What to do?

Shiminay

First off, I've been out of the world of Martial Arts for a long time due to a nasty knee injury and then college and the subsequent laziness of working an office job etc... I got to Green belt in Shoto Kan and I quite enjoyed it. My main sensei's name was Jarlath Cunningham from Castlebar who last I heard was 4th Dan and the other was Eddie Doyle (also Castlebar, 2nd, maybe 3rd dan by now). Jarlath was great with technique and making class a little bit more interesting (advanced kata and sparring stuff) and Eddie is super fit and very fast, so he ran us ragged with very fitness/speed/technique stuff. I was, after 2 years, very flexible and energetic and felt great I've always been a fat man, but I was more solid than flab back then.
Fast forward to today, I gained and have subsequently lost about 4.5 stone (left the office life for hotel portering - lots of heavy lifting and climbing of stairs). I feel like I could probably start training again and not die of a heart attack Like I said, I enjoyed the Shoto Kan a lot, but was wondering if there's other styles of things (traditional or otherwise - I'm open to suggestion) that have a nice emphasis on technique and things like kata (always found it very relaxing in the way that a lot of people who practice yoga describe it). I don't mind sparring too much, blind as a bat though, so will probably have to invest in contacts or the likes if it were a club that did a lot of sparring. I guess I'm more into the practice of an art than the application

I'm living in Dublin now and I'm about to have a browse through what's going on around me, so I'm sure I'll have some more questions when I come back, but I'd love to hear some of your suggestions.

Thanks in advance

ShaneT

Kharn wrote:

...was wondering if there's other styles of things (traditional or otherwise - I'm open to suggestion) that have a nice emphasis on technique...

I'm living in Dublin now and I'm about to have a browse through what's going on around me, so I'm sure I'll have some more questions when I come back, but I'd love to hear some of your suggestions.

Hey Kharn. Have a nose at our website; www.mmaireland.com - if you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line. Full contact style; however, heavy emphasis on correct technique (as one would expect with traditional karate).

Visit www.kyokushinbudokai.org if would like an idea of the background for the style visit the downloads section (at the same site) for downloadable guide which will give you an over view of the technical syllabus.

All the best.
-ShaneT

Mola.mola

Kharn wrote:

I got to Green belt in Shoto Kan and I quite enjoyed it.
I have subsequently lost about 4.5 stone

Wow, that's awesome, Well done! Well if you enjoyed the shotokan back then it probably would be best to return to it. As you say, if you enjoy the kata but not so much the sparring you could consider Taichi maybe? You could also join a TKD (taekwondo) club, they do a lot of patterns (katas) which you might enjoy. Most clubs also do a good bit of sparring but i think they don't let white belts or beginners to it straight away so perhaps you could move steadily towards it whne you feel ready or have the desire.

I'm not sure how Wing Tsun will forfil your needs maybe Michael will give you some advice.

Roper

Hey Kharn.
What part of the city are you in, maybe someone can point you in the right direction. Just as regards Kata, if you found them interesting then I would pick Shotokan over TKD, just a thought.

Anyway, we don't do any traditional work of any sort but you're quite welcome to pop down to us www.ko-martialarts.com and give it a shot any time.

Other than that, post your locality and you might get some local suggestions.

Cheers,
Barry

Black Swan

Mola.mola wrote:

Most clubs also do a good bit of sparring but i think they don't let white belts or beginners to it straight away so perhaps you could move steadily towards it whne you feel ready or have the desire.

Maybe you could test and come in above a white belt given that you had prior experience, then perhaps get to sparring sooner? Worth asking.

SorGan

perhaps you would like to check escrima out for the sake of diversity,
based in city centre are two clubs, in dorset st.

http://www.krishnagodhania.org/index1.htm

Miles Long

Blue_Lagoon wrote:

Maybe you could test and come in above a white belt given that you had prior experience, then perhaps get to sparring sooner? Worth asking.

