Monday, May 17, 2010

I don't have a lot of choices of martial art styles where I live, which of these do I pick?

There is Wing Chun, Shotokan Karate, Freestyle Karate, and bunch of Taekwondo. There are more but I'm not sure if they're really qualified. Some of those are, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, and Goju Ryu Karate. Please help me choose.

I don't have a lot of choices of martial art styles where I live, which of these do I pick?
Your best bet is to try as many of them that appeal to you.


The school should let you and in fact should encourage you to observe a class, even take a free class or two.


The instructors should be unfailingly polite, respectful, and cheerful to the students.


Classes should look organised, with instruction appearing to follow a lesson plan.


Students should behave respectfully and attentively at all times, and should continue their respectful behavior when class is finished.


There should never be any roughhousing or dangerous play, or displays of temper on anyone's part.


If there are women in the class, they should be treated the same as the men, not given constant concessions to their supposed fragility, yet not brutalised or otherwise singled out. (If there are no women (or men), it might be a good idea to ask why.)


Young students or children should be given the same respect as adults.


The key to recognising a good school is to watch how they treat students without natural athletic ability. Do instructors focus only on the stars, leaving the strugglers to muddle along as best they can? Do they point out struggling students for ridicule? Do they appear irritated at questions or requests for help? All of these are trouble signs.


In the end, the best guide is your gut feeling and bearing in mind that you are not stuck for life with your decision. If it turns out that the school just doesn't suit you, don't give up on martial arts entirely. Be patient and persistent, and you will find the right place to train.
Reply:Tae Kwon Do is a great martial art.





Some people say that Tae Kwon Do is to Karate what Chess is to Checkers. ;)
Reply:Well that depends on you.


First of all- What do you wish to do? All the Martial Arts you've listed can aid self-defense, but is that what you want?


Secondly- What fighting range is best for you? Do you like punching? Kicking? Throwing? Submissions?


Third- I don't know of your experience and ability to cross train, so I can't pinpoint which art you want to start with. I suggest:


A. Taking an art that teaches skill in one or more ranges, and then taking another art that teaches you ability in the other ranges.


B. Take an art that teaches skill in multiple ranges.


I know that Wing Chun and Taekwondo don't normally teach extensive grappling (Though there are exceptions).


Karate tends to come with entry level grappling (Again: Exceptions exist).


BJJ is wonderful for the submission range.


Most Japanese Jujutsu styles teach entry level striking, but extensive skill in the throwing and grappling range.


Aikido mostly works the throwing range.


Good luck.
Reply:I would say go for the japanese jujitsu, aikido or the brazilian jujitsu. I work in a dojo that is closely knit with all of those styles. I would have to say that the japanese jujitsu is probably the most practical because not only did the other two arts come from it, but it covers a wider range of things, thus you can better defend yourself. aikido is a beautyful art. it really focuses on the graceful movement of one person throwing another person (also part of the japanese jujitsu). brazilian jujitsu focuses more on ground work. it is not a bad art by any means. you will really get a good work out from this one. however, in a fight on rough concrete, i wouldnt want to go to the ground as my first option. personally i prefer japanese jujitsu. not only has it helped me to learn how to better defend myself from a large range of situations, but it has also helped me become a more confident person.
Reply:If you want a martial art that is the best for self defense there is no question: brazilian jiu jitsu.





Plus, bjj will help you have more in common with fellow co-workers, clients, etc. because it is used in the fastest growing and #1 combat sport, mma (ufc). Monday morning nobody is going to ask you about wing chun, but someone might ask you to explain a go-go plata from the big ufc card last weekend.





I understand your concern about making sure the teacher is qualified but a poorly qualified bjj instructor will be much better than a world class wing chun instructor.





This is all assuming that you are not someone that just wants to learn fancy kicks with absolutely no practical application and that you are not afraid of competition.





good luck
Reply:See I’d say BJJ is not good for self defense, because you typically need to take your opponent down. Bad things happen once you are on the ground. Things like bar stools, broken glass and kicks from nowhere. I think you need to stay on your feet in a self defense situation. BJJ is great for a one on one fight under controlled circumstances.





If you’ve got someone teaching Japanese Jiu Jitsu in your area, that is a rare opportunity. I would certainly investigate it, although recognize the falls and joint locks can be very painful and potentially harmful.





If you want to see the quickest results go with GoJu Ryu. I can turn most students into pretty decent fighters in less than a year.





Proficiency develops the slowest in Aikido of all the arts you’ve listed. Once you get good it is a great art, but it takes years of practice to see even a little progress. Part of this is because it is almost purely reactive to what the other person is doing.
Reply:Go Freestyle or Shotokan. If the qualifications aren't there, then neither should you be.
Reply:Japanese jujitsu.
Reply:Decide if you would rather strike or grapple. Then find the best instructor who teaches what you want to do. Don't worry about the name on the door.
Reply:Hi there





My best advice is to try them all. Take time out and have a martial arts holiday. That way you will get to see each art and the instructor. This really does depend on what your tastes are and which direction the wind is blowing at the time so to speak. Try to keep away from the fad arts and make judgement based on the teachers ability and how they conduct a class.





In today's market of boxercise and taibo if an instructor manages to run an adults only class and sustains more than 10 students a week then they must be doing something right!





Nothing worse than screaming little brats running around all over the place in a mixed class! ;-)





Best wishes





idai
Reply:wing chun, freestyle or bjj they are all very effective on the streets, but if you looking for a ringsport maybe consider taekwondo


Your point of view in this please ?

Do you know Sam hing fai chan kung fu sifu ? what do you think ?


I am seeking informations aout his teaching skills, how good he is. He studied kung fu under Lee Ngou who his turn studied under Jow Biu (disciple of the jow ga kung fu creator)


In wing chun Sam hing fai chan is from Ip man's lineage


quite impressive but I don't want to end up in a bad school thanks

Your point of view in this please ?
I am sorry, but I have never heard of this person.





If you are worried about this school then watch a class or two and see how he teaches and what kind of instructor he is. If you are cautious, there is probably a good reason.





Good luck!
Reply:First and formost the best way to determine if you think he's a good instructor is go watch, ask questions (to him, or students). Hands on is the best way to know. It seems nice and all to have this long lineage of who's who on your wall but it dosen't really matter who he trained under. When it comes down to it the question is How good is he? Right? Best way to find that out is to go watch him teach. Join in a class or two. Talk with anyone and everyone at the school. Most likely you won't get much neg. from anyone or they wouldn't be there, but ask them your questions.
Reply:I've trained with people that trained under some great fighters that were crap, some that were great....





At the end of the day it all depends on how well they learn their style and then how good they are at teaching it to you.





Just check it out and make up your own mind. Remember, the same goes for you, there is no gurantee that you will be any good either ;-) Just train hard


Is karate a good martial art to learn for effective self defense? I heard aikido and jiu jitsu are better.?

I also heard that wing chun, praying mantis, and white crane kung fu are also good. So many people have said different things like Fanziquan, Hapkido, and Judo.

Is karate a good martial art to learn for effective self defense? I heard aikido and jiu jitsu are better.?
Jiu Jitsu is very good!!! Why waste time.Why??...I live in New York City and most cats in the street are very good.So block the attack ...lock up the joint(or break the bone)...slam the child on the hard concrete is more of what i'm into !!!You can even make your opponent call the police on his own cell phone with a joint lock.(uh huh..yea call em.).check out this book...The Power of Internal Martial Arts(Combat Secrets of Ba Gua,Tai chi and Hsinj-I...B.K.Frantzis...peace...One
Reply:NO!


For self defense I HIGHLY suggest taking Lotar or Muay Thai (boxing). Hapkido is another good one.


If you wanna fight for fun you would need Muay Thai, Jui Jitsu, basic Tae Kwon Do, South Paw, Judo(optional, not recomended).





In the end it's all up to you.





-joe
Reply:I've done Karate, general Kung Fu, Kick Boxing, and Jiu Jitsu. Kick Boxing was definitely the most effective in creating self defense (don't know if it's considered a martial art though), but Jiu Jitsu is a close second and really fun and interesting to learn as you'll find a lot of practical ways to incapacitate people that you never thought of. Oh, and Karate was for sure the lamest one. Lame lame lame. Good Luck.
Reply:Well, first of all, effective self-defense is over 85 percent street smarts. It's about trusting your instincts when you think there's something wrong about this guy that came up and asked you for the time. It's about avoiding certain situations altogether and feeling good enough about who you are to walk away when you smell trouble. It's also about knowing you don't have to trade insults with a drunk, etc..., etc...


All martial arts will teach you about self-confidence, overcoming your fears, knowing your body's capacities and using its abilities in a crisis, the proper distance at which to keep an opponent, etc..., etc...


No martial art, on the other hand, will make you invincible or superhuman. If a guy pulls out a gun on you out of nowhere and demands your wallet, the best self-defense move I can think of is to hand him over your waller without making a fuss and cancel all your cards as soon as you can get to a phone.


This being said, the arts all hav their advantages and drawbacks. I don't think you can say there is a best, or a worst martial art. There are better and worse teachers, so you should be careful who you sign up with. But mostly, you should study an art that agrees with you, who you are, and what can keep up your interest.


This is being said, Karate and Kung Fu involve striking, which means trading blows with your opponent. There is a faster learning curve thant Aikido or Jie Jitsu (Don't know much about Hapkido, sorry). It means after one or two months, you'll have learned something effective, because even a punch that's not perfect still has a certain effect. Aikido or Jiu-Jitsu throws and locks, on the other hand, tend to have very little effect unless they are very well executed. The advantage of these, though, is that you don't necessarily have to get up close and personal with your opponent. You can throw an attacker away from you and run, or pin him down and call for help. (Which to me is just as good as beating him senseless - a lot of people on here will disagree, but to me, self-defense is about surviving situations, not necessarily physically dominating your attacker).


