Martial Arts School Help

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Tiomoid

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So here goes,
I have been toying with the idea of getting some Martial Arts training for years now, and have stumbled across a school that I think might be right for me. Problem is, I have heard an awful lot about schools that are all flash and no substance. I have yet to attend a class or view one, and am looking for advice from those of you who have had some training and could possibly give me feedback on whether or not this school is worth my money.

http://www.streetdefense.com/default.htm

I must say that I did like the fact that they seem to be pro-gun and apparently offer some training in gun use for some students.
And that it would appear that they are pro sparring, I don't just want to through punches at the air all day. The air doesn't hit back...

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Jujitso is one of the bettter choises. I would pick for wrestling and chokes, judo or jujitso. If you are quick with hands boxing if not karate. Watch MMA and imagine if they were fighting with a stick, cane or knife what it would take. Endurance along with exact technich will get you through it. Find one that uses sticks and canes. Understand this is not a game. You are learning this for the on possible instant in your life that you have to fight to the death for you or yours.




Jim
 
There are a number of BJJ schools in the area, but I feel that they are lacking in the striking department. Yeah its great to take ONE attacker down and snap their arm with an arm-bar or put them to sleep with a triangle but, I don't feel that it is an effective art against multiple attackers or in a situation where there isn't time for grappling if I must protect another person. I would absolutely LOVE to take the "trendy" Crav Maga (?) but there isn't a school in the area....
 
where do you live. perhaps i can recommed a place if you are near somewhere i know
 
I don't post often - more of a lurker really, but this thread piqued my interest. I've been studying MA for roughly 20 odd years, so here's my opinion FWIW:

Any time I see someone under the age of 25 or so listed as a teacher, black belt or senior level instructor/student my BS detector starts to go off.

Any time I see gratuitous use of Japanese/Chinese 'titles' or phraseology - i.e. Shihan, O'Sensei, etc, my BS detector starts to go off.

Any time I see a list of certifications and seminars, my BS detector starts to go off (many times these are weekend 'crash-courses' with a certificate at the end).

I only took a brief look at the site linked in the OP (couldn't take too much of that musak), but I saw all these things pretty quickly. Now, I don't know anything about these people and have no skin in this game one way or the other. I'm just giving my opinion based on my limited exposure - IOW, I could be completely off base and this group just doesn't put its best foot forward on the web.

When it comes to MA, the thing you have to remember is: it's going to take a significant time investment on your part if you really intend to use those skills for anything other than general fitness. With BJJ, Krav Maga and the other modern combatives, you're looking, at a minimum, at 3-6 months ramp up - assuming you're already in decent physical condition. For a more traditional MA, you're looking at more like 3 years before things start making any sense - and that's assuming you can find a traditional group who do some sort of sparring or resistance based training at any level. Not many do, and most martial artists of any stripe get a serious shock when/if they actually have to use those skills in a 'real' situation.

If you're serious about pursuing some form of MA training, I'd look for a decent Judo school or perhaps western boxing - both of which should be relatively easy to find.

Again, JMO.
 
Thank you JeffR I have had similar thoughts myself but have suffered to find a decent school within an hours radius of where I live.

For janobles14 I live in the Ft. Myers area of SW Florida, if you have heard of a decent school I would be more than willing to check it out. For that matter, if anyone in the area is attending a decent school I would love to stop by...
 
Unfortunately, decent schools are hard to find anywhere. I've had friends that have gone to Japan and complained about the difficulty finding good instruction.

Most people just aren't willing to put up with the physical discomfort that comes along with really learning any MA. If running a school is the instructor's sole source of income, they have to do what they can to attract new students and retain existing students. Generally speaking, this can lead to a bit of 'watering down' in the art along with belt proliferation, testing fees, association fees, etc.

In my experience, the really good teachers don't advertise and they usually have some other source of income. This puts them in the position of teaching because they want to; making them less dependent on having large classes to generate cash flow. Of course, they also tend to be a bit more discriminating about whether they'll take on new students.

You might try some of the MA fora out there to see if anyone can point you in a direction. E-Budo is a pretty good site for traditional Japanese martial arts (judo, ju-jitsu, aikido, etc). Empty Flower is a decent site for Chinese internal arts (xingyi, taiji, pakua). I don't know if Bullshido is still up, but those guys were MMA, BJJ, Krav Maga, Muy Thai, etc (not to mention a hoot to read sometimes).
 
