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What martial arts do you practice? Do you have any recommendations? Advice for beginners? How did you get started?
Thanks!
I'd say finding a place to train with students I knew and got along with and an instructor I liked was the most important thing for me. I tried out a few classes at different schools before settling on this particular one. I liked the emphasis on cooperation, incorporation of tai chi practice, and that the leader of the school spent a lot of time with new students like myself, making sure we mastered each technique.
I think it fits especially well for the HN crowd, because there's generally very little mystical bs that goes on, and although this analogy gets abused, it's basically human chess. There's a very analytical approach to learning jiu-jitsu as opposed to most striking arts (I also do muay thai and recommend that as well if the idea if touching people grosses you out) which are largely reflexive.
I've been doing brazilian jiu-jitsu for about 5 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone. I know a wide range of people who practice it, from professional fighters to little kids to a guy in his 60s. I think it fits especially well for the HN crowd, because there's generally very little mystical bs that goes on, and although this analogy gets abused, it's basically human chess. There's a very analytical approac…
A note to those who are interested in starting: It is a highly technical martial art, but it's not going to feel like it at first. Other newbs who are bigger and more athletic are going to beat you most of the time. But if you pay attention, the smaller, less athletic upper belts will have their way with them along with you. Unfortunately, there is a steep learning curve. Stick with it and things get easier!
Programming for 8-10 hours a day can drive me insane, and it's very nice and therapeutic for me to hit the mats a few days a week. I get exercise, have fun, and am still mentally stimulated without thinking about technology or whatnot.
The style itself is a soft style, relying on speed and sensitivity to deflect the opponent's attacks and triumph. A lot of the training is partner-training, a lot of it is playing role games. As you get better, we also work on the psychology and tactics of the fight. I've been doing it for a long time, and I have never gotten bored with it - there's always people who are measurably better than you to serve as a reminder of what you're striving for. In many martial arts, once you hit a certain plateau, there's not much difference between someone who trained for five years versus someone who trained for 10 - here, the difference is clear as day.
The other thing I really enjoy about our school is a very well structured curriculum - you always have very specific goals and targets to work on, you get tested every 3 months, and the teacher always keeps track of where you are at and that you're making progress.
If you're in the SF Bay Area, send me an email (my username @ gmail), I can give you an introduction or an invite to class.
Most martial arts schools offer free or discounted introductory lessons. You can attend a class for a month or so to decide whether it's something that suits you.
How WT compares to other martial arts (that I have any familiarity with):
Aikido - softer, more traditional teaching style, so it can take a lot longer to get good at it. Similar concepts in terms of deflection and redirection of opponent's attacks; not as aggressive as WT.
BJJ - focuses on tournament-style fighting with certain rules - great for locks and ground fighting, but there's a reason that most people who take BJJ also take Muay Thai or another striking art at the same time - BJJ doesn't cover those areas well, if at all.
Muay Thai - amazing cardio, amazing for working on your balance, but more brutal and simple, not much technique or sensitivity involved.
Krav Maga - another very physically strenuous workout, but focuses on a set of very simple techniques. Not much depth to it, after six months or so you probably know most of what they have, after that it's just about getting stronger/faster.
The appeal to me was the sifu (Ng Chun Hong) was an older kung fu master who had trained since his childhood. This guy had forearms like iron bars and could easily have kicked my ass with a blindfold and one arm behind his back. The training was old-school tough - my first few weeks were simply 2 hour sessions of squatting to train my leg muscles.
I've been doing brazilian jiu-jitsu for about 5 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone. I know a wide range of people who practice it, from professional fighters to little kids to a guy in his 60s. I think it fits especially well for the HN crowd, because there's generally very little mystical bs that goes on, and although this analogy gets abused, it's basically human chess. There's a very analytical approac…
- John Danaher
I've been doing brazilian jiu-jitsu for about 5 years, and would highly recommend it to anyone. I know a wide range of people who practice it, from professional fighters to little kids to a guy in his 60s. I think it fits especially well for the HN crowd, because there's generally very little mystical bs that goes on, and although this analogy gets abused, it's basically human chess. There's a very analytical approac…
The author was a top ranked chess prodigy (remember the movie Looking for Bobby Fisher?) and now is a Marcelo Garcia student (one of the top bjj masters)
The most important thing is to do it for the fitness, for weight loss, or for something else goal oriented that isn't belt levels or rank. Make sure to set attainable goals, meet them, re-evaluate, repeat. I went into taekwondo wanting to lose some weight. I lost 30 pounds. Then I wanted to make the competition team, so I started training harder, running and doing interval training. Last year I won 1 gold and 1 silver medal in competitions. My current goal is to be able to do single leg squats.
Just keep mixing it up on yourself. You would be surprised how motivated you will find yourself even outside of class.