Long-term effectiveness

[EmptyneSs]

But then I must ask a question: what is the point of doing something such as ninjutsu? Ignore the philosophy part of it, and realize that people are doing this for self-defense. Why choose this over something such as MT that would toughen you up and actually let you defend yourself?

the only point of doing ninjitsu is either so you can tell others you do to impress/intimidate them or so you could act out some of your childhood fantasies, like stephen k hays does. its like saying your a samurai.

[obsessed]

That seems logical to me.

And stop with the badass shit. Never once did I say I was one, nor intend to be one. Why do people always assume that once someone asks a question such as this? JUst because I want to be good means nothing.

Peple always seems to want a logical explanation for everything. When they don't get one they think it's false. Why doesn't everyone do what they originally say: if you don't like it leave

[bigred389]

I'm about 5'10 and 155 pounds. I also have a bag at home (100 pounds). It really seems punching something sure beats weights, and it also seems that the jocks think they can fight because they can lift big weights. My point is that I can generate more punching power than a lot of people I know, but can't lift that much weight.

Hit the bag. You don't have to be a roid raging monster to have hitting power. A lot of hitting power comes from proper technique to use body weight among other things. Just because you can bench 250 pounds does not mean you will hit like Tyson. And having massive quads will not make you a kicking monster either.

On the other hand, once you learn proper technique, and you are ALREADY a roid raging monster, you WILL be hitting harder right off the bat. I introduced my friend to Thai Boxing...after a few days he was already hitting harder than most people in the class.

[EmptyneSs]

That seems logical to me.

And stop with the badass shit. Never once did I say I was one, nor intend to be one. Why do people always assume that once someone asks a question such as this? JUst because I want to be good means nothing.

Peple always seems to want a logical explanation for everything. When they don't get one they think it's false. Why doesn't everyone do what they originally say: if you don't like it leave

well, you did say in your original post that you wanted to learn martial arts for "street fighting". obviously you have many misconceptions about martial arts and training.

[Little Apple]

I appologise for the bad-ass comment I made.

Does what we're saying make sense? basicly: Weight training isn't everything but it helps; ninjitsu might not be the most realistic choice for your goals; Self deffence is mostly mental, not the ability to fight; I suggest MMA.

Any additions guys? Any questions Obsessed?

[treelizard]

the only point of doing ninjitsu is either so you can tell others you do to impress/intimidate them or so you could act out some of your childhood fantasies, like stephen k hays does. its like saying your a samurai.

I've trained with folks who train in taijutsu and had the opposite experience.

[bigred389]

I appologise for the bad-ass comment I made.

Does what we're saying make sense? basicly: Weight training isn't everything but it helps; ninjitsu might not be the most realistic choice for your goals; Self deffence is mostly mental, not the ability to fight; I suggest MMA.

Any additions guys? Any questions Obsessed?

General Progression of Street Effectiveness:
TMA-->Sport-->Weapons/Combatives

They're all better than nothing, IMO. Start with the best you can get then move up. The best I had growing up was TKD. Still better than nothing. Moved on to boxing&BJJ/wrestling, then Muay Thai, then kali.

Take what you can get. It's not really easy for a college student to find a good kali school which is accessible. But I GUARANTEE your college will have a boxing/TKD/wrestling club/PE class. At LEAST one of the three. If not, the local fitness center. I mean even schools in the boondocks feature almost always at least boxing.

[obsessed]

MMA is the way to go then. I have classes and stuff in the area so that will not be a problem.

From what I can see from different people who I know that take martial arts is aggression. It sure seems as if aggression can win a fight, to some extent. Like if the martial arts guy has studied for 7 some odd years, but is easily intimidated, that will show through his fighting.

I seem to have a lot of aggression. I'm counting on that helping me. (Allowing me to progress fast). In the meantime, do you (anyone) recommend anything for me to do that will strengthen my attacks? I already have a bag and wail on it every day, but it just doesn't seem to be enough.

I mean like is there any specific lifts and things I should do.

Thanks

[thescottishdude]

Although more traditional matial arts like ninjitsu, karate etc aren't as quickly effetive as kickboxing etc when you get really good at them you will be able to use much more complex moves.

[gabbah]

MMA is the way to go then. I have classes and stuff in the area so that will not be a problem.

From what I can see from different people who I know that take martial arts is aggression. It sure seems as if aggression can win a fight, to some extent. Like if the martial arts guy has studied for 7 some odd years, but is easily intimidated, that will show through his fighting.

