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I have been trying to shed the few extra pounds that seem to linger, and have looked into martial arts, mainly Tai Chi. From what i have noticed, it seems as though, it can be tought by reading not neccisarily requirng a class setting. Does anyone have any information on a self taught martial arts good for shedding the pounds and easy to keep with a busy schedule? All responses welcome.
Tai Chi moves very slowly, I dont know if it would help you lose weight but it will definitely improve balance, and agility.
I would suggest something of a more aerobic nature if you want to burn fat.
I appreciate the input, in doing research i had discovered that although Tai Chi is a slow martial art form, that it is howvwer the basis for many other martial arts. So are there any reccomendation as to which may fit my needs, or ideas of where to look for a type that i could configure to fit my schedule?
I have studied Tai Chi for 10+ years along with other forms of Chinese martial arts. You absolutely can not learn Tai Chi from a book. You can however learn how to breathe deeply and possibly meditate from a book. Depending on the form of Tai Chi, you can lose weight doing it. I would recommend Large Frame New Generation Chen style. It is about as aerobic as it gets in Tai Chi.Quote:
Originally Posted by joshb1000
As far as the number of classes goes, it just depends on how much you want to get out of it. Using Tai Chi as a martial art will require years of practice. Just getting some exercise will take you a few months to learn the form and breathing.
Honestly, if you just want to lose weight, try Yoga. Way more aerobic and plus, lots of women in tight pants :)
i've definitely considered Yoga, for some reasons more than others ;) but i have always found a great interest in the meditative focused state of tai chi. However, my other question is, being almost 30, is it too late to begin a martial art? I undertand many people learn tai chi at ages up to 60, but it's not the same as it used to be going to a gym type setting learning a new skill this "far" into adulthood, any more info is helpful. I appreciate all the info though.
I agree with bounusmarple. Thai Chi cannot be learned from a book, nor can any martial art. I've been practicing Shaolin Kung Fu for 20 years, and I've learned a lot of thai chi too. They're great to study, but they need diligent watch of a Master to oversee the student's progress. I also would suggest yoga, try hot yoga, I hear it's great. good luck -J
No, it's not. I wasn't able to begin studying karate until age 35 or so. It all depends on how much you're willing to practice what you learned in class between classes. Anybody with normal coordination and the desire to learn can learn. It's important to find a good dojo run by a properly credentialled practitioner in the style or art you want to study. Also, some are very focused on competition, for instance, while others have more of a focus on practical application (I have a buddy who belongs to a dojo where the sparring is full contact, no pads), and still others are more focused on the discipline of the art and its forms. If you can afford it, try to take a class at several different dojos offering different styles and talk to the sensei about what you're looking for. Then you can make an informed decision. Just like learning to shave with a straight: you'll get out of it what you put into it.Quote:
Originally Posted by joshb1000
Its abslutely never to late. I
Trained in Capoeira for a good ten
Years which is a fun way to get fit. Look for a local group! And get this.. Historically the capoeiristas were known to place a straight razor between there big toe... Hardcore. If you want to lose weight.. Avoid carbs like the plague and adopt a high protien intake with salads and veges and exercise at least four times a week! Good luck.
exactly what types ofcredentials would i be looking for? as we all know i can write anything i want on the internet and make it sound real, but how can you really tell? Also, it was mentioned that some dojos are focused on competition, how can you compete with something like Tai Chi, i didnt find it to be anything fighting related, but only as a basis of other martial arts. I would be in it for the de-stress, and agility/balance aspect.
For starters, do you know any folks who are current or former students at the dojo or dojos you're considering? Talk to them. Go there yourself and meet the instructors and ask about their training and level of knowledge, and who they're credentialled through. There are I believe several associations that govern awarding of advanced belt levels; it should be easy enough to contact those groups to verify that folks are who and what they say they are. Regarding Tai Chi, it's true that most folks don't think of it as having anything to do with the "martial" aspect of martial arts. But I think that overlooks something important. As I understand it, Tai Chi was developed as a way of building and controlling chi for release at intended moments--like during combat. A number of years ago, there was a Tai Chi master here at Duke, a gentleman from China, who said that the most accurate description of what Tai Chi is, is "one touch ultimate boxing." He would do demos for his classes in which he would ask for a volunteer to stand in front of him. He's spend a few minutes building chi, then walk up and simply touch the volunteer in the chest--at which point said volunteer would fly back a number of feet and land on his back. One of the guys who volunteered one time was a reporter for our local paper, so I believe it was legit.Quote:
Originally Posted by joshb1000
Hell no 30 is not too old. I am 35 and doing just fine. Look, Tai Chi is a very long road in terms of martial skill. If you want to focus on meditation, sure this is a good place to start. You could also look for Pa Kua or Hsing I in your area which are the slightly lesser known meditative martial arts. Both have a strong emphasis on meditation but are far more vigorous than most forms of Tai Chi. There is some dude teaching Hsing I in the common area of my subdivision so the people are out there.Quote:
Originally Posted by joshb1000
Quote:
Originally Posted by bonusmarple
+1 to that, i myself will be 45 next month, and i started taking hung gar kung fu with my son about a year ago, and LOVE it, it works out to be a wonderful stress relief for me after a frantic period on shift at work, so your never to old, it just takes longer for you muscles to stretch out properly.
I would recommend a beginner MMA training program. With these you normally learn basics in mixture of Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai and wrestling. Many of these programs offer good conditioning workouts as well. Fitness can only go so far, consider your diet and how you eat as well. Research places in your area that offer these programs but also go check them out in person before committing. This way you know what to expect.
