Which Martial Art and Why?

[Em MacIntosh]

Which martial art do you train in?
Why did you choose this art?
What do you like about it?
What do you NOT like about it?

What MA do I train in? I say I study JKD but many here would dissagree. JKD is just a name.

Why did I chose this art? I've been doing JKD long before I'd heard the name and when I discovered it I just thought, "hey. That's what I do!"

What do I like about it? The fact that it's not an art. It just is. I just am. It fits anyone because it's how something works for you, not how well you can do a technique or apply someone else's concept. Once you do it, it's your move. Doesn't matter who discovered it.

What do I not like about it? Hypocricy. JKD is bigger than Bruce Lee. It's not a martial art but a concept. Sure there are reccomended techniques but even these might not be your thing. When people feel that JKD isn't being studied properly, many criticise rather than attempt to correct. It has been commercialised a lot too. I call it "what works for me" rather than JKD but I say Jeet so people know what I mean. Let the name Jeet Kune Do be forgotten. Don't preserve it with patterns and stagnation in hopes to honer the late great one. No one person or group of people can advance or improve JKD. It's an individual thing and only an individual can improve his/her own jeet. Again, just my theory. Just remember, I'm a warrior on a spiritual quest. I'll kill you if you don't beleive like I do!

 

[bushidomartialarts]

Kenpo.

Because when I started my journey the school was within walking distance of my dorm room. And then because I respected and admired my teachers. And finally because it has become my home.

 

[German Coach]

Self defence based on Muay Thai and Boxing.

It´s fun and very effective (I am getting older and can´t run away anymoren )

 

[Shaderon]

Wow these posts go on forever sometimes!

Which martial art do you train in?
Why did you choose this art?
What do you like about it?
What do you NOT like about it?

Which. TaeKwon-Do
Why. I just tried it and the material and the instructor both impressed me and continue to do so.
What I like. The combat style and the attitude of the school towards self defence
What I don't like. At my level, the lack of throwing and the limitiations if caught in a grappling style attack. (Always time to cross train after though)

 

[Sukerkin]

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido these days. Previously, Lau Gar Kung Fu.

 

[MantisStyle21]

Double post =[

 

[MantisStyle21]

Which art did I choose?
Shaolin Kung Fu and Jujitsu

Why did I choose it?
My brother studied under the same sensei and I thought it would be a big honor if he would teach me too. Plus Shaolin Kung Fu has always interested me

What do I like about it?
What's not to like? It's amazing

What don't I like?
I'm eager to learn more jujitsu and you can't start training in depth til you reach higher in shaolin kung fu. Also we had to share the gym with people who do yoga (not at the same time) and it makes it feel less traditional they were shoes on the mat and it makes them very dirty

 

[bookworm_cn317]

Which martial art do you train in?
-TKD
Why did you choose this art?
-It was what was being offered at the Y at the time
What do you like about it?
-everything
What do you NOT like about it?
-N/A

 

[Steel Tiger]

Which martial art?
Bagua Zhang

Why did I choose it?
Sort of just fell into it when I moved from one city to another.

What do I like about it?
It is a less common art and is very versatile. It seems to cover all the bases.

What don't I like about it?
It is a less common art.

 

[HelloKitty]

Which martial art do you train in?
Taekwondo

Why did you choose this art?
I wanted to study karate 1st but the gym's owner show me the TKD class for girls. I just looked at it to be polite, but I fall in love. It's just a good style for me.

What do you like about it?
You can practice TKD if you are a child, young, older, man, woman, tall, short, slim, overweight... you can teach it, just practice poomses and self defense, compite in sparring and breaking, etc. It's not a restrictive MA. And it's efficient from the beggining. You'll physically improve soon, and you can defend yourself with the techniques and kicks in a reasonable short time, etc.

What do you NOT like about it?
I think sometimes a TKD student would be too used to train his/her kicks and be dependant only in them. It can be a limitating factor. I miss more self-defense when you've been caught for your opponent. What happens, for example, if a TKD student is on the ground grappled by someone being unable to move? Ask a friend to call the police? And it's not an uncommon situation for a woman when she's attacked, etc.

