Style/Type suggestion & total beginner

Brewie

HI folks,

Martial arts was something that was almost forced upon me as a kid (pre-teens) and I refused to take it up. However in the last few years I regret not even trying it, now I'm 28. I always thought I left it too late however over the last weekend I got talking to a friend of a friend and they said they started it 2 years ago and is loving it, started at around 25 as a total beginner and has moved up a few belts. This has made me think it is in fact not to late.

I don't know what style to try. I'm not sure if build and size is relative or should dictate the style to persue. I am 6ft broad and heavey.
I live in Co Louth so anywhere in Louth or North Dublin for attending classes would suit.

I played rugby for years (prop forward/second row) and I loved it. I really enjoyed training in a team/group environment and then challenging opponents. This is what I am looking for. Also using it to get fitter and lose some weigth is as big a motivating factor.

Basically, I am looking for a style suggestion and a location.

Thanks,

Brewie

Doug Cartel

Your build isn't really a good indicator of what you should pick. Any club worth their salt should be able to train anyone regardless of their physical attributes.

A much better indicator of what you should pick is your attitude/goals. You say you enjoyed training in a team/group environment and then challenging opponents, that would indicate that you would probably be happier in one of the more hands-on, competitive styles that have you sparring early on, and less so in a style that has you practising a lot of forms. Styles you might like include Judo, BJJ, Boxing, Thai Boxing, MMA, some forms of kick-boxing.

You would probably be best off just making a list of everything that is available and then try a few out.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Doug Cartel wrote: »

You would probably be best off just making a list of everything that is available and then try a few out.

This. Try everything thats near you and see how it goes

Doug Cartel

Of course, if you're including North Dublin, that's probably going to be a big enough list...

Brewie

From a very passing interest looking at UFC, I do not find a massive amount of ground grappling/hold interesting or appealing to myself (BJJ would be this type I think?)

Doug Cartel, you were spot on when you mentioned I might not be interested in styles that focus on alot of practicing forms. I understand that most styles would consist of this to varying degrees but alot of it wouldnt appeal.

From a quick google on the styles you listed I think judo looks interesting.
Is there much if any striking in Judo? Alot of the grappling/hold is in standing? And for example if someone starting throwing punches/charged you when out socialising is judo thought of as a good self-defense art in this certain scenario (never happens but nice to know I could defend myself without having to reply in kind)

Doug Cartel

Brewie wrote: »

From a very passing interest looking at UFC, I do not find a massive amount of ground grappling/hold interesting or appealing to myself (BJJ would be this type I think?)

Don't knock it until you try it. I did kick boxing and then thai boxing for years, and thought I wouldn't like grappling at all. Then one day I decided to give judo a go, and I was really surprised by how much I liked it - especially the ground fighting part of it.

Doug Cartel, you were spot on when you mentioned I might not be interested in styles that focus on alot of practicing forms. I understand that most styles would consist of this to varying degrees but alot of it wouldnt appeal.

There's plenty of styles where you don't do forms. Even in judo which technically does have some forms, you hardly ever practice them.

From a quick google on the styles you listed I think judo looks interesting.
Is there much if any striking in Judo? Alot of the grappling/hold is in standing?

No striking in judo. It's mainly throwing/tripping people from a collar hold. Then there is ground fighting which concentrates primarily on pinning (and escaping pins) and secondarily on chokes/arm-locks. The split between standing and ground fighting varies from place to place, but always more standing than ground.

And for example if someone starting throwing punches/charged you when out socialising is judo thought of as a good self-defense art in this certain scenario (never happens but nice to know I could defend myself without having to reply in kind)

This is kind of a hard question to answer. I did Thai before, and while I was never any good, I did learn to eat a punch and still establish a clinch. Once in clinch range I have a good chance of taking someone down with a judo throw. I do MMA sparring the odd time, and I've never had much difficulty getting past striking range and into grappling, unless it was against someone who really knew what they were doing.

Getting past punches to establish a clinch is supposed to be much easier than holding someone off. Some people seem to be able to do it no bother (against a poor striker anyway) without much training, but I have seen good grapplers held off by less than fantastic striking in the past because they hadn't trained for it.

When I did Thai Boxing, I kind of felt I only had the nuclear option of elbowing someone in the face if things kicked off. With judo you deal a lot with someone grabbing you and trying to shove you on the ground. Like you are literally being horsed around by the collar every session. Long before you start to get the throws right, you're going to be learning to at least stay on your feet when you get grabbed and pushed around.

arybvtcw0eolkf

OP I'd suggest not ignoring BJJ until you give it a try, its hugely enjoyable.

If you're near Drogheda then I'd highly recommend Wayne Fagan at Drogheda MMA.

Alternatively can recommend MMA/BJJ in Rush and Rush Fight Academy, but it might be easier to travel to Drogheda.

Tbh you've a huge choice in north county Dublin and Louth.

