I love Wing Chun. I think out of all the Chinese martial arts it’s probably got the most applications an average person could use. I like that it was geared towards the poor to learn self-defense and to train it all you need is a small space and a dummy. Even people out of shape can do it, I believe Sammo Hung trained in it and he’s a big dude.
Second love is Mantis Kung Fu, it’s just so goofy and it’s my favorite animal style.
gun kata
The eternal debate The Matrix vs Equilibrium
Capoeira. I don’t know how effective it is in a real world fighting situation (most martial arts aren’t anyways), but it looks absolutely sick when you see good capoeiristas doing their thing.
Also, there’s the added lore bonus of it being originally used to beat the shit out of slave owners and catchers.
There’s a fighting version of capoeira that’s more serious and less flashy than the dancy version. Apparently the weapons of choice at one point were straight razors and the defense was silk scarves. Idk how it stacks up to modern systems like bjj.
My understanding is most martial art systems do have a quick and dirty version that’s pretty decent for killing people, but they don’t get much emphasis during peacetime because you can’t use the techniques that cause permanent injury in tournies.
Like bjj has lots of techniques that can cause severe permanent injury to joints and effectively disable someone, but folks don’t need or want to do that so they focus on safer holds and submissions that can actually be applied in competition.
Idk how it stacks up to modern systems like bjj.
To be fair, BJJ is fucking vicious. I think the only way for someone to be better equipped for dealing permanent, life-threatening injuries to another person would be to have an actual weapon.
Yeah, as far as ground fighting goes, BJJ really feels like the end of history for martial arts. Like ground fighting is a solved problem now and we’re just tweaking the parameters for edge cases.
Are there any BJJ schools that aren’t full of chuds? All the ones near me are absolutely infested with cops and loudly proclaim their partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
I know technically I could still take their classes, but I’m pretty sure they will smell the commie on me. I live in rural Ohio, I’m a weird person, and the pics of their classes on social media make it clear that I would definitely stick out.
Dunno. Guns and mma attract chuds like flies. Maybe ask around if you’ve got any comrades who can teach you. For all practical purposes learning some basic strikes, throws, and ground work is going to put you ahead of most people who have no formal training at all. Worst case, find a buddy who also wants to learn and figure it out yourself from online videos. You don’t have to be a good fighter, just better than your opponent.
Maybe look for classes taught by queer people, POC, or women? Might have better odds of dodging cops.
Also, there’s the added lore bonus of it being originally used to beat the shit out of slave owners and catchers.
That’s cool!
I was going to put that one but i couldn’t remember how to spell it. It looks cool for a few seconds but mostly useless. I can’t say too much cuz I’m a lazy shit and a little out of shape but it really does look useless.
couldn’t remember how to spell it.
“Sexy dance fighting”
This one for sure. There’s a movie that features the style, “Only the Strong”, and while it was cool to see it featured, the movie is pretty meh and doesn’t have nearly as much fighting as you’d want to see a crazy and rarely shown style in action.
Aikido. Just looks fun and all I know from it is that Steven Seagal is a master at it
From I remember gathering of it, Aikido is kind of the whipping boy of the martial arts world due to Seagal.
My understanding of aikido is it works, but pulling it off requires every single thing to go right and if you mess up at all it’s easy for your opponent to no-sell your non-attack. So like the skill floor is very high and there’s no margin for error, so it’s not very practical if you actually want to defend yourself from attackers.
This guy does a pretty good breakdown of the concept. Basically he says it’s not a competition style, but a “survival” style. So much like Krav Maga, actual execution is a lot about using things like surprise and dirty shots to end the fight as quickly as possible.
Bonus: This channel also does a pretty good interview with Akkido Master Steven Segal, and he comes out sounding… reasonable and kinda normal?
(ignore the very clickbaity title, at no point does he “confront” him in any way) https://youtu.be/7Gt-7U1ctao
I didn’t do Aikido, but when I did karate as a teenager I went to an Aikido event and learned a little, and it was a lot of fun. The first time I got hit with one of their “neck throws” I felt like a cartoon character.
Longsword fencing in the German or Italian styles
German especially. Turn that fencing match into a wrestling match comrade
Rex Kwon Do
Break the wrist, walk away
I was really into fencing in college. I think that kinda counts, especially in its Olympic sporterized form where it only scarcely resembles real dueling. I’d love to get back into it, but the nearest club is pretty far away.
Wing Chun is cool. I really liked the first 3 Ip Man movies.
Fencing is neat. I like HEMA too.
I really want to get into HEMA, and the club is a little closer than the fencing club. Only done it once, at a ren faire thing. The protective gear seemed mostly similar to my fencing gear save for a stronger glove (gauntlet?) and a gorget on my neck.
Yeah HEMA guys are really sensitive to the fragility of the human finger. Lots of stories of people breaking fingers in simple sparring matches with what they thought was ample protective gear, and lots of debate about the pros and cons of more protective gauntlets.
Other than that yeah from what I’ve seen most people show up with stuff that’s mostly the same as Olympic style fencing gear
I think feder gear is pretty close to fencing gear. The masks might use a stronger mesh though so don’t quote me on that. But then, most clubs have gear to lend to new fencers until they can get their own kit together.
Panzer kunst. I’ve been practicing a lot. If cyborgs ever exist they’d better watch out.
I have to read that manga.
Sumo since it makes the most sense. Just push your opponent out of the circle
Tae kwon do has a very nice point sparring system with lots of speed and athleticism and relatively simple rules.
Burmese boxing allows headbutts. Goat maxing in order to bone density mogg the skullcels.
Tai chi, a chinese martial art that is mostly noncombative and mainly used for exercise or meditation.
Catch or Pankration. Only useful thing you learn is how to flip dudes, and how best to do it. Love it.
