Martial Arts: Any Advice People?

[Up_Tilt_390]

So I'm a man out of work and not likely to be going near any in the future because of mental health conditions which I will not elaborate on (I've already said too much just telling you that), and I have money to spend. Therefore after the new year I've decided that I want to take up martial arts. It's a sick, sad world out there, and it's not getting any better, so I don't want to feel powerless in possibly dangerous situations I might end up getting into. Don't worry, I don't go looking for trouble. I want to take a few, and I'm open to suggestions, but the ones I'm particularly interested in are:

• Dragon-style kung fu
• Tiger-style kung fu
• Muay Thai
• Krav Maga
• Judo
• Karate
• Taekwondo

I've already been advised to take mixed martial arts classes, so I will definitely be looking into that, but ultimately I need advice on what to do in regards to the ones I've listed. Is there likely to be any teachers that will genuinely teach somebody these arts? (I'm in Liverpool in case you might live there and/or know of any locals who will), and how much would they charge to take up classes just for one art? I don't want to get stupid with what I'm paying, and while I want to learn these ones I don't wish to do it in particular order, nor do I actually mind not doing some of these ones. As I've said, they're just some particular interests of mine.

Any other advice such as whether to find a school or just a teacher, or any suggestions for arts that might be good to take up in my city or basically, any helpful advice, would be appreciated. Just to remind you, I want to learn these arts so I can prepare to defend myself, but I also kind of want to train myself mentally and physically. That plus wanting to actually do something that might actually feel meaningful than just sitting on a computer posting on these forums all day (don't worry, I won't stop, and it's not insulting any of you. I actually like it here!). Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for anything you can tell me.

 

[telstarbox]

What specific dangers do you face?

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

What specific dangers do you face?

Nothing at the moment, but I want to be prepared just in case. Sometimes I will be walking home alone in the night on a deserted street, and for example if I was ever walking through town and someone tried to mug me, I could do something should the need ever arise. Someone might even mistake me for someone else and try to attack me for whatever reason.

Another example would be if there just happened to be a burglary in my house. It's around Christmas time as we speak, so they are more likely to happen at this point, and sometimes you just can't afford to wait for the police even if you manage to call them before you're compromised.

It's not so highly likely considering that I live in a relatively safe city (as far as they go) but I don't wish to go unprepared just in the worst case scenario. The fact that it very much could happen means I have to take it as a legitimate threat. Self-defence isn't the only reason I want to learn martial arts either just to remind people.

 

[tony_mac]

Martial arts don't necessarily help in self defense (unless you are very good!), and a false confidence may lead you into situations that you would be better getting away from. If you don't know what weapons the other person has, engaging with them in a fight is very risky. From a safety point of view, you are probably better off joining a running club!

Anyway, many years ago, I did a little ju-jitsu, and quite enjoyed it. It doesn't really involve punching or kicking people, and is more about twisting joints, etc.
I found it kind of funny at first, as you don't really throw people about, you put pressure on the right place and they basically throw themselves to relieve the pressure. When someone does it to you, it all makes sense!

You could also try e.g., Scottish Country Dancing. (You are probably more likely, in the future, to be invited to a ceilidh than to need to use your martial arts skills).

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Martial arts don't necessarily help in self defense (unless you are very good!), and a false confidence may lead you into situations that you would be better getting away from. If you don't know what weapons the other person has, engaging with them in a fight is very risky. From a safety point of view, you are probably better off joining a running club!

Anyway, many years ago, I did a little ju-jitsu, and quite enjoyed it. It doesn't really involve punching or kicking people, and is more about twisting joints, etc.
I found it kind of funny at first, as you don't really throw people about, you put pressure on the right place and they basically throw themselves to relieve the pressure. When someone does it to you, it all makes sense!

You could also try e.g., Scottish Country Dancing. (You are probably more likely, in the future, to be invited to a ceilidh than to need to use your martial arts skills).

Well, whether I'm very good or not possibly depends on just how much I want to put into it. If I really want to give it my all, it could help. False confidence? Well, hopefully it's true that no good martial arts teacher would advise you to immediately resort to fighting, and hopefully with the self-control you will learn, you'd be able to reasonably get out of the situation beforehand, using physical contact as an utmost last resort. I hope I've not been lied too of course. Self-control and discipline is one other thing I'd hope to gain from it, not that I lack it, but I'd like the extra mental training.