 

[KempoGuy06]

Which martial art do you train in?[

I train in Shaolin Kempo Karate and Brazilian Jui-Jitsu at Bluegrass Martial Arts in Louisville KY

Why did you choose this art?

I need something to keep me active and it was close by thats why I went to check it out. The reason I started there and continue to train there even though I live over 30min away now is because of my instructor and the family atmosphere that our dojo has

What do you like about it?

Everything. I love the whole art, both of them...so far

What do you NOT like about it?

Nothing yet. That may change as Im only a purple belt now.

B

 

[kenpofighter]

I train in Ed Parkers' kenpo karate. Honestly, I chose this system because my brother started training in kenpo years ago when I was only three, so years later I just went back to the same school he had went to. Out of the years training, and many class that I have taken or taught, I love everything about it. I especially like that this system in very practical for street fighting. Something I don't like.....? Well I don't like how a few schools take the system and make it so easy for anyone to walk in and get their black belt. You know three or four techniques per belt leval.

 

[karate-dragon]

I studied Oki Ryu Kempo, Shorin Ryu, Aikido, Kendo and Shaolin Kempo. My main style is Shaolin Kempo, 15 years. Started in Kempo because it was convenient. After 1st Dan tried Sorin Ryu to see if I was missing anything in not doing a "traditional" ma. Got a 1st Dan and RAN back to Shaolin Kempo. Seems to be the most diverse style, at least the way my teacher does it. It lacks in more ground fighting. However, after doing some grappling with guys, realized size does count over technique and it was frustrating. Loved Aikido but just wanted to kick somebody! Also, the falls were hard on the knees and back. Any martial art is great - just do it!!

 

[Doc_Jude]

I've done JJJ in the past and Bujinkan, but I'm now almost full-time Pentjak Silat Ratu Adil, with some work in Cestari's Combatives & Combat Jujutsu(from dvd, drilled other guys), and some Eskrima. I also like to do some drills from Cold Steel's Knife and Machete dvd sets.
Why? Well, I like the practicality of Silat and the small blade considerations built into the art, which works well with the other blade stuff I do, and I love the street practicality of the combatives & how Cestari can translate the traditional martial arts. Genius. If I had a time machine & could stand Jersey, I'd train with him in a heartbeat!

 

[Guardian]

Which martial art do you train in?
Why did you choose this art?
What do you like about it?
What do you NOT like about it?

Please don't let this turn into a "my art is better than your art" discussion. I'm just curious about the arts we have here and the reasons people train in them.

It was basically the only style/system available at that time.

I like it for it's always allowed me to fit it to me, not me to it (as it should be).

There's nothing I didn't like about it. It's been a good style/system for me though I don't practice it fully anymore.

 

[Rickg]

Kempo/Chuan FA Kajukenbo. I chose (Hawaiian) Kempo because the direct approach to self defense a system that rely's on the natrual movement of the body. I now train in the Chuan FA style of Kajukenbo to add circular motion to my kempo background. Which works perfectly because the Chuan Fa Style of the Kajukenbo system is based in Hawaiian Kempo.

 

[kaizasosei]

a friend of mine told me this saying about religions. if you know only one religion, then you don't know any religion.

 

[dianhsuhe]

Hey RickG: Did your Kempo background not already have circular motion?

 

[jonbey]

I do Chow Gar. Why? 'Cos I like it. Really it is the closest to a tradition Chinese style that I could find within a reasonable drive from my house (15-20 minutes). No high kicking (too old for that now), lots of hand techniques. Fun too.

 

[NDNgirl4ever]

Which martial art do you train in?
Shorin Ryu Karate
Why did you choose this art?
I visited the school and I really liked it.
What do you like about it?
I like the fact that we do a fairly good amount of sparring. I also like the fact that my school also offers grappling if you want to do it.
What do you NOT like about it?
We practice defense against modren weapons like knives,but I wish we did it more often. I also wish we got more nunchuck practice. Other than those minor things, I absolutely love it!