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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: The One and Only Mo on December 03, 2012, 10:37:14 PM

Title: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: The One and Only Mo on December 03, 2012, 10:37:14 PM
Nu?
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 03, 2012, 10:42:26 PM
I have for many years! What is nu?
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 03, 2012, 10:47:06 PM
I have for many years! What is nu?

What? Who? So? Well?
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: briann on December 03, 2012, 10:48:49 PM
I took Judo for a couple years...


Hiiiii   YA!!!!
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Lisa on December 03, 2012, 11:34:45 PM
No but I want to start. 

Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: briann on December 03, 2012, 11:43:20 PM
Judo sucks, I did it too, only cool thing is back flips, the tripping push thing, and submissions. I've done a list of fighting styles.

I disagree... It integrated well with learning take-downs which I integrated with freestyle wrestling... which is one of the reasons I wanted to learn it....  After a couple years of Judo.... I became much more efficient at getting my opponent down with minimal effort.... even guys larger than me.... and occasionally.. I used the throwing techniques as well... but not as much.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Lisa on December 03, 2012, 11:48:37 PM
I don't know which type of martial arts to start with. 

I want to get physically and mentally tough.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: briann on December 03, 2012, 11:49:01 PM
We also integrated a bit of Sambo as well....  I still remember a few Sambo moves... but Im so out of shape at the moment... I'd probably pass out if I tried them now.

By the way... many great fighters including Fedor and Silva rely on Judo fundamentals.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 03, 2012, 11:52:19 PM
No coincidence... On my Youtube page this video was just recommended.... On Judo..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Mql3YcahY
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: mord on December 04, 2012, 07:06:29 AM
http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/showthread.php/721-Richard-Barathy-American-Combat-Karate/page6?s=5e7b872c61ef5301764b8be72c4be059   






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V_cF3UQAVw   




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiGBsEK05CQ&feature=plcp
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: syyuge on December 04, 2012, 09:05:12 AM
Judo Karate for an year. But practice it still now in regular pattern.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Lisa on December 04, 2012, 11:42:48 AM
Most karate is garbage except for Kyokushin Karate, so probably stay away. Boxing will get you fit fast, but the style is limited, and you really don't want to get hit in the head or the boob. Kickboxing is cooler. Muay Thai is the most devastating at close range, but impractical usually, because you can easily kill someone, I caused my friend internal bleeding in his head and I wasn't even trying, so you'd basically want to use it if someone has a weapon, but then you'd end up close range. Krav Maga if you want to learn fast and for weapons training and defence, but it's known as an incomplete style, but great for cool moves, and ninjitsu that some have recreated is super cool sneak up and crack heads spy stuff, but better for counters than self defense. Learn them all, and I will marry you.

Thank you but I'm afraid I'm a bit too old.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: The One and Only Mo on December 04, 2012, 12:24:11 PM
I wonder if Chaim still keeps up with his Martial Arts training?
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 04, 2012, 12:43:41 PM
If I had to choose one for self defense it would be... a hybrid karate system like what mord said like ACK, Jeet kune do, Krav maga,Kenpo, Kajukenbo, or a traditional Japanese jujitsu system.

 I do not believe one system is superior to another, you get out of it what you put into it, and keep an open mind. I believe in building a strong foundation in something and then adding techniques from other systems, that way you are more able to adapt to different types of people and take them out of their element. IMO.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 04, 2012, 08:51:43 PM
Lisa, you might like Shaolin White Crane. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is one of my favorite authors and artists, and last I knew he was in the New York area.

 http://ymaa.com/
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: mord on December 05, 2012, 06:20:13 AM
Lisa, you might like Shaolin White Crane. Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming is one of my favorite authors and artists, and last I knew he was in the New York area.

 http://ymaa.com/
I have a friend who has been studying kung fu for over 40 yrs he lives near the Great neck train station
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: JTFenthusiast on December 05, 2012, 10:13:23 AM
I don't know which type of martial arts to start with. 

I want to get physically and mentally tough.

