34
votes
What are the main uses of aikido in self-defense?
What you're really asking for is insight into the strengths and weaknesses of Aikido pertaining to self-defense scenarios.
Aikido uses a small number of throws, joint locks, submissions, and strikes. ...
- 17.4k
32
votes
Accepted
Should I stay in a Muay Thai gym where the fighters hit without much restraint or consideration?
NO!!!!!
Get out. Get out now. As in, do not train there even one more time.
There is always the chance of being injured in any martial art. That's true of any active sport, of course--but "combat ...
- 1,609
24
votes
Do I have a bad Wing Chun teacher and is Wing Chun worth it?
Wing chun doesn't have to be bad for this school to be bad for you. It sounds like you're not comfortable there. I think you should stop training with these people.
- 21.2k
23
votes
Accepted
How to improve my skills when I'm highest ranked
Realistically a collection of white belts aren't going to challenge you much if you've been training for 14 years.
I'm reasonably new, tiny and a girl so I'm probably not ever going to find myself in ...
- 523
23
votes
Non-sexist equivalent of "Man up" within the dojo
"Harden up", "come on", "toughen up", "get it together", "just do it", and "let's go" can all be slotted into the same purpose. One could even reach for "osu".
I find the gist of the phrase comes ...
- 21.2k
22
votes
Accepted
Benefits of women only sessions
Nobody cares if a man likes the idea of women-only classes. They're not for you. They're for women.
With some historical perspective, poo-pooing the idea of women-only classes becomes even more ...
- 21.2k
18
votes
Men hitting women too hard in martial arts
In my experience as a male trainer and trainee the key for a hard, educational or maybe painful training is trust between all parts of the training group.
Female fighters have told me that they were ...
- 281
17
votes
What are the benefits of learning weapons?
Reasons to Study Weapons
I - improved coordination
Training with weapons improves your coordination in ways that only controlling something that you don't have nerve endings in can.
II - weapons ...
- 4,081
17
votes
How a woman can teach martial art for men?
First, men who know nothing about martial arts may see a woman leading the class and immediately think that they (the men) could beat up the female teacher. So they think there is no reason why the ...
- 17.4k
16
votes
Is hitting hard objects really effective in making bones harder?
Yes, but... (and it's a big "but")
Two things stimulate bone density:
Damage
Generally our biological systems are set up so that if something is damaged, cells lay down more, tougher material ...
- 8,553
16
votes
Is it ok to start taekwondo at the age of 14?
Absolutely. I was 27ish when I took my first lessons, and was so inflexible that when I sat on the floor and stretched my leg out I could only reach halfway down my shin towards my foot. And the ...
- 1,322
14
votes
What are the benefits of learning weapons?
Application of force. A weapon is a force multiplier. It lets you do
more damage to your opponent, with less effort and exertion, in a shorter
period of time, while exposing you to less danger of ...
- 1,609
14
votes
Training martial arts in china
I have not been impressed with the stories I hear from people who have gone to these Asian martial arts retreats. These camps seem like a way to separate Westerners from their money while providing a ...
- 21.2k
13
votes
Training martial arts in china
Yes, I've been to China to train at the Shaolin temple at Songshan mountain in Dengfeng, Henan, China.
I did this only for a couple of weeks, mostly just for fun. My wife (then girlfriend) was ...
- 17.4k
13
votes
Accepted
Until one has mastered a martial art, is one actually more vulnerable to attack than before training began?
Generally, no
This is generally not true - there are many defensive arts where you improve your fighting skills right away and reach a basic proficiency within a matter of a few weeks or months at ...
- 8,553
13
votes
Accepted
Measurement of the practicality of a martial art
No absolute measure
I do not think an absolute measure can be determined as the skill, training, and physical differences between participants in addition to local environmental factors would make ...
12
votes
Accepted
How can I become a good training partner
It seems a number of females share your problems. I read a number of female BJJ bloggers, and they have expressed similar feelings. My suggestion is to read what they have to say and maybe reach ...
- 2,949
12
votes
Accepted
Martial arts club politics
There are many valid reasons (fitness, self defence, enhance self worth, socialise, whatever...) why one goes to train but politics is not one of them. So, just smile and walk away. Avoid ...
12
votes
Benefits of women only sessions
Just as a women that trained in both women-only and mixed-classes:
Body issues - I feel more confident when I'm surrounded by women. In my gender-mixed training I always make sure I wear long pants.
...
- 121
11
votes
Should I stay in a Muay Thai gym where the fighters hit without much restraint or consideration?
You're answering your own question here.
In sparring they can't go light and hit with momentum and throw dangerous moves.
I have seen another guy get an elbow to on the back of his neck and haven't ...
- 21.2k
11
votes
Wearing a fitness tracker during a martial arts session
I would surmise that most of the fitbit type trackers will not work accurately enough for your purposes.
Most of these models rely either on accelerometers (devices that register the change in motion)...
- 4,549
11
votes
Men hitting women too hard in martial arts
Accidents happen. However, when you have an accident with people you are not really trying to hurt - you make extra effort to make sure the accident doesn't happen again - otherwise it is not an ...
- 8,553
11
votes
Should I quit competitive sparring class in tae kwon do?
Of course you should quit!
From what you said, you are neither having fun nor learning anything. I know you are young but your time is valuable. There is no point in wasting your time with people ...
11
votes
What is the best martial art to learn for the military?
The military doesn't care very much about your hand to hand skills, a few months isn't a lot of time to learn, and picking a gym is mostly about which specific gyms are available to you.
Your best ...
- 21.2k
11
votes
How can I practice any martial art if I have difficulty with motor and coordination skills?
Martial arts are a journey on your own path, at your own time and speed.
I have (or have had) a number of students with wide ranging issues with co-ordination, flexibility and movement. As an ...
- 2,699
11
votes
Is it necessary to practice falling on concrete to help prepare for a real life situation and build up endurance?
Practicing on a mat is not sufficient.
If you do not progress to harder materials you will not have the feedback benefit harder surfaces provide. You might think you're doing well because it's (...
- 1,411
10
votes
Accepted
Benefits of training to fight multiple attackers
Sequential Partnered Drills
As you mention, drills where you're not actually facing multiple opponents simultaneously, but rather sequentially. The value in this is both endurance training and the ...
- 8,553
10
votes
Accepted
Aikido - working with difficult uke
tl;dr Balance breaking, timing, and power/speed is what you are looking for.
The answer depends what type of training you: kata, randori, or shihai.
In kata, you are supposed to learn basic movement....
10
votes
Accepted
Martial art without exam and secrets
There's a few things to navigate and untangle in your question, but the short answer is YES, there are martial arts out there that do this.
Mostly it comes down to instructor rather than specific ...
- 8,553
10
votes
Accepted
Will training Muay Thai affect my BJJ skills?
No.
The only asset is if you have to train less BJJ to training Muay Thai. If you will train MT and will have the same hours of training of BJJ this is not an issue.
As a martial art, you need spend ...
- 1,165
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