Martial Arts Practicioners: What is your style/school, and why/how did you choose it?

Question

Also, maybe you can mention if you went through more than one school or style, and what made you change. Looking forward to see what comes out :)

Answer 1

Systema...I've been thru several styles and most left me with questions. Systema has answered most of those. They train not only the physical but the psychological. Here is a look at it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=O7_dzu4TQDs

Answer 2

Started off with Sikaran-Arnis, the Phillippine kickboxing method. It was great and a good primer for striking, but I've segued now into muay thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

What it came down to was that I felt that if I was learning a martial art, it might as well be practical, and the BJJ/MT combination has proven effective for people with my body type in mixed martial arts -- the best proving ground for a competitive art (save perhaps ninjitsu, whose strikes are largely illegal in MMA).

BJJ especially keeps me interested. More than 90% of real fights end up as grappling matches, even if they don't start that way, and it's such a rigorous intellectual exercise to excel at the sport that I always look forward to working out -- not so with practicing the kata and forms of 'traditional' martial arts.

Answer 3

I call my martial art "Fist Law". I chose that name because it is the nature of my art (Meaning that it's a set of principles/laws instead of fixed patterns) and it's a more simple term to use rather than some fancy name that people over here in the west like to use. It is a combination of PRINCIPLES from Aikijujutsu, Jeet Kune Do, and Ninpo.

I started off with Dragon Kempo/Dragon Fist Law in '98. It was very practical and didn't teach any wasted or flashy movement. I also liked the fact that it had a strong Boxing element instead of traditional reverse punches and also, the kicks were mid level.

The cons of the art was that there weren't any true guiding principles to it.........so about a year later, I slowly drew out of training. I knew that I had to start over because I didn't have the right type of guiding principles for pulling off the techniques that I was taught.

A few years later, I studied Jeet Kune Do and Aikijujutsu and I found that the principles of those two arts worked perfect for my structure and creative expression and the training regimens are very practical compared to doing robotic and flashy movements that you can't use realistically, so I used the principles of those martial arts in my Fist Law. I never took Ninpo, but I use the elements of that in my Fist Law as well.

I use any technique that works for the situation, regardless of where I picked it up from. However, the basic techniques of focus that I use consist of grappling, locking, semi-circular evasions, blending, small-circle throws, pins, submissions, boxing (punching techniques, bob & weaves, feints, shoulder rolls, quick footwork, slips, parries), kicking, intercepting, whirling deflections, and half-palm thrusts.

All of which are proven street practical and can work for anyone.

Answer 4

My MA training began in tradiitonal style WTF TKD, but after almost three-years of TKD, I began training in Shaolin Kempo Karate. My reason for making the switch from TKD to SKK really had very little to do with the actual differences between the two styles, but rather a number of extenuating circumstances. For the record, I can honestly say that I truly love both styles and appreciate the differences between each and their respective pros and cons. The thing I loved most about TKD was the physical intensity of the training and near endless sparring. From a practical self-defense perspective though, TKD had a very limited range of techniques and I did question their effectiveness in a real street fight. The thing I loved most about the SKK was the tremendous range of upper body striking and felling techniques that the system offered, the vast majority of which had signifcant value and applicability to practical self-defense. On the down side though, SKK did not offer anywhere near the level of physical training that TKD did and there was much less emphasis placed on flexibility, strength and conditioning.

Answer 5

I practice shaolin kung fu as a complete system. The shaolin striking arts,internal arts,and grappling arts. I chose it because of a video game! I was playing this game called "shenmue" and the chracter inspired me to protect people. I didnt want to take karate because it was so "over-done"....I wanted something more "obscure"...so I found a kung fu school.

At first I was really closed minded. I wouldnt even talk to other stylists. I preached that shaolin was the only "true" art.

After years of VERY VERY dedicated training, I started entering grappling,san shou,and other type of matches. In those matches, I met many marital artists and started opening up to different Ideas.

Im still a kung fu guy, but dont be surprised to see a muay thai clinch,or the "kote uchi" techique from karate being used by me. I love what martial arts have given me, and the oppurnunity it has given me to express my ideas. Iam currently working on a book........