Kharn,

If you prove/tell them that you have exp. in MA, most any club will let you spar. They'll just give you a few rounds with a BB/senior and then pair you with some one your of your own abillty. Both you and the club will get a feeling for each other fairly sharpish and if you click, Hell Yeah keep going. You don't sound too into the sparring (could be just rust) so maybe the semi-contact of TKD would suit you better? It'd give you the patterns and step sparring too, you can be as meticulus as you like with 'em too, getting out what you put in and all that.

You North or South Dublin?

Damo W

Kharn wrote:

First off, I've been out of the world of Martial Arts for a long time due to a nasty knee injury and then college and the subsequent laziness of working an office job etc... I got to Green belt in Shoto Kan and I quite enjoyed it. My main sensei's name was Jarlath Cunningham from Castlebar who last I heard was 4th Dan and the other was Eddie Doyle (also Castlebar, 2nd, maybe 3rd dan by now). Jarlath was great with technique and making class a little bit more interesting (advanced kata and sparring stuff) and Eddie is super fit and very fast, so he ran us ragged with very fitness/speed/technique stuff. I was, after 2 years, very flexible and energetic and felt great I've always been a fat man, but I was more solid than flab back then.
Fast forward to today, I gained and have subsequently lost about 4.5 stone (left the office life for hotel portering - lots of heavy lifting and climbing of stairs). I feel like I could probably start training again and not die of a heart attack Like I said, I enjoyed the Shoto Kan a lot, but was wondering if there's other styles of things (traditional or otherwise - I'm open to suggestion) that have a nice emphasis on technique and things like kata (always found it very relaxing in the way that a lot of people who practice yoga describe it). I don't mind sparring too much, blind as a bat though, so will probably have to invest in contacts or the likes if it were a club that did a lot of sparring. I guess I'm more into the practice of an art than the application

I'm living in Dublin now and I'm about to have a browse through what's going on around me, so I'm sure I'll have some more questions when I come back, but I'd love to hear some of your suggestions.

Thanks in advance

Check this out!

http://www.shotokanireland.org/index.html

Most clubs are listed here!

Cheers

Shiminay

Thanks for the info so far all. I'm living in Arbour Hill, D7. One of the lads I work with has started TKD (as a complete beginner) and so that partially re-sparked my own interest. He's really enjoying it and feeling the benefits after only a short while.

Roper

On another note, I like your sig:
"Captain I protest, I am NOT a merry man!"

Classic!:)

kenpo_dave

cough*geeks*cough

Baggio...

If you are into that side of things, I'd check out American Kenpo. The syllabus is pretty big and is more modern than other forms of Karate. It has taken all the best bits of Traditional Martial Arts and combined them into one system. It's got more kicks than TKD - lots of forms and sets to keep you busy and relaxed. You can also do weapons training - if you are into that (but I find weapon training very dull myself).

Good luck,

Baggio...

Clive

As far as I know there's a decent boxing club in Arbour Hill, you could check that out.

silat liam

Hi Khan
Another option, if you like to try something different is Indonesian Silat it has both empty hands and weapon training. Our website is www.silateurope.com. If you more info let me know and I send it to you.

Liam

kerinsp

Jaysus Khan I think I trained with Jarlath Cunningham in castlebar when I was about 11 or so for a few months of shotokan. Loved it at the time.

Good luck with your search anyways, there are loads of clubs around. I train with Roper, good stand up and BJJ there.

yomchi

Kharn wrote:

Thanks for the info so far all. I'm living in Arbour Hill, D7. One of the lads I work with has started TKD (as a complete beginner) and so that partially re-sparked my own interest. He's really enjoying it and feeling the benefits after only a short while.

You're from my home town so!!
Im a born and bred Arbour Hiller!

I train in Cabra bout 10 mins away from you. We do ITF Taekwon-Do with a slant - Im training in Combatives and BJJ as well as Full Contact Kixboxing so I bring all that to my classes.

More than welcome to drop up if you wish



www.iutf-dublin.com

yomchi

Clive wrote:

As far as I know there's a decent boxing club in Arbour Hill, you could check that out.

Where it all started for me in 1985!

UNfortunately it hasn't been done up since then and stinks to high heaven, use the showers at your pearil and becareful you don't go through the floor boards!

Hopefully the new committee will put it back to its former glory