Anyway, I would definitely pick up some books about any arts that interest you and learn about them, and see what interests you. I think people should usually go with their instincts.


Hope this helps. Best of luck to you.
Reply:Its not the style that makes the artist, but the artist that makes the style. It doesn't matter what you train in, all styles can be effective.
Reply:I would go with what you like the most because if you master any of them they will be very effective. But I have to tell you - the cheapest is the regular old wrestling room! Most of the time (except when you go to tournaments) it will be free - It will not cost to train and get belts. But all are effective.
Reply:Kyokushin Karate is a very effective form of self-defence, because it emphasises full contact sparring and competition. Full contact is the closest possible representation you can get of a 'real' fight, because you are not pulling your punches and kicks in any way.





Kyoskushin fighters have done very well in premier fighting events like K1, the world's top kickboxing organisation. Andy Hug was one of K1's greatest ever fighters and his style was Kyoskushin. Georges St. Pierre, the current UFC welterweight champion gets his stand up style from Kyokushin also.
Reply:Honestly, all martial arts are good for self defense. They teach you to think differently about your own safety and how to fight. the specific moves are not what's important.





Having said that I will list some very good arts to learn and some not so great ones.





Some good ones because they are versatile are:


Kempo Karate


Jeet Kun Do


Wing Chun


Shaolin Chuan Fa (kung fu is not the correct term but is more commonly used)





Some good arts because they are practical:


Krav Maga


JuJitsu


Judo





Some arts I would avoid but that may work for others:


Tae Kwon Do - it's too predictable for me and relies too heavily on repeated use of the same moves over and over again. It's very pretty, but not street smart. Also I've beaten too many Tae Kwon Do "black belts" to really respect the art any more.





Muy Thai - I know it's the flavor of the year but it's a more dangerous art then any other I've seen. I met a man hobbled before his years, at the age of 65 he could barely stand upright and his legs could barely hold his weight even though we was very thin. He had studied Muy Thai and it had injured him very badly. he broke almost every bone in his body at some point while training and after many years he had to stop training all together. Shaolin monks train until the day they die and at 90+ years of age could still snap me like a twig. At 65 you should still be able to train without major pain due to prior injury.





Boxing - It's the simplest modern martial art and that's why I wouldn't take it. You learn less about how to push your body to it's limit them in other arts. Also you're primary attacks will be punches which the enemy will expect. It's too limiting for me.
Reply:I practise wado-ryu karate, which incorporates elements of jujitsu, and I have no problems with it.


Do whichever style you want to do and good luck!
Reply:It is not as much about the art as it is about HOW YOU TRAIN.





if you train realistically with fully resisting opponents, then that is the better art.





The reality is that many sportative arts train that way (like boxing or muai thai) while non-sportative arts like wing chun, and karate don't.





If you don't know what you are looking for then you are likely to get taken for a ride. If you know how to spot a good teacher and gym. and know what questions to ask about the intensity of the training, then go with whatever art you can find that has a good teacher.





A good teacher and good training outweigh any "search for style" benefits as you may not be in an area that has access to many different styles with good teachers. Even in new york city it is hard to find a good teacher for a particular non-sportative style unless you know someone who knows someone.





my point is that unless you don't know what you are looking for, then i suggest you find a sportative art because it is easier to find a good one as they tend to "self-regulate". Meaning they train for, and go to competitions where there are little rules and they look like a real fight (the closer it looks to a boxing match with legs and grapples or throws tossed into the mix the more realistic the ruleset is).





If you are looking to be non-comittal- then boxing is a good place to start, you will learn to focus on and specialize in punching properly- a skill that translates into or mixes with ANY martial art.





even if you want to do muai thai later, it builds on your boxing skill. I think beginning muai thai first can be very intimidating, boxing slightly less so that is why I'm suggesting it. Also you will be able to get the background of a "good" gym vs. a crappy one that doesn't teach properly, or that teaches you forms and punching techniques that aren't as effective and powerfull as boxing, but they tell you that they are.





Ie: chambering.
Reply:YES, karate is an effective form of street self-defense.





Stay away from MMA, or mixed martial arts, because that is just a ring-style sport and doesn't teach weapons usage or multiple attack defense.





Just realize that it takes a very long time to learn Karate and it is very hard work. Also there are a many different styles of Karate: Okinawan and Japanese. So shop around and choose the style that best suits you.
Reply:Karate is god as are many others. Karate is a striking style, Jujitsu %26amp; Aikido are grappling styles. There are advantages to both. Here is a brief summary.





Striking: Tae Kwon Do. Karate, Shaolin boxing


Good: Can handle multiple attackers, can engage at long range, enables you to be pro active when necessary.


Not so good: Ground, hard to control an attacker without inflicting serious injury.





Grappling: Hapkido, Judo, etc.


Good: effective in close, good on the ground, can control an attacker without inflicting serious injury.


Not so Good: Not good at long range, you must wait for the attacker to make the 1st move. Not effective against multiple attackers.
Reply:honestly karate doesent help much in self defense.. if you want to know how to protect yourself in the streets you should do boxing or kickboxing.. both of those are the best combat sports you can do
Reply:Some martial arts are more external or hard styles eg. boxing karate taekwondo, some are more internal or soft eg taichi aikido wingchun.





jujitsu, hapkido are probably somewhree in the middle.





Generally the softer the style the greater the heights you can take it - the greater in the hands of a master, but the longer it takes to become a master.





Generally the harder styles are much faster to learn at the beginning and to be able to use effectively.





So i am really coming to believe in starting your training in the hard styles, and gradually moving to softer more internal styles as you are ready.
Reply:karate sucks for self defence
Reply:It isn't the martial art, but the practitioner that "is good" or not. Also, no matter what you pick, it takes training and dedication. Everyday you need to be in there training, working out, getting in shape, going over forms, and exhaustivly training your punches, kicks and holds or YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME AND MONEY.
Reply:Martial arts effectiveness is a never ending open-ended and often contested question.





Some arts are built for sport (with rules set to protect competitors from serious injury) other arts are meant to injure and inflict great pain to gain compliance from a would be attacker. From what I’ve learned and scene some martial arts depend on the element of surprise to gain advantage quickly and finish fights with little or nor interference from an assailant. And all depend on your having confidence in your self and being prepared to protect yourself form any attack.





The truth about fighting is if your in a fist fight you will get hit, if your in a knife fight chances are you will be cut. It’s a fact so get past it and learn how to protect yourself form serious injury.





The truly good news is most people will never have to face an attacker in a life or death situation, most conflict is preventable. Use your head more than your hands and you will avoid much trouble.





After studying a handful of martial arts I personally feel it is good to practice whatever style fits your personality, beliefs, lifestyle and body type best. It’s good to challenge yourself in many ways but stick to one art and build a good base of knowledge before seeking additional answers elsewhere. Often you will find the longer your practice one art the deeper your knowledge and wisdom grow.





Young students do not always learn the best an art has to offer them. They simply take a taste, judge too quickly and move along before ever feeling the true nature of the art. So take some time and visit many studios before signing up. All good studios offer free or low cost introductory classes, take some and learn all you can before signing up.





The ultimate goal of all martial arts is to improve self, gain control of emotion and anger and channel your energy into something positive that improves you as a person and makes you a better human being both inside and out.





Truly great martial artists never create conflict, they find resolution in humility and confidence.





Is you seek to visually prove or disprove the effectiveness of martial arts when compared side by side simply search YouTube for many fights between various practitioners and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). This is as close a comparison as I have scene of one art vs. another. You will note when a grappler closes distance on a striker or distance fighter and the fight ends up on the ground all the grappler need do is gain superior position over his attacker, force them to roll to their stomach by striking to the face and choke them out. To this day the Gracie Family has an open-ended challenge to all martial artists. To my knowledge BJJ has never been successfully defeated in this regard. But I may be in error so forgive me if I speak out of turn.





I enjoy training in both Kung Fu and BJJ and I love each for it’s many differences. But I also enjoy having fun with both.





Find something you like and learn as much of it as you can. If you seek to compete look into TKD, BJJ or Karate they all offer point fighting tournaments that are great fun but take a lot of focus and training to do well in. there are also a great many truly fantastic arts that require a great deal of study to learn but are equally reqarding for the practitioner such as Krav Magra, Kung fu San Soo, Lima Lama etc… All unique but all fun in their own way. (sprry for spelling errors above.)





Don’t dabble either, if you want to study martial art, do your best, focus and give it your all to gain a true understanding of your selected art. Anything worth doing takes great effort and time to get good at. Don’t quit after your first belt, keep learning and expanding your knowledge.





Good luck.





KK

java

Surviving todays modern society?

my teacher has died some time ago. my martial art buddys have all gone away when i was sent overseas. (U.,S.Army soldier) after coming back ive got no-one to train with. what kind of training can i do to increase my speed everyday? or speed and accuracy training hitting small targets? what can i practice on my own? would anyone have a training layout or exercise i can do on my own? just preparing for the day if i happen to meet the "street-version" of bob sapp, oscar dela hoya, mike tyson, ect.ect. the thug version of these guys are out there. there is always someone better than you ive learned. many thats not famous or well known. i feel in my gut my time will come to defend myself. dreamed all my life about that one guy i fight to save my life. if anyone has a great method of increasing my speed and accuracy,pls share the knowledge. ill practice everyday. seems all ive learned from gung-fu, muay thai is just not enough. wing chun would love to learn.but need realistic training. thanx

Surviving todays modern society?
Martial arts is more about building character than defending your life in confrontation. If you live in a bad area, deal with bad people all day long than work on striking, stamina, grappling, throws and leverages. You need a wide array of weapons if you hope to defend any guy looking to hurt you or worse.





The best solution to a fight is walk away. You only fight if your life is on the line or someone you love is in danger.





