What's your experience?

[Tom Yum]

I've studied Korean MA for 5 yrs, most of it escapes, joint locking, kicking and breakfalls. I competed in 2 open style, full-contact tournaments. Made it to the quarter finals as a brown belt fighting in the black belt division in both tournaments. Lost to a really talented 2nd dan in Tang soo and a 1st dan in Kuk Sool, respectively.

Muaythai for 3 years, while simultaneously cross-training in boxing. No official record, but I sparred as much as I could with as many different types of MMA-ers and thaiboxers alike. Did a smoker for fun and won by TKO.

BJJ/Free-style Wrestling for 1 year to get familiar on the ground.

Trained in a short course for Arnis (2 months).

I know there's a lot of folks on here with a wealth of experience in teaching & fighting who could kick my butt, so I figured I'd put what I have out there and see where other folks are coming from.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

I'm rather young to the world of martial arts. 3 years of wrestling in high school, 1 year of BJJ, starting to mix in striking.

[JStinson]

26 years in Hapkido and Taekwondo. Have studied Yudo and Jujitsu some also. Used to do alot of tournaments in my early years, to political anymore and looks like gymnastics. Have been teaching since 1991. Gave up teaching TKD about 2 years ago and only teach Hapkido now.

[Garland]

TKD as a really little kid...

Muay Thai under private tutelage from 13-17

Muay Thai (TBA), FMA, and JKD Concepts under Kheun Kru Will Bernales from 14-19.

Muay Thai under Sakasem Kwathawong from about 15-17.

Throw in a tiny bit (really, really tiny) of BJJ from Kru Bernales (who's a bb under Pedro Sauer) and a bit of CSW and Shooto from Coach Brandon Kiser (who's under Erik Paulson). As well as a bit of Pekiti and Dekiti Tirsia and Sayoc I gleaned from seminars.

Throw in weight training, 3 years of football in highschool, and 2 years of lacrosse...

and then dump it all, because since I turned 19, I've been a lazy waste of space...any skill or technique I once had is probably Gooooooonnnnnnneeeee.

I haven't thrown a kick, even in the air...for a few months. I've been so broke the last time I hit something resembling a punching bag, it was a phone book I taped to a tree.

[Ghost]

8 week rexwkondo course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlmIYHUxVA4

[Hardball]

I got a late start in formal martial arts training. I started training at 35 years old. Before that, I use to box in high school although I didn't have many fights.

My first formal martial art was TKD which I trained in for two years inspite of suffering a broken arm during sparring.

I studied Japanese shotokan for one year at a formal dojo.

I spent the next two years training on my own and practicing my basics on heavy bags.

I've trained in Japanese Jujitsu for the last 10 years and I have been teaching it for about 3 years. I made first degree Black belt in 2004 and Just made 2nd degree Black belt in July 2007. I've only competed in 4 tournaments, with 3 being demos and one full contact sparring.

Because of a serious shoulder injury I trained in Wing Chun Kung Fu for about 9 months then I went back to Jujitsu Full time.

I've had the unfortunate experience of traveling or living in some very bad neighborhoods where my skills were tested over and over again.

I have a training studio in my basement and I train at a couple of dojos also.

When I was a Brown Belt, I hit the seminar circuit really big traveling around the country to participate in some camps and seminars. I've trained with several of the "Legends" but I make it a habit not to "Name Drop" I believe in getting as much practice and experience as possible. I will train with anyone if it means picking up more experience. I also like to spar and roll.

[Bjjexpertise@be]

So Garland, how old are you now?

[npk9]

Did Southern Kung-fu from 1992 - 1994 then switched to Northren Mantis from 1994 - 1998. Competed a shit load at the National level - all forms of-course. Held national rankings (Top 3) in USWushu-Kungfu Federation and US Kuoshu Federation in a number of divisions (I won't list because its little winded - all rankings in the Men's Advanced division). Started to do SanDa in 1997. Then went to college in 1998 so I stopped a little bit. Taught at martial arts school as an outside instructor at that time and got OJ belt in Krav Maga. Then I recently (past 2 years) to compete again in SanDa (4-1 record total). That's my story . . .

[darrianation]

Ghost-8 week rexwkondo course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlmIYHUxVA4

I loved that movie and I am a certified instructor and official predecessor of Rex Kwon do…hehehe

Rex:

"I'm Rex, founder of the Rex Kwan Do self-defense system! After one week with me in my dojo, you'll be prepared to defend yourself with the strength of a grizzly, the reflexes of a puma, and the wisdom of a man.

Rex Kwan Do, we use the buddy system. No more flying solo. You need somebody watching your back at all times. Second off, you're gonna learn to discipline your image. You think I got where I am today because I dressed like Peter Pan over here?

Take a look at what I'm wearing, people. You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys? Forget about it. Last off, my students will learn about self respect. You think anybody thinks I'm a failure because I go home to Starla at night? Forget about it!"

Napolean:

You know, there's like a butt-load of gangs at this school. This one gang kept wanting me to join because I'm pretty good with a bo staff.

You know, like nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills... Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.

Seriously though,

I have trained in martial arts for most of my life starting back in the late 70's in karate (1st dan Wado Ryu, 3rd dan Shotokan), I competed in scholastic and AAU wrestling for 8 years. I have also trained in Muay Thai, Arnis, combatives, and gunfighting.

[Tom Yum]

I'm lovin' it! Martial artists represent!!

[Garland]

So Garland, how old are you now?

84 years young.

And NOBODY but NOBODY thinks I'm a failure when I go home to Edna...they only think I'm a stairway obstruction.

[DickHardman]

tkd/karate - 3 years

muay thai/boxing(currently training) -5 years

judo - 1 year

jiu jitsu - 3 years(currently training)

aikido - 3 months

[KickNit]

I read in another forum that Muay Thai can ruin a person's frame. I about fell out of my chair in rolling laughter. What are your thoughts? Has anyone else ever heard this?

[Bjjexpertise@be]

84 years young.

And NOBODY but NOBODY thinks I'm a failure when I go home to Edna...they only think I'm a stairway obstruction.

Hey look at it this way bro, chicks dig mature guys .

[jubaji]

Well...

Let's see, I started wrestling when I was 7, and have been doing that ever since (that's almost 31 years now). Joe Jock captain of the team dude in HS, enjoyed a fair degree of success in D1 NCAA college wrestling (got one year of tuition taken care of via athletic scholarship). After college I decided to head over to China and see what was going on over there. Got a job in Xi'an and studied taijiquan and KF there for two years (when not working, of course). Also found the provincial wrestling team and worked out regularly with them while I was there. Met some nice folks there, including some Japanese teachers. They were so nice in fact that when my contract was up I headed over to Japan and got a job there. A few jobs actually. Was there off and on for about three years I guess. Practiced kendo, nihon kempo, and aikido while I was there. Also found a local wrestling club and worked out with them. Also ran into assorted other folks studying this and that and worked out with them when we had time. One guy was a WC guy, a few others were ninjutsu guys (got to jump into a practice with Hatsumi sensei once) some were K-1 fighters, some were judoka, all sorts of folks. Back in the States I've kept on wrestling (of course) and done a little of this and that as time and work allow. I've worked out and sparred with TKD, taekkyon, boxing, MMA, BJJ, WC, ninjutsu, American kempo, san shou, etc. whatever I could try my hand at. But wrestling is always my main thing.

So, that's about it. We usually spend a week or two in Kyoto each year if we can, to visit family, and work takes me to Korea and China every now and again (but there's usually no time for 'training' on such trips).

Everyone bored enough already?