Any time I see someone under the age of 25 or so listed as a teacher, black belt or senior level instructor/student my BS detector starts to go off.
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What about a thai boxer from thailand? You think a guy like Matee couldn't teach Muay Thai at age 25? How about Yodsanklai. Both were Lumpinee champs (the highest achievement one can have) by that age. In fact most lumpinee champs are not 25. Those kids start fighting at 6 and by the time they are 17 have been in more fights and learned more about MT than you'll (or I will) learn about martial arts in your life. Many thais retire in their early 20s with well over a hundred fights. I know thais that have fought 200+ and 300+ times. They usually have no clue of the exact number beacuse they have fought so many times.

What about BJ Penn and his BJJ level at age 25, he had already won the Modials.

Your BS detector should go off when the person has no verifiable credentials. Futhermore almost all "traditional" martial arts are the definition BS (in terms of real fighting) and a huge waist of time and money. If you want to learn how to fight, find a good Muay thai gym, one that has guys fighting in amateur fights regularly. Also spend some time on BJJ. Yes going to the ground is not the best choice in a street fight IMO but you sure as heck better know what to do if you find yoursself there. BJJ will teach you that as well as how to get back to your feet etc. At the BJJ place you will like find some one who wrestled. I would prefer a gym that placed some emphasis on wrestling as well. Wrestling, Mauy Thai, and BJJ are a potent combo.

The only other things I would consider to be very worth while are

Boxing-the problem is unless you want to fight and show some good aptitude early many boxing trainers wont give a crap about you or give you much attention

Judo- fewer good Judo places around than BJJ schools in my experience


I dont know who might be in your area for MT but if you find some one PM me and I might be able to find out if they are decent. I have a some contacts in the MT community down there. Same for BJJ.
 
I don't post often - more of a lurker really, but this thread piqued my interest. I've been studying MA for roughly 20 odd years, so here's my opinion FWIW:

Any time I see someone under the age of 25 or so listed as a teacher, black belt or senior level instructor/student my BS detector starts to go off.

Any time I see gratuitous use of Japanese/Chinese 'titles' or phraseology - i.e. Shihan, O'Sensei, etc, my BS detector starts to go off.

Any time I see a list of certifications and seminars, my BS detector starts to go off (many times these are weekend 'crash-courses' with a certificate at the end).

I only took a brief look at the site linked in the OP (couldn't take too much of that musak), but I saw all these things pretty quickly. Now, I don't know anything about these people and have no skin in this game one way or the other. I'm just giving my opinion based on my limited exposure - IOW, I could be completely off base and this group just doesn't put its best foot forward on the web.

When it comes to MA, the thing you have to remember is: it's going to take a significant time investment on your part if you really intend to use those skills for anything other than general fitness. With BJJ, Krav Maga and the other modern combatives, you're looking, at a minimum, at 3-6 months ramp up - assuming you're already in decent physical condition. For a more traditional MA, you're looking at more like 3 years before things start making any sense - and that's assuming you can find a traditional group who do some sort of sparring or resistance based training at any level. Not many do, and most martial artists of any stripe get a serious shock when/if they actually have to use those skills in a 'real' situation.

If you're serious about pursuing some form of MA training, I'd look for a decent Judo school or perhaps western boxing - both of which should be relatively easy to find.

Again, JMO.
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As a lifelong martial artists myself I mostly agree with Jeff. There are exceptions as has been pointed out, but the rule is what I would go by.

Look up McDojo's on the web and avoid these type places like the plague.

I think good self defense schools are hard to come by. Pick a style/art that you would most likely enjoy. Get to know the instructor and ask lots of questions.
If they practice techniques that are 'too deadly' to train, go elsewhere.

Personally, I like Goju and judo. Muay Thai was mentioned as well as Brazilian Jujitsu, both of these are great styles to learn as well.

It'll be a workout! :)
 
Tiomoid, I would suggest you really think what you want to learn martial arts for.

1: Fitness?
2: Competition?
3: Lifestyle?
4: Self Defense? (Real practical self defense for the average American)
5: Coolness Factor (I live in Vegas the fight capital of the US, I've seen these guys)
6: Augment skills for job? (LEO, Security, Teacher/Trainer, Military)

Of course it maybe a combination of any or all, but there has to be a main reason. We all have them for personal reasons. If you are looking to compete/lifestyle BJJ or any martial arts for that matter is great because that takes years of practice and discipline and some MAJOR dedication. For the average American, you will most likely treat the training as a hobby or part-time thing and a school that teaches you practical real world self defense. Your school you saw sounds ok for the average Joe (I just glanced at it, yeah the musak is grateing on me) if you are in the later category, practical skills like verbal judo, dealing with weapons (real world weapons, ie. knives, guns, bat, sap, rock; not swords, nunchucks, or sais!) teaching more counters and grappling.