There is no single best answer to your question and not one excercise regimen that can prepare you to defend your life against all comers. But you can choose to prepare.





Fighting or conflict in general is a thinking man's game, use your mind before your muscle.





I would advise you to look into MMA if you want to win a fight. Keep practicing and be in shape. Street fights are short and almost always end violently and quickly. Usually the first guy to land a punch/kick wins. You may also wish to check out Kung Fu San Soo or a similar street effective training system that gets you in quickly and ends confrontations. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is extremely effective for ground fighting and one on one confrontation but stay off the ground in multi attacker scenarios unless you like boot marks on your face. ;-)





If you meet a tough as nails fighter like Tyson or the Golden Boy ask him for his autopgrah not a knock out punch. Smile, as if you can be of assistance, get to root of the matter and avoid the fight. You don't want to put him in the hospital and I'm certain he doesn't want to end up there.





Stay safe.





KK
Reply:Why not join another club?





Training on your own only works if you are already a high expert, otherwise there is always something to learn from others.
Reply:Send me an Email. I'll try to help You out.


What will be the best martial art for me ?

i'm 21 and i like kung fu, tai chi , wing chun what will be the best one for me ?

What will be the best martial art for me ?
STOP and Think... THERE IS NO "BEST" MARTIAL ART.... YOU SHOULD LEARN AND DISCOVER AS MANY AS YOU CAN AND THEN SORT OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. (FOR EXAMPLE: A VERY SHORT GUY WITH SHORT ARMS WOULD BE BETTER AT A GRAPPLING ART SUCH AS JIU - JITSU OR JUDO, AND NOT VERY GOOD AT BOXING) BOXING IS NOT A LEGITIMATE FORM OF SELF DEFENSE ANYWAY. WING CHUN IS A "STYLE" OF KUNG FU. I RECOMMEND READING SOME BRUCE LEE BOOKS, AND THEN EXPLORE DIFFERENT ARTS. TRY JEET KUNE DO (BRUCE LEE'S ART), MUAY THAI, BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, AND THEN GO FROM THERE. *TRADITIONAL ARTS ARE OUTDATED!!!!! DON'T LEARN THE HARD WAY LIKE ME!!
Reply:A good well rounded style would be freestyle Karate.You will learn stand up,ground,grappling and weapons.What a lot of people don't understand is that freestyle Karate is about practical street defence not who can kick the highest or punch a pad the hardest.It's definitely not a sport martial art like TKD or BJJ.The motto of my style is the best of everything in progression.Basically that means we don't care where the technique comes from we improve it and integrate it into our style while still maintaining tradition as do most freestyle Karate's.


The hardest thing is finding a good experienced instructor.I would recommend Bushi Kai or Zen Do Kai, but if your not in Australia or New Zealand you may have some difficulty finding some one who teaches these styles.These styles also usually have separate classes available to everyone in Muay Thai and BJJ/Submission/Shoot wrestling.If you can't find one of these i would suggest Kempo or Enshin or another freestyle Karate.


http://www.zendokai.com.au/countries2/US...
Reply:Look around your area and see which ones are availible. compare prices one might be twice as much as another also some might have you sign a contract, so you'll be forced to pay for a year of classes even if you find out you don't enjoy it after a month or two. Compare class times, how often are you expected to be there, do the times work with your schedual. Do they have adult begginer classes or will you have to be with a bunch of youngsters? Some places will let you sit and watch a class, or participate in one to see if you like it.
Reply:You should get to know your styles a little more, see what's in your area and then visit schools. A lot of people are searching for the perfect style when they should be searching for the perfect teacher (for them).





Wing Chun is a style of Kung Fu so maybe that is what you should look into first.





Tai Chi is a very "soft" art meaning you have no sparring, no fast movement, no contact and just learn a pattern of movements.





You should also decide why you are taking martial arts. Do you live in a bad neighborhood and need self-defense protection? Try Krav-Maga, Kickboxing or Jeet Kun Do. Do you want to compete in tournaments? Try Tae Kwon Do, Ju-Jitsu, American Karate or Judo. Are you looking for a more traditional art? Try Kung-Fu, Japanese Karate, Aikido or Ninjitsu. You can even find gyms now that offer the MMA type of curriculum, even if you don't want to fight for a living.
Reply:visit different schools and do a free intro course. then choose from there
Reply:It would really depend on what you want to do with it. Solid Self defense and or in the ring. Looking at the list you gave I would suggest you go to www.dillman.com and look up one of his affilliated schools. He is an Okinawan Kempo stylist that uses Kung fu and Tai chi Pressure Points. His schools teach realistic real world self defense that you can use as a youngster to an 80 year old man/woman. I have done Martial arts for 30 + years and been to every school or style or seminar I could find and I always gravitate back to kyusho Kempo. Its and all around ecletic style that get to the real original principals of self defense.


Hope this help
Reply:All I can tell you is just visit any schools that're local to you tha offer any one of those Martial Arts.





find out which one of these you like best and then see if they have any trial classes.





No one here can tell you which Martial Art is going to fit you the best, only YOU can make that decision for yourself.
Reply:you should be looking for a good teacher and school not a particular art.





Especially with CMA (chinese martial arts) as a huge number of cma schools don't train you properly and they don't train with resistance. chi sau is not resistance training.





If you don't know what to look for you run the risk of training at a bad school and will not only not learn anything, but could learn bad habits that make you a worse fighter.





I would suggest making sure that the school you goes to trains to fight, meaning that they train and drill with full resistance (eventually, obviously they don't expect you to get it on the first try, the students eventually should be training the moves with full resistance).
Reply:any of them will be fine it just has to do with what you like, and what you are interested in learning, it has nothing to do with age.


good luck !
Reply:No best arts, just best artists. Find a good school, not a good style.
Reply:It depends on what one suits you best to find out, do some research and search on directories.
Reply:Wing chun.


Anyone know how much a month is it to attend the Francis Fong MA Academy in GA?

Hello. I am interested in learning wing chun or jkd, which are both taught at the Francis Fong Martial Arts Academy in Norcross, GA. I emailed them asking them how much a month would classes be but I have yet to get an answer. Does anyone know how much classes would be a month at this school? or an estimate will be good...Thank you!!!!!!!

Anyone know how much a month is it to attend the Francis Fong MA Academy in GA?
6 grand


Brazilian jujitsu or MMA in Taiwan?

I am training wing chun at the moment and would like to get into MMA and BJJ. I will be moving to Taipei soon so I was wondering if the was a good place to train.

Brazilian jujitsu or MMA in Taiwan?
I know of Andy Wang at Taiwan Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club.





http://www.taiwanbjj.org/





Go to http://www.jiujitsugear.com/forum lots of BJJ/MMA guys hang out there and Andy Wang post there too. They can give you all the info you need.
Reply:You can check out my club if you like. We do BJJ, Submission Grappling and MMA. I’ve also trained extensively in Wing Chun and Ba Gua .


Here is my web site evolutioncombat.com


Contact me at gor15@hotmail.com


Cheers


Gord
Reply:I think tigerhead knows what he is talking about.

flowers baby

Do you have to relax to learn kung-fu ?

I read that in kung-fu. you have to relax to produce a powerful punch. What if I am someone who doesn't like to relax and likes using muscles. I can relax, but I like to feel my own weight and body mass as I relax. I also have big biceps. Would it be too hard for me to learn kung-fu since I read that kung-fu styles like wing chun uses not body mass but the skeletal structure.

Do you have to relax to learn kung-fu ?
Relaxing is an essential part of speed, you need to be completely relaxed while performing your technique, otherwise muscles that are being tensed and not being used in the proper motion of your attack will hamper it and slow it down, say for example, closing your fist the instant before you land a punch, if you have your fist clenched the entire time you throw a punch, it will move slower and make your punch weaker and easier to identify it when it is coming, this is called telegraphing and helps out your opponent a great deal. When you throw loose then snap into a fist right before you hit, you move faster, and speed equals power when done properly. If you want to learn kung fu, you will be taught to relax in order to do the techniques properly and effectively, you may not like to relax, but that doesn't mean that you cannot learn how. Just train hard under proper technique and all will be well.
Reply:I too am of muscular build and learned to relax my muscles slowly. It took me a couple of years and staying away from weight training. Nice to see nice musculature when flexing but is counterproductive in kung fu for reasons already stated. I did gain flexibility, speed, fluidity in movement when I eventually learned to relax muscles.
Reply:Alot of your power in a punch should ideally come from the waist, and not from your muscles. This is why, even slightly built people with hardly any muscle can pack a good punch that is controlled yet effective with little effort.





I do not think it will be hard for you to learn kung-fu so long as you choose the style that you believe would suit you best and your sifu will provide you with the correct guidance for your style to develop.





I learn the southern style of HapGar, its very long range and covers most aspects of fighting styles such as grapples and take downs, as well as kicks and punches.





Do some research as it could be disheartening to start something but not finish it because you believe later on it's not for you.





For the record, I have many large muscled guys in my class, it does'nt stop them gaining knowledge because they are larger but they do have to work harder when it comes to relaxing and holding stances. In the same breath, I have to work harder on the more physically demanding routines so its different horses for different courses. The main thing is to enjoy what you do and to work hard at it, train your body and free your mind.
Reply:Yo, Kung-fu is a generic term. It refers to effort. As far as martial arts go you are covering a ton of styles and systems. Some systems are hard based or muscle based rather than internal or soft. Relaxing does help you as you do work against the force you are trying to generate if you tense up. HOWEVER, the more mass, the more powerful your muscles, the more endurance and cardio health you have the harder you will be able to punch with good mechanics. In addition, you will be able to punch more often and absorb the inevitable punishment. Muscle helps punching as does mass. Put a great martial artist weighing in at 150 pounds vs. a power punching, muscular boxer of 250 pounds... guess who is going to hit harder? Heck put the same weight person with one person being stronger and guess who hits harder. Of course the same rules apply, you have to hit the target (which both can do) and the martial artist has more weapons (grappling, kicking, elbowing, vital strikes). But I digress.