I still train with my original school on occassion, but Iam more of a "freelance" martial artist now. My teacher has taught me nearly everything he knows. Now iam on a quest to sharpen my Shaolin skills and learn from others.

Sadly.........I dislocated my shoulder in a pankration match recently..........hopefully my martial arts arent over!

Answer 6

The style of martial arts I practice is called Kajukenbo. It is aneffective style that is based on modern fighting methods, thats why I chose it. I have taken a few other styles, they did not feel complete, or were lacking in some way. Then I found Kajukenbo, and have been hooked ever since. I still learn techniques arts, and due to the way kajukenbo works, it's easy to blend them with my style.

Answer 7

the first school i trained at was @ the YMCA. and i know a lot of people think oh thats just sum program at the Y but this was different. we had great students and instructors and it showed when we went to tournaments we took home first, second, and third place trophies in all categories. i went to this school after looking into about every one in the area and i picked it because i like the instructors, the program, and the workout. we did goshin jitsu karate do. i soon became a jr. instructor and then an assistant instructor. but head instructor MAster George had some issues in his personal life and he had to take a full time job. he gave the school to one of his highest ranked belts but she didnt stand up to the Y. so the Y over powered her and basically just shoved us under the curb. they stopped promoting us and we eventually got shut down.

after that my father and i opened up our own school. we are the Family Martial Arts Center. we have been open for about 6 months now. we are doing great and on the edge of breaking even. right now i am currently a 2nd degree black belt in goshin jitsu. i am working on my 1st degree in kenpo and we have just recently added sombo so i am working on my yellow belt for that. SO obviously our 3 styles are kenpo, goshin jitsu, and sombo. I love all 3. We have great and dedicated instructors a few that may be competing on national levels soon for traditional kata. We also have a fighter who just recently won his first MMA fight. we are not an MMA school we try to focus more on the traditional trainings of kenpo and goshin jitsu. the russian sombo which is grappling is only for students that we feel are doing very well, and would like to do it. check us out at www.fmackarate.com
we are located in Virginia Beach, VA.

Answer 8

Wow! there are so many Filipino Martial artist here! I too practice Filipino Martial arts. I practice Kali-Arnis de mano and a little bit of Paclibar Bicol Arnis System. Master Rogelio Paclibar comes by from time to time to teach us in our school. His system has been passed down from his family for generations and only a few people master his art. I am very fortunate to train and acquainted with Punong Guro.

Answer 9

Im practicing Pakamut(The Orginal Filipino Fighting Culture) under Grandmaster Felix Roiles.Pakamut,emerged from the Mactan Island,Philippines where it is known from the first Filipino Hero named Datu Lapu-Lapu.Pakamut is a very simple and complete system that emphasize 3 ranges of fighting,1) Long Range,2)Medium and 3)Short.

Answer 10

Wow! a lot of good answers. So here's mine.
I started off with Ishinryu karate when I was 12. My parents did a lot of moving around in my younger years so I took whatever I could wherever I found myself (American karate, danshinryu, boxing, kick-boxing, Tae-kwon-do, etc, etc, etc.) the one thing that stayed with me though was wrestling (because almost every school has a program). After I joined the military I got into everything anyone would teach me (hap-Ki-do, boxing, muy-Thai, shoot fighting, Tai-chi, PPCT and muchado-Jujitsu) jujitsu really peaked my interest because it seemed to blend with my body type and mindset. After I got out of the military, I got hooked into the dojo I belong to now that teaches judo, jujitsu, boxing and escrema. I finally got my black-belt and if I go anywhere else, I will probably try to find a good Judo (judo first) school. and really I will always be open to learn just about any style.

Answer 11

93-95 I studied TKD dropped out because it wasn't practical in real life to many flashy things point fighting when you get into a fight on the street it is not to see who gets the most points it is who is going home and who is going to the Hospital or to the morgue.

96-2001 I studied Tomiki Aikido it was full contact very practical while in a street fight no flashy stuff just straight to the point.Although it has alot of big circle movements and to much movement going on to to apply the technique (meaning takes to long to apply technique)

2001- present Shinbu Aikido it is full contact very practical on the street smaller circle movement less movements gets right to the point no fooling around with the enemy at hand.

2004-2007 Jujitsu very practical on the street good ground fighting