The gym

Apathy and Nick, what martial art would you recommend for a beginner?

I'd recommend Krav Maga its easy to learn and very effective. Most of the defenses are based off of the bodies natural reactions, so you don't have to think about what to do if someone starts choking you from behind or something like that. So after 2 weeks of class 2-3 times a week you'll defend yourself well against the common street thug. There is ranking system but you're not pressured into testing for a new belt. The only problem may be the cost it could be expensive depending on what membership you get.

but I can't punch for $#%^

They will teach you how to punch using as mush power as possible starting from the legs up.

I also like Aikido but I couldn't find a place that teaches it where I live. The problem I've had with traditional martial arts are they are too flashy, they're used for sport fighting and not very effective on the 'street', but I guess any martial art can work if you train enough and use it correctly.

(please don't lecture me about knives, i know it's a dangerous move)

I also carry a folding knife where I can just in case things get too out of hand.

I'm trying to break through to wanting to be active and healthy atm. Atm something is stopping me.

The gym is full of people

So are most places.. and I wouldn't be surprised if that is a main factor stopping me exercising atm.

I can only take guesses. I used to exercise in the early hours of the morning when there weren't many people around, or even if there were I felt a lot more like night time was "my territory" and daytime was "theirs". I need to get over it and get out and exercise... cause I am also a sloth atm. lol

I like the idea of not doing something I like until I get some exercise, but my willpower is at a minimum these days. If I manage to do 25 sit-ups and 10 push-ups in the morning, it would be an accomplishment, especially given how low in energy I have been.

Taking a class is not for me--- it would be like paying someone to punish me. I would skip class. It would be a waste of $.

I tend to see people running in the morning and evening, so it's hard to find a time for myself. I think I am going to start off trying to do my 25 push-ups and 10 sit-ups on the morning. It is not easy since I really don't like waking up earlier than I already do at 6:30am. Plus, my schedule will change again when I start training at another site, which will likely push my schedule earlier to a 5am start.

Yuck.

Will keep posted on progress (or lack of.)

Obumbrata wrote:Apathy and Nick, what martial art would you recommend for a beginner?

The golden rule of martial arts: It's the quality of the club and instructor, not the art itself that determines how useful the club is.

To clarify: There are a huge number of poor marital arts clubs and poor instructors out there which teach you fancy or useless techniques because either they don't know any better or because they want you to keep paying up.

There is also the difference between combat sports and martial arts: Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Judo are combat sports because you are trained to score points while wearing pads, and pull punches. In practical terms they're both useless, same as Kung Fu. Judo is slightly different, in that it still teaches throwing techniques and restraints/locks that are reasonably practical, but neglects alot of the other work because it is still a sport. Judo techniques rely on you wearing a gi [that doesn't rip], not fighting dirty and not having a bunch of mats to kick you on the ground. It's limited for self-defence purposes and horribly unbalanced for that purpose, but is probably the most practical of the combat sports mentioned above.

*Declaration: 4 years of TKD, 2nd Dan Black Belt. It's still crap.

Any martial art is suitable for a beginner, so I'd search the internet and local sports centres for all the clubs you can, find the ones that charge a reasonable rate and that fit into your timetable, then attend as many free sessions of each before deciding which you like. Normally clubs charge per class, a yearly membership, insurance and grading fees. My university club was extremely good but also highly subsidised so I can't give you exact numbers, but get information on all 4 of these before committing. Any club that charges £40 to grade or insists that you pay for your classes in 3 or 6 monthly instalments probably isn't worth your time.

Note: Decent martial arts clubs are not for the faint hearted nor are they purely for fun. They are great fun, but expect to be worked hard and be a practice dummy for other students in return.

For practical self defence; Krav Maga, Jiujitsu, Sambo, Muay Thai are a good start. It depends whether you want a striking art or a throwing art. Striking arts [Krav Maga, Muay Thai] rely on punches, kicks, elbows etc. TKD is a striking art, just a piss-poor one. Krav Maga and Muay Thai are not crap when taught correctly. Brutal and highly effective, plus they're outstanding for getting into shape. Jiujitsu and Sambo utilise locks, holds and throws for self defence, and can also be both brutal and effective.

I don't know about Aikido, but it seems a bit too passive to me. Not my area of expertise.

I took jiujitsu at university because it was the best club in the area, and I don't regret it. I was club captain for over 2 years and I probably attended 95%+ classes during that time, so I know jiujitsu best. Jiujitsu uses wrist and arm locks to restrain and throws to disable. It teaches how to target vulnerable spots on the body [temples, eyes, throat, chest, kidneys, ankles] and how to fight multiple opponents.

On that note: regarding fun. The most fun I've ever had at martial arts was the X: 4 groups of students, one at each point on the x. You in the middle. Instructors send them at you from random groups faster and faster until you get overwhelmed or exhausted.

If you have other questions, please ask. But please don't join a useless club and waste your time.

OOC: Where do you live? I might be able to help finding a UK club, but not much after that.

I hate being with other people at the gym (fortunately, where I live there's a gym, so I go when there's nobody else). Also I don't like group activities (that's why I don't practice yoga, pilates, etc.).


Maybe if you buy a treadmill and then you can do exercise while whatching TV?

I put on a bit of weight (~170 lbs, 5' 9") and didn't really like it.

Didn't like looking at my abdominal fat.

So, I moved more, ate less. Could barely run a mile 2 months ago; now I can go 3 pretty easily and 4 if I'm really determined. Lost 10 lbs.


Plus, on occasion you find an attractive girl and get to stare at her for some 30 minutes.

Guess Who, I'm the same way, I use to go after work, do a good hour work out 4 times a week after 10pm and it was nice and dead, no waiting for machines and I could take my sweet time. As for working out with friends, I can't do it. They can do their thing, I'll do mine and we'll bump into each other to check in, and leave together.

I'm slowly descending into a slump of not working out. The lockers at school won't fit my backpack with all my school stuff and gym stuff, so I'd have to walk home after class, drop my stuff off, grab the gym stuff and walk back to the school gym on a bad knee haha. I'm also trying to work out for the army but my motivation has dipped and I feel like a sloth. Need a drill instructor to come in and PT me haha.

I'm not really a fan of the gym. I went there once at a friends absolute insistence (after months of pleading) and I was not impressed. I spent most of the time just sitting around and every so often being asked to display how weak I was infront of a bunch of my friends roid head friends. Then every so often they would make some comment about some girls ass or whatever. Not my scene at all.

I don't mind physical activity, I even played Basketball and Tennis until I tore my ligaments in my ankle. Maybe when it's fully healed I'll get back to it but I'm probably never going to be a gym advocate. Everything is far too public, it seems more like a way for people to boast about themselves than a dedicated training facility.

Fellow sloth here I say find something you enjoy doing, perhaps outside the realm of conventional exercise if necessary (rock climbing? Break dancing classes?). The motivation will come if you are doing something you enjoy. If you don't feel motivated then it's not right for you. Would you consider getting involved in a team sport? Do you prefer indoors or outdoors exercise? With other people or alone? Etc. Funny you mention Aikido, someone recommended I try it years ago.

Someone mentioned training martial arts for self defense purposes. I''m interested to know if any of you have actually been in a situation where you had to use your martial skills to defend yourself, or do you only think that you will probably use them?