Scottish Country Dancing? Well, unlike dangerous situations, I should have a choice to accept an invitation to a ceilidh. If I have no choice in the matter then that would really annoy me. I don't dance anymore, and I haven't done so in nearly five years, nor do I plan to start again in future. Inviting me to a ceilidh would kind of make me laugh just because of the sheer possibility of it (which by the way I didn't know of until now).

 

[CarlSilva]

I bought a set of self defence dvds off this fella, Capt Chris in the good old us of a. Dont know if it's still available, but it works pretty good. just be careful with it.

there was a set of dvds, but don't buy all the vitamin supplements they triy and sell you as well.

 

[Domh245]

Have you considered the ancient Lancastrian martial art of Ecky Thump?

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Have you considered the ancient Lancastrian martial art of Ecky Thump?

Since that act was known to have people die from laughing, it's far too dangerous for someone who merely seeks self-defence and a bit of extra mental and physical training

 

[EM2]

I learnt some interesting self-defence moves from Dame Julie Walters the other Sunday.

 

[fowler9]

So I'm a man out of work and not likely to be going near any in the future because of mental health conditions which I will not elaborate on (I've already said too much just telling you that), and I have money to spend. Therefore after the new year I've decided that I want to take up martial arts. It's a sick, sad world out there, and it's not getting any better, so I don't want to feel powerless in possibly dangerous situations I might end up getting into. Don't worry, I don't go looking for trouble. I want to take a few, and I'm open to suggestions, but the ones I'm particularly interested in are:

• Dragon-style kung fu
• Tiger-style kung fu
• Muay Thai
• Krav Maga
• Judo
• Karate
• Taekwondo

I've already been advised to take mixed martial arts classes, so I will definitely be looking into that, but ultimately I need advice on what to do in regards to the ones I've listed. Is there likely to be any teachers that will genuinely teach somebody these arts? (I'm in Liverpool in case you might live there and/or know of any locals who will), and how much would they charge to take up classes just for one art? I don't want to get stupid with what I'm paying, and while I want to learn these ones I don't wish to do it in particular order, nor do I actually mind not doing some of these ones. As I've said, they're just some particular interests of mine.

Any other advice such as whether to find a school or just a teacher, or any suggestions for arts that might be good to take up in my city or basically, any helpful advice, would be appreciated. Just to remind you, I want to learn these arts so I can prepare to defend myself, but I also kind of want to train myself mentally and physically. That plus wanting to actually do something that might actually feel meaningful than just sitting on a computer posting on these forums all day (don't worry, I won't stop, and it's not insulting any of you. I actually like it here!). Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for anything you can tell me.

I live in Liverpool and have a friend not from here who reached Black Belt in Karate in a few short years whilst studying at Uni here and working there after (She has since worked in Japan, China and South Korea). If you want me to ask where she went I am more than happy to ask, I know it was up near Anfield and it certainly won't have been expensive.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

I live in Liverpool and have a friend not from here who reached Black Belt in Karate in a few short years whilst studying at Uni here and working there after (She has since worked in Japan, China and South Korea). If you want me to ask where she went I am more than happy to ask, I know it was up near Anfield and it certainly won't have been expensive.

Oh that’d be real helpful. Send me a personal message when you have any details and I’ll go looking into it. I have relatives who send their son to karate too, so don’t worry too much about it even if you can’t get an answer. Cheers!

 

[fowler9]

Oh that’d be real helpful. Send me a personal message when you have any details and I’ll go looking into it. I have relatives who send their son to karate too, so don’t worry too much about it even if you can’t get an answer. Cheers!

Will do mate, I'll send her a message now, she is actually in Minnesota at the mo so not sure when she will get back. She is normally quite quick. Ha ha. Her last photos were from Everest Base Camp a few days back, she doesn't sit still, you could do worse than follow in her footsteps.

 

[shredder1]

You may be going into this for the wrong reasons, I practised BJJA for many years, it`s more of a discipline and about self contract that actually defending yourself against a natural street fighter who`s out practising every saturday night. There a big difference between doing a few kata`s in the Dojo with your sparing partner than defending yourself against some screaming lunatic coming at you with a smashed bottle in his hand. Ideally its something you should have been doing from a very early age.

 

[Up_Tilt_390]

Will do mate, I'll send her a message now, she is actually in Minnesota at the mo so not sure when she will get back. She is normally quite quick. Ha ha. Her last photos were from Everest Base Camp a few days back, she doesn't sit still, you could do worse than follow in her footsteps.

I await patiently. Cheers mate!

