Krav Maga ?

[Aglifter]

I realize you're probably not at the "proper" age for youthful stupidity, but since you seem to get into bar fights... Look into a trainer which believes in adding physical strength - shouldn't be too hard to put a couple of solid stone on you - which A) by English standards makes you massive B) Helps w. the taking and giving of beatings - as an aside, grip strength can be very useful at discreetly dissuading stupidity.

[Highspeed]

I realize you're probably not at the "proper" age for youthful stupidity, but since you seem to get into bar fights...

I'm not in too much of a hurry to get into another, I got my nose broken again. I was on my feet when the fight ended, but it would take the skills of one of Obama's speechwriters to spin the final outcome into a win for me.

I'm getting back onto the weight training just as soon as I can use the bench. Currently I've got a motorcycle taking up that area - it's like Sons Of Anarchy here, except without the Hollyweird glamour and the hot chicks like that MILF with the plastic tits who was Ed Bundys wife in Married With Children

I'm not intending to start a career as a badass, it's a role I'm not fitted for. I'm a machinist not a fighter

[Whirlibird]

I'm actually a big fan of Krav Maga. It's a more "aggressive" form of martial art (more martial, less art). You'll hit a lot of pads, do some realistic training, slow, medium, fast, hit some more pads, PT, and then probably hit some more pads. I greatly enjoyed it. It's very physically exhausting, at least where I took it. We would do some training outside on the concrete, or against a brick wall in the alley in order to facilitate realism. We would train occasionally with the lights off, or be attacked while carrying a grocery-bag facsimile. Defenses against gun and knife were also taught. Shooting the bad guy was encouraged. Expect to fight dirty.

Whirlibird, I'll disagree about Capoeria. There's a whole lot of dancing about, and not much striking practice. I would wager Krav is much less effective for police than the average citizen due to their ROE. There is no submission in Krav, unless you're talking about the kind where you smash the guy's face into the ground until he stops moving. I'm not really kidding. We had a partial class all about gouging eyes.

I took it (Capoeira) for about three years, it's actually been very effective and transitioned well into Koga for me. One of the things people forget about Capoeira is that once you get past the Americanized "dancing", it can be pretty brutal if the strikes actually land (you practice that at home or the gym), some instructors actually do practice striking but not many here in the US. I've used several of the "escapes" or dodges to avoid punches and kicks on duty over the years. Many of the moves were designed around manacles or handcuffs, so you are still able to defend yourself. It was originally an ex-slaves/criminals martial art taught on the streets.
Plus, it'll put you in very good shape, and quickly.

I'm an instructor for another arrest control style (not by choice), and I still find myself reverting to Koga (aikido) more often than not. Simply for the effectiveness.

Plus for BlackEagle, Capoeira's a great one for the ladies to get them "into" martial arts without all the board breaking BS and monotonous kata's of other styles. Look for an instructor named Bira Almeida (aka Accordeon) and if he puts any classes on in your area or can recommend any instructors there. http://www.ucaberkeley.com/

[Aglifter]

NO! NO BENCHES! REPEAT AFTER ME, "I WILL NEVER BENCH PRESS, AS I'M NEITHER A COMPETITIVE POWERLIFTER, NOR A SELF-DELUDED POOF WHO LIKES TO READ HOMEOEROTIC GLOSSYS!"

Yeesh... Now, go take some yoga and tap or ballet to work on structural balance and foot speed...

[rightisright]

It's not the art, it's the teacher

Word to that. As someone who has taken several disciplines over many years, that's the best advice.

If you go into a school and see a bunch of 10 year olds running around with black belts, turn around and walk out. If you see multiple women's kick boxing classes on the schedule, leave.

Like Chris said, there is a HUGE difference between "Martial Arts" and "Self-Defense" classes. It's hard to find the latter.

But the "self-defense" thing can be taken too far. There is a school near me that is super-hard core MMA. But the instructor lets too much shit go on and people get seriously hurt during what is supposed to be sparring. Hurt as in broken arms, serious concussions, etc. That may be fine if you are 20 and don't worry about much. But at 44 with a business to run... not for me.

Ag, why hatin' on the bench press? I do weights 2-3 times a week and I bench during my chest days. I don't go nuts where I need a spotter on each side of the bar. In fact, I usually use the Smith machine. Are you talking about the idiots who try to blast out max weight at 1 rep every time they work out?

[Aglifter]

It's an ineffectual exercise, almost always performed incorrectly, and done solely for ego, or out of ignorance. You work out on your feet, not your ass.

Overhead press and dips are vastly superior - bench press destabilizes the shoulder joint. And encourages an improper shoulder development, even when performed correctly.

[rightisright]

Interesting....

How about close grip press on the Smith for tri's?

[Aglifter]

Lifting is a simple, yet demanding hobby. The amateur should be able to reach his goals within less than 15 minutes - really 2 or 3 minutes of work, once he's experienced w. the techniques. Most non-competitive lifters waste tremendous amounts of effort, time and money for minimal results.

If you need to develop your tris for some reason - not usually a reason for a lift failing, try some weighted dips.

If you're co-ordinated enough, handstand pushups are excellent, but over-head press is usually pretty sufficient. You could use dumbbells instead of a barbell to put more emphasis on the arm instead of the shoulder girdle.

Oh, and I came w.in a whisker of breaking my neck w. a smith machine - the latch failed - you really should switch to free weights ASAP. Free weight exercises are: more efficient, build a more stable, safer structure, and are safer to perform once you learn to "bail" properly - which is v. simple.

[rightisright]

Good advice for anyone lifting, ag. I've been lifting (on and off) for years. Never to the extent that you did. But my form is good and I try to adhere to the KISS strategy. I'm not one of the idiots who "swings" the whole body when doing standing curls. And I'll never be entering a bench press competition.

At 44, I'm more interested in keeping stuff in good working order than becoming as big as I was when I was in my 20's. So minimizing any injury risk (especially joints... my knees are already shot from motocross) is paramount over strength/size gains. I never "overwork". I spend about 15 minutes on a muscle group.

Sorry for the :jacked:

[Highspeed]

Sorry for the :jacked:

Nope, valuable information because my knees are also shot and any time Ag is talking about weight training then I'm going to listen