SiphonX

well, i don't really know where else to post this... but i'll try my luck here. i was wondering what martial arts utilizes staffs or a katana of some sort. i think most do, but what's act of fighting w/ a blade called? i'm being kinda vague, but i hope some1 can understand.

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kel

Well... if your like me then you call fighting with blades Kendo. If only I could have been born 300 years ago in Japan and been trained from birth to fight.

There are other schools of blade fighting from japan, but Kendo is widely known and it's easy to find quality instruction and training.

Martial arts for staff and blade represent wholly different disciplines, there aren't really any systems (that I know of) that incorporate both, you have to learn each seperately.

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SiphonX

yep, that was it. thanks kel, i need to take up some form of martial arts cause i feel like a lazy and unproductive slob... cause i am =/ I'm 19 and 5'10 155 lbs... what should i take up?

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Moonduck

There are forms that teach both sword and staff, but they are ancilliary to the central teachings of the form. I know of a few Aikido and Aikijutsu schools that teach some katana and bo work, as well as a number of Chinese Gung Fu systems that teach sundry sword forms and staff training. Depends on what you are looking for.

As to style, you have to answer that question.

A) What schools do you have access to in your area? (If you can't regularly attend, it's not really worthwhile)

B) How good are those schools (better to take an art you're not really spun up about at a very good school, than to take a cool art taught by someone unqualified to teach it).

C) What is your body type? (You've said 5'10" and 155lbs, so I doubt that a grappling style would be a great choice unless you're very aggressive) Body type is important when deciding on style as some styles support certain body types better than others. TKD, for instance, tends to work well for tall, thin, fast types as it is a long-range kicking type of style. Western boxing works well for stocky individuals as they generate better short stroke power (yes, there are plenty of long-armed boxers out there, and they can be good, but the style works well for stocky blocks like Tyson).

D) Soft or Hard? In other words, strikes and hard blocks, or sweeps, parries, and throws? It's an overgenaralization, but most arts can be categorized as either soft (using the attacker's movement, momentum, and weight to do the damage via sweeps and throws, and also generally working incapacitating holds - Aikido), or hard (techniques emphasize speed and power, and use impact to do damage - Karate)

E) Physical ability - if you are clumsy and slow, don't try and become a grandmaster of the chain-whip. Yes, it is good to challenge yourself, but you must also be realistic. If you are, like me, stocky and don't jump well, arts that teach a lot of (*cough*stupid*cough*) flying and jumping kicks would be a bad choice.

I'm a fairly burly guy. When I was taking MA, I was 5'11" and about 265lbs, nostly muscle. I enjoyed Kenpo as it was aggressive (in keeping with my personality) and emphasized short-range combat with a lot of hand-work (I have a boxing background, so hand-work is good by me), and did fairly well at Kali-Silat (Filipino stick/knife-fighting style that was really a bit too fast for me, but the aggressive footwork and attitude fit me to a tee. I really shined once I hit Sombo (Russian martial art). The grappling and Thai-style kick-boxing for stand-up work was right down my alley. I cannot imagine a style better suited to me - hard, strength and mass friendly, VERY aggressive, and works well in a broad range of situations. The Jeet Kune Do training that happened while most of this was going on helped to bring it together, and I heartily suggest it if you can find it.

The bottom line is to go and visit whatever dojos, dojangs, kwoons, studios, and what-have-you in your area. Try to find one that teaches something that you're interested in and has an environment that you feel comfortable in. Then check around and see what people say about 'em.

doodah

wow i, thining of taking up a class now it soundscool!

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Amarth

That's not fat or necessarily out of shape. Don't be so hard on yourself.

Smoky

I learned Sil Lum Kung Fu and Staff was the first weapon we learned. Very insightful training as so many things can be substituted for a staff.

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TheKak

All depends on what you enjoy. I recommend going around to the different schools in your area and asking to take a trial class for free to test the waters so to speak.

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Antagony

Almost every martial art discipline will include staff and sword training. Moonduck's list of considerations is pretty good, and you should pore over them.

I'll append to his list a couple more considerations --

1.) How spiritual do you want it to be? You looking for something serious and meditative, or is that too weird for you?

2.) How practical do you want it to be? If you're interested in learning some sword fighting, I can assume you aren't looking for 100% practicality. Some martial arts are more practical in real combat than others. But, as I'm sure you realize, the martial arts aren't just about fighting.

[And just a little side note, the plural form of "staff" is "staves".]

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Moonduck

Thank you, Antagony. I was remiss in not including extrenal vs internal (ie spiritual or not). This is mostly because I am almost a 100% extrenal guy and never even think about it.