You have to learn to relax or you will get winded to fast in a fight. Boxers, kick-boxers, UFC, martial artists, and such learn this as well.


Long of the short, you want functional muscles... not body builder style muscles. Those body builders have pretty muscles but I would rather be the power lifter when it comes to fighting or helping someone move.
Reply:You need to know that a punch thrown by relaxed muscle groups are faster than those thrown by muscle that are tense. And if you are tense your reaction time is also very slow.








lr





http://www.pacificwingchunassociation.co...
Reply:its good to focus on ur breathing in kung fu ..... i practice shaolin style n it is defintly worth it so yea relaxing, but focus


Did emin boztepe really fought to william cheung?

If he did, could he manage to beat him?


and if he managed to beat him does not that show wing chun is not a very good way of self defence?

Did emin boztepe really fought to william cheung?
Answer is Yes and No. Please read on.....


During a seminar in New York City Leung Ting asked for a volunter from the audience to demonstrate some type of palm technique. A member of the audience who was of William Chuengs lineage, and wearing one of his T-Shirts stepped up. During the "demonstration" this person managed to strike Leung Ting once. William Cheung had no knowledge of this incident until after it happened and he reprimmaned the students involved.





A short time later William Cheung was invited to do a seminar in Germany. When he arrived for the seminar there were members of the news media there. He did a photo shoot prior to the start of the seminar. During the seminar he was approached by Emin who wanted to fight. Long Story short Emin had a group of people and video and still photography equipment. Emin made reference to some article in which William Cheung had made statements concerning the superiority of his version of Wing Chun and stated he would fight anyone anytime to prove it. The fight ensued and lasted approximate 25-30 seconds. Both people went to the ground.





Emin got up and left along with his group of people. Wiliam Cheung completed the seminar but cancelled the second day. Neither party was injured and despite claims made by both sides there was no "obvious" victor. I have had the opportunity to view both the "edited" and "unedited" versions of the video and they are, IMO, inconclusive.





A short time after this incident Victor Parliti, a student of William Cheungs, visited one of Leung Tings instructors in New York, Andrew Draheim and a repeat occurred. Again with both sides claiming victory.





Since then things have coold off a bit. Both sides made statements and challenges but nothing ever came of it.
Reply:where can I find a video of these supposed masters fighting..


I wanna watch them "play"
Reply:It took place a long time ago...1986 I think. You can watch it on YouTube. Just don't expect a picture perfect "wing chun" fight!


WingTsun??

Is WingTsun (Wing Chun) a good martial art to learn for Self Defence?


In what way is it realated to Bruce Lee?

WingTsun??
That was the first martial art he learned under Yip Man. Later on, he learned many martial arts as much he could, threw out the junk, took what worked, and he created Jeet Kune Do, which is a style of no style, a way of no way. Peace be to you.
Reply:no
Reply:check this out.... http://wingtsunkungfu.tripod.com/what.ht... i think its related to Bruce Lee cuz he was small size man and u dont rely on strength to do the art.
Reply:No it's not good. I would find something else to studies.
Reply:every martial art can be good for self defence, but if you want to be efficient you'll need to blend wing chun with other styles of fighting using kicking and grappling. Wing chun focuses almost on punches. You will know how to punch and avoid punches. Wing chun is a style of kung fu. Kung fu is a name given to the different styles of martial arts originated from china. Bruce lee was a kung fu practitioner but I don't know exactly in which styles he has been involve in the past. Today the art of bruce lee is often called jeet kune doo.
Reply:That would be a good starter it's a little hard though. Bruce Lee's instructor was Master Yip Man who was a master of Wing Chun, that's how they are related.
Reply:Yes it is a good style to learn, and I believe that Bruce Lee was the(or one of) the first people in the U.S to teach it here.
Reply:Is WingTsun (Wing Chun) a good martial art to learn for Self Defense?





Absolutely. It is one of the few martial arts that deals with the area of defense called "trapping". It builds reflexive actions that translate perfectly to street fighting. It is very difficult to master but extremely efficient.





In what way it it related to Bruce Lee?





It is the first martial art that Bruce studied though he did not learn it completely. If you study Jeet Kune Do (which Bruce created), you can see several obvious elements of Wing Chun plus other art forms.


Saturday, May 15, 2010

X training theoretical survey?

Pick ONE from the first list and ONE from the second list..Id like to see what combonations people would choose for themselves...Which would compliment the other so to speak


PICK ONE OF THESE


Karate


Kempo


Boxing


Muay Thai


Wing Chun


Tae Kwon Do


NOW CHOOSE TO X TRAIN WITH ONE OF THESE


Judo


Jiu-Jutsu


Aikido


Freestyle Wrestling


Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu





It should be interesting to see what combinations people come up with...Remember use ONLY those listed

X training theoretical survey?
Wing Chun for fluidity of movement and Aikido for pressure points and grappling
Reply:Karate for its body-toughening and straightforward combat and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for its ground fighting and sheer efficiency.
Reply:Wing Chun for knocking them to the ground then Freestyle wrestling when you get them on the ground.

wall flower

In Ur Opionion: Wats The Greatest Martial Art Form? And Why?

wing chun, karate, shaolin kung fu, judo, ect.

In Ur Opionion: Wats The Greatest Martial Art Form? And Why?
Why does this question have to be asked every day in some form? Honestly, do you really think this is funny?





The answer is the same today as it was yesterday and always will be. It isn't the art, it is the artist.
Reply:I've heard that Tai Chi is the greatest, but only when combined with an external art (Tai Chi is an internal martial art, based on internal energy manipulation). I study Shaolin Kung Fu and I prefer that to karate and takewon do.
Reply:I'd say that none of them are the greatest individually.


However Wing Chun has many great defenses against grappling and various forms of striking as well as being very methodical and scientific.
Reply:Tai Chi....
Reply:Aikido, in my opinion, mainly because it is almost entirely a defensive art. You can inflict heavy and fatal damage to your opponent, but the over all purpose was never to kill you opponent, but to deter your opponent from attacking.
Reply:My favorites are Praying Mantis, Dragon style kung fu (Hakka Version), Snake style, tiger claw, Kempo, Kajukenbo, and JKD
Reply:The one you enjoy the most
Reply:there is no bEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... omg i f***kin hate these questions!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply:none and all
Reply:What's best for me is not what's best for you. ^_^





Firstly: There's a variety of reasons why people take martial arts. The majority obviously have self defense/offense somewhere in the core, but it's not uncommon for an art to have something else coexist with it (i.e. self defense + combat sport, self defense + dance).





Secondly: What do you mean by "Greatness?" Effectiveness? Practicality? A bunch of words that are subjective, that we think are objective? It's impossible to pick styles, and try to make statements like that. The only thing that can be done is hint at it with correlations, which are more or less based on things indiscriminate of style such as training methods, goals, and frequency. Those are the things that make or break people: Not what they're doing.





The greatest thing one can do is learn their own practical art, hence practicality being defined as "Doing what works for you." You have to combine techniques from various arts to get good outcomes. That's all you can do, and hope that your training aligns well to what you want to do, whether it's fun, sport, self defense, or something else. You have to find that out on your own.





All you can do is designate which styles do what. For self-defense/profession: Striking and grappling (Unless you're doing arts professionall with less fighting ranges i.e. boxing, karate, and so on). You also need the right mindset. For sport: Take what you think is right.





This is one reason why a lot of martial artists have a lot of respect for Bruce Lee. He's one of few people in the 20th century that exposed traditional masters for claiming their styles were ultimate, when it wasn't true.





So to answer your question: The greatest martial art is "Everything, and nothing." ^_^
Reply:Systema..just look


http://youtube.com/watch?v=O7_dzu4TQDs
Reply:Dekiti Tirsia Siradas because it is lethal, flexible, adaptable and practical.
Reply:All martial arts have strengths and weakness. It is more like good teachers vs. bad teachers. Most styles have schools with VERY low standards that fit into the category of "McDojo" and those same disciplines have schools with VERY high standards that produce excellent martial artist.





Some people are very much into competition fighting for them Muay Thai or TKD would be best. Others like street fighting, some styles of Okinawan Karate and BJJ are very good for that. Others just want a very defensive art, Aikido is good for that.
Reply:tai chi, mixed with kung fu mixed with MMA. perfect in my opinion





reasons (what i really have gained)


tai chi-balance, learning how to push someone's center of gravity with a light shove, breathing while concentrating


kung fu- using anything as a weapon in real life, joint locks, grappling, arm bars chokes... defending from chokes, joint locks... excersise weight loss (lost 40 lbs) by practicing forms


MMA- grappling, taking someone down, applying kung fu strikes to MMA stand up fighting





see how it all combines? to me, it has all the attributes of a perfect martial art. perefect breathing, balance, health, defense, and offense in a real life situation.
Reply:The one you have the most fun practicing.
Reply:For me personally it is kajukenbo. Kajukenbo is a fast, high impact martial art made for modern fighting. Incorporating new moves from different styles is encouraged.
Reply:Whatever suits you and you like. All styles have strengths and weaknesses. If there was one style that did it all there wouldn't be so many styles. Why does this question get asked so much?
Reply:the ultimate is the drop cool kick - backwards style to the monkey button balloon knot press
Reply:ninjutsu has to be the best ma because it teaches you to be constantly aware of your environment and unlike other ma like kung fu you learn weaponry the whole way through and later on in training you will learn how to take apart other ma


so i believe it is the best


Kung fu in West London?

Anybody know of any kung fu classes (of any style - except wing chun, unless you know of a cheap class) that are in the middlesex area of west london (southall, hillingdon, uxbridge, hayes, ealing, acton, egham, west drayton). any ideas would be greatly appreciated

Kung fu in West London?
Hi, hopefully one of these will be helpful:
Reply:http://www.yellowpages.com/
Reply:Try www.fwckungfu.com


Tried many clubs and styles. None come close to the above


How are kung fu and karte related?