You may be going into this for the wrong reasons, I practised BJJA for many years, it`s more of a discipline and about self contract that actually defending yourself against a natural street fighter who`s out practising every saturday night. There a big difference between doing a few kata`s in the Dojo with your sparing partner than defending yourself against some screaming lunatic coming at you with a smashed bottle in his hand. Ideally its something you should have been doing from a very early age.

I could’ve done at an early age but I didn’t cause I didn’t want to at the time. In fact I’d say 21 isn’t a bad age to start at this point. As I’ve mentioned too, self defence isn’t the only reason I want to take them up, and it’s just a contributing factor.

 

[fowler9]

You may be going into this for the wrong reasons, I practised BJJA for many years, it`s more of a discipline and about self contract that actually defending yourself against a natural street fighter who`s out practising every saturday night. There a big difference between doing a few kata`s in the Dojo with your sparing partner than defending yourself against some screaming lunatic coming at you with a smashed bottle in his hand. Ideally its something you should have been doing from a very early age.

I would guess it would be a pretty good thing for someone with mental health problems to focus on though? I don't mean if they were thinking of recreating Natural Born Killers, more getting a focus on something that is healthy and disciplined. I say that as someone with mental health problems. I may be totally wrong but it is a thought.

 

[GusB]

Scottish Country Dancing? Well, unlike dangerous situations, I should have a choice to accept an invitation to a ceilidh. If I have no choice in the matter then that would really annoy me. I don't dance anymore, and I haven't done so in nearly five years, nor do I plan to start again in future. Inviting me to a ceilidh would kind of make me laugh just because of the sheer possibility of it (which by the way I didn't know of until now).

If you want a decent workout, I'd seriously recommend a ceilidh. I was invited to one a few years back for Hogmanay, and while we were taught Scottish country dancing at primary school, I wasn't quite prepared for the reality. It was almost a week before I could walk properly

 

[shredder1]

I would guess it would be a pretty good thing for someone with mental health problems to focus on though? I don't mean if they were thinking of recreating Natural Born Killers, more getting a focus on something that is healthy and disciplined. I say that as someone with mental health problems. I may be totally wrong but it is a thought.

It depends on the type and severity of the mental health issue.

 

[AlterEgo]

Martial Arts of any sort should increase mental resilience and self confidence. I’ve always suggested taking up self defence classes to people who lack both of those. I would go so far as to say the NHS should prescribe some of these things for people with certain mental health conditions.

 

[shredder1]

Psychopaths learning martial arts on the NHS

 

[fowler9]

Oh that’d be real helpful. Send me a personal message when you have any details and I’ll go looking into it. I have relatives who send their son to karate too, so don’t worry too much about it even if you can’t get an answer. Cheers!

Sent you a personal message mate. Hope it is some help. Wish I had studied something similar at a younger age. I may look at doing it even now at the age of 43.

 

[fowler9]

Psychopaths learning martial arts on the NHS

Mate I know you were just joking but it really isn't helpful. Being a Psycopath is not the same as having a sever case of Depression, a Bipolar disorder or Schizophrenia. Many psychopaths will never be diagnosed with a mental disorder, they simply don't care and cannot empathise. That is a massive over simplification but it is hard to know where to start. I just don't think it is appropriate to refer to mentally ill people as psycopaths, they are very different things.

 

[shredder1]

Mate I know you were just joking but it really isn't helpful. Being a Psycopath is not the same as having a sever case of Depression, a Bipolar disorder or Schizophrenia. Many psychopaths will never be diagnosed with a mental disorder, they simply don't care and cannot empathise. That is a massive over simplification but it is hard to know where to start. I just don't think it is appropriate to refer to mentally ill people as psycopaths, they are very different things.

Fair comment, but too serious mate, mental disorder, I have the T shirt, been there, done that, too much acid in my youth, and its a discipline that`s not fully understood of course, trying to be serious for a moment, we still try to put individuals in boxes to help us understand these things and put nice labels on them, and often get it wrong and yes it was a joke .

 

[fowler9]

Fair comment, but too serious mate, mental disorder, I have the T shirt, been there, done that, too much acid in my youth, and its a discipline that`s not fully understood of course, trying to be serious for a moment, we still try to put individuals in boxes to help us understand these things and put nice labels on them, and often get it wrong and yes it was a joke .

True. Sorry mate. Wasn't having a go.

 

[shredder1]

True. Sorry mate. Wasn't having a go.

No thats fine mate, no probs and good comment, depression is a killer and make no mistake.