Before I go any further I'm NOT having a pop at anybody's style or trying to state that they are not effective!
I'm moving to Sheffield with my wife in about june-july and would like to resume my practice of the martial arts. I have a background of boxing,Lau Gar,Kickboxing(thai), some experience with paul vunak's RAT system and a bit of Ju Jitsu,I've also been looking into tarditional English and European martial arts(boxing,sword,axe etc.) and WW2 combatives.
I was wondering if anyone knows of or teaches any "Geoff Thompson" style(god forgive that analogy!) practical martial art? Or more estorically anyone teach or study any QCB(close,quarter,battle) e.g fairbairn,sykes etc? Is their any systema or krav maga in sheffield?
I'm looking to refine my knowledge and change direction from a sporting one and distill it into a no comprimise, no mercy, pure efficiency, pure results art, something I would trust my and my family's life to!

Dear carloswoody,
If you are searching for a self-defence ART as opposed to being able to smack/kick someone in the mouth, may I suggest TRADITIONAL GOJU-RYU KARATE-DO. This is one of the original forms of Karate from Okinawa, and specialises in close quarter techniques. I'll not bore you with details here as I could go on for quite a while. Is it effective? The Russians seem to think so. When the USSR "opened up" (peristroika?) two chief instructors from England were contracted to teach the Kremlin Guard the more advanced techniques. However, of course, if you started studying the Art you would need to start at the beginning, unless you already have a grade in another style of Karate in which case you would keep your grade,if you desire. Anyway, if I can help at all, please don't hesitate to ask.
crimbo

lol @ Crimbo. You still plugging away this old chestnut.

You've been at it as far as I can remember. How many have you managed to recruit? Are you on a commission based fee? :o :P ;)

Dear carloswoody,

I am not aware of any Systema classes in or around Sheffield, but there were (and still are) quite a few of us who are interested in it. Some of our schools in the Bujinkan can closely resemble Systema (i.e. Shinden Fudo Ryu), which is probably why a lot of us crossover into Systema. The only difference is, systema is usually very much drill based and more militaristic than the majority of the Bujinkan classes.

We do a lot of close quarter techniques in Budo Taijutsu and its worth having a look at if you don’t want to do a sport based martial art.

Thanks very much guys, Battouchan, what sort of techniques are included in taijutsu, Forgive me if i'm wrong(cos I know very little about taijutsu), specifically hand strikes? I'm really trying to get away from the overtly traditional reverse punch(hikite) style striking, and marching up and down in lines, I need something that is purely effective, and something that I can practice well into old age!
Is taijutsu the combatative aspects from ninjutsu?
many thanks,
carl

Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu used to be known as Ninjutsu until the late eighties (I think it was), as to get away from the image of black masks, swords and teleporting through walls. ;-) Although it still holds 3 traditional 'ninja' schools, we also have 6 other samurai and Chinese based schools, which range from Big deep stances and big movements to small stances and techniques that are short and straight to the point.

Not sure what you meant by specifically hand strikes. The strikes can be anything really, basic punches with the top or bottom knuckles, finger tips, middle knuckles (shikanken if that helps), thumb tips, side of hands, elbows, head (not really a punch, but a strike nonetheless). But Taijutsu isn’t just about strikes, we do throws, rolls, kicks, weapons, locks, chokes etc. Even a throw can be a strike (with the hips)!

Our class in Sheffield, is far from marching up and down the dojo in lines. The techniques aren’t just about copying, they are about understanding and doing, and not getting too fixed in a technique. Basically we don’t stand there and tell you what to do, we show you something a few times and you can go and do it yourself.

Hope this helps a bit.

If you want to find out a bit more, have a look at our site and ask a few questions on the message board you will get quite a few responses from the people who train with us.

www.tombodojo.co.uk

Thank you very much for your response, had alook at your site, very impressed, I just might pay you a visit before I come up (just to get started)! It will be about mid january I guess as I'm currently working 6am-6pm 7/week..........

www.hallamdojo.co.uk/

andyb

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, hands down. Or Krav maga (used by defence forces across the world, most notable in Israel), although I've never trained in it.

But I still maintain wado-ryu is the one for everyone... Well, I am fifth dan so I would say that!!

I did Wado Ryu for about 2 years and really enjoyed it. Had to quit tho due to college pressures which was a shame.

About 4 years ago I took up Taekwondo (TAGB) and got my black belt last month altho I have no idea how I'd handle myself in a proper fight as I've never had to use it...yet. I'm guessing it'd just be an instinct reaction.

I'd be interested to know what other people's views are of the TAGB if anyone has heard of them. I don't mind if the comments are derogatory cos I'm not going to go all defensive, I'm just interested to have an outsider's view.

Cheers

P

I've done a few years of tkd - was drawn to it for the high spinning kicks. It isnt a style that I've ever used when I've been in a street situation, simply because I've found that the other styles I'm involved in provide snappier, more efficient responses. However, a mate of mine worked as a bouncer in Edinburgh and he was a tkd exponent - there are a few locks and throws in there that he found esp useful.

But, being karateka, I prefer my kicks to be more straightforward than the "arty" tkd ones. Just my ha'p'orth, which should be taken in conjunction with the knowledge that this is a style that I'm far from expert in!