I know that kung fu originated in the Shaolin temple in Canton China and that karate in Okinowa. I heard that kung fu was first and that all the karates are a derivation. i am currently learning Wing Chun kung fu and had Shorin Rye karate in the past. And boy are they different.

How are kung fu and karte related?
http://www.easthillskungfu.com/history.h...


it's long but read


At first, fighting was an individual matter, performed in a disorganized fashion, without art. As Chinese keep their knowledge of the art much to themselves, the exact details of its' origin and development are very obscure. Between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, Chinese monks, within the confines of their monastery, created and organized a system of hand to hand fighting. Thus, Kung-Fu San Soo evolved as the first system of hand to hand combat.





About 400 years ago, this system was introduced to Okinawa (where it was adapted and became known as (Okinawa-Te) and in many other parts of the far east. it underwent a radical change, intermingling with circular motions such as those found in southern china (Num Pi) -- to hard forms consisting of theatrical postures and poses as seen more frequently in the art today. The old system underwent yet another change when it moved to Japan about 1917 and adapted itself to Japanese culture and personality.
Reply:kung fu was adapted to suit okinawan needs and outlook .unless you are studying white crane or mantis kung fu you will see little resemblance between the 2 .


okinawan karate was also influenced in some part by SIAM (THAILAND)and BURMA as CHINA BURMA and SIAM were their main trading partners and political allys long before JAPAN came on the scene.


With the JAPANESE influence and later introduction of karate to JAPAN main island more adaptions were made to suit thier needs and outlook.Advanced kata of GOJU RYU have the most kung fu influence still intact.
Reply:They share the same roots in the arts moving from west of china along with the spread of Buddhism eastward to Japan and Korea. All along the way being modified and adapted by the indigenous populations to suit there circumstances.
Reply:First understand that Okinawa had a grappling art called "ti" or hand, before the Chinese went there...





In the late 1300's there was a cultural interchange between China and Okinawa, known then as the Ryu Kyu Kingdom. They had great political and social relations.





An Envoy of 36 Families were sent to Okinawa, many of who were artisans, doctors and martial artists. The arts they brought were Fujian White Crane Fist, Black Tiger and 18 Lohan Fist, according to some accounts.





Not the complete arts were taught but more the principles and theories along with some technique.





These techniques were adopted into the kata during their formulation period, which was after the Satsuma Invasion, when the Japanese banned the practice of martial arts.





These principles, theories and techniques were incorporated into the Okinawan "ti" and that is where we get the kata of today.





There are many more details but this is the very short answer.





Addendum: U-Gene, Shorin Ryu, especially Matsubayashi and Matsumura Seito has absolutely nothing to do with Wing Chun. You must have heard the wrong thing because your teachers website shows that he is from the Old School... the correct school. The timeframe of Ng Mui's life does not coincide with the arrival of the 36 Families which was much before.
Reply:both asian
Reply:sarate actually Wing Chun is in Shorin-Ryu Karate is just that Shorin-Ryu is the complete martial arts. Wing Chun Kungfu is just one part of Shorin-Ryu. Shorin-Ryu like Shaolin have more than just one martial art. It have 2909+ martial arts in it. Shorin-Ryu is the first karate. The first three branches of karate came from Shorin-Ryu Karate because they are all taught by Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura who knew all the martial arts including all the Arts of Shaolin, Samuari, Okinawa-Te, Chinto Katas, Filipino Arts, Australian Arts. Shorin-RYu means Shaolin Way. it is the direct descendent of Shaolin. yes WIng chun kungfu is different then Shorin-Ryu because wing chun is just on system of Shorin-Ryu. Wing Chun is just the branch of Shorin-Ryu and Shaolin. Wing Chun just focus on one thing where Shorin-Ryu focus on every martial arts in the world. Karate Came from Shorin-Ryu Karate which is from Shaolin. All the karate starting Matsyasbashi Shorin-RYu was derived from Shorin-Ryu which is from Shaolin. Later after WWII the Matsumura Orthodox was taken by the minsmoto samurai clan and the y made the Matsumura orthodox into all the today's karate branches as you see today. each karate is part of the shorin-ryu they just are all modify and transform them into a new system but still part of Shorin-Ryu and Shaolin. Wing Chun is one of Shaolin Martial Arts but if you take all the Shaolin Martial Arts which will include all the 72 branches of Kungfu which wing chun is part of the shaolin kungfu branches , all the branches of Kenpo which is today modernized Rocky version of boxing, kempo the very first branch of karate, and taichi, and all the taekwondo and korean arts, and the samurai arts, and the okinawa-te (Naha, Shurie, and tomari-te) the chinto kata, all the filipino arts, and all the australian, and even every arts of today martial arts which is the total of 2909+ more martial arts which all the martial arts in the world together then Shaolin Martial Arts and Shorin-Ryu karate will be no different if you take wing chun in a complete martial art system which there are only two complete martial art system in the world which is Shorin-Ryu and Shaolin. The reason why the Shorin-Ryu Karate and WIng Chun Kungfu are different is because Shorin-Ryu Karate is a complete martial arts like shaolin and wing chun kungfu is just a single branch of the Shaolin Kungfu. If you take a complete martial art and then take and single branch martial arts then it will be different but if do a complete martial arts like Shaolin then you take another Complete Martial Arts like Shorin-Ryu karate then it will be the same. so in short karate in the complete martial arts and wingchun in the complete martial arts will be equally the same.
Reply:all martial arts startedwhen an idian monk came to the sholin temple in china. and it spread out across asia from there


Which of these martial arts should i do?

Im almost done with Drunken Fist. After im done i have a few martial arts i might want to do. I can realy pick for myself and everyone i know knows nothing about martial.





Should i take Hung Gar, Shaolin, Ba Gua Zhang, or Wing Chun





ps. i take THE drunken fist as in a martial arts not a form of hung gar or shaolin.

Which of these martial arts should i do?
If you're looking for a no nonsense approach to fighting I'd recommend Wing Chun. Personally I'd take Ba Gua Zhang because I like the deceptive circular techniques.
Reply:Not sure what those nnn's mean, but thanks for the rating. Report It

Reply:wing chun
Reply:all the styles you're choosing are all useless,please stop watching some jet li and jackie chan movies!all of them are fake and just an entertainer,go for real!





boxing,muay thai,kyokushin,tkd(execute proper kick and not some crazy combo kicks and stop doing those pesky no guard jumping stance),judo and bjj.





if you want some effective kung fu,sanshou is the best and the only effective and realistic chinese martial art and kali is a filipino art who resembles like a wushu but brutal and very effective.





capoeira is good for bending the muscles but not for self-defense.
Reply:Wing Chun. Taking Shaolin from a school just seems like it could easily be a money scam. If I was to learn effective Shaolin Kung Fu, I would only learn it at the Shaolin Temple in China.





Wing Chun is a pretty respected Chinese art for good reason.
Reply:Wing Chun
Reply:take boxing alot more fun. but etheir way make sure you have a jock strap and a cup.
Reply:It depends on what you're looking for in a martial arts style.


Wing chun would be the most notable fighting style of our modern age but each of the others have their purpose and place in history.


Hung Ga (Hung Gar or Hung Kuen) Is a southern shaolin style which means it will be comprised mostly of fist techniques and the use of butterfly swords.


Shaolin (Chinese boxing or Wushu) Has a lot of historical back ground to it and is a beautiful art both to practice and watch. The thing is finding an authentic school is not an easy task!


Ba Gua Zhang (Pa Kua Chang, Baguazhang, or Ba Gua Quan) is an internal art but the name is actually a generic name there are seven different modern styles of Bagua they are:


Yin style


Chen style


Liang style


Gao style


Fu style


Shi style


Yin yang style


This would be more along the lines of Taichi with the exception of the extremely large weapons practices with in Bagua.


As you can see there is a lot to consider but ultimately you’d have to decide which path to take on your own. I’m a lifelong martial artist myself but the path I’ve taken involves combat arts. Still I have a plethora of useless information on several styles of martial arts so feel free to drop me a line if you think of any other questions.
Reply:hung gar
Reply:shaolin cuz they usually do sanda.





or wing tsun cuz its strait forward, but mix it with everything else. like boxing, muay thai. and def def dont forget some Ju jitsu. cuz without that in your game.......your nothing my freind. have it all
Reply:The Kali, also known as Eskrima or Arnis is a Filipino Martial Art that in my opinion does not resemble Wushu at all. While primaraly known as a weapon art, thier are some systems that have hand and foot techniques. Ok Back to your question. It does not really matter whcih style you choose. All have thier sstrong points and week points. It will be up to you to determain which one suits you best. What are your goals? What are the reason you do martial arts? To be honest, can you really be "almost done" with a certain style? Some people dedicate thier whole life to the study of a particular style. So are you saying you are a Maaster or Grandmaster of Drunken Fist? This is not a pot shot at you man. I just want you to realize that you can still continue your journey with Drunken Fist. If you say you have reached perfection then I will shut up. Good Luck in whatever you choose to do.
Reply:Traditional Wing Chun..and btw..do a little more research on Capoiera. It's VERY effective. Enslaved Africans were not banned and made outlaws for practicing it for nothing. It's not only lethal, but in fact probably one of the more difficult arts to master because of the totality of fitness one must have to practice it. For a pretty good look at Capoiera in action check out the movie: Tom Yum Goong (The Protector) in the U.S.

peach fruit

Should I begin doubting Kung Fu? (the combat styles)?

Its been famous for ages but I just can't seem to find any evidence where Kung Fu has really shined in all its glory that its hyped up to be. The only art that redeems itself for me is Wing Chun, which is very effective in a fight, especially punches down the centerline in a straightline.





