is tien shan pai effective?

**Gmasterfluffy** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 8:31am

I had been taking tkd for about two years but stopped a couple of months ago for a number of reasons ( unhappy with style limitations/ complete bs "selfdefence" techniques).. interested in taking another style but the choice are limited ( their are seriously 5 different tkd schools in my town). i found a tien shan pai school near my house and from what i saw when i went in looked preaty good. [/font] the only things i could find on the style was an ongoing debate on its origins. all i really want to now is if it is an effective fighting style or not, your thoughts on the style , and if you have heard anything about the school.

www.freedommartialarts.com.

AikidoBot · Posted On: 2/03/2007 8:32am

So Gmasterfluffy, you decided to go ahead and register huh? Cool. Don't forget to review your dojo.

**Mr. Mantis** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 9:12am

Tien shan pai is worth learning. IMO much better than TKD. It has much more to offer. I enjoy the Tien Shan Pai I have learned.

**Method2Madness** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 9:20am

Welcome to the forum.
I tried to look at the website but the link isnt working for me right now. Does your school spar? If they do spar do they do it full contact? Do they practice ground fighting? Does their self defense seem legit?

More importantly, what are your goals for taking the martial arts?

**Method2Madness** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 9:44am

I just looked at the website and for the most part it looks like a regular kung fu school. They have a full contact class, and they say they train for tournaments. It looks ok from what i can see. i havent seen the entire site yet , but the only thing that really stands out to me is the Reiki stuff.

**SongPower** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 9:50am

I studied Tien Shan Pai in Maryland for several years, and from my experience the quality of the instructors varies greatly. Where are you located?

**SongPower** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 10:24am

Ok, I visited the link for the school, I know this guy and I would say that IMHO you are better off looking somewhere else for instruction. He is a nice guy don't get me wrong, but, from what I remember he never won any full contact tournaments, in fact what I remember hearing about the singular time he attempted full contact fighting was that he got KTFO. Now I didn't see that happen, so it is just hearsay, but it came from the mouth another TSP instructor that didn't hold Ryan in high esteem at all. I know he has won medals in form competition, but I don't think that's what you are looking for.

If you have your heart set on Tien Shan Pai and willing to make the trek to Gaithersburg for classes, then you should train with Joe Dunphy, at <a href="http://www.usmartialartstsp.com/">this</a> school. He actually has a reputation for being a great fighter, and has won tournaments in Taiwan.

**Gmasterfluffy** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 10:43am

i dont have my heart set on any style in perticular, i just want an effective fighting style near by bel air, md. the school does do contact sparring though i dont know how well and it DOES NOT have ground fighting. if any one has a better suggestion for a MA school close by im all ears

**Axelton** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 10:56am

Your better off doing research out in the real world by going to visit all of your potential schools. Its much easier to get a feeling for what you want to do from watching and participating and not from listening to what a bunch of people on the interweb have to say about them.

**Gmasterfluffy** · Posted On: 2/03/2007 2:24pm

i did check out the school in person ( it looked alright but the training area looked smaller then my tkd school) . but i had not heard anything about tien shan pai was from the guys at the school and be the people who want me to join ,thier opinions are kind of biased.