Cheers for that. :)

Being a heavy bugger I'm not one for doing the high spinny kicks and prefer to stay on the ground if possible. Kicking head height has never been a problem for me but in a street situation I would imagine that I'd just land myself in trouble. High kicks are best kept in the dojang for sparring I think.

The self-defence aspect is great though. I enjoy learning close-contact locks and holds etc. Much more useful for everyday troubles.

Only head-height kick that I've used with any proficiency in a street situ is a swinging hook after a body feint.

yerbody, where do u do brazilian jiujitsu.

High spinny kicks on the street might work if you've got room to pull them off, but if you're in a crowded place, or wearing the wrong shoes, the ground is wet, slippy, etc then surely you could just end up on your arse?

high spinning kicks dont work

Big movements are good and generate a LOT of power in both punching and kicking. If you have the time to use those big movements then i dont see why not, as long as you make sure that you have your opponents balance first then you should be ok.

Personally i wouldnt go for any fancy spinny kicks. I do however think they look cool :-)

lol, im all for high kicks etc, its not a matter of being unbalanced, as if u can pull em off fast enough, there's no risk...

High spinning kicks on the street !? ... that's a joke.

Your center of gravity would be way up and you'd be way too unstable ... plus the wind up and time take for foot to reach opponent is way too lonh.

Result ... you'd be on the floor looking pretty stupid.

There are times and places to use them.. Obviously... But if ur opponent is pretty dazzled, there's no problem with landing a spinning kick to finish them off. You've gotta be pretty damn slow if ur gonna get caught n put to the ground if u think ur using it at the right time.

If the opponent is dazzled / drunk etc ... it would be more appropriate.

If anyone wanted to try a spinning kick to me at head height ... they would end up on the floor (that is assuming I am clear headed and not restrained etc).

I dont know you mate, but i know some people that i'm sure could pull it off, and if u tried to block it, it'd break your arm.

Leave the flashy high spinning kicks for the movie screen where they belong.

They dont tho. You've just gotta be pretty confident and skilled in them for them to work.
And with a jumping kick, you can get ultimate power out of one of them if landed.

Originally posted by Lista
I dont know you mate, but i know some people that i'm sure could pull it off, and if u tried to block it, it'd break your arm.

Hi Lista,

I would be happy for anyone to try such a move. I certainly wouldn't try to block anything like that. But they would end up on the floor.

i believe everyone is wrong, lol, me included

people say high kicks are no good, i'll beat you if you use one
people say high kicks are the bomb, ill beat you if i use one.

this is what is wrong with STYLE i believe, somestyles will say kick to the head others say dont, NEVER do it,

but we as martial artists can never say i would never, i would be sure, i would do this, i would do that, because then we have already lost no matter what attack comes at us.

we must be open for ANYTHING, ANYTHING at all, we must let the battle decide what we will do in combat and every fight is different even though there will be things the same in them. i have seen many people get kodded by a head kick, i have seen many people get caught doing a head kick, the time has to be right and there will be a time when it is needed.

yes it is in the movies alot but what would you people define a kick as?does it have to be a perfect side kick?front kick?sweep? or is it hitting your attacker with anypart of your leg at any part of the movement?

tombodojoj ...

i believe there is no wrong ... and also no right ... if you hold such concepts (or anything else) as being solid / set in stone ... then you have somewhat lost fluidity and the ability to react naturally without thought to any given situation.

the kind of head kick i am talking about is where both opponents are going from a standing start (no other moves involved) ... so both are on balance ready.

i am very confident this would fail against any 'trained' person ... and i would love for anyone to try this on me ... but it's not about beating anyone or proving anything ... only finding out what works and playing with it.

from a standing start ... there are a number of counters (to a head kick) that spring to mind .....

kind regards,
Jamie

ps. I am 6 foot 3 and a bit ... and i'm not talking 'shoulder kicks' here !!!

:thumbsup:

lol, ahhh, but it is already floored then, because if you and someone did meet to try that theory out, you would know what was coming,

if it was at a standing start then you would need to be decieved i am pretty sure a capoierist would have a good chance.

but again you already have hindsight, lol :)

this is like the sparring in wicker camps muay thai, for the first 9 months or something there is no attacking to the head, so all of the students only guard thier body, (suicide) because they know they will not be hit in the head. and we all know how hard a habbit is to break when that is how you were taught from the beginning.

http://www.multilevelmoves.com/

I'm sure Joe could land it, or Ashley Beck www.ashleybeck.com

:-) cool site.

Did any see that Xtreme Martial Arts program recently, i missed it, but they messured the speed and force of 'spinny kicks'. All i can say is OUCH!

People whos style doesn't include kicks quite often put down or dismiss those who do, or vice versa. Both are equally as dangerous, there are always what ifs! And if a 720 spinny kick or a kick from a handstand finishes a fight then thats all there is to it.

Kind of like Light, Medium and Heavy attacks in Street Fighter, the heavy ones are obvisouly the slowest and easier to see coming, but that is not to say that they are usless, everything has its place.

fluidity and the ability to react naturally without thought to any given situation.

i like that :-)

I like that quote too.. I think were gonna get along, hehe.

Yea, ive trained with Ashley before, and met Joe.. Both sound fella's!