But what about Choy Li Fut? Praying Mantis? Eagle style? Five Animals?





I've been such a Kung Fu addict (not the movie type) for so long that I find it frustrating how a simple search of Muay Thai on YouTube can produce dozens of amazing fight videos but a Kung Fu search has only a few real fight scenes. More of them loosing then winning too.





Whats the deal, Kung Fu?

Should I begin doubting Kung Fu? (the combat styles)?
It is more than just fighting it is a way of life for most that do it outside the USA in particular. Same goes for most styles. They live and eat it day after day.





Shaolin is good, Hungar I trained in was good. Kenpo which is Okinawan but with heavy Chinese roots.





Kung fu is still a great style and way of life. It is just not for all.





ever watch Fearless with Jet Li? sure it was Wing Chun but he beat all, even the Japanese. So I think Kung Fu is still a great art, just finding the right teacher that matters.
Reply:Think of it like as Kung Fu was the ancestor style of combat. Now, the modern martial arts has surpassed Kung Fu by far. Honestly, I think boxing is by far the most effective style.





The movies has exaggerated the power of Kung Fu. However, Shaolin monk's kung fu is not to be underestimated. They will still whoop your **** with ease if you are not careful.
Reply:Kung Fu is a beautiful martial art which requires great flexibility, athleticism, and artistry. It has also been greatly hyped by Hollywood. The reality is Kung Fu is not practical when it comes to street fighting or MMA. It does not teach ground fighting which is where 90% of fights end up. Kung Fu should not be shunned because it has great historical significance and artistry but for god sake, don't expect it to carry you in a street fight or an MMA cage.
Reply:what exactly is kung fu addict? its other you train or you dont. YouTube is not the source of info and couldnt be taken as such. kung fu is over 3000 years old if you are an addict you would understand that it speaks for itself.i would change your word 'famous' to 'efficient'. i couldnt imagine my instructor placing a video on YouTube to boast like many martial arts do, because kung fu its not just style or fight but a moral state, lifestile and serenity. Good luck, addict
Reply:I would encourage you to look up Shao-lin Kung-fu. It had Mantas, Eagle, ad Five Animals Pa-Kua. It also has Dragon, Snake, Black Tiger, and many other various styles and forms.





I take Shao-lin. I believe it is a very fine example of kung-fu. Our Grandmaster, Grandmaster Sin Kwang The', is one of the coolest people I have ever met.





Shao-lin is also very effective in self defense. It uses a lot of pressure points, knock out from pressure points and joint locks. It could carry you into a MMA ring if you have trained with other martial arts, hence the name mixed martial arts because it not just one martial art its several being mixed together.





Shao-lin has an awesome history. Go look it up and read about it.





I also agree with Fresh. Kung-fu is a way of lifestyle.
Reply:When the Vale Tudo and UFC tournaments first started they sought to answer the question as to which single martial art is superior. The answer? None.





While certain styles prevailed over others (some even on a consistent basis) what has been proven is that no one martial art exclusively wins all the time. What we have found out is that certain aspects of certain martial arts, when combined together, have the most practical application. In effect there has become a new martial art named MMA. With jiu-jitsu ground game, Judo throws, Muay Thai kicks and elbows, boxing strikes, and more, all combined to make an effective and devastating martial art.





Kung-Fu is an incredible art form and fighting form, and yes there are practical applications of plenty of moves taught in Kung-Fu, do not view it simply as a be-all-end-all. Learn it, use what you can and adapt. In the end you probably will never say, "One time I was in this kung-fu fight..." You will say, "I was in a fight once..." and that is the moral of the story. Become a better fighter by studying all forms of fighting.





Good luck, chin down and keep your guard up.
Reply:There is a split in the Kung Fu world between southern styles and northern styles. If you think Wing Chun is effective, note it's a southern style, and check out some other Southern Styles like Hung Gar, or White Crane. (off of which Karate developed) I tend to think the Southern styles are more effective, especially in their training techniques, and the NOrthern styles are more showy.
Reply:Firstly, Kung Fu is not a martial art. The term means "level of achievement".





You are referring to Chinese martial arts Fist styles, or Kuen.





Whether Shaolin or secular, they are all Chinese Boxing or methods.





The problem is, and this is from one of my teachers, who is Chinese, is that the Chinese don't really teach non-Chinese correctly nor completely.





And now it's even worst because it is now considered a sport.





If you learn the techniques but don't learn the hidden meanings of the movements... what they mean, how they are used against an attack, you are wasting your money.





My teacher, was a member of the Iron Guard and has been doing martial arts for 60 years. He calls it as it is. And I believe him.





And he teaches his art without holding back anything.





You don't have doubts in the art, just in the lack of it.
Reply:China has two great schools of martial arts. Shaolin (Buddhist) in the north and Wudang (Daoist) in the south. Martial art is the Yang energy and soft Qigong (Healing) is the Yin. If you are losing interest after such dedication it is most likely you have either reached full Yang and flipping into Yin or are not balancing the Yang energy with cultivation of Yin. Each set or form works the energy in an individual way to achieve a specific result. Sounds like time to reassess where you are in your life Grasshopper. You do need to understand both the culture and philosophies of China to be able to understand the depth.
Reply:I love Kung Fu - I find it to be very effective. I am taking a sojourn into Tang Soo Do right now --- after starting there, I was able to back up Dan's including masters. Maybe it is just me. They now nicknamed me "The Ferocious One" and ask me to represent them in tournaments.





My fighting style is Kung Fu though - although I am integrating things I am learning from them as any good martial artist should do -- in my opinion.
Reply:Yes. No. Find out for yourself.
Reply:Kung Fu is as explained simply good work. But as far as well being efficient, well did you know that most folks will never fight in their life. That is most folks whom participate in Martial Arts of any kind.


The concept to alot is safety not sport fighting. Now sport fighting has it's place, but realize in America the Baby Boomers and such are now in their 40's and 50's. They would rather love and watch the sport than get pummeled every day.


So now for styles that work well, lets look at history. Kung Fu or Chinese styles are equal to both Roman and Greece in longevity. They have a better traced history as for styles though


It is not superior to none, nor less than. It wasn't developed with others destruction in mind. It was designed for self discovery. One of the rewards is self defense, as is great health, peace, and an understanding of our weaknesses and strengths .


This is all a part of learning to win. Many kung fu styles will produce todays winners. Winners in life. What can be better?
Reply:Check on youtube for Sanda, San Shou or Shuai jiao. Those are all forms of Kung-Fu that focus on combat.





I also agree with MrSlappy. It really comes down to "Become a better fighter by studying all forms of fighting". Also being a better fighter requires you to practice fighting, not 3 hours per class of forms/kata (there is space for it but some schools have a unnecessary focus on them).





To me it seems like the creation and popularity of MMA is really just a modern form of Pankration.


Arts Spawned from Shaolin (Shaolim)?

I know there are 3 styles that came from Shaolin, but I only remember two! Wing Chun and Hung Gar. What is the third?

Arts Spawned from Shaolin (Shaolim)?
Choi Lai Fut.
Reply:i have done homework thats how i know that. i look stuff up instead of just listening to crap spouted by people trying to popularize their art. Report It

Reply:for instance, did you know that very few eastern martial arts existed before 1900, and that ALL types of kung fu, karate, etc DID NOT EXIST AS SYSTEMS AT ALL DID NOT EVEN HAVE NAMES UNTIL AFTER WORLD WAR II Report It

Reply:Odd... I can trace my lineage back to over 300 years. Report It

Reply:that doesn't mean that it was a systemized martial art for all 300 years nor that it came from the shoalin temple, also can you prove all those people ever existed or might many of them be made up? because in most cases the majority of a lineage is made up, look it up Report It

Reply:One thing that those who practice Chinese martial arts can pride themselves on is having a lineage tree. As you may already know, this is similar to a family tree which traces roots back to the origin of a family. Report It

Reply:So, if you truly challenge me on whether my lineage is correct, I offer the same challenge to you and your family tree. Report It

Reply:i don't claim one, i know very little about it because i don't say things i don't know are true. seriously what would stop someone from just making up the names in your lineage? who would know? seriously look into it using actual sources not just believing what someone says Report It

Reply:If you know very little about your own lineage and family tree, how could you honestly try to disprove mine, one that you would know even less about? Mine is not steeped in mysticism, talking monkeys, or dragons. History is written. Report It

Reply:Hello,





There are much more than just 3 styles that 'came' from Shaolin.





White Eyebrow Kung-Fu


Hung-Kuen


Plum Flower


Ect...





You could even argue that Wudang 'came' from Shaolin since the influences were very similar.
Reply:HUNG CHUAN(KUEN) /HOP GAR are 2 others .





When the shaolin or suilum in some dialects was destroyed 5 monks managed to escape sometimes referred to as the 5 immortals or 5 fathers.


MASTER HOP


MASTER HUNG


MASTER GAR


MASTER LIM


MASTER LUM





As you can see by the style names the more well known ones were collaborations between 2 or more of these men .





It is thought all "hard styles" descended from MASTER HUNG.


MASTERS LIM and LUM never lent their name to any style but were thought to be exponents of tiger/crane/eagle methods and weapons mastery and their knowledge was incorperated into many systems that were to follow.