I practiced martial arts for 3 and a half years in college. Quit, and started again just over 2 years ago. I've been practicing 2 to 3 times per week ever since, and I am glad I started again. In the beginning my stamina was really bad. As were my strength and agility. Eventually I got it all back.
I'm now 34, and I am planning to stick with it for the long run. I've set myself the goal of getting black belt, which should take me about another 8 years of dilligent practice (ninpo and jujutsu).
My advice is always the same: visit a couple of local dojo. Just see what is available in your neighborhood. Contact the teacher and ask if it is ok to watch a class. Then figure out which style + teacher gave you a good vibe. That is far more important than choosing a specific style for stylistic reasons.
I have, at different times in my life, practiced Judo, Aikido and Tae Kwon Do. I was lucky to have good teachers, all of them. I did Judo from six to 12, then took up Aikido at 13 and held on to it for two years, and at 17 took up Tae Kwon Do. My teacher asked me why I wanted to learn Tae Kwon Do, and when I told him it was for self defense, he recommended that I train for 500 meter dash.
Based on that, we can consider running fast a martial art, although a defensive one. And running is aerobic and will help you trim down.
So I propose, as a weight reduction martial art, to go to the seedy part of town and mouth of to a corner thug. Then run. Run long, run hard, run fast.:rofl2:
There is some truth to what you say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snake
I have been taught Wing Chun since I was 6 years old, also I have 4 years of Krav Maga under my belt in recent years. Did gymnastics all throughout school until I graduated, jogging and walking is very good for the health and dose far more than you might think for you.
Muay Thai... I will guarantee you weight loss. A lot of aerobics and calastnics...simple no belt system and u will really learn to fight. That and bjj are the must knows for mma guys. On a right diet you can sheed at least 10 lbs in a few weeks...I knew guys who used to cut 10 to 15lbs in 2 days..
+1 to what Bruno already pointed out
Although body type can be helpful in some styles, the most important thing is the instructor not the style...
Any form of Martial Art is healthy, some just more than others, also keep in mind that "Martial Arts" are actually two words :) some arts are way more "Martial" than "Art" and it sounds like you are leaning more toward one of the "Art" styles so look for an instructor that leaning that way also...
Nowadays with the rise in popularity in MMA we now have 3 distinct methodologies out there...
The old style "War Arts" that are designed to incapacitate an attacker on the street...
The "Esoteric Arts" that strive for inner strength and balance...
and finally the "Ring Arts" that teach just that, how to fight in the ring..
Make sure you decide which you are truly after, then seek out an instructor that offers that...
Good luck in finding the right school the first time...
Glen is right on the money,
I was able to find an instructor which covers all 3 of the styles over a week. Performance MA for competition a bit like dance and not really my thing.
Traditional martial arts, line work, patterns/kata, sparring
Competative MMA fight training
all mixed in with heavy duty fitness training.
I'm not currently training as being self employed in the current economic climate and getting to classes regularly are not compatible at the moment. Pitching up every so often is as far as I'm concerned disrespectful, which as a Black Belt in my organisation isn't something I would be happy with.
There are some shockingly bad McDojos out there the biggest challenge is finding a good club and instructor, the style is far less important.
Best of luck
I have no clue as to how people find the time these days to practice all these arts, it took me most of my young life to learn Wing Chun ip style to the point where I actually graduated with honors and was offered to teach in my school I began at.
I think these day's too many do too much, diluting arts to me is ok to a point but it seems that is all any one dose these day's and it is sad that many may go extinct and only remnants may remain one day. I suppose I believe in a pure form of an art, and I believe Wing Chun is a match for most of not all if the user is intelligent and uses their head and knows when and how to improvise. ;)
Close to 30, huh? Wow, brother, you're really getting up there! Take it from me, who has successfully crossed the half century mark: You're in a great place to start seriously training in anything you want, and if you take good care of yourself, that will last well into your 40's., at least!
TaiChi is fantastic, but I would not approach it from the perspective of wanting to lose weight. As you start coming into a more balanced state of mind and body through the diligent practice of TaiChi, you may find that weight loss is incidental, and maybe not. I know a few very serious and gifted practitioners of TaiChi (Yang style short form), and although they are all very healthy, the buddha belly is not uncommon among the group.
By all means, if you're attracted to it, start doing TaiChi. Credentials don't really mean a whole lot IMHO, some teachers will always be a better fit for you than others, and you'll tell whether someone is a good teacher or not by whether they can help you make progress in achieving your goals.
If you want to lose weight, you won't get around some intense metabolic conditioning, aerobic conditioning and strength training. Those three areas are covered very well in boxing/kickboxing or MMA training. You may actually find that regular TaiChi practice complements those activities very well, and will aid your recovery after intense training sessions.
Best wishes for your success!
I've read this entire thread and it seems that there are some common misconceptions here regarding Tai Chi. Unfortunately most North Americans see Tai Chi as a granny's slow aerobic class when nothing could be further from the truth. It is a true, legitimate form of Chinese Gong Fu, just like Crane or Tiger or any of the other Shaolin affliliated styles. It's original form was/is fast, and although it is largely an internal form it was originally conceived as a very deadly style. Granny's martial art it is not.
Somewhere along the line, perhaps because it does have a heavy emphasis on the use of chi and employs sweeping graceful movements, it became known as a tranquil excercise routine. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, other than the fact most people have no clue about its true origins. I suppose its typical Chinese ying/yang - deadly yet tranquil....
I've been fortunate enough to observe and converse with a true master, a former world Tai Chi champion straight from the old country whose family developed one of the modern styles. If possible seek out a master and see for yourself (as opposed to some dude down at the Y). Or else, if interested in seeing Tai Chi in its old form, I'd recommend watching Jet Li's "The Tai Chi Master", which showcases this old style the way it was meant to be.