I do not have any formal martial arts training, except for USMC close combat classes, sparring with my jujitsu buddies, and a whole lotta bar fights. Most real world altercations are bar fights, muggings, the occasional yelling match turn fistacuffs, and a majority of these fights are quick, dirty, and alot of times on the ground. Now I am not bashing guys who train MA, I cannot do what they do, but if you do not have the time to dedicate to something like that, then learning basic BJJ, sambo, or systema (I've seen these style gyms but not Krav Magra out here sorry) that teaches ground fighting or grappling. A submission is usually the best way to diffuse a situation. Yes striking and kicks can knock someone out and crack their head open, but thats alot of skill and time there.

So take a second and think about what you ultimately want out of training.

Again deep apologies to any Martial artist out there, I don't have the time or dedication for it and just giving the viewpoint of the average guy. I just spend time on the weights and shooting. :)
 
Actually, after checking out that website, I'd say there's a chance it might be an all right place to train. It's hard to say, because they have a horrible website.

What's promising is that they seem to be focused on teaching an integrated system of striking, grappling and submissions. Many MMA gyms focus on teaching the different skills in isolation: boxing, or kickboxing, or clinch work, or takedowns, or bjj classes, but rarely mma classes with full-on sparring. If you don't put it all together, you're more likely to stall out in transitions than somebody who's accustomed to using his striking to set up takedowns, for example, or using the threat of a takedown to set up strikes in the clinch...

The only way you'll find out, of course, is by going in and taking a class or two. Most places will let you try at least one free class. Make sure at least some of the classes contain sparring-- not necessarily dangerous free-for-alls, but sparring with enough reality that there some heads getting snapped around. That is truly the only way to learn to fight.

If you do go in, I'd be interested to hear what you think of the place and how it goes. I'm sort of a fight gym connoisseur. I like to take my training gear with me whenever I go on a trip to a new city and pay the drop-in fee at a boxing gym/ bjj school/ mma gym in the area. I've had a lot of great times doing this in five or six different states, and have learned a lot from getting exposed to new things and getting my butt kicked in new ways.

Good luck!
 
A submission is usually the best way to diffuse a situation. Yes striking and kicks can knock someone out and crack their head open, but thats alot of skill and time there.
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I have a friend who fought in the UFC and Pride. He got his jaw broken armbarring a guy on the ground when the guys buddy ran over and soccer kicked him in the face. Effective submissions, and being able to apply them, does not take less skill than striking. The big difference I have seen is that some people cannot deal with getting hit and thus make little progression in striking. I have seen some of these same people start training BJJ and become fairly profecient. The problem is they still cannot stand to get hit and they know only how to grapple not fight. I have trained with some guys like that for MMA fights. They get hit and it all goes out the window. If you only have ground skills you'd best assure your take downs are up to snuff. Even then you still need to be aware of getting your head stomped by someone else. I have witnessed just that happen more than once.

Grappling is an essential element but in my estimation is only one. You need it in your tool box just like you need a screw driver, but a screw driver is not always the best way to deal with the task at hand.

It will take time as noted to have a decent skills set. BJJ it will probably take about two years and for Muay Thai around a year to be decent enough at each. That is provided you are average on the atheleticism scale and put in at three nights a week of each and have decent trainers. Some will of course get better faster others slower. Ring sports are opf course different than street fights but the base skills and prinicipals transfer over. Most people cannot fight very well at all and a person with a little skill will more often than not light them up.

Mauy Thai, BJJ, Wrestling, that really is where it is at. The learn foot work, defense, positioning and control, to be calm under fire, and conditioning. When you are vastly superior in those respects a fight is pretty easy. I have trianed with Krav Maga people, or variuous street technique guys, I know several instructors of such programs. A few of them come and train with me. I'll take a guy with a purple belt in BJJ and a few amateur Muay Thai fights over those people any day. Get the base grappling and striking and then supplement it with street oriented stuff if you like. By that time you'll have a good idea of what is reasonable and what is puff and BS.

MT, BJJ and some sneaky street stuff, you'll be just like EL GUAPO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-9S...292D5233&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=12

*waits for some ignorant fool to talk crap about Bas*
 
The only thing I would add is that something is better than nothing or daydreams.
A year spent studying at a McDojo is better than a year spent wishing you had a Krav Maga or BJJ school to attend.

