Instructional Tapes Dilemma

[avelocci]

I am currenty taking TKD at a GTF (smaller version of ITF) self-defense academy. I am looking to learn more martial arts but just can't find the time. I was hoping to find some good grappling, mauy thai and boxing videos which I can train by to improve myself as an all around fighter. Does anyone have any suggestions?

(P.S. Any ideas of any MA would be greatly appreciated)

Sincerly,
Andrew Velocci

[wardancer]

Good of you to TKD..
Compete as hard you can...TKD is good for competition...Using your MA in a competitive enviroment is the closest thing you will get to pratice your hard earned MA skills without getting in trouble with the Laws.
Unfortunitely, you cannot learn grappling by video tape...
Try any form of grappling classes that is available around you...It will do fine...
Good luck..keep me posted

[wardancer]

When it comes to strikings,
Try some low kicks with your friends outside the usual TKD training...read about Muy Thai low Kick (it is good..or send me message for more details..I am busy and only read this forum once a week)
You will need more pads work-out (punching bags is necessary) most MA classes do not have money for equipments so be ready to invest in some punching pads/bag using your known skills.
Try to train against punch against face: it is the most common strike in street fight ..good luck

[CKD]

Try some bjj classes. If you can't there are some good tapes. There are the ones at www.gracieacademy.com that are very good. Also go to www.groundfighter.com and check out Pedro Cs videos. They are good for beginners and give you an overview of all parts of BJJ, sport bjj, vale tudo bjj, and self defense bjj. I would not suggest Sperry's master series because they are for advanced practicioners but the Sperry VT tape will be good after watching Pedro C's series if you want to learn more BJJ VT stuff.

[Thai Bri]

Do you want to learn sport type fighting or reality based self defence?

[avelocci]

I was looking for reality based defense. The reaoson why I said grappling asnd punching in peticular is because I realized TKD neglects that.

Sincerly,
Andrew Velocci

[avelocci]

Good of you to TKD..
Compete as hard you can...TKD is good for competition...Using your MA in a competitive enviroment is the closest thing you will get to pratice your hard earned MA skills without getting in trouble with the Laws.
Unfortunitely, you cannot learn grappling by video tape...
Try any form of grappling classes that is available around you...It will do fine...
Good luck..keep me posted
________________________________________________________________

CKD thnx for the sites I greatly appreciate it. Wardancer, funny story regarding grappling dojo's. My freind (Who takes Shoalin Kempo Karate) and I went down to the dojo to talk about the techniques they teach. Unfortunately something came up when the master insulted my friends knowlage and they started to argue. Right before we left my friend yelled "MY KUNG-FU beats yours" and the master turned and started after us so we jetted out the door. I guess you can say im kind of banished from the place, cuz if I go back there im gonna get my as* kicked. Ill try to find some others though.

Sincerly,
Andrew Velocci

[wardancer]

Keep searching for a grappling school, you will eventually find something worth paying for.
You don't have to focus on the BJJ just because it is popular.
I had to wait 5 years and move to a different country to be able to train BJJ with a Brazilian instructors. Meanwhile, I kept doing other MA. But just like you, I always had in the back of my mind the need of training in grappling.
Any form of grappling (judo etc..) that has a healthy competition team/system will do as it is important to be able to use your MA skills against 'un-willing' partners.
For kick-boxing, try to gather some of your TKD friends and talk them into having a bit of 'un-ortodox' TKD training using some Muy Thai moves.

[avelocci]

Im gonna try my hardest 2 get some grapple training in but the problem is im on a pretty tight schedule. I just thought that if I got some tapes I could do them in my free time. I will eventually get to a grappling school cuz its something I feel like I must do to further myself as a fighter. And about TKD with my friends, I couldn't agree with you more. The kicking system is good for foot movement but often not enough. Hand skills are definately needed in street conflict and compitition and im trying hard to persuade my master and my best friend to teach me some of the Kung-Fu Wing Chun they know.

(P.S. Im actually very surprised my master doesnt try to incorperate some Wing Chun into our lesson, I guess the guy is really conservative.)

Sincerly,
Andrew Velocci

[Thai Bri]

Go here

www.senshido.com

or here

www.geoffthomson.com

for excellent realit based fighting tapes, including grappling type applications.

[CKD]

I would suggest a BJJ tape. I never really found much of those "Reality Based arts" very effective. They have some o.k things along the phsycological aspect but for the moves I would just grab a bjj set. Pedro C's and Rorion tapes are best for beginners.

[Thai Bri]

That is so right. I mean, what else would you do when fighting for your life but take one of them down and put them in your guard?

[CKD]

Originally Posted by Thai Bri

That is so right. I mean, what else would you do when fighting for your life but take one of them down and put them in your guard?

Uhhh or you could do a double leg, mount and start punching. Have you even trained with Dimitri? Why would you recomend these tapes over others? You just go off blabbing about how great they are without giving a single reason.

[CHOKE UK]

I should imagine that if Bri Thai rates them so highly,
then its not for nothing.
Bri Thai is no fool so they must have some qualities.
There are many tapes out there that are fit only for using to tape over with a football match, but I for one would be eager to investigate further.

[CKD]

I trained with Dimitri and I did not find everything the best in the world, the grappling defenitely was not at the level of BJJ so I would like to see he rates it so highly.