In japanese /okinawan terminology shao lin is expressed as shorin/shorin ji/shorei as chinese martial arts had a strong influence on okinawan martial arts.So you could say shaolin can count hundreds of descendants MARTIAL ARTS WISE





The earliest disciple of these men were


MASTER CHOY


MASTER LAI


MASTER FUT


In turn their students combined the teachings to create one method
Reply:Shaolin (Small Forest) is Buddhist, but Tai Chi Chuan is Taoist. Bhodidharma is said to've invented martial arts at the Chan Buddhist Shaolin temple in Loyang by copying movements of animals. There are now 5 orthodox animal styles: tiger, leopard, crane, serpent and dragon. There is an esoteric 5 venoms too: spider, centipede, scorpion, snake and toad. Unorthodox animal styles exist too, e.g. monkey and mantis. There are 5 family styles. of them, I have studied only Hung Gar and Choi Li Fut. Wing Chun and the Drunken style are other unorthodox offshoots of Shaolin styles. There are many more than 3 styles, as you can see from the list above. I have given more details in other answers, and I told about my style in a question I asked. Look at it if you want more or ask me.
Reply:actually no style came from shaolin many arts have claimed that as a marketing strategy but no art can prove a line, coming from the temple nor can any even name one (made up or not). in fact all people(or in a few cases the grandchildren of) who claimed that thier art came from shaolin have later admitted that they made it up.


No perfect system!!!!?

Having been trained in jiu-jitsu boxing and karate/kung fu


I've used elements of all the above to win in real life situations including bouncing and using headbutting lol but feel there is still no perfect style ,only the personal skill of the individual.





My choice of styles to mix and learn if young again would be,


Boxing,jiu-jitsu,Aikido,Wing chun,Penjak Sliat and Kali.





Your Thoughts Please!!!!!

No perfect system!!!!?
i think you have answered your own question and having trained in all these systems i cannot but agree . again it is down to the participants own talents,determination,guts,persistence.g... luck and good fortune.
Reply:I believe there is no such thing as a perfect martial arts system. Most if not all martial arts have a set of rules that all practitioners must adhere to.





for example, in Muay Thai, there exists a set of moves and strikes that when executed, will cause fatal injuries to the target instantly. thats why it is only taught to the highest levels of Muay Thai practitioners, and even they are not allowed to use it under most circumstances.





also, each and every martial art has some kind of inherent weakness that can be exploited by anyone knowledgable in martial arts. its just a matter of adapting...





i like your intent to mix martial arts styles in order to close up any "weakness" gaps... i prefer a person versed in mixed martial arts rather than a master of a single style...
Reply:In this day and age, and with disturbing recent events in mind, it seems that no martial art is a good system. Guns are now British society's favourite weapon.





How do you defend against that?
Reply:Aw man, I would to start learning martial arts (I'm 23). I've definitely thought about karate, boxing and kung-fu.
Reply:Before this goes the wrong route. These arts are not about fights/defense etc. No doubt this may help under certain scenarios. You cant find geography in history, similarly, every art has its own characteristics. I strongly beleive these arts are not to trigger killer instincts but its more about self-control and to trigger +ve approaches in tough real-time scenarios. Remember, my mom said once, the fight to an ultimate win is to fight within yourself. A quote changed my life, so can an art.
Reply:Well i am far from any expert but my son and hubby go Thai boxing and boxing and the hubby does grappling as well as has also done kick boxing and was pretty good





I don't know but maybe each to their own????
Reply:if i could start martial arts and stuff all over again as a youngster...





i would def choose boxing as my main system and either ju jitsu japanese styles, akido, kin bushi ryu, zen do kai, judo, hap ki do





but i would only choose 2 systems boxing and 1 other
Reply:your right there is not right style each one has it strengths and weaknes's
Reply:You can train in a million styles but what will really matter is experience.
Reply:Thank you for being the first person with multiple art experience to acknowledge that there is no perfect system. Every system has their pros and flaws.





I have only been officially trained in wrestling, but have learned muay thai and kenpo from friends who have been doing it half their lives, and yes, mixing it up definetally is better then knowing only one art and even then theres always something you wouldnt think of doing until someone does it to you first.





If I could learn any five from real coaches and not in backyards, I would pick BJJ, muay thai (no need for western boxing if you know muay thai), wing chun, judo and capoeria. I said capoeria because I would use it to show off more then to actually fight, I wouldnt be jumping and flipping around in the air if I knew the other four.
Reply:Funny everybody says MMA no such thing Pankration from the greeks is the truest form of martial arts ever made it is what everybody calls MMA
Reply:True, no style is perfect. More correctly stated would be, the artist makes the style imperfect through his / her own actions or lack of actions.





I will be increasing my knowledge till I die.
Reply:I agree whole heartedly with your statement that there is no perfect system. Anyone who thinks there is, is basically delusional. However I do not train in Martial Arts to fight in the street. Martial Arts training for me is about fitness, self improvement and discipline. I have not been in a 'real' fight in over 20 years and god willing won't be for the next 20 years. You have a higher risk of dropping dead from a heart attack or a stroke than due to a violent confrontation (probably more than 100 times). So what we should be looking for in our chosen art is a way of keeping us alive longer by the overall improvements in our health and fitness that they offer.


People who seek out violence will find it.
Reply:I really don't buy all this strengths/weaknesses bull about fighting. These styles are not for video game characters after all. You're right, it is all about the fighter. Look at the UFC. They use a variety of different styles to do essentially the same thing. Furthermore, I would agree with you that a balance of styles is good, but don't like the strength/weakness arguement. I've found it is really much more simple; you need something for standup and something for ground work with something for the transitional stage as well. I do Muay Thai, Boxing, Brazillian Ju-Jitsu, Judo and Wrestling my self. In reallity I only ever train in bits and pieces of each that I need for my own development. The best fighters are those with the most mat time anyway as a rule, so the 'style' and all this 'secret move' stuff is often just impractical hype. Now if you are interested in the culture behind martial arts then that is quite different. But that's not what you asked about is it ;)


Starting a different martial art?

After about 3 years of taekwondo, I have decided I will go for something more practical (although technically high kicks work, they are not so practical in the present day).





I first thought about Wing Chun. I like the way it doesn't waste energy, how it works in small spaces and I like its speed.





I then thought about Jeet Kune Do. JKD seems like a good option(yes I know it is a philosophy not a style). It seems practical, flexible and fast.





Then I thought about Muay Thai. I used to hate Muay Thai. I hated how they destroyed their bodies and ended up disabled. But after years of people telling me how good muay thai is, I thought about it.





It seems strong, effective and practical. I want effectiveness. I want something that works. I am alright with hard sparring(I am tall, flexible and strong) I just don't like the fact that muay thai attracts lots of hooligans.





So what should I choose? I am mainly after effectiveness, as long as I don't have to destroy my body.

Starting a different martial art?
If the options you have availble are the ones stated above, I'd go for muay thai.





Contrary to what you believe, muay thai doesn't "destroy" your body, or attracts "hooligans", that's entirely up to the school/area, not the martial art per se.





The reason why thai fighters max out in their 20's is because they start young, at age 6-7, by the time they are 20 they have over a hundred professional fights, 4x more than professional boxers in the U.S.





Muay thai fighters in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world start much later, and don't fight as often as the Thais (about 2 times a month). Also, practicing muay thai and competing professionaly are two very different things.





The only way you'd destroy your body is by overtraining, and you can do that in any martial art.





Other suggestions for a strong, effective,practical martial arts are:





for striking: muay thai (already mentioned), boxing, kickboxing, san shou, kyokushin and shidokan karate





for grappling: judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, sambo.





I hope this information is useful.





good luck!
Reply:heh muay thai looks pretty cool. could always go with judo or boxing too.
Reply:Jeet Kune Do has Muay Thai concepts and Wing Chun concepts in it. Because Bruce Lee(creator of JKD) based JKD on WIng Chun and he put TKD, Various Karates and Muay Thai in JKD. Do JKD.
Reply:I myself find Kajukenbo to be a very good martial arts





it combines all the main points from various martial arts and doesnt destroy your body.


its a combination of karate, Judo, Jujitsu,Kenpo,aikido, and kung fu





KA (long life) - comes from the word Karate, an art form that places the emphasis on hard and powerful techniques.





JU (happiness) - comes from Judo and Jujitsu, art forms that emphasize throwing, locks and sweeps.





KEN (fist) - comes from Kenpo, a form of karate that not only stresses the hard and powerful movements, but emphasizes multiple and fluid hand techniques.


BO (style) - comes from Chinese and American boxing. which puts emphasis on flexibility and agility, parrying and evasive movements that flow together.





all of these types are studied as one and can be very effective in present day if you practice





hope this helps.
Reply:Try jujitsu, or kajukenbo. Very effective.
Reply:I dont know where you found out that Mauy Thai destroys the body, I think it maby that some fighters in thailand train hard because competeing in mauy thai is their meal ticket, so they keep on fighting even when their body cant take it anymore. As long as you dont take it to great extremes your body will be alright





JKD is a good martil art too look into also, Id also recomend kyokushin karate if you dont want to be hit in the head too much, it seem like you want to continue doing a stand up art so im not going to suggest doing BJJ or any grapling, but what about going to an MMA school? they usually have some great street defence classes if thats what your looking for





If you want a tough style which still teaches respect and everything traditional martial arts offer give kyokushin karate a go, its a shame that alot of kickboxing and mauy thai students are a little hooligany but its not their fault, most are not taught the kind of things that are taught in traditional arts
Reply:I understand completly. I am a 4th Dan Master level instructor in Tang Soo Do (Soo Bahk Do) with over 25 years experience. I began cross training in JKD, Kali, Muay Thai, Silat, Pekiti-Tirsia, Savate in 2002 and have never been happier. When you see the effective, no nonsense of the cirriculun, you begin to wonder what was I doing all those years? I recently underwent a hip replacement (12/27/06) and had to re-evaluate what I can %26amp; cannot do. I'm almost 45 years old %26amp; have been involved with the martial arts for 30 years. I don't have to keep up with the kids anymore or prove anyhting to anyone but myself. What is you are looking for? To compete? self-defense? teach? Whatever it is, there is enough stuff to learn in these arts that will really enhance your attributes. For example, Muay Thai will give you stamina %26amp; power, Kali will give you speed and coordination and JKD will give you sensitivity %26amp; fluidity. Combining a little grappling/MMA, (only what your body will let you do) %26amp; just enough to take care of business when/if the time arises, will be beneficial as well. I do alot of teaching with kids %26amp; people with disabilities so I have to improvise, adapt, %26amp; overcome alot of obstacles %26amp; sterotypes. (Especially since my surgery) There are many great websites that can guide you. inosanto.com, pamausa.com, kalijkd-u.com, pekiti.com, dogbrothers.com %26amp; the list goes on and on.


