| | can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cockyPage 1 of 4 (1, 2, 3, 4) | I am going through a run of low confidence, social inadequacy, self loathing, too easily frustrated, and a friend turns around and says to me take up karate.
Is he just after a laugh, does he want to use me as cannonfodder for his club, does he want me to get hurt, and clobbered, and destroyed, or is there anything in his claim that I will gain confidence, meet new people, may even meet women, and get fit in the bargain? | |
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Char2
| | Joined: 9/11/2005
Msg: 2 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/5/2005 6:06:55 PM | | I do not participate in Karate myself.. or any maritial arts.. However my sister who was very low in self esteem took it for self defense.. and her self esteem shot straight up. She made several friends. and people were always very very willing to help and explain things. | |
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Char2
| | Joined: 9/11/2005
Msg: 4 | |
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Char2
| | Joined: 9/11/2005
Msg: 6 | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/5/2005 9:23:31 PM | | I can respond to this...lol I took karate for a little while, while I could actually afford it. I myself noticed a big difference in myself, knowing that if I put my mind into something I can do it. Up until I got out I was plan shit...no life, not many friends, really just a loner. After I got out, the confidence I built while participating in karate, not even going for belts, I was able to make more friends than I can count, holding on to a 3.0 GPA in college which in itself is an achievement, plus now I'm able to defend myself if need be, also in good shape. So my suggestion is go ahead and do it man. Karate can be the best thing to ever happen to someone I think. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/6/2005 7:08:51 PM | how long is it before you are able to choose between fight and flight situation when the adrenalin kicks in. Is it actuallly controllable? or if you are a flyer, you would never to be able to stay and fight.
I fear I would be flying for the door at the first drop of adrenalin or nerves, at the first sight of sparring, how do I conquer the tendency to flight? | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/6/2005 9:47:57 PM | hi runaway.....
I've been in shotokan karate for 6 years; and am training for my blackbelt.
When you start karate(or other martial arts); you learn the moves, before you fight!! It happens gradually, you don't know what your ability is, until you try!
Depending on the club; there most likely will be other people in the same boat as you. I recommend that you check out the different clubs; before you choose. Don't worry about the fighting right away.......most of us are taught, that if you can get out of a fight by getting out of there; do it!! there's nothing wrong with that. As Miyagi(Karate Kid) said.........the best way to not fight; no be there. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/6/2005 10:18:25 PM | I do not want to start a huge MMA vs TMA fight on here, but...
If you are looking for a way to learn to fight, I implore you to look beyond Karate, and consider Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu or maybe Arnis.
Karate is not really taken seriously as a self defence style, and it's practitioners are generally owned by other styles of trained fighters. | |
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chinua
| | Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 11 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/6/2005 11:13:57 PM | excuse me..........karate is one of THE self defense styles..........you should do your homework a little better(karate means open hand).....the guy wants self confidence to start with......boxing is not a martial art.........-- karate is more than just fighting.-we use everything;feet; hands(open and closed)elbows, knees; takedowns. we are not limited to using just feet, or just hands(boxing).
The reason why i said to check out more than one club(meaning not just karate); is that he'll be able to find out what works for him. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 2:44:33 AM | I've taken karate before.....and it will not give you what you are looking for. If you truly want to learn how to fight, take something like kick boxing. Karate wastes too much time doing katas (a series of fighting/dancing moves against unseen opponents) and not enough time sparing, from my own personal experience.
If you want to meet girls, and you would like to take a martial art, jujitsu or judo would be a good one to consider. You get to put your hands all over them, get trapped in their guard ( a position where their legs are wrapped around your waist while you are both on the ground...think missionary position). Both kick boxing and judo or jujitsu will teach you how to defend yourself, give you a good workout, and introduce you to new people.
Everything takes time though...your confidence won't come overnight with a martial art. You'll probably be down on yourself at the start, not being able to do certain moves that seem so simple to others, but little by little you will improve if you stick with it.
There are dojo's (martial art clubs) that offer more than one martial art as well. If you live near a large metropolitian area they shouldn't be too hard to find. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 2:49:46 AM | I've taken karate before.....and it will not give you what you are looking for. If you truly want to learn how to fight, take something like kick boxing. Karate wastes too much time doing katas (a series of fighting/dancing moves against unseen opponents) and not enough time sparing, from my own personal experience.