As long as you keep your head and remember why you're there (not to have a fancy belt, gi, or learn a dance step), you'll learn something fundamental that will serve you on the street. If nothing else, you'll learn how clumsy you are now and how truly unprepared you are. THAT realization will scare some humility into you as it does in most new students.
 
The only thing I would add is that something is better than nothing or daydreams.
A year spent studying at a McDojo is better than a year spent wishing you had a Krav Maga or BJJ school to attend.
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I strongly disagree with this statement.

The best you would get out of a mcdojo is a good workout a couple times a week. The worst part is you will be learning techniques improperly which will get you hurt. Learning techniques that you think work, but don't, which will get you hurt. You will be learning a false sense of security, which will get you hurt.

Find a credible place that practices resistance training.
 
GojuBrian said:
I strongly disagree with this statement.

The best you would get out of a mcdojo is a good workout a couple times a week. The worst part is you will be learning techniques improperly which will get you hurt. Learning techniques that you think work, but don't, which will get you hurt. You will be learning a false sense of security, which will get you hurt.

Find a credible place that practices resistance training.
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I strongly agree with GojuBrian's position. You're loading questionable techniques into muscle memory. If/when you ever are in a position to take something non-McDojo, you're going to be spending a significant amount of time unlearning.

Better to wait, search around for a good school and start with a blank slate.
 
Let's see.

Best thing to start with is boxing, but, you loose brain cells. As others have said, unless you are willing to fight, it's hard to get much attention in the gym.

We had a gracie gym in Pleasant Hill that combined a boxing-kick boxing gym with the grappling. Nice setup, but, the websites aren't working, and, in this day, that may mean the economy got them.

San Francisco had a boxing gym run by Mu Thai guys. They are very much for real.

It's really amazing when you go into some of these places. You may find a guy running it that's REALLY for real. Do your homework.
 
Giroden - I understand your point, I'm not saying avoid all striking and kicking training, but I've been in alot of street fights. Your buddy's first problem was fighting more than one person it seems, and the sparring mentality I think took focus away from his situational awareness. If he was armbarrring that guy, I'd say my point on grappling is proven in that example. He sounds like he is very good if he was fighting matches and in 2 different arenas of MMA, but studing street fighting includes knowing what to do against multiple attackers, which would be to assess your chances and mostly likely just get away. What I mean by not focusing on striking is most people throw the Haymaker, the Desperation punch, or the I-Saw-A-Dude-On-TV punch. Most punches by the average person leaves you open for an easy counter from someone with basic striking skills.

More of to debate your post then to counter it, your point is leaning more towards taking a hit rather than the if striking or grappling is better. And you are right that it would take a year or 2 to be adapt at martial arts. That was my whole point. Some people can devote 2 years of intense training to become proficient at that, but a majority of people just can't. You ever see the average person kick a guy in a fight? Not a running punt but usually it looks like a awkward short front kick with no balance. You guys have all seen it before.

I suggested basic grappling cuz its quick and easy to learn the basics, if an individual wishes to advance in training, sure go for it. If they find out it's not their bag of tea then maybe they just dabble in it.

It's like buying a $5000 precision rifle with $1000 in shooting classes because you want to be a great long ranger shooter only to find out you may not have the time for it or just not cut out for it or that you don't really enjoy it. You gotta take things in moderation when it comes to training because you just don't know if it's your thing. I know people will say that well if you train long enough you will be able to do it. How many people played sports in high school, investing in training camps, gear, trained during the summer, extra sprints and weights, and how many are still doing it today? I'm talking bout the average Joe who wants to improve himself in the real world not necessarily compete.

Also in my job, I have subdued a "famous TV" MMA fighter, he may have been intoxicated and completely out of control, but my bigger size and stronger strength and basic understanding of grappling, I did subdue him. Could I have knocked him out, I don't think so, could he hit me, absolutley not! Was I nervous as all hell? YES! I'm just saying against someone trained even against someone good might not guarantee a win but it can keep you from taking one in the face from a superior skilled opponent and maybe give you a better chance at staying in safe condition until some comes to help you or if someone calls the police.
 
