systems set to music. It doesn't really count as a martial art. However, I like to tell people I can kick their arse, but only if Britney Spears is playing.

[Brown Bear]

Received my black belt in Tae Kwon Do when I was 13...quit a week later and went back to boxing.

[palitoy]

Studied Matsubyashi Shorin Ryu Karate for the better part of five years, still practice when I can but the constant closings of dojos just forced me to stop. Loved it, loved teaching, weapons katas but in the end it was just kind of heart breaking.

During that time, I spent almost every weekend training with people from other disciplines, trying to find simple and practical applications they might know. Studied everything from Kick Boxing to Judo even did some Kendo.

[SUP-Ronin]

I studyed Pankration, Brazilian grappling, and MMA for several years. I recieved my BB in 2001. I still work out. Our school studied a mix of traditional Bujutsu arts and also modern small arms tactics, street fighting, and combat style grappling. Also lots of knife training.

If someone pulls a knife on you, throw something heavy at them and run like hell - knives are scary.

[Joe90]

Pak Hok Pai (now known as Tibetan White Crane)

[clemso]

Lol! I thought you said marital artists and I began to ponder if i was one
I've watched a few Bruce Lee movies and can make all the sounds, does that count?

[toys2cool]

no martial arts just boxing and now a buddy of mine is trying to teach me some MMA starting with Brazilian jiu jitsu

[samurainoir]

I boxed under the roof of a gentleman named Florida Jack, a real character who passed away a bunch of years ago. His gym and legacy remain on the corner of Bloor and Yonge in Toronto, but it ain't the stinky ol' gym I remember. Took up Savat while I was at Jack's and that led me to a gentleman by the name of Dale Johns with whom I studied a from of integral combat that was heavy on the Jeet Kun Do and Muy Thai, although there was an element of grappling/wrestling involved that I was never enthusiastic about, but we also did Filipino stick fighting which was bomber. Dale passed away of cancer at quite a young age, he was 36, and I just lost quite a bit of enthusiasm for it as a result. I took a Capoiera seminar a few years back, and I wish I had more time to continue in it. These days I teach a kickboxing class at my gym twice a week.

[Mikey]

No martial arts for me

Kick in the nuts and run is my strategy

[Hector]

I mingled in various martial arts in my youth (karate, kung fu, tae kwon do)...but never stuck with them...I also did some high school wrestling, but again, didn't take to it well...didn't like all that crotch grabbing...lol.

But then I tried boxing, and I loved it. Was never good enough to take it further than weekend warrior sparring...but it was fun...great workout...and it taught me to really defend myself against ordinary people...lol.

[Man of Action]

My style?..The art of fighting without fighting!