If you want to meet girls, and you would like to take a martial art, jujitsu or judo would be a good one to consider. You get to put your hands all over them, get trapped in their guard ( a position where their legs are wrapped around your waist while you are both on the ground...think missionary position). Both kick boxing and judo or jujitsu will teach you how to defend yourself, give you a good workout, and introduce you to new people.
Everything takes time though...your confidence won't come overnight with a martial art. You'll probably be down on yourself at the start, not being able to do certain moves that seem so simple to others, but little by little you will improve if you stick with it.
There are dojo's (martial art clubs) that offer more than one martial art as well. If you live near a large metropolitian area they shouldn't be too hard to find. | |
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chinua
| | Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 14 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 10:17:10 AM | yardape;
what kind of karate did you take? -and how long??there are so many!! I agree that some are useless...--kickboxing is not really a martial art(except Muay Tai).......it's mostly kicking.......
As for meeting girls....are you saying I'm not a girl???? As for katas.......it depends on the style of karate(as i keep saying); and it depends on your teacher. Some, don't let you fight until you are a yellow; I was lucky, mine lets you fight right from the beginning.Maybe he'll like doing kata! Just because some people just want to pound on someone.....None of the katas in Shotokan would be mistaken for a dance.-we are actually taught what the moves are for....katas are good for learning the basics; and learning patience. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 11:41:19 AM | Runaway ~ Most any legitimate karate school or dojo will allow you to come in and watch them train for a while. And will take the time to answer any questions you may encounter or want to simply ask. If they cant or wont take that time, or shuffle you off onto one of their students... I would move on. Martial Arts is great for anyone! And no, it isnt meant as a tool for kicking someone's ass. You might gain that knowlegde, but so few ever have to use it outside of organized tournaments. And most teach you NOT to fight unless you absolutely have no choice.
Not sure where you live, but most legit schools have affordable classes. I always had a simple rule that karate should be afforded to those who truly want to learn... even if they cant afford it. Wasnt always prosperous, but that isnt why I was there. I was simply a conduit to teach others what I learned over time... | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 12:20:19 PM | #1. What does this say about martial arts when someone wants to join it to increase their self esteem? That's not what it's there for.
#2. Any REAL martial art is good. (Don't confuse these new aerobic exercise routines with martial arts, they're not.)
#3. Anyone can take it up. Just don't expect results overnight. It takes time.
#4. As for meeting women you can forget that idea. Most students in martial arts are male. Women go to "Women's Only" fitness clubs instead.
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Char2
| | Joined: 9/11/2005
Msg: 18 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 12:35:49 PM | I would not worry so much about your flight insticts.. You start off slow and build up as has already been stated. You start by kicking a pad held by someone. And they are going to put you with someone who knows how to spar for your first go around and take it nice and light. Sparring is not supposed to be aggressive. lol (Yes i'm laughing as I say that) It is supposed to be light contact.
Anyway as for not meeting girls. I dare say that there would be quite a few there. My sisters club was close to a fifty-fifty split for the younger group (elementry school for example) And the older group that worked out in town, well I would say 7 of the fifteen were female. And that is in an area with three female gyms in a six kilometer radius..
So yes you can meet girls. | |
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chinua
| | Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 19 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 1:07:18 PM | thanks guys........most of the brown belts in my dojo are women:)
No; boxing is not a martial art!!!!(no kata or forms, no 'art')..... Karate (and judo, and aikido ..etc) are good for confidence if you need it; self defense if you need it; exercise...etc. If you already have the confidence, then it's different for you.When i was a teen, i needed the confidence to defend myself; i took Isshin Ryu- which is a good self defense style.......but now i prefer shotokan.-one of the things i like about it; its a basic style, not too fancy- and it takes years to get your black belt.
If all you want to do is fight; then boxing, kickboxing, that type of thing; is what you want. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 1:29:51 PM | Boxing is an art...the art of ass kicking! Who says boxing doesn't build confidence? How can boxing not be a martial art? Because you dont' wear a gi??? What a ridiculous comment. Boxing takes a tremendous amount of dedication.If you want to bow down to the flag of Japan and treat them like they invented the art of combat, and waste your time with silly ritutals then by all means do that. Japan has done nothing but rip off other cultures (China and India) for both their identity and martial arts.
