Hey, I'm a guy who's interested in learning how to street fight. I read somewhere that the best way to learn how to street fight is learning a bunch of martial arts, then making your own "style" out of them. I'd like to learn another, as I feel I've mastered the basics of my first few.
I know:
Korean Tae-Kwon-Do: Brown Belt. Tae Kwon Do (hearafter TKD) is a martial art where both people are standing up, and places a lot of emphasis on kicks. I can do a few flying kicks, and am pretty good at it. It's like Karate, but with more emphasis on kicks, I guess.
Brazilian Jujitsu: We mess around with Jujitsu in my TKD class, and I'm technically a brown belt there too. I'm hands down the best in my class, and have never lost a fight except to a professional cage fighter. Jujitsu is a martial art where the fighters are starting on their knees, and it's similar to wrestling except you learn how to use your opponents weight against them; it was actually developed by small guys in Brazil so they could have a more even match against bigger guys.
Judo: I only do a bit of judo, and that's just to learn the throws. I basically do this so I can easily transition from TKD to Jujitsu in an actual fight and keep the upper hand.
I guess I'm a bigger guy, and need another martial art. Keep in mind I won't be quitting any; this is "in addition to," not "instead of."
TKD is a very strange sport with a lot of techniques that don't translate to other martial arts, or "fighting" at all. Which is why a lot of mid-level TKD matches are just quick modified roundhouse kicks and footwork.
Muay Thai would give you some fast strikes that are practical to do, and it's also great strength and cardio training.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll be sad if people don't start calling The Chain Veil "Fleetwood Mac."
TKD is a very strange sport with a lot of techniques that don't translate to other martial arts, or "fighting" at all. Which is why a lot of mid-level TKD matches are just quick modified roundhouse kicks and footwork.
Muay Thai would give you some fast strikes that are practical to do, and it's also great strength and cardio training.
What's it like?
TKD has actually helped me a lot; I don't know where you get that from.
Elbow and knee strikes. It's a very popular mixed martial arts choice, because a lot of the strikes can be executed when you're inches from your opponent.
If you face a superior boxer, or just don't want to get hit hard, you can get in close and use Muay Thai. Alternatively, it's your last line of defense if you need to strike someone who is trying to take you to the ground.
You can get a pretty good sampling of what Muay Thai is about by watching some youtube demos of the martial art.
I did TKD for several years. You wouldn't agree that it puts form over function? It's a fine sport, but how often do you see decent mixed martial arts fighters do a spin heel kick?
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I'll be sad if people don't start calling The Chain Veil "Fleetwood Mac."
Elbow and knee strikes. It's a very popular mixed martial arts choice, because a lot of the strikes can be executed when you're inches from your opponent.
If you face a superior boxer, or just don't want to get hit hard, you can get in close and use Muay Thai. Alternatively, it's your last line of defense if you need to strike someone who is trying to take you to the ground.
You can get a pretty good sampling of what Muay Thai is about by watching some youtube demos of the martial art.
I did TKD for several years. You wouldn't agree that it puts form over function? It's a fine sport, but how often do you see decent mixed martial arts fighters do a spin heel kick?
Wow, Muay Thai is pretty awesome. I'll check it out!
I guess it kinda does, but it's taught me quite a lot. I use some stuff from it when fighting a true opponent. The thing about TKD is that it teaches you some awesome kicks. Hell, if I didn't take TKD, I wouldn't be able to do anything with my legs. No side kicks (my personal favs).
Also, my TKD class is kinda like an MMA class. We dabble in everything, but TKD is the main thing.
I'm not so sure I believe you. You say you've "mastered" the basics of other arts and then you say you are only a brown belt. It doesn't matter what the art is or how basic a technique is, to say you've "mastered" something when you're a brown belt is nonsense, you have years and years and years to go before you can be called master.
