Curious...

[morsla]

Just out of interest... how many of you guys'n'gals (LJ people, anonymous voyeurs, random passers-by) have ever studied a martial art?

If you have, how long did you learn it for, and what style(s) did you train?

I seem to know lots of people who train in something - I'd love to get a better idea of how many people that includes.

EDIT: I guess I should answer those questions myself...

From the question, yes, I have spent some time training ;-)

From memory, I have trained in:

Goju Ka'i Karate, 6 months (waaaay back in Year 7)
Jujitsu (Japanese Jujitsu, not the Brazilian wrestling/grappling one...) for about 18 months - 2 years, in the middle of High School.
Wing Chun & Lung Ying Kung Fu @ Melbourne Uni, 1998 'til early 2003.
Various styles in the Liu He system (traditional wushu/Kung Fu) from mid-2001 to present.
Tai Chi, from mid-2002 to present.

Recently, I've been working on a "Short hammer fist" form from the Liu He mantis style. It rivals Liu He Ba Fa for the longest form I've ever learned (kikilon knows how long that form is...), and it's a much more energetic form. Suffice to say, it's getting harder and harder to get out of bed on a Tuesday morning :-)

Comments

[peachofpain.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Aikikai Aikido, around 5 months

[peachofpain.livejournal.com]

so far, that is

[futurelegend.livejournal.com]

well as you know, I did a *tiny* bit of Kung Fu around age 14(?) and an even tinier bit with you. And a slightly larger bit of Tai Chi. I wanted to study ninjitsu but never got around to ringing them up. luckily as it turns out bc ninjas look *really* silly :)

[peachofpain.livejournal.com]

but but but... how could "Ninja Pajamas"(tm) look silly?

[futurelegend.livejournal.com]

Go see Azumi. Bunch of ninjas hiding in small room - hilarity ensued. :)

[harkon.livejournal.com]

I was at a 21st dressed up as a samurai (really just a couple of gi tops and hakama), and the party was semi-crashed by a pair of ninja (fake weapons and everything). A bit of a tense moment, but in the end they were all acting a bit wierd because of course the Asian guy in the hakama is hardcore(tm)...

[peachofpain.livejournal.com]

Hakama are a bit of a pain though, not that I have to worry about wearing them ofcourse.

[harkon.livejournal.com]

I was wearing a cheat hakama anyway, and I have NFI when it comes to doing the belt thingies (can't even remember what they are called now...)

[morsla.livejournal.com]

Although they do have neat clibing slippers. And lots of other cool gadgets...

hmm... (cue harp music music) let me see...

[harkon.livejournal.com]

Between ages 6 and 12 there were stints doing Vo Vietnam, or Viet Vo Dao, which was a wierd mix of Kung Fu, Karate and Muay Thai. Part way through, the teacher went back to Vietnam, and some other guy came in and it degenerated into wierd streetfighting and brawling techniques (not that regret learning them).

Also during this time there a bit of experimentationin various MAs that were starting up in various YMCAs and youth clubs in the area. These included a couple of months of Judo, though I can't remember anything there, a few flavours of Karate in the bad old days where everything was called Self Defense.

Don't know if this counts but anyway, during MHS, I did fencing, which was fairly basic, so I did a few weeks at a fencing club, before realising how I so couldn't afford all the stuff and stopped going to the club.

Also around 6 years back, I went to a different (and now established) Vo Vietnam place, and it seemed a little too popular, with wat too many people than they had room/instructors for. And plus all the students were either really young, or well over 21, so it didn't really work out when practicing.

Re: hmm... (cue harp music music) let me see...

[peachofpain.livejournal.com]

Hey, I did fencing too for a semester. Oh and I did like 5 weeks of Judo at the YMCA when I was like 11.

Viet Vo Dao

[morsla.livejournal.com]

I think I've heard of that one before. Is that the style that was incorporated into police training, etc? I heard about a school in Melbourne last year.

[lynsis.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. Did an unknown style of Karate at MHS for what... a couple of years... maybe less, can't remember.

Then nothing until start of 2002, when I finally joined our beloved MUTW.

[punk-rock-nerd.livejournal.com]

I did some form of karate when I was 10-14. I didn't have enough patience to continue it.

Now I just have no time for a martial art. Aside from DDR-Fu.

[morsla.livejournal.com]

And one day, when your training is complete, you will join the army of DDR ninjas who shall fight to take over the world...

*raises hand*

[kikilon.livejournal.com]

Well, even though you know anyways, I just want to be part of the record. ^_^

I've studied Wing Chun Kung Fu at two different schools for 2 1/2 years each, and I still intend to one day pick up a new style when i can fit it in my timetable!

Re: *raises hand*

[morsla.livejournal.com]

Whereabout was your first school?

*grins* So many styles, so little time to learn them in. Fortunately, being fit has the advantage of adding to your lifespan, so you get to train for longer...

Re: *raises hand*

[kikilon.livejournal.com]

my first school was Leung Ting Wing Tsun back in Germany. I've been meaning to check out their school in Richmond, too...

So many styles, so little time to learn them in.
I know! Someone should give me the means to study martial arts full time... *nods sagely*

[melbournian.livejournal.com]

I did some kind of karate with a kickboxing instructor for three months about 14 years ago when i was in year 7. It sounded something like Shin-Bu-Kai.
I also did fencing for two years at MHS.

[lukeii.livejournal.com]

I did Wu Shu when I was in China, with a guy who was a master of 40 weapons.

The lesson lasted about 10 minutes.

I did do a couple of months of boxing in school.

However, when it comes to video games, my kung fu is strong!

[peacockangel.livejournal.com]

I took karate for a year and tai chi off and on at various summer camps. Don't do either now, though.

[mousebane.livejournal.com]

I learned Jujitsu (is that right? hmmm) once upon a time for a short while in about grade six, but nothing since then.

[aurellia.livejournal.com]

I started kendo when I first came to uni, but had a problem with people screaming at me then hitting me on the head. The katas were very smooth though.

[morsla.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Strangely enough, that was the reason why I never started kendo. I watched some demonstrations, but decided that I'd rather do something else...