I did Shaolin 5 Animal Hung Gar kung fu something or other for about 18 months and then had to give it up when I went to uni. It's a shame because I was mad keen on it and getting rather good.
Uni didn't have any Martial Arts that appealed.
I tried Wing Chun for about 4 or 5 weeks last year but found that i didn't have the dedication to practice outside of the lessons. I was more interested in learning self defence than an art and I guess I got impatient and quit because it wasn't giving me what I needed. It didn't seem terribly popular either. The class was very small.
All we seemed to learn about was the flow of energy and the feelings of tranquility or some crap. What I really wanted to know was what the best course of action is when some geezer is kicking of in the car park of the King's Arms on a Friday night.
I did do some of that sticking hands sparring but it dawned on me that very few people do sticking hands on the street.
It's probably a good martial art but I lacked patience and it didn't really hit my martial arts g-spot so to speak.
I did judo for about a year, and then tae kwon-do for about a year both before gcse's.
Last year I went to a systema all day class, (russian military martial art). Very good, bit brutal though, but works. I've not seen anything where I am now which appeals, plus I'm going to be out of here by next year anyway it never seemed worthwhile to start up since I'd move then might be able to find a class where I re-locate to.
I'll probably look into starting up somthing again once I've finished university and have a job, not tae kwon-do though, my legs wouldn't handle the kicks these day's.
I watched Enter the Dragon at the tender age of 9 and started Karate at the local YMCA soon after watching the film.
However the black belt left the club the very lesson before my first so it was run by brown belts, but brown belts can't grade and kids needs gradings!!!! So I left!
I then jumped around for the next few year doing all sorts, till I was about 13 when some guy started to come into my dad's pub. I found out he did karate and he started to take me to his club!
At the time, Sensei did Wado Ryu but moved to a new style of Renshinkai. I trained 5 or 6 times a week for years, stopping only for a few years at about 17, something to do with girls and pubs.
I went back and got my 1st dan grade and carried on training pass my 2nd dan and towards my third when some twat driving a truck hit a car I was in twice and fucked up my back and hips. That was about 12 years ago, for the next 6/7 years my training was on and off, always having to take months out due to injury.
One day another injury hit me and I threw the towel in, i miss it badly!!!!!
I did Shaolin 5 Animal Hung Gar kung fu something or other for about 18 months and then had to give it up when I went to uni. It's a shame because I was mad keen on it and getting rather good.
Uni didn't have any Martial Arts that appealed.
I tried Wing Chun for about 4 or 5 weeks last year but found that i didn't have the dedication to practice outside of the lessons. I was more interested in learning self defence than an art and I guess I got impatient and quit because it wasn't giving me what I needed. It didn't seem terribly popular either. The class was very small.
All we seemed to learn about was the flow of energy and the feelings of tranquility or some crap. What I really wanted to know was what the best course of action is when some geezer is kicking of in the car park of the King's Arms on a Friday night.
I did do some of that sticking hands sparring but it dawned on me that very few people do sticking hands on the street.
It's probably a good martial art but I lacked patience and it didn't really hit my martial arts g-spot so to speak.
Its clear that you were doing the wrong Martial Art for yourself. Ist a shame that you didnt research a little - maybe on the web.
I reckon Jiu Jitsu would have been much better for you. More hands on, realistic, and the techniques are very 'street' orientated.
Have a look around your area one weekend, after getting a list of 4 or 5 clubs. You only need to watch for a short while to judge if the club is good. Dont give up!
I did karate for about 2 years when i was 13-15, but the guy had 2 quit so i went on to kickboxing and loved it but couldnt afford to keep up with it and now just box to try and keep a reasonable fitness, although it isnt working at present but the summer beers keep flowing. Il b back in shape at winter lol
I'm sure I've already posted my martial arts experience, but just to contribute to the thread:
I'm a 3rd Dan black belt in Taekwondo (WTF/Kukkiwon Style). I started training in about 1986 but haven't trained properly since about 2002ish.
I'd love to get back to it (so don't really consider it giving up, more a sabattical) but the weight keeps getting in the way (I shift some, stop dietting because of work pressures and it comes back).