You also didn't know what Muay Thai is. Seriously?! Thanks to MMA it's the most popular striking art around. No way you can get a brown belt in two different arts and start learning another without at least stumbling across Muay Thai. The only way I can see that happening is if you are going to what's usually called a "McDojo", the type of school that hands out black belts way too easily and really doesn't teach much (these are easy to find, just look for schools that have black belts on 8 year old kids and that require you to sign contracts and pay for belt testing). I call bull ☺☺☺☺ on this thread.
However, if you are serious about learning how to street fight it's less about the style of martial art you learn and more about who you learn it from. Every art can work on the street when done right (except bjj, pulling guard on a dude is a good way to get your head stomped by his friends). Look for schools that are very hard nosed an tough and that do a lot of sparring. You could also try going out an picking fights but I would advise against that because these days you never know who has a gun. Also, don't forget that in a street fight there are no rules. Don't be afraid to gouge eyes, fish hook, bite and use anything you can pick up as a weapon. And always kick em in the nuts!
Mkay (OP here, look at sig). Well. First of all, I said I mastered the BASICS. The *BASICS*. Also, I know what a belt factory is (you called it a McDojo). If it really is that popular, the I don't know why I haven't heard of it.
It doesn't matter what the art is or how basic a technique is, to say you've "mastered" something when you're a brown belt is nonsense, you have years and years and years to go before you can be called master.
You really aren't helping to convince me here. And I can guarantee you 100% that if you haven't been doing a specific art for at least 30 or 40 years then you haven't mastered anything, no matter how baisc you think it is.
Filipino Kali. Seriously, it will give you all the attributes you need to survive on the street or in the cage. There are few arts in the world minus portions of traditional Krav Maga and Silat that do things better.
Look up anything Kali on youtube and you'll understand the practicality of this martial art especially under the names Dan Inosanto(for the traditional), Ron Balicki(to see it used in traditional forms but also in MMA and win), or Paul Vunak(he has been teaching this stuff to the American special forces groups for years).
Muay Thai is always a decent path the problem being you get no ground mechanics and if you are going straight traditional Muay Thai you don't get the crazy Muay Thai street fighting which the name of alludes me at the moment which includes head butts, clever uses of boxing mixed with your elbows, and cycling knees to elbows and vice versa(essentially the street stuff sacrifices the form you get from the traditional for brutal victory in a straight up Muay Thai way).
Though, if you can one of the best routes to simply find a path of self discovery and creation in your martial path being is to find a certified instructor in JKD in your area.
In a nutshell JKD is Bruce Lee's, to even try and give it a name is impossible but this is the best name a scholar in the 90s gave it, philosophical model for combining a martial arts that fit you and your martial way. Though, that definition doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
In JKD you essentially have a base martial art you start with and you explore other arts without going through the ridiculous Mcdojo belt systems and programs and find pieces of moves you like and apply them. The Ultimate idea being to flow from one martial art form to another and make it all practical and your fight economics to be flawless(i.e. in a fight of whatever level or location you never waste movement attacking or moving).
Bruce Lee himself was straight up Jun Fan Gung Fu mixed with Wing Chun and a little hic cups of Kung Fu and Savate street fighting mechanics and his movements were based on Western boxing footwork and fencing steps.
I've been doing Kali for five years now and it is amagzing. There have been few times fighting where I have been stumped by anyone and generally that was just due to whatever ridiculous circumstance I was in or if my opponent was using something equally exotic like one of my instructors using Russian Systema...
I have also been in JKD for four years and it has been great. I started with Kali added some Savate for my kicks so the boxing mechanics is there for both my hands and feet and I have a couple years of BJJ under me though to be honest Kali does things BJJ simply can't do(most Kali ground mechanics are simply too brutal for organized sport fighting. Literally, your aim at all times is to pull on muscle insertions and slam your opponents limbs and head into the ground to kill him if not get to the locks as fast as possible but, using elbow points, eye gouges, biting, and ear rips and head butts the entire way). I have also mixed in a handful of techniques from Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate in what I do along with the White Ape movements, forms and attacks from Kung Fu with hic cups of Mantis if I need them. This is my JKD path and so far it has kept me alive while allowing me to be a little flashy if I need thanks to the more asian arts.
