Anyone else do a martial art?

Last night at my Tae Kwon Do class my instructor was talking about other martial arts and comparing them and it got me wondering if anyone else on here does a martial art and what they think about it? Did you try a different martial art before the one you do now?
I've been doing Tae Kwon Do since 2004 and I'm now a blue belt and by September I'll be training for my black belt.
Tae Kwon Do comes from Korea and it's very physical. It's hands and feet, and full contact. We also do some self defence and knife defence aswell as 'destruction' which is breaking boards with your hands and feet (ouch!). It's not all about fighting each other though, we do what we call 'Patterns' which are different blocks, attacks and kicks all put together in a sequence. These get harder and have more moves to remember as you progress through each grade.
It's really starting to get tough for me as I'm now considered a higher grade and an example to lower grades. There is more to remember aswell as the Korean we have to learn!! We need to know what all our moves are in Korean amongst other things and it is very difficult!
We have gradings every 3 months where the World Knife Hand Champion comes to assess us and these are what we have to swat up for big time as you look really stupid if you don't know your stuff, plus you won't pass.
We have a great class, our instructors are fantastic and I really enjoy doing this despite the swollen hands and aching muscles
We have a website and I'm actually on there doing distruction on video if you can find it! Feel free to take a look.
www.dundeewildcats.co.uk

Would be great to hear about what you guys do!
Lauren

My ex is a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and a green belt at judo.

To energetic for me

Susan, what are you like?!!

I would love to be able to do martial arts!! I used to do Thai Chi which I loved!!

Originally Posted by rosiemac

My ex is a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and a green belt at judo.

To energetic for me

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Haha thats what I used to say. Mark, my boyfriend has been going longer than me and was asking me to go along for aaaaages but I always said no because I thought I'd get killed but then I eventually gave in. The first time was tough and I was in agony the next day (I was fairly unfit at this time) but you get used to it so quick. You should give it a try!!

You know i'm ashamed how unfit i am now, because i was a 3-4 times a week in the gym girl and this 47 year old chick could run rings around those in their 20's.

I'll get there again though!

When I was 11 my mum took me to do Kung-Fu, so I could deffend myself from bullies at school. I was half way though erning my blue sash when we had to move.
I think martial arts can be away of expressing yourself and venting anger. I think it should be used for defence rather than offence.

Originally Posted by kura

When I was 11 my mum took me to do Kung-Fu, so I could deffend myself from bullies at school. I was half way though erning my blue sash when we had to move.
I think martial arts can be away of expressing yourself and venting anger. I think it should be used for defence rather than offence.

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We are very much told that this is about defence. It's not about knowing how to attack someone for no reason. It's about getting the better of someone who tries it with you. They are more than likely going to be drunk, say on a night out, and just attack you in a fairly predictable way but you can outsmart them. I have to say even walking the streets during the day or in the evening I know I feel a hell of a lot safer knowing what I know.
People who come to martial arts classes just to learn how to be tough and so they can show off to their mates, or start on people generally do not last and learn only very basic things because it is very hard and requires a lot of dedication, which they just don't have.

Yer I agree and it gives a bad name to the rest of us that are stuiding/masters of it.
One of my ex-friends, was doing judo or something like that and he tried to put me in some kind of hold, because he was showing of to his other mates.
He didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know that I knew a little Kung-Fu and I rebounded the hold/attack and accidentally humiliated him. does that make me a bad person?

Originally Posted by kura

I think it should be used for defence rather than offence.

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Aren't you taught this in class anyway when you join up?!. I know my ex was, and my brothers a boxing coach and it's the first thing they tell new members when they join, "Use it outside just for the fun of it and your out!".

Yer you are taunt that, but some people are just show off's and stuiped and use it as they wish.
I hate people like that.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Aren't you taught this in class anyway when you join up?!. I know my ex was, and my brothers a boxing coach and it's the first thing they tell new members when they join, "Use it outside just for the fun of it and your out!".

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Absolutely. The only thing our instructor says is if someone hits you, you hit them back twice as hard. It's all about your safety. He is a cardiac nurse and knows a lot about how the body works so sometimes he'll give us long talks about where it is under no circumstances safe to hit someone. You want to get them off you, stun them and hurt them so they are not going to try again and you can get away but you don't want to be up on a manslaughter charge.
If our instructor found out any of us had been abusing our position we'd be either kicked out or seriously punished!! None of us would anyway we have a great bunch of people. You do get the odd person starting who doesnt care about the training they just want a black belt so they can boast, needless to say they last about 2 weeks.

I didn't see the video but I saw there was a pretty large group in the competitor's photo. Congratulations on getting your blue belt.

Sorry the site is a pain to get around its under
'Grading - December 1st - including videos'

Theres loads of videos I think theres only a couple of me, I think it might say my name above them too - Lauren

I box and train in mixed martial arts. Anything from boxing to BJJ to Greco-Roman Wrestling to Judo to Kickboxing.

Originally Posted by DRIVEN

I box and train in mixed martial arts. Anything from boxing to BJJ to Greco-Roman Wrestling to Judo to Kickboxing.

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Sounds very interesting! What Greco-Roman Wrestling?

Originally Posted by Pombina

Sounds very interesting! What Greco-Roman Wrestling?

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Greco-Roman Wrestling-Possibly the worlds oldest sport. Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch as catch can.


I live in Coldwater, MI which is where Dan Severn is from. You may have heard of him, but he is a master at Greco Roman. He has a gym here in Coldwater that holds training in boxing and other mma classes.

Originally Posted by DRIVEN


Greco-Roman Wrestling-Possibly the worlds oldest sport. Contestants struggle hand to hand attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and catch as catch can.


I live in Coldwater, MI which is where Dan Severn is from. You may have heard of him, but he is a master at Greco Roman. He has a gym here in Coldwater that holds training in boxing and other mma classes.

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No I havent heard of him. I don't think I could box, I'd find it too hard not to use my legs. Do you find that hard?

Originally Posted by Pombina

No I havent heard of him. I don't think I could box, I'd find it too hard not to use my legs. Do you find that hard?

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When we spar we do kickbox sometimes. I am not real good with my legs so I usually just use them to move and check kicks.

I usually feel more comfortable with two feet on the ground when I'm boxing or kickboxing just because I can't stand to be off balance.

You should try boxing. It's a great workout and good if you ever need it for self defense. And what guy doesn't like a tough girl.

I hold a second degree black belt in Tai Kwondo/Kenpo.
Ayyyyyyyyyy-yah!!!!!!

Originally Posted by DRIVEN

When we spar we do kickbox sometimes. I am not real good with my legs so I usually just use them to move and check kicks.

I usually feel more comfortable with two feet on the ground when I'm boxing or kickboxing just because I can't stand to be off balance.

You should try boxing. It's a great workout and good if you ever need it for self defense. And what guy doesn't like a tough girl.

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Haha I like to think I'm already pretty 'tough' lol.
I know what you mean about having 2 feet on the ground, people do kick badly and slip but I feel I have more power in my kicks than my punches most of the time.
Tae Kwon Do is a great workout aswell, because you are using your whole body.