which martial art for self defence?

session savage

Hello folks,
Its been about 14years since I was involved in martial arts. I was a 1st kyu in shotokan Karate back in the day.
However I want to get back into martial arts but I have bursitis in my knee which would make karate training (at least at the level I used to be at) impossible.
I want to do a martial art that would be well suited for self defence. I was thinking aikido.
What do you all think and are there any classes in south tipp/kilkenny?
Thanks for your input.

cowzerp

Boxing would be your best bet, especially if your knee is at you, 1 month training and you'll have enough ability after 1 month that it will help you-unlike many martial arts that take years and then still don't work-aikido would not be high on my list of self defence,

getz

session savage wrote: »

Hello folks,
Its been about 14years since I was involved in martial arts. I was a 1st kyu in shotokan Karate back in the day.
However I want to get back into martial arts but I have bursitis in my knee which would make karate training (at least at the level I used to be at) impossible.
I want to do a martial art that would be well suited for self defence. I was thinking aikido.
What do you all think and are there any classes in south tipp/kilkenny?
Thanks for your input.

with your shotokan background i would suggest you do[the thinking mans style] aikido,when with my first shotokan teacher charles mack in the 60s, i trained in aikido as well,both styles complement each other.

Doug Cartel

You should get your knee checked out properly, if you haven't done so already. I find you're best off dealing with these things directly if possible, instead of trying to work around them.

As to which class you should take, I would advise first finding out what is available locally (or within a reasonable commute) and then trying out some classes.

session savage

Thanks lads.
I got the knee looked at and had some physio but its a problem that has no fix. Its fine most of the time but kicking in the air like you do with karate would put too much pressure oin the joint and cause a flare up so I want to avoid that.

I just found out there is a keysi fighting method class in thurles. would be ideal. Anyone have any opinion on this type of martial art? sounds great.

RoboRat

Thanks lads.
I got the knee looked at and had some physio but its a problem that has no fix. Its fine most of the time but kicking in the air like you do with karate would put too much pressure oin the joint and cause a flare up so I want to avoid that.

I just found out there is a keysi fighting method class in thurles. would be ideal. Anyone have any opinion on this type of martial art? sounds great.

What is wrong with your knee? I have a serious knee problem (smashed it when I was younger and it was rebuilt with new cruciate and screws to boot). Im 34 now and have been having mobility problems with it (early arthritis); I was told by a physio that its a no fix. I went to another 2 physio's and eventually one referred me to a surgeon who thinks that there is a lot he can do. I am having an operation soon so I would get a second or third opinion before writing it off. Ray Moran in the Sports Surgery Clinic is supposed to be brilliant so might be worth having a consultation.

session savage

RoboRat wrote: »

What is wrong with your knee? I have a serious knee problem (smashed it when I was younger and it was rebuilt with new cruciate and screws to boot). Im 34 now and have been having mobility problems with it (early arthritis); I was told by a physio that its a no fix. I went to another 2 physio's and eventually one referred me to a surgeon who thinks that there is a lot he can do. I am having an operation soon so I would get a second or third opinion before writing it off. Ray Moran in the Sports Surgery Clinic is supposed to be brilliant so might be worth having a consultation.

I don't know exactly what's wrong but the doctor said it was bursitis which is an inflammation of the bursae (whatever they are). Its similar to arthritis I think only its not constant. Its completely fine until I put it under pressure and then it flares up and I have to take anti inflammatory and get the physio to shine some laser thing on it for half an hour twice a week. Its not the end of the world but if I could do a martial art that didnt have such a heavy emphasis on kicking I think i would be better off.

pablohoney87

RoboRat wrote: »

Ray Moran in the Sports Surgery Clinic is supposed to be brilliant so might be worth having a consultation.

Hands down the best knee surgeon in the country man.
He did mine 4 years ago

RoboRat

Hands down the best knee surgeon in the country man.
He did mine 4 years ago

Wish he did mine originally. I doubt he would have used a patella tendon that was 30% torn to replace the cruciate, mine should have been done with the hamstring, but that would have taken more time.

I don't know exactly what's wrong but the doctor said it was bursitis which is an inflammation of the bursae (whatever they are). Its similar to arthritis I think only its not constant. Its completely fine until I put it under pressure and then it flares up and I have to take anti inflammatory and get the physio to shine some laser thing on it for half an hour twice a week. Its not the end of the world but if I could do a martial art that didnt have such a heavy emphasis on kicking I think i would be better off.

I would still see a specialist about it and get a proper professional opinion. My previous physio told me that mine was a lost cause and I used to have to go to him about twice a month, which was quite nice for him at 60 euro a pop.

MBateson

I find Aikido is good on my previously damaged knees.

They do knee walking in Aikido though which can be a problem for some knee injuries. Most instructors don't have a bother if you don't do it on medical grounds though.

yomchi

cowzerp wrote: »

Boxing would be your best bet, especially if your knee is at you, 1 month training and you'll have enough ability after 1 month that it will help you-unlike many martial arts that take years and then still don't work-aikido would not be high on my list of self defence,

+1 if you want to learn combat skills, learn how to knock someone the fcuk out. Boxing. Sin é.

dubdamo

yomchi wrote: »

+1 if you want to learn combat skills, learn how to knock someone the fcuk out. Boxing. Sin é.

Could be completly wrong here but I did'nt think boxing clubs would be too welcoming to 30/40 year olds, unfortunately.