Don't be too dismissive of arts that put form over function, especially if you've got other arts that teach you more practical applications. You'll never use a technique that starts of "grab my wrist" in an actual fight, but you can learn a lot of general principles about how to efficiently exert force and how to control an opponent from that sort of thing. Since you've already got several arts that have some practical application, I might consider looking for one that seems to have less. Translating the basic principles you learn to your practical techniques will make them all stronger.
Hey, I'm a guy who's interested in learning how to street fight. I read somewhere that the best way to learn how to street fight is learning a bunch of martial arts, then making your own "style" out of them. I'd like to learn another, as I feel I've mastered the basics of my first few.
I know:
Korean Tae-Kwon-Do: Brown Belt. Tae Kwon Do (hearafter TKD) is a martial art where both people are standing up, and places a lot of emphasis on kicks. I can do a few flying kicks, and am pretty good at it. It's like Karate, but with more emphasis on kicks, I guess.
Brazilian Jujitsu: We mess around with Jujitsu in my TKD class, and I'm technically a brown belt there too. I'm hands down the best in my class, and have never lost a fight except to a professional cage fighter. Jujitsu is a martial art where the fighters are starting on their knees, and it's similar to wrestling except you learn how to use your opponents weight against them; it was actually developed by small guys in Brazil so they could have a more even match against bigger guys.
Judo: I only do a bit of judo, and that's just to learn the throws. I basically do this so I can easily transition from TKD to Jujitsu in an actual fight and keep the upper hand.
I guess I'm a bigger guy, and need another martial art. Keep in mind I won't be quitting any; this is "in addition to," not "instead of."
Thanks a lot!
Why don't you spend more time getting your black belt in TKD???
your a brown belt, i guarantee that there are black belts within your organization that can tear you apart.
(I speak from personal experience)
I am also a big guy (6'4, 350) and when I tested for my 1st degree I ended up sparring with one of my grandmaster's students who was a 4th and he rocked me with no problem. I realized that I really need to work an a lot of things and that a black belt is just the beginning of serious training.
You also say that you "mess around" with BJJ. I mess around too and because of my size I also beat most people. I know BJJ guys who have black belts in JJ and then they got to a Gracie BJJ school and realize that they need to start training again.
If you do all the things that you claim you do, you should be more than ok in a street fight. Most dudes who are legit martial artists are not walking around looking to get into street fights.
If you are spending time sparring and training you should be able to handle yourself.
Talk to some legit black belts in your school and start training with the big boys;)
Hey, I'm a guy who's interested in learning how to street fight.
Jeet Kune Do. By far the best art you can learn.
Find a Jeet Kune Do school. Then find where it traces back to. If it professes to be "Jun Fan" or "Original" Jeet Kune Do, avoid it. Nothing against Jun Fan, quite the opposite in fact, but it's definitely not something you'll want to learn right now.
What you'll want is a school that has the label of "Concepts" JKD. Look for someone who can trace their training back to either Dan Inosanto or Paul Vunak. Here's Paul Vunak's site, it's corny as all get out, but if you can find someone who is certified under him nearby then take that. http://fighting.net/main.php?page=descendants
If you can't, I would find either a good boxing school or...
This. Kali is fantastic for your attributes, is great for weapons work, and involves destructions, which are fun.
(... Aww man, Sioux, you ninja'd me on this entire post!)
Basically, what you want to build up right now is your attributes. If you've mostly done TKD, then you're going to need time to unlearn a lot of the bad habits of TKD/Karate, and really only the side kick from TKD is useful.
Why don't you spend more time getting your black belt in TKD???
Because it's not useful for what he wants.
Actually it's not useful period unless you want to go to the Olympic games with it. That's like the one use I can see for training in Tae Kwon Do for a prolonged period of time. If you enjoy it as a sport, that's fine. But if you want to learn it to connect with Korean culture, I would suggest learning Taekkyon instead, and if you want to learn it for self-defense purposes, have someone teach you the side kick, and find a different martial art.