Best of luck in your new journey. Keep an open mind %26amp; heart, and allow things to happen.





Sincerly,


Vinnie Howard
Reply:u shoul see capeira. it is fast martial art and wery good u shoul look on youtube for this sport and see it on the videos a

wallflower

Is this a good jeet kune do school?

I want one which practices it the way Bruce Lee did, including elements of wing chun. I know jeet kune do is more of a concept than a system, but you now what I am talking about here.





So do you think this is a good school to learn practical ways?

Is this a good jeet kune do school?
there is no good jeet kune do schools. its not that jeet kune do is more of a concept than a system, its that jeet kune do is not a system at all. bruce lee studied everything which was availible to him, if you want to follow what he did you have to as well. there is nobody who could teach you jeet kune do, not even bruce lee were he still alive. the best thing you could do is read his book, and take classes/attend practices in all the arts/styles/sports which are availible to you, although you should probably avoid the people who claim to teach jeet kune do. and as a starting point remember that lee said a boxer with wrestling skills could beat 90% of all kung fu practioners, so wing chun may not be a good starting point, though it should still be studied.
Reply:I could give you a list of Jeet Kune Do schools but I can't tell you how they practice the art. As most people know Wing Chun is the core of Jeet Kune Do. Like the word Jeet Kune Do is also part of a theory in Wing Chun. For you talking about the elements of Wing Chun the only thing I think they have in June Kune Do that is related to Wing Chun is the backbonce concept which is part of the theories of centerline, vertical punching, and forward pressure in Wing Chun. In Jeet Kune Do they don't do form in Wing Chun. Talking about practice the way Bruce Lee than I think you should study about how he learn. Bruce Lee didn't started out with Jeet Kune Do but he started out with Wing Chun which he learn from Grandmaster Yip Man. Later developed Jeet Kune Do based around Wing Chun when he got kicked out by Grandmaster Yip Man (supposedly for teaching westerners. Mostly the the concepts, theories and principle in Jeet Kune Do came from Wing Chun.





www.google.com/Top/Sports/Martial_Arts...
Reply:Master Armando is one of the great ones. "Practical" is his watchword. Energy and intelligence flow from his hands. If you are committed, dedicated, and disciplined, you will never learn more from a single teacher on the east coast. Don't miss this opportunity - give it a try for a few months and you will realize what a great, wise exemplar you have stumbled upon in the wilderness of the USA!


Should I begin doubting Kung Fu? (the combat styles)?

Its been famous for ages but I just can't seem to find any evidence where Kung Fu has really shined in all its glory that its hyped up to be. The only art that redeems itself for me is Wing Chun, which is very effective in a fight, especially punches down the centerline in a straightline.





But what about Choy Li Fut? Praying Mantis? Eagle style? Five Animals?





I've been such a Kung Fu addict (not the movie type) for so long that I find it frustrating how a simple search of Muay Thai on YouTube can produce dozens of amazing fight videos but a Kung Fu search has only a few real fight scenes. More of them loosing then winning too.





Whats the deal, Kung Fu?

Should I begin doubting Kung Fu? (the combat styles)?
It is more than just fighting it is a way of life for most that do it outside the USA in particular. Same goes for most styles. They live and eat it day after day.





Shaolin is good, Hungar I trained in was good. Kenpo which is Okinawan but with heavy Chinese roots.





Kung fu is still a great style and way of life. It is just not for all.





ever watch Fearless with Jet Li? sure it was Wing Chun but he beat all, even the Japanese. So I think Kung Fu is still a great art, just finding the right teacher that matters.
Reply:Think of it like as Kung Fu was the ancestor style of combat. Now, the modern martial arts has surpassed Kung Fu by far. Honestly, I think boxing is by far the most effective style.





The movies has exaggerated the power of Kung Fu. However, Shaolin monk's kung fu is not to be underestimated. They will still whoop your **** with ease if you are not careful.
Reply:Kung Fu is a beautiful martial art which requires great flexibility, athleticism, and artistry. It has also been greatly hyped by Hollywood. The reality is Kung Fu is not practical when it comes to street fighting or MMA. It does not teach ground fighting which is where 90% of fights end up. Kung Fu should not be shunned because it has great historical significance and artistry but for god sake, don't expect it to carry you in a street fight or an MMA cage.
Reply:what exactly is kung fu addict? its other you train or you dont. YouTube is not the source of info and couldnt be taken as such. kung fu is over 3000 years old if you are an addict you would understand that it speaks for itself.i would change your word 'famous' to 'efficient'. i couldnt imagine my instructor placing a video on YouTube to boast like many martial arts do, because kung fu its not just style or fight but a moral state, lifestile and serenity. Good luck, addict
Reply:I would encourage you to look up Shao-lin Kung-fu. It had Mantas, Eagle, ad Five Animals Pa-Kua. It also has Dragon, Snake, Black Tiger, and many other various styles and forms.





I take Shao-lin. I believe it is a very fine example of kung-fu. Our Grandmaster, Grandmaster Sin Kwang The', is one of the coolest people I have ever met.





Shao-lin is also very effective in self defense. It uses a lot of pressure points, knock out from pressure points and joint locks. It could carry you into a MMA ring if you have trained with other martial arts, hence the name mixed martial arts because it not just one martial art its several being mixed together.





Shao-lin has an awesome history. Go look it up and read about it.





I also agree with Fresh. Kung-fu is a way of lifestyle.
Reply:When the Vale Tudo and UFC tournaments first started they sought to answer the question as to which single martial art is superior. The answer? None.





While certain styles prevailed over others (some even on a consistent basis) what has been proven is that no one martial art exclusively wins all the time. What we have found out is that certain aspects of certain martial arts, when combined together, have the most practical application. In effect there has become a new martial art named MMA. With jiu-jitsu ground game, Judo throws, Muay Thai kicks and elbows, boxing strikes, and more, all combined to make an effective and devastating martial art.





Kung-Fu is an incredible art form and fighting form, and yes there are practical applications of plenty of moves taught in Kung-Fu, do not view it simply as a be-all-end-all. Learn it, use what you can and adapt. In the end you probably will never say, "One time I was in this kung-fu fight..." You will say, "I was in a fight once..." and that is the moral of the story. Become a better fighter by studying all forms of fighting.





Good luck, chin down and keep your guard up.
Reply:There is a split in the Kung Fu world between southern styles and northern styles. If you think Wing Chun is effective, note it's a southern style, and check out some other Southern Styles like Hung Gar, or White Crane. (off of which Karate developed) I tend to think the Southern styles are more effective, especially in their training techniques, and the NOrthern styles are more showy.
Reply:Firstly, Kung Fu is not a martial art. The term means "level of achievement".





You are referring to Chinese martial arts Fist styles, or Kuen.





Whether Shaolin or secular, they are all Chinese Boxing or methods.





The problem is, and this is from one of my teachers, who is Chinese, is that the Chinese don't really teach non-Chinese correctly nor completely.





And now it's even worst because it is now considered a sport.





If you learn the techniques but don't learn the hidden meanings of the movements... what they mean, how they are used against an attack, you are wasting your money.





My teacher, was a member of the Iron Guard and has been doing martial arts for 60 years. He calls it as it is. And I believe him.





And he teaches his art without holding back anything.





You don't have doubts in the art, just in the lack of it.
Reply:China has two great schools of martial arts. Shaolin (Buddhist) in the north and Wudang (Daoist) in the south. Martial art is the Yang energy and soft Qigong (Healing) is the Yin. If you are losing interest after such dedication it is most likely you have either reached full Yang and flipping into Yin or are not balancing the Yang energy with cultivation of Yin. Each set or form works the energy in an individual way to achieve a specific result. Sounds like time to reassess where you are in your life Grasshopper. You do need to understand both the culture and philosophies of China to be able to understand the depth.
Reply:I love Kung Fu - I find it to be very effective. I am taking a sojourn into Tang Soo Do right now --- after starting there, I was able to back up Dan's including masters. Maybe it is just me. They now nicknamed me "The Ferocious One" and ask me to represent them in tournaments.





My fighting style is Kung Fu though - although I am integrating things I am learning from them as any good martial artist should do -- in my opinion.
Reply:Yes. No. Find out for yourself.
Reply:Kung Fu is as explained simply good work. But as far as well being efficient, well did you know that most folks will never fight in their life. That is most folks whom participate in Martial Arts of any kind.


The concept to alot is safety not sport fighting. Now sport fighting has it's place, but realize in America the Baby Boomers and such are now in their 40's and 50's. They would rather love and watch the sport than get pummeled every day.


So now for styles that work well, lets look at history. Kung Fu or Chinese styles are equal to both Roman and Greece in longevity. They have a better traced history as for styles though


It is not superior to none, nor less than. It wasn't developed with others destruction in mind. It was designed for self discovery. One of the rewards is self defense, as is great health, peace, and an understanding of our weaknesses and strengths .


This is all a part of learning to win. Many kung fu styles will produce todays winners. Winners in life. What can be better?
Reply:Check on youtube for Sanda, San Shou or Shuai jiao. Those are all forms of Kung-Fu that focus on combat.





I also agree with MrSlappy. It really comes down to "Become a better fighter by studying all forms of fighting". Also being a better fighter requires you to practice fighting, not 3 hours per class of forms/kata (there is space for it but some schools have a unnecessary focus on them).





To me it seems like the creation and popularity of MMA is really just a modern form of Pankration.