Not dogging it, mind you. I've seen some serious high-end internal practitioners do some VERY impressive things. Just not my ball of wax.

n0b

Iaido one of the more formal sword styles. My roomate takes it (along with kendo) and he loves it.

ForgottenKnight

Fencing! You should try it! It's fun!

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wipeout

i dont really like martial arts that have weaopns--i find it unrealistic--i have never been in or seen a real fight where a person had a weapon of that sort--i take jujitsu and it teaches how to defend and fight in a real ife situation
heres my dojo
www.phanku.org

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doodah

hey since it was along the lines i was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direciton of what kind of martial arts or self defense i shoudl take ..... im 18 abotu 5'7" 175 lbs and pretty flexible and strong lower half.... thanks

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Ripsaw

Take the one you like.
Take the one where people won't beat you up just because
you're the new guy.
Take the one where you like the people you'll be training with.
Take the one you are most interested in.

The most important thing in this decision... is you.

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Lunchbox7

Iaido is actually the japanese form of sword fighting where you draw and strike in the same movement. An old samarai turned ronans father was killed so he secluded himself and trained for like months to draw and slash in the same movement so the fight will be finished before the other guys sword is out of his scabbard. He challenged his fathers killer for revenge and took him out with his iaido. Its pretty awsome.

When I did ninjitsu we trained with katana, katana/wakizashi combination, baton, medium staff (approx 3 foot), long staff (approx 6 foot), knife and chain. Pretty interesting.

Lunchbox7

Its nice to think that other people wont use weapons thus you dont need to either but unfortunately that isnt the case. Ive seen quite a few gang war type scenarios where a whole heap of guys have chains, baseball bats etc. I keep an axe handle in my car which is weighted just like a sword. Ive had to weild it twice in real life situations. I only pulled it out because I was out numbered.

Dont get me wrong. I think jujitsu is a great art. Ive done a bit of it myself. The main problem with it as a grappling art is that while you have one guy messed up with you grappling his mate comes over and kicks you in the head. That is why I dont think anyone should rely on just grappling. That is assumiong by jujitsu you mean the more trendy brazilian jujitsu which relys wholy on grappling instead of that japanese version which has heaps of striking too. I personally think a combination of thai boxing and jujitsu will give you the tools to deal with almost any real life situation. Thats my opinion anyway.

Moonduck

The grappling methodolgy against multiple opponents, when taught correctly, usually goes something like this:

1) Lay hands on first attacker

2) Throw/takedown first attacker into second attacker

3) Repeat as necessary.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is very centered on one-on-one fights, and that is, from I gather, simply a product of the culture that spawned that version. Apparrently it is considered extremely bad form to jump into a fight in Brazil, not macho if you will. It means that two guys can settle their differences mano a mano without the results being determined by whichever side brought the most friends. Not sure how realistic that is though.

I would agree that a grappling style combined witha s triking style is likely your most efficient combo. Western Boxing is an excellent choice as the techniques are extremely solid and very quick to learn. It does take quite a bit of practice to perfect, but you can learn very solid defensive and offensive techniques via Western Boxing, and you also have the advantage of far superior footwork to what is usually taught in most Eastern systems.

Once you've learned proper footwork, you realize that it will keep you on top of more sitautions than any punch, kick, or throw ever would.

twotimesadingo

Where did you learn ninjitsu? I've been looking everywhere for a place to learn, and have had no luck thus far.

I plan on going to Japan for the next academic year, and was hoping to study it a bit then. However, my Japanese professor said that it was tough to find an open school.. Anyway, just curious.

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Lunchbox7

I did it in a school at Wentworthville which is about 30 minutes drive west of Sydney in Australia. I knnow there is a full time school in Merlbourne but you would have to look it up on the net. There is some school in America run by this guy named Rick tew or something. His website is: www.ninjitsu.to/ Since I dont know where you come from I cant really help beyond that. Sorry. As an effective art I thought it had very strong strenghts and very weak weaknesses but you cant tell someone who has been studying it for 10 years that something about their art is weak. Despite this it was very interesting. Not only did we learn fighting with and without weapons but we learnt acrobatics, stealth walking, climbing without hands or feet (not at same time), all the little dirty tricks the nijas used. Their main forms of attack revolve around bone breaking attacks and nerve point attacks. As I said it is very interesting beyond the martial aspects.

Date the Banana

Just so you know, in Japan most styles that involve staves are considered "for girls" The naginata (long pole curved at the end to resemble a halberd) club at most schools is only open for girls. Boys usually do regular kendo, and girls are allowed to do either. I think if a boy were to try to join the naginata team he would be looked upon in the same way as a guy trying to join the rhythmic gymnastics team in the US

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