One thing that people seem to unappreciate is boxing. Just ordinary, western style boxing. While it doesn't have very much to work with in terms of moves, its great for helping you read your opponents. Why is it so great? Mainly cause there are very little moves and it becomes quick to start learning how to pick up on the little things that are important.
If you want something really interesting, try ninjutsu. I haven't been doing it for long, but there is some really interesting wrist locks and it uses the mechanics of the body to help you win. Some of it is hard to apply, but your opponent will have to know how to jump and roll if they don't want broken joints. A lot of the moves are just a really good way of moving the body round.
However, overall, the most important part of fighting is knowing your opponent's weaknesses and using that against them.
Know where to move to avoid damage,
Know where to attack to deal damage,
Know how to move to deal the right amount of damage with the minimum effort, (this is what takes a lot of practise and skill)
After that its just knowing how other people move. (or with throws, its all about making someone move the way you want them too)
If you want a martial art no-one will know how to defend against, why not try Kalari Payattu. I dunno how good it is, but pretty much no-one does it cause 1. its Indian, 2. It was banned when the English conquered India, so its rare.
One thing that people seem to unappreciate is boxing. Just ordinary, western style boxing. While it doesn't have very much to work with in terms of moves, its great for helping you read your opponents. Why is it so great? Mainly cause there are very little moves and it becomes quick to start learning how to pick up on the little things that are important.
Filipino Kali is the father of modern boxing. The reason why Americans box like they do is because of the influences from the Philippines. In the days of World War II Navy boxers tried boxing the Filipino men but, most would simply lose. The John L Sullivan form simply couldn't match the speed and technique that Filipino boxing brought to the table.
Panatukan which is the hand to hand form of Kali is even sometimes called "Filipino dirty boxing" because of the traps involved in it along with the unorthodox movements of creating false leads to set up crosses, aiming to actually hurt limbs more often then the body, and finishing off opponents with leg sweeps that set one up to finish an opponent with a big cross.
Quote from Highroller »
(... Aww man, Sioux, you ninja'd me on this entire post!)
I apologize but I live for opportunities to spread the good word of Kali and JKD.
Straight up boxing. Great for balance, footwork, timing, endurance, and you get to really swing for the fences in headgear boxing.
Also less bull☺☺☺☺ and hype than many other martial arts.
...
Consider Kendo as well. If you really want to protect yourself in the streets, kendo helps you reflexes and ability to strike quickly and decisively moving forward.
Straight up boxing. Great for balance, footwork, timing, endurance, and you get to really swing for the fences in headgear boxing.
Also less bull☺☺☺☺ and hype than many other martial arts.
Yes. Boxing will teach you things like distance, when to move in, and footwork. Footwork is everything in a fight.
Consider Kendo as well. If you really want to protect yourself in the streets, kendo helps you reflexes and ability to strike quickly and decisively moving forward.
How would this work unless he plans on carrying a sword?
And if that's going to happen, I would think Western fencing would be better, again because of the emphasis on footwork.
Going to have to second boxing, although anything with a lot of sparring sounds good. If you are still in high school however, throw out any other advice and join the wrestling team.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Standard: Zombies, AntiTusk Vampires, BUG Graveyard, Bant Hexproof, UR Storm Delver Modern: Storm, Jund, Ghast Blaster, Elf Warriors Legacy: RUG Cascade, Imperial Painter, Affinity, Dredge, Elves, Merfolk, Pox, Dragon Stompie, Goblins, ANT, Belcher Classic: Delver, Dredge, Jacerater Draft: I will draft basically any format online (other than Masques) Pauper: MTGO's #1 most handsome Pauper Storm player
How big of a city do you live in? The biggest thing isn't style, it is quality. Don't just join a dojo because of WHAT they teach, HOW they teach and perform is all that will really matter.
Consider Kendo as well. If you really want to protect yourself in the streets, kendo helps you reflexes and ability to strike quickly and decisively moving forward.