Kung Fu. When I started my HR was like in the 160s, they work you so hard.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: IsraeliGovtAreKapos on December 05, 2012, 10:54:31 AM
karate kyokushin kai for 6 years since I was 5/6 (don't remember), Krav Maga and Muay Thai for two years (13-15)
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: IsraeliGovtAreKapos on December 05, 2012, 10:59:15 AM
Most karate is garbage except for Kyokushin Karate, so probably stay away. Boxing will get you fit fast, but the style is limited, and you really don't want to get hit in the head or the boob. Kickboxing is cooler. Muay Thai is the most devastating at close range, but impractical usually, because you can easily kill someone, I caused my friend internal bleeding in his head and I wasn't even trying, so you'd basically want to use it if someone has a weapon, but then you'd end up close range. Krav Maga if you want to learn fast and for weapons training and defence, but it's known as an incomplete style, but great for cool moves, and ninjitsu that some have recreated is super cool sneak up and crack heads spy stuff, but better for counters than self defense. Learn them all, and I will marry you.

kyokushin kai is a recipe for getting killed in the street. It's good only in the arena (and it's filled with jap paganism, the symbol on the left part of the suit, the names of the kicks and punches and even the katas are names of jap idols)
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Lisa on December 05, 2012, 12:12:36 PM
Thanks for the link Ephraim.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 05, 2012, 07:15:18 PM
I would agree with Ron to avoid any arts which require Avodah Zarah. In that Judo clip which I posted there were two scenes were the hosts were asked to bow to an idol... This is expressly forbidden for a Jew to ever bow to a statue...

Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Manch on December 05, 2012, 08:36:29 PM
Judo - black belt
Tae Kwon Do - Red Belt/Black stripe
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 05, 2012, 08:56:53 PM
Thanks for the link Ephraim.
Your welcome!
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 05, 2012, 09:02:43 PM
I would agree with Ron to avoid any arts which require Avodah Zarah. In that Judo clip which I posted there were two scenes were the hosts were asked to bow to an idol... This is expressly forbidden for a Jew to ever bow to a statue...
You do have to be careful, but a bow is like a sign of respect, like a handshake. Not like bowing to Muhammad.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 05, 2012, 10:21:30 PM
You do have to be careful, but a bow is like a sign of respect, like a handshake. Not like bowing to Muhammad.

Bowing to a statue is obviously 'strange worship' to a Jew... In the video I posted about Judo they bowed at a shrine...
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 05, 2012, 10:24:34 PM
http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2007/02/kosher_combat.html

http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/2635/Q1/


Urbana/Champaign

Dear Rabbi,
I am thinking about taking a class in Tae Kwan Do this semester to get some exercise. After sitting in on the first class, it seems that there is a lot of bowing involved, in addition to various "spiritual" lessons: Students are supposed to bow to the training room, to each other, to the instructor. The instructor told me that this bowing is a typical gesture of respect, that it is bi-directional (instructors bow to students too), and is not a supplication. Given the Purim story, however, I am hesitant to participate in this class. Do you know of any conflicts between this type of martial art and Judaism? I appreciate your time, and thanks for the great "Ask the Rabbi" column!

Dear Ari Trachtenberg,

Bowing to people as a gesture of respect is perfectly okay. Abraham bowed to his guests (Genesis 18:2), the brothers bowed to Joseph (Genesis 42:6) and Moses bowed to his father-in-law (Exodus 18:6). So if Tae Kwan Do bowing is nothing more than a gesture of respect toward others, I see no problem with it. If however, they are bowing to an object or the room that would be forbidden.
Why then in the Purim episode did Mordechai refuse to bow to Haman? The Midrash answers that Haman claimed divine powers for himself. He even went so far as to attach an idolatrous icon to his clothing. Under these circumstances, bowing to him was tantamount to bowing to an idol.

Sources:
Rashi on Megillat Esther 3:2
Ibn Ezra, ibid.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Ephraim Ben Noach on December 05, 2012, 10:33:47 PM
Thank you Muman, I didn't even have to respond!
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: Havok on December 06, 2012, 02:27:12 AM
I had to bow to a photo of the founder of judo, i must have been 13 at the time, and thought it was idolatry. Is that a sign of respect or not?

That sounds like more of a sign of respect since it's to the man who created that particular martial art.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 06, 2012, 02:45:02 AM
That sounds like more of a sign of respect since it's to the man who created that particular martial art.

It still may not be permitted to a Jew.... I am not a Halachic authority (Jewish law) but I believe that there is a law that says that we are not even permitted to do something which has the appearance of being Idol worship. But I will leave it up to others to decide.
Title: Re: Anybody ever take (or currently taking) Martial Arts?
Post by: muman613 on December 06, 2012, 02:46:43 AM
For those interested in this aspect of Jewish law here is a mention of this topic in a Dvar Torah @ http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/kahn/archives/shoftim69.htm

Quote
Appearance of transgression prohibited

This is why the Halachic authorities often prohibit particular acts since they may appear to others as a transgression of a Torah commandment. There is a dual reason for this. First of all, a person should not put himself into a situation where others would suspect that he is doing something wrong. Secondly, we should always keep in mind that whatever we do others will take example from and may emulate what they think we are doing. In this way, the Torah educates us to be responsible, not only for our own personal acts, but also for our influence on others.