BostonB

You can do white collar boxing. Some people I know did it, 30+ no problem. Apart from the boxing fight at the end they really enjoyed the training aspect to it.

Peetrik

dubdamo wrote: »

Could be completly wrong here but I did'nt think boxing clubs would be too welcoming to 30/40 year olds, unfortunately.

Most of the bigger clubs have separate classes for beginners and fighters. Anyone can go to the beginners class, you do pretty much the exact same techniques and have the exact same 1'2'1 coach time (more even in a lot of cases as the coach is busy training the people with fights coming up in the later class).
Its usually just the case that most of the obsessive compulsive people have been moved on to the fighters class so it's a little more of a relaxed atmosphere in the beginners.

bobster453

session savage wrote: »

Hello folks,
Its been about 14years since I was involved in martial arts. I was a 1st kyu in shotokan Karate back in the day.
However I want to get back into martial arts but I have bursitis in my knee which would make karate training (at least at the level I used to be at) impossible.
I want to do a martial art that would be well suited for self defence. I was thinking aikido.
What do you all think and are there any classes in south tipp/kilkenny?
Thanks for your input.

I do Hung Gar Kung Fu with Chris Dougliss, he also does kick boxing, cardio training and general fitness training.
In my late forties(with all the usual ailments that includes), started 8 years ago and absolutely love it
With Kung Fu age really is not a problem, because it is a traditional martial art we do not enter competitions and the only sash is black which Chris is very hesitant about handing out..ie.. you have to be darned good to get close, but as an all round self defence style it is excellent(ok i am biased but so what)..You can also learn the traditional weapons such as sword,staff,spear,butterfly knives,tiger fork if you want.
Sparring is semi contact,only fingerless gloves used..good fun
Chinese Chin Na or grabs and locks are also taught
He will train you as much or as little as you want, entirely up to you, just dont expect any state of the art facilities as there arent any.
Love the training, love the camaraderie,love the learning..BRILLIANT!!
Teaches out the back of his house beside Slievenamon Golf Club which is near Fethard South Tipp
Give him a buzz on 087-6244449 if you are interested, might see you there.

Addykip

Hi friends my name is Addykip and I m from UK, swindon.I loved MMA it’s just so inspired me and my Life.
I know kick boxing and fitness training.

wetdogsmell

just get yourself a hammer for hitting people with and some pain killers for you knee

dar926

Kenpo is fairly practical for the street

Peetrik

dar926 wrote: »

Kenpo is fairly practical for the street

Ah I have to say from a practical 'self defense' standpoint, a non contact martial art would be the last thing I'd reccomend.
Anyway as the OP said, his knee is banjo'd, which leaves him with boxing. Do you honestly reckon that the boxing from kenpo is better than the boxing from... boxing?

cowzerp

dar926 wrote: »

Kenpo is fairly practical for the street

No it's not.

I know black belts in the art that would not be able to fight against totally untrained people, but they kick ass at Kata

I have heard from people in the past, "but Joe Bloggs done kenpo and is real hard"-yes and he would be hard if he done tiddly winks, some people are just hard.

dreamerking

I would recommend both Judo and Boxing for anyone interested in self defence. Judo for the grappling aspect and Boxing for the striking side of things. Sounds like a winning combination to me.

Addykip

dreamerking wrote: »

I would recommend both Judo and Boxing for anyone interested in self defence. Judo for the grappling aspect and Boxing for the striking side of things. Sounds like a winning combination to me.

I also recommend both arts for self defence.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Aquila wrote: »

Would a combination of Kenpo/Kickboxing and Ju-jitsu not be good for self defence?

Would be easier just to go to an MMA club and combine striking, take downs and ground work rather than working on differing styles under different coaches.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

cowzerp

Aquila wrote: »

But would it be effective?

if trying to learn 3 arts you will probably just be doing them so little time that you won;t get effective at them-if for some reason you where going that route just do the kickboxing and jiu jitsu as that will cover you in general.

neozues

bobster453 wrote: »

I do Hung Gar Kung Fu with Chris Dougliss, he also does kick boxing, cardio training and general fitness training.
In my late forties(with all the usual ailments that includes), started 8 years ago and absolutely love it
With Kung Fu age really is not a problem, because it is a traditional martial art we do not enter competitions and the only sash is black which Chris is very hesitant about handing out..ie.. you have to be darned good to get close, but as an all round self defence style it is excellent(ok i am biased but so what)..You can also learn the traditional weapons such as sword,staff,spear,butterfly knives,tiger fork if you want.
Sparring is semi contact,only fingerless gloves used..good fun
Chinese Chin Na or grabs and locks are also taught
He will train you as much or as little as you want, entirely up to you, just dont expect any state of the art facilities as there arent any.
Love the training, love the camaraderie,love the learning..BRILLIANT!!
Teaches out the back of his house beside Slievenamon Golf Club which is near Fethard South Tipp
Give him a buzz on 087-6244449 if you are interested, might see you there.

I don't think he is looking for a date!

But hung gar is focused on building lower basin techs as one of the styles of Nan shaolin..
The legs.
Horse stance at a gentle rate would help.
But no matter what you do *stop* if there is pain in the joint.
There is a philosophy in chinese med than you need to strenghen everything else to help cure the ailament.
So easy on the knee and hard on every thing else.
Swim,crawl,walk,run then take up and thing u want.

n