If he takes up boxing, kendo is a waste of time. He'll learn how to dive into an attack in boxing better than in Kendo, provided he's training for street fighting. In addition, Kendo should really be considered more of a sport than a Martial art. No-one would use a real Katana like they would a bamboo kendo sword. Well, they could, but you'd lose to someone who's done any traditional sword styles from other Asian martial arts unless you had rediculous wrist strength and arm strength.
Boxing is a good way to go. All MMA fighters will know how to box somewhat.
If he takes up boxing, kendo is a waste of time. He'll learn how to dive into an attack in boxing better than in Kendo, provided he's training for street fighting. In addition, Kendo should really be considered more of a sport than a Martial art. No-one would use a real Katana like they would a bamboo kendo sword. Well, they could, but you'd lose to someone who's done any traditional sword styles from other Asian martial arts unless you had rediculous wrist strength and arm strength.
What's great about Kendo is the way your weight and your attitude are going, which is really very different from any other martial art...
I think in terms of cross training, it looks at an entirely different dimension of fighting, reflexes and decision making. Kendo is weight forward, strike HARD and strike FIRST, and DONE.
The decisiveness and the completely different approach to fighting would be beneficial to somebody who is really trying to "sample from everything" and create your own theories about space and combat.
It sounds like you have a lot of striking experience, but your mat-work experience is more informal.
I think you should get some more formal training in jujitsu, or even greco-roman wrestling, especially in a competitive context.
What's great about Kendo is the way your weight and your attitude are going, which is really very different from any other martial art...
I think in terms of cross training, it looks at an entirely different dimension of fighting, reflexes and decision making. Kendo is weight forward, strike HARD and strike FIRST, and DONE.
The decisiveness and the completely different approach to fighting would be beneficial to somebody who is really trying to "sample from everything" and create your own theories about space and combat.
Just my thoughts.
I agree with hypewater. Kendo is a sport first and foremost. It would take a considerable effort to make it a practical martial art for defense for real life application especially if you have to protect more then just yourself or if you find yourself in compromising situations or fight circumstances take your ideal points of reference from you. It isn't a bad art to add to a person's martial arts repertoire but, I would never advise someone to learn this to defend themselves as their starting art.
Kendo's approach is also not that much different then boxing in terms of striking hard and fast to win. It was actually a training credo a boxing trainer in the 50s used if I remember my boxing history correctly(The one who hits "firstest is the strongest is the bestest" or something like that).
To be honest, were I ever to use a weapon in a fight the Kendo form would be the last thing I would try to emulate. Kali weapon forms are probably some of the best you could use for self defense due to the general ideas behind them.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I know:
Korean Tae-Kwon-Do: Brown Belt. Tae Kwon Do (hearafter TKD) is a martial art where both people are standing up, and places a lot of emphasis on kicks. I can do a few flying kicks, and am pretty good at it. It's like Karate, but with more emphasis on kicks, I guess.
Brazilian Jujitsu: We mess around with Jujitsu in my TKD class, and I'm technically a brown belt there too. I'm hands down the best in my class, and have never lost a fight except to a professional cage fighter. Jujitsu is a martial art where the fighters are starting on their knees, and it's similar to wrestling except you learn how to use your opponents weight against them; it was actually developed by small guys in Brazil so they could have a more even match against bigger guys.
Judo: I only do a bit of judo, and that's just to learn the throws. I basically do this so I can easily transition from TKD to Jujitsu in an actual fight and keep the upper hand.
I guess I'm a bigger guy, and need another martial art. Keep in mind I won't be quitting any; this is "in addition to," not "instead of."
Thanks a lot!
Jarad Graveyard Combo[Primer]!
Sidisi ANT!
Playing Commander to Win - A guide on Competitive, 4-player EDH
LandDestruction.com - An EDH blog
TKD is a very strange sport with a lot of techniques that don't translate to other martial arts, or "fighting" at all. Which is why a lot of mid-level TKD matches are just quick modified roundhouse kicks and footwork.
Muay Thai would give you some fast strikes that are practical to do, and it's also great strength and cardio training.
What's it like?