A year spent studying at a McDojo is better than a year spent wishing you had a Krav Maga or BJJ school to attend.
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I disagree whole heartedly for two main reasons. Well perhaps they are two sides of the same coin

You are learning bad habits. In my experience some of the people who have the hardest time learning to box or do Muay thai in my experience are people who spent significant time in a Mcdojo style like TKD. If you train for a year with your hands on your waist that gets ingrained. It is muscle memory. Unlearning it is MUCH harder than simply learning to do it right in the first place. This is based on roughly a decades worth of observation in various gyms. Second you are learning crap that simply doesn't work and worse yet is likely to get you very hurt in a bad situation. My biggest problem with McDojo's is not that the style is ineffective. People can do what ever they get enjoyment out of. Rather, it is the false sense of security they give people.


Your buddy's first problem was fighting more than one person it seems,
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Wouldn't it be nice if we always knew just what we were getting into before it happen. We don't. In this case he did not start it, he KOed guy one with a punch nailed a double leg on guy two and guy three who he didn't account for (you get sucker punched you aren't likely to know exactly how many guys are potential involved) got him with the soccer kick while he was breaking guy #2's arm). By the way this guy has been in a fair number of street fights. He hangs out with Bas, and Gilbert Yvel. If there are mma guys who know a thing or two about being in a street fight is them (and Ryan Gracie before he got killed, and Lee Murray before he landed in jail, he was also stabbed, thats what happens when you get into too many fights ). I have also seen this guy walk away from some guys who were begging for it so its not like he is a dick out looking to start stuff.

I think your points about grappling have merit. My experiences with street fighting and grappling have taught me two things. 1) You can usually smoke someone fast on the ground with basic control of position and with strikes and/or submissions. 2) If they have a friend you are likely to get stomped bad when you hit the ground. I can think of several incidents of this happening with people who have much better than average, let along basic grappling skills.

I firmly believe taking an either or approach to striking/grappling is begging for trouble. Fernado Vargas got choked out in a club by a BJJ blue belt. A former member of the lions Den got stomped in a club by a group of Polynesians after successfully applying a toe hold to one of them. You need to have the skills to deal with what comes your way because as I eluded to earlier you cannot always avoid it or dictate the situation you find yourself in.

I'm talking bout the average Joe who wants to improve himself in the real world not necessarily compete.
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I understand what you are saying. The thing is without some real work you are not really going to be able to fight very well. It is like anything else there are not magic short cuts. It takes work to be proficient its that simple. Sure you can learn a move or two and I suppose it is better than nothing but it is a very very far cry from being adequately prepared.

I suggested basic grappling cuz its quick and easy to learn the basics, if an individual wishes to advance in training, sure go for it. If they find out it's not their bag of tea then maybe they just dabble in it.
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Maybe, maybe not. In my experience some people seem to have more of an aptitude for one than the other sometimes. I actually think people can get decently proficient at MT more quickly than grappling. Yeah, you can learn a guillotine, an arm bar, and a rear naked in an afternoon. well, you can learn what they are and the basic idea of how they are executed. Being able to do them when it counts takes much more work. Nailing them on someone who knows nothing is fairly easy. Nailing them on someone strong and athletic who is hell bent on pounding your face in takes much more skill. Nailing them on someone who is wise to what you are trying takes a great deal of skill.

You are right though that if you have some basic striking skills you can light up the guy throwing haymakers. If you have some basic sub skills choking out a rowdy drunk is very easy. The choke also hold the advantage of not really hurting the guy. I have done just that before. It is a lot easier to walk away without worrying about being in big trouble than if I break the guys jaw and knock his teeth out.

One on one fight grappling is great. If the guy has a friend you don't know about you might be in serious trouble. I saw a fight where two guys get into a verbal exchange. As it turns physical guy one tackles guy two and gets the full mount and starts unloading punches. He is in one of the most dominant positions one can achieve. Guy #3 calmly stands up on the other side of the room, calmly walks over and when he is 10' behind them sprints up kicks guy #1 in the back of the head like he was kicking down a door. Guy one hits the floor KOed badly. Guy two being pissed about being beat up about gives him a kick in the face for good measure. I have seen guys get beat up by multiple guys standing as well. The difference is that standing you have a better chance of seeing them coming and a better chance of being able to run away which might be your best bet. I have also seen a person confronted w/ multiple attackers drop one with a single punch and in the process cause the guys buddies to re-evaluate their desire to fight.

In sum I firmly believe you need both skills sets if you are remotely serious about learning how to fight. While grappling can be very effective I would rather be on my feet in a street altercation for a variety of reasons some of which I have eluded to here. I certainly want to have some ground skills in case I am denied that option.