Is Judo good if you're attacked?.. That depends on you!.. ie are you good if you're attacked?.. Personally I find it great, I work at door security in Dublin.

If you like traditional stuff with forms & kata there's a lot of choices between the different karate styles.

Peetrik

Brewie wrote: »

I do not find a massive amount of ground grappling/hold interesting or appealing to myself

Brewie wrote: »

I understand that most styles would consist of this to varying degrees but alot of it wouldnt appeal.

As has been said, do make sure to try a few different things and just go with what appeals to you. If I understand you correctly you think you would prefer striking but without all the bowing or forms etc? If thats the case then I'd suggest either Boxing or Thai Boxing.

I'm not sure about boxing clubs but there are definitely Thai clubs in both Louth and north Dublin.

Again though, do shop around and just go with whichever you find the most fun as thats the one you're likely to stick at.

Best of luck

Dave Joyce

When I did Thai Boxing, I kind of felt I only had the nuclear option of elbowing someone in the face if things kicked off.

Wow there is so much one could say about this comment. Firstly and most importantly, if things had "kicked off" it couldn't have been THAT bad a situation if you felt elbowing someone in the face was a "NUCLEAR" option???!!! If it WAS that bad a situation, then I cannot understand WHY you would hesitate utilising something like this?? Surely a better way of dealing with the situation if it wasn't a really bad situation would have been to talk your way out of it or walking away from the situation????

Secondly, you conceeded yourself that

I did Thai before, and while I was never any good

you make out that elbowing someone in the face is an easy thing to do (well it IS if you're in a confrontation with a drunk/dipshet) but it is actually quite hard to land a good elbow and considering there are 6 OTHER weapons in Muaythai, I think YOU felt your options were limited.

Doug Cartel

Dave Joyce wrote: »

Firstly and most importantly, if things had "kicked off" it couldn't have been THAT bad a situation if you felt elbowing someone in the face was a "NUCLEAR" option???!!!

Compared to tripping someone just enough to get then to stumble and then breaking grips, yeah it's fairly heavy going.

I think YOU felt your options were limited.

Yes, I definitely felt my options were limited.

Dave Joyce

Compared to tripping someone just enough to get then to stumble and then breaking grips, yeah it's fairly heavy going.

Well forgive me for persisting but THEIR intent couldn't be THAT bad if a simple trip/stumble nullifies their attack?? Just trying to make the point that THAT type of situation should be easily rectified by talking/walking away but the type that you can't walk/talk away from, you BETTER have something better than a trip in your arsenal and more importantly you better be prepared to use it.

Doug Cartel

Dave Joyce wrote: »

Well forgive me for persisting but THEIR intent couldn't be THAT bad if a simple trip/stumble nullifies their attack??

I don't know, I can trip people so they hit the ground pretty hard, and I have plenty of experience using a failed trip to break grips from someone who's really, really determined to keep those grips - and if they haven't got a physical hold of me I can probably move away from them.

Now I'm sure you could name some situation where that's not good enough, but if you just want someone who is trying to throw digs to get away from you, it'd probably do the job.

MaeveD

Brewie wrote: »

Basically, I am looking for a style suggestion and a location.

We're just off the M50/M1 if you want to come and have a look... lots to choose from, our website is www.balanceireland.com

Dave Joyce

I can trip people so they hit the ground pretty hard

My last comment on this as I can't seem to understand your logic. You think an elbow is "nuclear" but a trip (throw I can understand!!) where they hit the ground hard is not as bad?????!!!!!!!

Mellor

Dave Joyce wrote: »

Well forgive me for persisting but THEIR intent couldn't be THAT bad if a simple trip/stumble nullifies their attack?? Just trying to make the point that THAT type of situation should be easily rectified by talking/walking away but the type that you can't walk/talk away from, you BETTER have something better than a trip in your arsenal and more importantly you better be prepared to use it.

Niall Keane

^
Look at right arm position. He should have elbowed him to the face as he threw him!

Doug Cartel

Mellor wrote: »

This probably wouldn't be my first choice. I have a tendency to follow them down to the ground when I do this one, and I've heard it's actually a very dangerous throw to use on a hard surface as it's common enough for the guy on the receiving end to land hard on the back of his head.

My two bread and butter throws at the moment are this:



and this



They're fairly low risk, they don't look too violent, and I know from experience that even if they're not successful, they take the fight out of your opponent as it makes them unsure of their footing.

Mellor

Doug Cartel wrote: »

This probably wouldn't be my first choice. I have a tendency to follow them down to the ground when I do this one,

Osoto wouldn't be my choice either. (I tend to follow them down with most the thriws tbh ) I was just pointing out that a trip or sweep can be quite forceful, as a reply to the poster who said "if a simple trip/stumble nullifies their attack".

The foot sweep (ashi harai?) you posted is a much better example of a move to stop an attack, where as osoto and others are more aggressive themselves.