TKD has actually helped me a lot; I don't know where you get that from.
Jarad Graveyard Combo[Primer]!
Sidisi ANT!
Playing Commander to Win - A guide on Competitive, 4-player EDH
LandDestruction.com - An EDH blog
Elbow and knee strikes. It's a very popular mixed martial arts choice, because a lot of the strikes can be executed when you're inches from your opponent.
If you face a superior boxer, or just don't want to get hit hard, you can get in close and use Muay Thai. Alternatively, it's your last line of defense if you need to strike someone who is trying to take you to the ground.
You can get a pretty good sampling of what Muay Thai is about by watching some youtube demos of the martial art.
I did TKD for several years. You wouldn't agree that it puts form over function? It's a fine sport, but how often do you see decent mixed martial arts fighters do a spin heel kick?
Wow, Muay Thai is pretty awesome. I'll check it out!
I guess it kinda does, but it's taught me quite a lot. I use some stuff from it when fighting a true opponent. The thing about TKD is that it teaches you some awesome kicks. Hell, if I didn't take TKD, I wouldn't be able to do anything with my legs. No side kicks (my personal favs).
Also, my TKD class is kinda like an MMA class. We dabble in everything, but TKD is the main thing.
Any more suggestions?
Jarad Graveyard Combo[Primer]!
Sidisi ANT!
Playing Commander to Win - A guide on Competitive, 4-player EDH
LandDestruction.com - An EDH blog
You also didn't know what Muay Thai is. Seriously?! Thanks to MMA it's the most popular striking art around. No way you can get a brown belt in two different arts and start learning another without at least stumbling across Muay Thai. The only way I can see that happening is if you are going to what's usually called a "McDojo", the type of school that hands out black belts way too easily and really doesn't teach much (these are easy to find, just look for schools that have black belts on 8 year old kids and that require you to sign contracts and pay for belt testing). I call bull ☺☺☺☺ on this thread.
However, if you are serious about learning how to street fight it's less about the style of martial art you learn and more about who you learn it from. Every art can work on the street when done right (except bjj, pulling guard on a dude is a good way to get your head stomped by his friends). Look for schools that are very hard nosed an tough and that do a lot of sparring. You could also try going out an picking fights but I would advise against that because these days you never know who has a gun. Also, don't forget that in a street fight there are no rules. Don't be afraid to gouge eyes, fish hook, bite and use anything you can pick up as a weapon. And always kick em in the nuts!
I was ready to call shenanigans on this entire thread...glad someone else did it first.
I know. That's why I said this:
You really aren't helping to convince me here. And I can guarantee you 100% that if you haven't been doing a specific art for at least 30 or 40 years then you haven't mastered anything, no matter how baisc you think it is.
Look up anything Kali on youtube and you'll understand the practicality of this martial art especially under the names Dan Inosanto(for the traditional), Ron Balicki(to see it used in traditional forms but also in MMA and win), or Paul Vunak(he has been teaching this stuff to the American special forces groups for years).
Muay Thai is always a decent path the problem being you get no ground mechanics and if you are going straight traditional Muay Thai you don't get the crazy Muay Thai street fighting which the name of alludes me at the moment which includes head butts, clever uses of boxing mixed with your elbows, and cycling knees to elbows and vice versa(essentially the street stuff sacrifices the form you get from the traditional for brutal victory in a straight up Muay Thai way).
Though, if you can one of the best routes to simply find a path of self discovery and creation in your martial path being is to find a certified instructor in JKD in your area.
In a nutshell JKD is Bruce Lee's, to even try and give it a name is impossible but this is the best name a scholar in the 90s gave it, philosophical model for combining a martial arts that fit you and your martial way. Though, that definition doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
In JKD you essentially have a base martial art you start with and you explore other arts without going through the ridiculous Mcdojo belt systems and programs and find pieces of moves you like and apply them. The Ultimate idea being to flow from one martial art form to another and make it all practical and your fight economics to be flawless(i.e. in a fight of whatever level or location you never waste movement attacking or moving).