If you want to gain confidence by laying a beatdown on people...go with boxing, kick boxing, even Judo (for those who feel you must wear a gi to learn anything about art or confidence and keeping kata too a minimum), etc like Chinua said. You will be able to handle yourself in a fight a lot quicker with this method and likely build confidence that much faster as well.
What are your goals? Do you want to take years to build your confidence or months or days?
And what are you going to do if you don't like any of the girls at a dojo anyways? Quit? Go looking for another dojo ho?
If you want to build your confidence through learning a new skill that both gives you a good workout, plus profides you with the means of defending yourself then do that. If all you want to do is join under the guise of wanting to learn a marital art when all you really want to do is meet girls......go somewhere else. | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 1:49:21 PM | I as well started in Isshin Ryu...learned alot from what little time the class lasted. Our instructor threw us in sparring matches from day one. I must say from what little time we had a class...lots of people dropped complaining it was too hard, I've been able to use the moves to protect myself. Best thing to do though is listen to your heart and mind. Those are the strongest muscles anyone can have in their body, so use them wisely.... | |
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chinua
| | Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 22 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 4:52:53 PM | yard ape;;;;;boxing- ass kicking??? excuse me; how do you kick someone's 'ass'; if all you do is punch??
I think yes; you can get confidence from boxing; but; martial arts that use more than thing(like feet, knees, elbows) gives you more of an all around workout; plus-.....if you are in a situation where you can't use your fists.....like if you are grabbed from behind.....what are you going to do??? are you still going to punch them? i have also learned wrist locks; pressure points; defense not only standing up; but on the ground.- we do some training is defense against weapons too. does boxing teach you that?
Also.....Korea has a few martial arts themselves....so does Thailand...:) They are not exactly the same as they were a couple of hundred years ago; they have evolved.I know that other countries are good at it; when my sensei competed at the shotokan world championship 6 yrs ago in Moscow(no gloves) Germany had the top competitors. I am lucky that my sensei has experience in other styles.Oh; i just remembered; karate wasn't started in Japan; it was started in Okinawa, which was taken over by Japan. I think it's europeans that assume it came from Japan.
as for wearing a gi?? is that all you can think of??:).....maybe i like the kung fu outfits better... | |
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Char2
| | Joined: 9/11/2005
Msg: 23 | |
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| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 8:57:31 PM |
yard ape;;;;;boxing- ass kicking??? excuse me; how do you kick someone's 'ass'; if all you do is punch??
That is funny. But completely misleading.
Boxing provides a much superior and much more realistic combative style than Karate does. While I admit that it is an incomplete system it is an excellent skill set.
More importantly, Karate is also an incomplete, and an almost obsolete system. Designed at first for peasents to fight Samurai on horseback, what it is today is hardly more than a Japanese version of Civil War reenactors practiceing ancient skills for fun.
Karate guys constantly and consistently get thier asses handed to them when they enter either UFC or Pride. It is to the point where Karate guys do not even enter any more because of the built in limitations of the system. | |
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chinua
| | Joined: 9/30/2005
Msg: 25 | |
| can anyone take up karate, or is it just for the confident and cocky
Posted: 11/7/2005 9:14:38 PM | yes; i did see a karate guy -from japan- get beat at UFC(and he was cocky!); but, we are not talking UFC- the original post was asking if anybody can take up karate; or is it just for the confident and cocky. He didn't say UFC, he didn't say martial arts in general. maybe where he lives; there isn't anything but karate. Usually; when you get attacked on the street; it won't be by someone who is a blackbelt in Judo; or a kickboxer. I was attacked by someone who was used to just bullying people(and yes, I did defend myself very well).Comparing regular life to the UFC or Pride; isn't very realistic. As for karate being obsolete; it has evolved enough in europe and N. america to allow women to train.-- some sensei's have experience in other styles; like mine does.
btw; if i had time(and the money) i'd like to try another martial art; but, I'd rather wait until I get my shodan anyway. | |
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