San Francisco had a boxing gym run by Mu Thai guys. They are very much for real.
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Fairtex is in San Fransisco and although guys like Bunkerd have left they still have a very good gym with good trainers.
 
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You make some good points, what we have here though I think was miscommunication. You mistakened my remark as only grappling while I mistook yours as only striking. Apologies, sorry. But you are right have proficiency at both is key. But I guess what I was originally trying to say, was that grappling and learning quickly is a great way to build that fighting confidence. Not the dojo-breaking-board-with-my-hand confidence, but true-this-is-what-a-fight-is confidence. Where you realize how much fatigue, adrenaline, pain, discomfort, comes into play. Grappling with someone of similiar skill level allows you to go at 100% and really push yourself considering most have not realized what they can do. Stand-up even against similiarly skilled you cannot really go all out and feel the panic and tired mixed mind rush, unless you have trained along time.

More simply stated, grappling IMO is a great way to START, striking for me at least is a more advance technique that requires much more practice and discipline and is a natural extension of grappling. So for the beginner, I say grappling, it provides total body fitness, really stresses your conditioning, situational awareness and provides you the opportunity to go all out without getting knocked around too badly.

I do agree with everything your saying, just for me, my body type, my personal fighting style, and my real life time constraints and schedule, grappling worked out better for me. just giving my $.02
 
i.e. Shihan, O'Sensei, etc, my BS detector starts to go off.
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Using the term O'Sensei, is an Akido phrase that is linking the Akido taught to the teaching of the founder, Usheiba. Akido has split into a few schools (Yoshinkan, Yoshikai and so forth).

It shouldn't set your BS detector off.

Regarding which school you should join; do not go to one that has a "belt" fascination. There are three people in a martial arts school. The instructor, the assistants (advanced students that also teach beginners) and the students. Any other delineation is a waste of time and can do you more harm than good. Martial arts take DECADES to master, that doesn't mean that they can't be used practically after 1 or 2 years, but it does mean that it is a LIFE LONG quest.

Remember the enter point of the martial arts is for your to dominate and harness your warrior spirit so that you can "win" without violence. If you do not believe it is possible, then you are in the wrong school. I have seen people throughly dominate a room / a person without ever acting aggressive...

My 2 pesos.
 
There is a solid dojo in middle / southern Fl.

200 RING AVE SE, UNIT 106 * PALM BAY, FLORIDA 32909 1 (321) 726-9440.

He was one of my first instructors back in 86. Give Mr. Webster a call. His website is atrocious, and I wouldn't attend if that was my only measure of him. He may not be what you are looking for, but he might be. After 20 years plus of martial arts, mostly Sieto Matsumura Ryu, he is one of the instructors I would return to. I have been looking out here in VA, and I have yet ran into a school that even teaches it's basics, let alone teach bunkai (application of the technique).
 
That street defense place seems a little cheezy.

Even tho its cliche...try to find an MMA place that seems to be into the whole UFC thing. Most UFC/type places are into BJJ and Muay Thai, and while i have no interest in UFC, i think those two are the most realistic types of fighting that would ever come into play. Muay thai is devistating as a stand-up, and BJJ is great for the ground. Do both and you are set.

Stay away from McDojo's
 
Hi guys

I spent about 20 years training hard. Got in two real scraps. Boxing is great because it keeps distance, and, you actually learn how to throw punches while protecting yourself. You also learn kicking is for movies.

One of my great fears, justified by watching a Gracie practice, is to run into someone with serious grappling skills. There is always someone much stronger out there, and bigger.

That said, I'd start with boxing skill drills, bags, etc. and running, and then do a little kicking, mainly low, and mainly full power stuff on a heavy bag to save your knees.

The grappling is frosting on the cake. Fight like a cornered cat, with your goal being to get into a position that gets you out of the fight.

I did learn a bunch of stuff, along with Iron Palm, etc. that would seriously maim. Only had one situation that would have merited it. Guy hit me over the head with a Walther PPKS, but, he never pointed the gun at me, and, I managed to get out of it alive. With three guys, in a bathroom, all over 250,
and one with a gun, going after his eyes and throat where the only real options, except the one that got me out of it. I sank down, and, the only thing he could hit was the top of my head with the gun, and, I started yelling, loud. They figured fun time was up, and all took off.
Remember Drunken Monkey? The low gate work has a great point, and works...;)
 
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jerryd
jerryd
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Are there "gun kata" schools?
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barnetmill
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