Bruce Lee himself was straight up Jun Fan Gung Fu mixed with Wing Chun and a little hic cups of Kung Fu and Savate street fighting mechanics and his movements were based on Western boxing footwork and fencing steps.
I've been doing Kali for five years now and it is amagzing. There have been few times fighting where I have been stumped by anyone and generally that was just due to whatever ridiculous circumstance I was in or if my opponent was using something equally exotic like one of my instructors using Russian Systema...
I have also been in JKD for four years and it has been great. I started with Kali added some Savate for my kicks so the boxing mechanics is there for both my hands and feet and I have a couple years of BJJ under me though to be honest Kali does things BJJ simply can't do(most Kali ground mechanics are simply too brutal for organized sport fighting. Literally, your aim at all times is to pull on muscle insertions and slam your opponents limbs and head into the ground to kill him if not get to the locks as fast as possible but, using elbow points, eye gouges, biting, and ear rips and head butts the entire way). I have also mixed in a handful of techniques from Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate in what I do along with the White Ape movements, forms and attacks from Kung Fu with hic cups of Mantis if I need them. This is my JKD path and so far it has kept me alive while allowing me to be a little flashy if I need thanks to the more asian arts.
Why don't you spend more time getting your black belt in TKD???
your a brown belt, i guarantee that there are black belts within your organization that can tear you apart.
(I speak from personal experience)
I am also a big guy (6'4, 350) and when I tested for my 1st degree I ended up sparring with one of my grandmaster's students who was a 4th and he rocked me with no problem. I realized that I really need to work an a lot of things and that a black belt is just the beginning of serious training.
You also say that you "mess around" with BJJ. I mess around too and because of my size I also beat most people. I know BJJ guys who have black belts in JJ and then they got to a Gracie BJJ school and realize that they need to start training again.
If you do all the things that you claim you do, you should be more than ok in a street fight. Most dudes who are legit martial artists are not walking around looking to get into street fights.
If you are spending time sparring and training you should be able to handle yourself.
Talk to some legit black belts in your school and start training with the big boys;)
Jeet Kune Do. By far the best art you can learn.
Find a Jeet Kune Do school. Then find where it traces back to. If it professes to be "Jun Fan" or "Original" Jeet Kune Do, avoid it. Nothing against Jun Fan, quite the opposite in fact, but it's definitely not something you'll want to learn right now.
What you'll want is a school that has the label of "Concepts" JKD. Look for someone who can trace their training back to either Dan Inosanto or Paul Vunak. Here's Paul Vunak's site, it's corny as all get out, but if you can find someone who is certified under him nearby then take that. http://fighting.net/main.php?page=descendants
If you can't, I would find either a good boxing school or...
This. Kali is fantastic for your attributes, is great for weapons work, and involves destructions, which are fun.
(... Aww man, Sioux, you ninja'd me on this entire post!)
Basically, what you want to build up right now is your attributes. If you've mostly done TKD, then you're going to need time to unlearn a lot of the bad habits of TKD/Karate, and really only the side kick from TKD is useful.
Because it's not useful for what he wants.
Actually it's not useful period unless you want to go to the Olympic games with it. That's like the one use I can see for training in Tae Kwon Do for a prolonged period of time. If you enjoy it as a sport, that's fine. But if you want to learn it to connect with Korean culture, I would suggest learning Taekkyon instead, and if you want to learn it for self-defense purposes, have someone teach you the side kick, and find a different martial art.
Down+Forward+light/medium punch/kick= Tiger Fury (fireball)
If you can pull out a fireball in a street fight, props.
If you want something really interesting, try ninjutsu. I haven't been doing it for long, but there is some really interesting wrist locks and it uses the mechanics of the body to help you win. Some of it is hard to apply, but your opponent will have to know how to jump and roll if they don't want broken joints. A lot of the moves are just a really good way of moving the body round.
However, overall, the most important part of fighting is knowing your opponent's weaknesses and using that against them.
