Scattered throughout various other posts, people have mentioned martial arts that they currently train or have trained in the past, and I thought it'd be interesting (for me, at least) to hear what other players are doing, as it's an interest of mine. If you want to start an argument, feel free also to supply why your style is better than all the other ones, but that part is optional.

Like a lot of people, I took Tae Kwon Do as a kid.

When I was much older, I took 6 months of Wing Chun followed by two and a half years of White Dragon Kung Fu.

I started training in Pencak Silat about seven years ago, and I currently teach/lead a local study group under the direction of my teacher. During this time, I've also been training Kali concurrently, and I also took about two years of Chen style Tai Chi. I still enjoy and respect other martial arts, but I've really sort of found my home in silat and filipino martial arts.

I've been training in Shokotan Karate for three or so years now. I like it. It's pretty much 'traditional martial arts', with alot of katas and drills and such. I'm going for my 1st degree black belt within the year, hopefully.

I go on trips to tournaments at least once anually, they're great fun to!

I currently study Ryuku Kempo, which is a style that incorporates many topics of fighting into one. We mainly work with pressure points on the body that control muscles and vital organs and also using Small Circle Jujitsu. I've been studying it for about 4-5 years now, and I just recently got my 1st degree Black Belt! I also assist in teaching some of the younger kids classes whenever I can!

And even more surprising, is that the style that I learn actually works in real life! Last year, some kid tried to pick a fight with me after our Dojo came to my High School for a demonstration. After the fight (which consisted of him throwing a punch, me parrying it, then going into a joint lock that broke his arm), I was almost suspended, until some eye-witnesses said that I basically "Blocked the arm, stepped to the side of the guy while holding his arm, then the guy fell on the floor screaming. It was a really funny sight!

I rather enjoy learning Krav Maga. Quick, dirty, and it's obscene amounts of good fun. I should get to take practioner 3 soon. *squeal*

Edit:
Perhaps, the clarify, I enjoy it so much because it takes things I'd typically do and refines them. I tried karate, god knows what version, and didn't enjoy it, but my friend is a black belt with many stripes. The ability to take punishment, (woo for genetics) plus what little training I've got so far means I'm actually a match for him.

..plus, you know, a teacher who is entirely willing to show you the easiest posture to lift someone by the face rocks. (Brace yourself, heel of hand under chin, fingers clamped down as tight as you can, force from your shoulder). Anyway. It's thoroughly enjoyable, and useable in a toilet cubicle.

Yet another reason never to engage in combat with Yrael while trapped on a toilet.

We have a KM school, nearby, and I've always respected the instructors there. Good interest in scrapping.

The KM school here uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for their groundfighting. I don't know if KM has a standard groundfighting curriculum and they don't like it, or if the KM groundfighting curriculum -is- BJJ. Maybe you'd know that?



There are about a dozen jokes going through my head right now, none of them forum-appropriate.

EDIT: And by "scrapping," I mean fighting, not scrapbooking. I have no idea what their interest is in the latter.

I played American Football for 3 years and going to start again soon.

I honestly have no idea. My instructor was originally utterly obsessed with Muai Thai, and I suspect due to his focus on using knees and elbows as well as fists and feet (how one person can bend his legs to kick you in the head while on top of you, I have no idea) for ground and pound that this carries over to his teaching of Krav Maga. I think it varies depending on instructor, and probably whatever MA is closest to Israel for the standard, "accepted" version. Whats-his-face never seemed to travel far, from what I've read.

Also, we all gather around, much like the High Knitters of Orgrimmar, and scrap book our favorite photos with the chunky glue (more delicious) while we wait for Mummy or Daddy to pick us up.

a mixture of Jujistu and what i've come to call Copfu

Arnis (Other people call it Kali), and other odds and ends that my masters want to test at me from time to time.

I dont go to system better than other system discussions because I know everything is situational. What matters is that you're enjoying what you're doing and developing discipline.

I remembered when I was still starting to train and all I know was Arnis, I was asked to do an open spar (no weapons but anything goes) with another student and I got my ass kicked big time. I was down on the floor in less than 10 seconds, tapping my hand against the mat rapidly. Fun times.

I took Tang Soo Do (sp?) for about...two years? Then had to quit because of my academic over-achieving schedule. With any luck I should soon be starting hapkido with a good teacher.

I've always been interested in Krav Maga, but my parents would flip if I asked them to pay for lessons.

I had started Kyokushinkai classes when I was 7. I've followed it along since. I've also been training in Krav Maga, and spending some time with learning Tai Chi.

A lot of people rag on Tai Chi, but it is both meditative - and great for learning defense. There's a lot of rolling with movements, few strikes, and I can't really begin to describe what it is like when it is really put into play.

It's great to use in sparring matches - some of it tends to throw opponents off.

Yrael? Krav Maga is that Israeli military fighting art right?

Me?

Horizon Muay Thai camp, Thailand, for 3 years.

Mong-Su-Dom-Tai Chinese Kung-fu, for 6 months, then I left for China.

o.O Arnis is AMAZING! We sometimes do a version of Modern Arnis which is done with stick fighting and stuff. It's UBER FUN!

Our dojo does a week schedule thing, where one week we may do grappling, the next week we do the basics, etc... We have an Arnis week where we do nothing but stick drills. It's perhaps my favourate week, seconded only by Kata's, since Kata's FTW!

I've found that Tai Chi is sort of a meta-martial art. The way you learn to move and the muscle and breath control involved will raise the game of virtually any martial art that one studies, even if you don't see yourself going out there and kicking butt with Tai Chi, itself.

Arnis is fun - A while ago (note, while equating to number of years) I did a seminar with Remy Presas. Being the dork I am, I had him sign my sticks - then got a new set so that those could sit in glory.

Tai Chi isn't so much an aggressive form of martial arts. It is much more about control and knowing your own body - the weapon movements that go along with it are more about extensions of your arms than weapons, etc. One of the biggest lessons with Tai Chi (able to be used towards life, but also with the movement practices) is (spelling is horrible - if anyone else knows and can help with that, please do) - semi-phonetically; fun shung. This term attached to the phrase of letting things roll off of you like water on a duck's back.

It's about movement of energies - directed towards you, and your own.

Ya. It has two branches of techniques, Military and Police, that you need to be in the requisite service to learn. Which I never bloody will, thank you ADF with your "psychogically unsuited". Bastards.

Reason one is syphilis.