I seem to have a lot of aggression. I'm counting on that helping me. (Allowing me to progress fast). In the meantime, do you (anyone) recommend anything for me to do that will strengthen my attacks? I already have a bag and wail on it every day, but it just doesn't seem to be enough.

I mean like is there any specific lifts and things I should do.

Thanks

The normal stuff. Pushups, pullups, situps and so on. But that is not the most important key to punching hard of course.
You need technique to punch hard (hard for your body weight that is). Good technique lets you put your body weight behind your punches (and kicks for that matter). It also let's you be relaxed while you punch, which has the effect of making all the muscles working toward the same goal, instead of having some muscles be tense that shouldn't, thus working against the movement, decreasing speed and impact.
So the tip I can give you without really explaining the technique is that when you hit the bag, try to find the way to put you body weight behind the punch by rotating your hips. When you are kicking or punching effectively, you are not actually working with the arm or leg that is hitting the target, instead you're making your whole body rotate and move forward. The arm or leg is just the limb the transfers your body's momentum into the target. So don't let any specific muscle get your arm going (like the shoulders for instance), instead try to let the rotation of your body get the arm going (this mainly applies to hooks and roundhouse kicks).

You will also need cardio of course.
Oh, and wrap your hands at least, or use gloves.

[sportmuaythai]

Unlike Little Apple, I'm not apologizing for my assumption. You posted "It really seems punching something sure beats weights, and it also seems that the jocks think they can fight because they can lift big weights" Post #10. This showed your attitude which could land you in a street fight. Then you expressed further on.

From what I can see from different people who I know that take martial arts is aggression. It sure seems as if aggression can win a fight, to some extent. Like if the martial arts guy has studied for 7 some odd years, but is easily intimidated, that will show through his fighting.

I seem to have a lot of aggression. I'm counting on that helping me. (Allowing me to progress fast).

Again, aggression can get you in troubles. It's OK to have aggression in fight sports, but in every day dealing with people, you'll eventually find some one who will not back down and then what? I believe a course in emotion management may be better for saving your skin. Nevertheless, I sincerely hope that after years of training in M art of your choice, you'll mellow down and become street smart. Then you'll find that you don't really need the M art you have mastered for self defense. But you'll find it fun. Good luck and sincere best wishes.

[Little Apple]

What I think would be useful as a next step here (as you've decided to take our advice and go with MMA) is to disguss exactly what self deffence is and is not. A lot of people have said that "self deffence is mental" or that an agressive attitude is actually counter to self deffence. It's a little unfair to make these half comments to someone who doesn't have the background to know what they mean.

I'd like to start with this: Learning self deffence, and learning how to fight, are two different things.

I've got to go right now though, so with that I'll hand this idea off to the others who post here, and are probably more qualified than myself anyway.

[darrianation]

So, let me ask,

1. You want to take up martial arts for self-defense?
2. How old are you?
3. How do you define self-defense?
4. Or, are you only interested in which is better Ninjitsu, MMA, or Muay Thai for self-defense?

Using just those three criteria (Ninjitsu, MMA, or Muay Thai), what you want is the biggest bang for the buck and in my opinion that would be MMA.

[obsessed]

Ok so here's my deal (and thank you to everyone who has replied and helped me out in this way): I'm not in it for the self-defense. I'm not in it because I'm afraid that I can't protect myself. Quite frankly, I'm not afraid of anyone, and win or lose I won't back down.

I want to take martial arts to learn how to fight properly. I figure if I train hard enough, my aggression can lead me to new heights. I naturally assumed different arts (such as BBT) because they seemed to be the most effective, however I was wrong.

It depends on what you do, and in my case I think I need to hit things. That's why I believe MMA will work for me now, and after the encouragement everyone here has given me, I will put forth all my effort into my art.


To answer darrianation's questions:

1) No
2) 18
3) Depends. People define it differently. Since martial arts are used primarily for self-defense, I think people take them to learn how to protect themselves. i guess they do that instead of something like boxing, which would teach you how to fight. In my case, self-defense is self-aggression. A good defense is a great offense. So to me, self-defense is something to help inspire yourself if you're not capable of handling yourself in a confrontation.
4) Partially yes. However, now I know that better is simply a state of mind. Experience comes into play, take what helps, dump what doesn't.

[EmptyneSs]

my aggression can lead me to new heights.

in my case I think I need to hit things.

sounds like you need some anger management classes more than you need martial arts.

the only thing your pent up agression is going to get you is your ass handed to you. you show up to any real dojo with that kind of attitude, your going to find out real fast how far your aggression is going to take you. its probobly going to take you right out the door.