Practical Martial Arts

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?

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.

http://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..........

http://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.