100% newbie, what martial art?

Jesus Wept

Hi,

Any advice on what would be a good self defense form to learn? I am 25 years old, and have Zero experience, I have no interest in looking for trouble/fights, I'm very much a pacifist, but I think it would be good to give me more confidence and exercise.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

HammerHeadGym

Hey Rigger,
You may not realise what a hot potato of a question that is right now, but I don't mind answering.

If you say where your from, then I'm sure someone from your area will advertise their club. You are more likely to go to a club near-by.

For self defence you will have to use your common sense and ask yourself if you think what your are learning will genuinely help. Are you allowed spar and practise 'freestyle' and so on.

Anyway, whichever art you choose I hope you have a great time, and welcome to the martial arts forum.

Hope this helps

Jesus Wept

HammerHeadGym wrote:

Hey Rigger,
You may not realise what a hot potato of a question that is right now, but I don't mind answering.

If you say where your from, then I'm sure someone from your area will advertise their club. You are more likely to go to a club near-by.

For self defence you will have to use your common sense and ask yourself if you think what your are learning will genuinely help. Are you allowed spar and practise 'freestyle' and so on.

Anyway, whichever art you choose I hope you have a great time, and welcome to the martial arts forum.

Hope this helps

lol, thanks for the welcome, I had no idea this was a hot potato issue? How so?

I live in Clondalkin/D22

Khannie

The-Rigger wrote:

lol, thanks for the welcome, I had no idea this was a hot potato issue? How so?

It's almost a religious issue.

The-Rigger wrote:

I live in Clondalkin/D22

You're not far from Paddy Clint's Gym. He teaches Muay Thai kickboxing. I do Muay Thai myself and find it great for fitness / self defence and I would train with Paddy if I lived where you do. There's also an MMA gym out in Tallaght (can't rememeber the name at 7am). I'm not aware of any other MA in your area, but I'm sure there's plenty of traditional martial arts available to you.

HammerHeadGym wrote:

For self defence you will have to use your common sense and ask yourself if you think what your are learning will genuinely help. Are you allowed spar and practise 'freestyle' and so on.

This is sound advice.

dlofnep

I agree with the above posts. Sound advice.

MrO

Khannie wrote:

I'm not aware of any other MA in your area, but I'm sure there's plenty of traditional martial arts available to you.

Yes, theres a couple in Clondalkin alright. Bujinkan in the Clondalkin scouts hall on Thursdays and Saturdays - see bujinkan.ie if you're interested in checking that out.

Hootie

Rigger,
It may take a few attempts at different martial arts to find one that actually suits you, it all depends on what you want from it. I tried a few but settled on Aikido and really enjoy it. Get a list of all the martial arts and even have a look on youtube for demostration videos and see which ones you may like, then look in your area for such clubs.

Hootie

ch252

I would highly reccomend mixed martial arts(mma) it is what they do in the ufc.....its very good for self-defence

Frankieboy

Sorry to hijack the thread but have a similar question myself. As above im looking for a martial art but my problem is I have dodgy knees. If I go down to hard on a leg(s) they tend to buckle. As above I only want it for self defence and fitness purposes, I have no interest in competitions or any of that. Any recommendations? Im in Galway City btw.

HammerHeadGym

With regards to OP, I should also add, be prepared to shop around, as it were. You are not obliged to stay in one club just because they let you have a free class. There is no shame in leaving a club if you think you are wasting your time. Remember that there are many different aspects to 'fighting' (sporting, historical, full contact, forms, weapons, reality based scenarios, etc.) and pretty much no one club will be able to cater to every aspect of martial arts and self defence. If you feel that the club is not teaching in the area you want to learn, be prepared to move on.
To use an example, most martial arts systems will have as many similarities as say, soccer and rugby, and may look pretty much identical, from a distance. But they will probably have as many differences as well. Once you have decided which aspect you wish to work on, you should be able find a club that focuses on it, and train there.

Hope this helps

HammerHeadGym

To frankieboy, have you any idea what the problem with your knee is? You may want to see a sports physio before taking up a strenuous activity like a martial art. ALso, you say when you land on it; as in jumping from a height? or running? or what?

Anyway, Dave Joyce and LukeyJudo, who both post here regularly, have clubs in Galway. I'm sure they'll be on to plug soon

Hope this helps

LukeyJudo22

HammerHeadGym wrote:

Anyway, Dave Joyce and LukeyJudo, who both post here regularly, have clubs in Galway. I'm sure they'll be on to plug soon

:eek: I do? sweet!

