small girls need to defend themselves... sometimes...

Sunny_Dublin

Hi all!

First I'd like to apologise if this topic came up before, feel free to link/move thread accordingly.

I am looking for some sort of martial art that not only improves my general fitness but also gives me some good and effective moves for self defense. Judo was a bit... boring really... did that when i was around 14 and it just wasn;t very interesting.
I also tried full contact kick boxing but was kinda put off by the variety of ways to seriously hurt or even kill someone. the constant bruises on arms and legs didn;t make me happy either.

Anyhow, is there anybody out there with suggestions? I am fairly flexible but not very fit (started running last week but after a couple of meters i sounded like a little steam train. will keep it up though). the area would be swords/skerries.

Ideas anyone?

thanks, sunny

Cabelo

Ooh, I got here first... dibs on the new one.

Join capoeira, if you're reasonably flexible then we're all about you. Classes in the city centre and Blanchardstown.

Website: www.candeiasdublin.com

Good for overall fitness and flexibility like a badass. You wouldn't believe it. Google searchy for some videos/images

fianna.5u.com

You could try Mixed Martial Arts or BJJ.

www.sbgireland.com Harold's Cross
www.fianna.5u.com (thats me) Dundrum / Sandyford
www.twokingsmma.net FirHouse
www.ucdbjj.com UCD

Also there is SBG northside, someone will post details.
Next Generation in Loughlinstown (Sp?) Leisure Centre.

All of those are for Dublin.

etc


Peace

Naos

What area are you in?

Cabelo: How many people go to the class in Draiocht? Introducing any more?

ninjawitatitude

Have you tried western boxing or some form of grappling? Great for fitness and you'll definitly be able to handle yourself. Plenty of bjj guys here I'm sure will help you out.

Dave

dlofnep

Just to elaborate on the MMA post.. Incase you are not aware of what it is: It's a combination of many effective and tried/tested arts together - Usually consisiting of muay thai, boxing, wrestling & brazilian jiu-jitsu (however it can change for each person.. muay thai could be replaced with another stand up art, bjj with judo, ect..)

It caters for all areas of fighting - Your stand up will cover what you can accomplish once you are within striking distance.. Kicks punches ect... will be covered here - This area will often be isolated so that you are comfortable with attacking and defending. This comfort alone will aid you alot. Your clinch training will cover once you are in grabbing distance.. Usually you are tied up here in a greco roman clinch or muay thai clinch where you can setup close strikes or takedowns. So far you will have learn what to do when at striking distance and also be able to ahndle yourself once someone is in close, or has grabbed you ect.. You will also be familar with takedowns and throws (alot of what you would of covered already in judo) .. Following up on this you would learn some ground work.. You've probably covered some in your judo classes but you'll expand further on it and see that you will not be so vulnerable on the ground. After isolating these, you would normally also combine them all together.

MMA is very competitive so alot of people train it so that they are effective when they compete.. This translates well into self defense because you will be tried and tested in all areas against resisting people (like you would find on the street) and not compliant partners.. Which is very important.

This is my opinion on why MMA is the best form of self defense. Every possible angle is covered.. yes it is geared for a sport, but that sport has limited rules and translates best against a real street fight.

Go to an MMA class - You might be shattered after classes and get all those little bruises, but if you don't put in, you won't get out. Don't expect some magical art to show you special secret ninja moves.. In reality, you'll have to put in the work which can be really rewarding. Anyone I know who trains MMA gets a great feelig of accomplishment as they further their training. I'm sure you would be no different.

I'm not sure of the MMA schools in your area, but I'm sure someone here will work something out for you if need be.

Just my thoughts,
Ciao.

judomick

Mma to me would be the deep end id suggest starting with maybe bjj and then if u decide to stick with it maybe incorporate some striking into your game, theres a few good Bjj places in dublin where are you based? or work near?

Colm_OReilly

Hey Sunny,

Welcome to boards.ie MA/SD forum.

Firstly, with regard self preservation (and I'm not sure if this is your main concern here) read Gavin DeBecker's The Gift of Fear, but please read all of it, the last chapter or two really ties all the concepts and ideas together.

As regards self defence for, as you put it, a small girl, in a physical confrontation the odds are against you purely based on your attributes (weight and strength), the same would be true for a small guy against a much bigger opponent. That's not to say it's hopeless, far from it. If that was the case, I wouldn't have a job! I'm just telling you this because you will hear people offering you the means to defend yourself with very little effort, and although they'll sound tempting (who wouldn't want to be able to kick ass effortlessly) they are, at best, wasting your time.

The other guys have posted good links, and there's some good girls who train with JK in Harold's Cross if you care to make the trip - which I highly recommend.

Best of luck,
Colm

Cabelo

The draíocht class is great, a few new people in too and enough regulars to keep it alive and well.

Drop in on Thursday (8pm)... we'd love to see yer and we're always introducing more peeps.

Nevyn

he draíocht class looks intresting but there is no mention of fees or insurance on the site.

Cabelo

Insurance is taken from your general class fees

It's €35 per month for a class every week (just under 10 per 1 1/2 hours).

We tend to pay for classes in blocks of 4. I'd love to see some boardsers join

MaeveD

Hi Sunny,

How about...

Colaiste Choilm Secondary School, Swords...

Aikido - Monday and Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Thursdays 6.30-8.00pm

We also run 4 week Women's Self Defence Courses there every few months... have a look at our website www.defendu.ie

toad

MaeveD wrote:

Hi Sunny,

How about...

Colaiste Choilm Secondary School, Swords...

Aikido - Monday and Wednesdays 7.30-9.30pm

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Thursdays 6.30-8.00pm

We also run 4 week Women's Self Defence Courses there every few months... have a look at our website www.defendu.ie

Who is the coach for the BJJ class in fairview?

Silverfish

I'm 4 foot ten and I did MMA in SBG in Harolds Cross. I had to give up eventually but I found it to give me the most confidence out of any MA I'd ever done, it taught me what I felt I'd really need to know in various situations. I couldn't recommend it enough.

MaeveD

toad wrote:

Who is the coach for the BJJ class in fairview?

Toad, Ray Butcher teaches in both Fairview and Swords

judomick

ive trained in i think pretty much every bjj club in and around dublin and a few clubs abroad, without doubt SBG offer the best teaching and atmosphere, the proof of the pudding for me is im still there training as much as i did when i first started

Sunny_Dublin

Hi all

wow, this was much more information than i hoped for, thank you so much. Will probably have a look at the Capoeria class as i was interested in that already. and in addition do a self defense course.

I'll have a look at different classes to make up my mind.

Thank a mil you all!

Sunny