Well it is something I always wanted to do and after spending the better part of the last 10 years of my life with little to no good physical activity I started it up. Coming up in my 3rd week, it is most certainly something I plan on doing for a good time to come. I believe I found the best dojo for me in my area. The instructors are great, have good back rounds, and I like meditation, mind, sprit, body part they have mixed into it. Inside of 2 months I will easily be in the about the best shape of my life.

Anyone that can toss in their .02c based off their website (that has some insight to MA) please do - www.ohiomartialarts.com - not promoting them, looking for valid opinions. I especially like the idea of teaching what works. Meaning it is not a specific style, but what 'comes together' from Sensi Hurtsellers backround. I have heard them call it something, it is some varation of kung fu, that I can barely pronounce let alone spell

Just like I use s2ki.com to feed my lust for the s2k, I'm looking for a 'good' forum to troll around like this one, but Martial Art based. Sherdog is ok, but a little over the top for myself. Good info is there but there is alot of fodder as well. Best one so far is martialartsplanet.com. I'm sure there are a few out there that has the good comunity like s2ki as well, share the goods!

 

What style? It'll be the best experience of your life! If you don't miss one class for the first three months your chances of sticking with it for two to three years are greater than 50% and you'll never forget it.

 

I have been taking brazilian jiu-jitsu for close to 5 years now and its one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. It's something I would highly recommend because of the percentage of street fights that go to the ground and let's be honest, how many of you know how to really fight on your back or on the ground? It cuts through all the BS and really is great for self-defense and is really fun.

 

Just out of curiosity, what do you do when your opponent's friends start kicking/stomping on you while you and said opponent are grappling on the ground? I ask because of the fights that I've seen, almost all of them involved multiple individuals. It seems that Vietnamese "gangsters" never fight one on one. But that's just been my observation.

 

Grappling is a great skill to have. However most serious injuries in real street fights, while they do end up on the ground, are caused by the fall. Usually hitting your head on the pavement. That pretty much ends the fight. If I'm not mistaken Joon Ree got knocked out twice this way.

 

Muy Thai......

 

Mind you this is spelled hard core phonetically but the style is 'you-chi' kung fu. The instructor has BJJ backround (Learned under Henzio Gracie) and ground work is part of the system being taught. We are taught a very wide selection of skills, from closed punches, palm hits, elbows, forearms, etc. If you can hit with it we are taught it. We learn submission holds, presure points, and a decent amount of re-direction through blocking/avoiding attacks. They apear to have a very well rounded set of skills to offer.

MT is something that interest me, but I dont think there is a MT dojo/gym in my area and I dont know if I want to come home with injuries after 1/2 my practices. MT is a great form/art, but it might be a little 'more' then I'm looking for.

Still looking/asking for any good MA forums? Or any heads up on my current dojo, it sure does not feel like a McDojo, but one can never be too sure.

 

I'm assuming you aren't going to take MA to learn how to fight... something more of a hobby and to get yourself out of a tussle if need be. I suggest Kenpo. I studied in the Kettering area under Master Taningco many years ago. TAMA

 

Maybe you need to watch Ong-Bak for inspiration (MT anyway).

 

www.e-budo.com

No BS. Very little ego.