Lol no I don't! I train in coolmine in dublin. If you want to do judo OP Coolmines where it's at.

Good luck

-Luke

HammerHeadGym

Oops, my mistake, who is trains judo in Galway? Well, someone does and I'm sure he'll be on here soon enough.

ch252

To Frank, i dont know if it would be great for the knee but, point blank submissions behind the racecourse in ballybrit would be a good option, its mma which is very good for self-defence and general fitness the website is www.pointblankgym.com
and here is a list of programs that the club offers http://www.pointblankgym.com/Programs.aspx

Nothingcompares

HammerHeadGym wrote:

Oops, my mistake, who is trains judo in Galway? Well, someone does and I'm sure he'll be on here soon enough.

Pinku? His username is very similar to LukeyJudo's I see how you made the mistake.

ColinJennings

For the original poster, there is a Taekwon-Do school in Clondalkin if that interests you. It is in the Rowlagh Community Centre on a Monday & Thurs at 8:00

HammerHeadGym

Right NC, you and me, in the circle of death, NOW!!

With a final word for the op, be warned that that there are no fast track, shortcut, secret formula ways of learning a martial art. Imagine seeing an ad for becoming a qualified carpenter in six weeks. Crazy, right? It's the same for MA.

But I can tell you the secret for Martial Arts proficiency in three words;

Consistent hard work.

It really is that easy, etc.

Have fun man, maybe post up later in the year and let us know how you're getting on.

Jesus Wept

Thanks for all the help and suggestions

paddyc

khannie

shame on you:mad: we do what

Muay Thai "kickboxing"

Blasphemy ):

paddy

Khannie

paddyc wrote:

Blasphemy ):

Haha. Said it half jokingly. After the abuse I got on the bridgestone thread I thought I'd throw it in there....funnily enough though, there's a sign on the way into the new bridgestone gym that says:

"Muay Thai Boxing"

iirc.

:eek:

alanc

I am also looking to start MA, but have no experience whatsoever. I would have to go to a club in either Dundalk or Drogheda, any recommendations?

AL.

alanc

What about any recommendations in Louth, Monaghan or Meath?? Mainly looking for fitness and self defence. Anyone have somewhere in mind worth taking a look at?

AL.

Nothingcompares

There's definitely Muay Thai in Dundalk or Drogheda. There should be someone here with more info.

ActorSeeksJob

does anybody know of any good MMA places in dublin? or any other martial art clubs in sandymount?

Nothingcompares

And kickboxing according to the Irish fighter Magazine

Martila Arts School of Fitness, Dundalk, Co Louth
Chief Instructor - Wayne Rutherford
Semi/Light Contact Kickboxing, weaponsand artistic Kata
tel: 0857523132

never trained here or with anyone that has so don't know anything about it.

Nothingcompares

ActorSeeksJob wrote:

does anybody know of any good MMA places in dublin? or any other martial art clubs in sandymount?

search the board there's loads of info

MMA
SBG Rathcoole
SBG Northside (near Howth junction dart)
Kokoro (near Spencer Dock Dart)
Fianna (near Balally luas)
Next Generation (loughlinstown)
KOMA (Glasnevin)

Specific to the Sandymount area I'm not sure

cowzerp

Shika mma is at croke park in the handball center right where the cue is for the hill, good training and real chilled out atmosphere-pm me if you want more info..

Dave McConkey

does anybody know of any good MMA places in dublin? or any other martial art clubs in sandymount?

i live in sandymount but to my knowledge theres none nearby. i make the treck out to sbg northside in baldoyle. its on the dart line (howth junction) and is a much better option than driving out on weeknights, no traffic. if the darts are running ok it takes about 25mins to get out there.

Millionaire

alanc wrote:

What about any recommendations in Louth, Monaghan or Meath?? Mainly looking for fitness and self defence. Anyone have somewhere in mind worth taking a look at?

AL.

Carrickmacross Mugendo Kickboxing Club...google hard and you will find the info on the web....Martin Mc Mahon is instructor.

Crossmaglen, and Forkhill across the border in South Armagh Mugendo Kickboxing dessie Murphy. (google it).

Castleblayney had or still has jujitsu.

There is Wado Karate in Collin Co meath.

Dundalk and Drogheda got Muay Thai. and other MA.

There is Tae Kwon Do or Karate in Monaghan town too.