Hello,

I'm considering enrolling at a local martial arts academy, but I'm pretty sure they don't do muay-thai, BJJ, wrestling, or western boxing.

Is there ANY chance they might offer legitimate (i.e., combat-worthy) instruction in a fighting art, and what should I look for (particular styles, approaches, attitudes, etc.)?

Go, have a look and report back here. Also post an adress if they have a website, as someone here might know about it.

website or name please.

yes, there is a chance they might offer legit instruction in a fighting art.

more than likely they will be more into forms or katas, with a small emphasis on sparring, if any.

We only run 1 sparring night a week normally, but when training for match, we increased that to 3 days, with some workouts just being endurance or strength training, rather than contact.

Its a tradtional martial art, but in all fairness, we produce more forms champions than fighters....

Boxing is older than most "TMA" you're thinking about.

If you want to learn to fight, why go to a place that doesn't specialise in training fighters? There has to be a boxing gym or judo club somewhere close by.

If its Kyokushin that's the closest you're going to get.

Where do you live? If there's a decent gym near you, it's a pretty safe bet someone here can find it.

Absolutely.

Various forms of karate, muay thai, judo, BJJ etc. Plus, I would consider boxing and wrestling as well.

It all varies on the school. See it is the school and instruction that is the most important factor.

Besides, what are you looking to get out of training? Are you looking to compete in MMA? Are you looking for self defense? Are you looking for a cultural activity? Are you looking for weapons training? Are you looking for general fitness development?

Muay Thai and BJJ.

Hello,

I'm considering enrolling at a local martial arts academy, but I'm pretty sure they don't do muay-thai, BJJ, wrestling, or western boxing.

Is there ANY chance they might offer legitimate (i.e., combat-worthy) instruction in a fighting art, and what should I look for (particular styles, approaches, attitudes, etc.)?


Kyokushin Karate. Why did you have to ask? OSU!!!

oh as in what to look for

look for instructors who are patient, for students that work hard, a good level of contact. Little ego on the part of the instructor or students, a combination of drills and sparring. A healthy environment, in which people dont take the instructors word as gospel, and the instructor is more than willing to explain the how and why of things, and is willing to show you how the appication works if you question him. Not overly compliant partners when doing drills. It is better if you can find an instructor who teaches for their love of the art, rather than one who is after your cash.

Basically look for the same things you would be looking for if you were shopping around for a college education, with more importance on the educational quality, than the facilities (weight rooms, showers, etc).

By 'traditional', I think the layperson envisions arts focused on asiaphilia, rather than asskicking.

Muay Thai... 10000 short little badasses can't be wrong. Before you claim it isn't traditional, they dance before they fight. Thats tradition baby.

I dance before I fight (is the robot considered a dance?)

I dance before I fight (is the robot considered a dance?)

Yes. Yes it was.

I'd like to see the Robot vs. the Ram Muay in an dance competition.

Then afterwards, the dancers get to fight each other.