Martial Arts question

I would choose something like Karate over aikido

 

Why is that?

 

Kuk sool won is a Korean martial art that provides a broad coverage in ground fighting, grappling, throwing, hand, and leg techniques.

http://www.kuksoolwon.com

Ninjutsu is another martial art that covers a broad array of ground and stand-up techniques.

 

I did find this Ninja Training Camp a few weeks ago - quite interesting.

 

I was looking for something like this. A camp dedicated to full time martial arts training. Thanks.

 

Let me know if you find out anything more about it. I would be very interested.

 

The primary question is what is your objective in taking a martial art? Is it to learn self-defense, to promote conditioning or to engage in the camaraderie associated with learning a martial art. Secondly, it is important to discern whether you wish to participate in an art that is more complex and time consuming to learn due to the projections, throws, locks and strikes involved (ie aikido, hapkido, ju-jitsu, etc), or one that is primarily oriented towards strikes and counters. In addition what is your commitment level in terms of the time you wish to devote to learning a new martial art.

 

The reasons - mostly self defense and the time is what I can spare (not much many times). It all started when I was about 10 years old I took TKD and dropped out before earning any belt. I always told myself I would finish what I started one day. Well, this is the time to do it. My plan is to earn a yellow belt and end it...probably. I just found combat hapkido (thanks to HwyRogue) and will sudy that a bit. Here are some interesting links (combat hapkido by DL and test out at a dojo!)

Main Site
School Locations
DL Programs
DVD and Books
Program to earn yellow belt to blackbelt

 

I understand DL learning is not a substitute for real practice. I am goinvg to a local dojo for aikido but plan to have some fun with the combat hapkido. In the end I am not sure what I really want out of it....oh no, this is how I started with my degrees

 

Randell,

Is this legit? What more information did you find out...?

 

Randell,
I have had the privilege to speak directly with GM Pelligrini some time ago. The concept of Combat Hapkido seems pretty good and is an excellent example of an evolving, eclectic style.

Have you purchased any of the videos offered at the site?

 

I never looked into it. It looks more like "fun" then real martial arts training. I think of it as a survival type of thing.

 

I did - I got the first one (yellow/orange belt). It is pretty simple with breakfalls, punches, kicks, and very simple breakaways and locks.

 

There are a number of modern offshoot martial arts that evolved from ancient Korean and Japanese martial arts. Some of these modern offshoot schools offer very effective fighting methods and styles but are rejected by their predecessors due to the belief that they are not offering the formal study and curriculum requirements to attain ranking.

 

I think I understand their purist mentality. Perhaps these modern offshoots shouldn't offer ranking. I doubt, however, that many would attend a school if there was not some type of extrinsic reward. I met very few who were motivated by the essence of the martial art during my studies. I'm sure it has a lot to do with East vs West thinking, in general.

Kindly,

 

I was recently told about a student who studied aikido for 10 years and used to teach but was still a white belt. He just never cared about testing. Finally, someone said, "this guy has got to test". He tested and there were a few people who wanted to rank him one way and a few another way. They finally agreed that he would be a 1st degree black belt as opposed to a 3rd degree black belt. By the way, I am not that guy - I need/want the extrinsic reward.

 

In Hapkido, Jujitsu and kung Fu there are significant numbers of offshoot schools that have borrowed and created new techniques from different styles of martial arts resulting in a significant modification of the curriculum and techniques. The major problem with many of these offshoot schools is that they make very questionable claims regarding the basis of their origins and connections with more authentic forms of their respective martial arts. In addition a number of these schools inform new student prior to the commencement of their training that if they pay a certain amount of money they will receive a black belt within a specified period of time. I have heard of such scenarios especially from a number of Taekwando schools. This runs counter to the spirit intrinsic in true martial arts and negates the image and credibility of the belt rankings granted from these schools.

 

I lived this, somewhat. My TKD school heavily emphasized the "be ready to test every two months" mentality. Since I was a tremendous enthusiast, I poured myself into every opportunity to train and felt that I was learning useful skills. Had a TKD practitioner visited from Korea, I am sure he would have been disappointed.

I concur with one of your earlier posts...Krav Maga seems like the best alternative.

 

You and me both. I am trying to determine how I will ever have the time to return to formal training and undertake doctoral studies. Two worlds that do not seem easily reconciled while trying to teach middle school. *sigh*