Know where to move to avoid damage,
Know where to attack to deal damage,
Know how to move to deal the right amount of damage with the minimum effort, (this is what takes a lot of practise and skill)
After that its just knowing how other people move. (or with throws, its all about making someone move the way you want them too)
If you want a martial art no-one will know how to defend against, why not try Kalari Payattu. I dunno how good it is, but pretty much no-one does it cause 1. its Indian, 2. It was banned when the English conquered India, so its rare.
Pretty much sums up why I like green so much
On the internet, everywhere is Soviet Russia[/QUOTE]
Filipino Kali is the father of modern boxing. The reason why Americans box like they do is because of the influences from the Philippines. In the days of World War II Navy boxers tried boxing the Filipino men but, most would simply lose. The John L Sullivan form simply couldn't match the speed and technique that Filipino boxing brought to the table.
Panatukan which is the hand to hand form of Kali is even sometimes called "Filipino dirty boxing" because of the traps involved in it along with the unorthodox movements of creating false leads to set up crosses, aiming to actually hurt limbs more often then the body, and finishing off opponents with leg sweeps that set one up to finish an opponent with a big cross.
I apologize but I live for opportunities to spread the good word of Kali and JKD.
Straight up boxing. Great for balance, footwork, timing, endurance, and you get to really swing for the fences in headgear boxing.
Also less bull☺☺☺☺ and hype than many other martial arts.
...
Consider Kendo as well. If you really want to protect yourself in the streets, kendo helps you reflexes and ability to strike quickly and decisively moving forward.
Yes. Boxing will teach you things like distance, when to move in, and footwork. Footwork is everything in a fight.
How would this work unless he plans on carrying a sword?
And if that's going to happen, I would think Western fencing would be better, again because of the emphasis on footwork.
Modern: Storm, Jund, Ghast Blaster, Elf Warriors
Legacy: RUG Cascade, Imperial Painter, Affinity, Dredge, Elves, Merfolk, Pox, Dragon Stompie, Goblins, ANT, Belcher
Classic: Delver, Dredge, Jacerater
Draft: I will draft basically any format online (other than Masques)
Pauper: MTGO's #1 most handsome Pauper Storm player
Unless you are willing to move to train.
So Pro I have an alpha Volcanic Island
If he takes up boxing, kendo is a waste of time. He'll learn how to dive into an attack in boxing better than in Kendo, provided he's training for street fighting. In addition, Kendo should really be considered more of a sport than a Martial art. No-one would use a real Katana like they would a bamboo kendo sword. Well, they could, but you'd lose to someone who's done any traditional sword styles from other Asian martial arts unless you had rediculous wrist strength and arm strength.
Boxing is a good way to go. All MMA fighters will know how to box somewhat.
Pretty much sums up why I like green so much
On the internet, everywhere is Soviet Russia[/QUOTE]
I think in terms of cross training, it looks at an entirely different dimension of fighting, reflexes and decision making. Kendo is weight forward, strike HARD and strike FIRST, and DONE.
The decisiveness and the completely different approach to fighting would be beneficial to somebody who is really trying to "sample from everything" and create your own theories about space and combat.
Just my thoughts.
I think you should get some more formal training in jujitsu, or even greco-roman wrestling, especially in a competitive context.
BRGotta Get or Get GotRB
(Avatar courtesy of Heylookitsamoose)
I agree with hypewater. Kendo is a sport first and foremost. It would take a considerable effort to make it a practical martial art for defense for real life application especially if you have to protect more then just yourself or if you find yourself in compromising situations or fight circumstances take your ideal points of reference from you. It isn't a bad art to add to a person's martial arts repertoire but, I would never advise someone to learn this to defend themselves as their starting art.
Kendo's approach is also not that much different then boxing in terms of striking hard and fast to win. It was actually a training credo a boxing trainer in the 50s used if I remember my boxing history correctly(The one who hits "firstest is the strongest is the bestest" or something like that).
To be honest, were I ever to use a weapon in a fight the Kendo form would be the last thing I would try to emulate. Kali weapon forms are probably some of the best you could use for self defense due to the general ideas behind them.