New to Martial Art Sport need help

[Uncle Max]

Hello, I want to start taking Martial Art classes. I've never taken any classes other than watching Kufu Theater Sat. Noon.
So I live in Houston and there's a great TKD school in Sugar Land and theres a WingTsun school down the street. WingTsun looks pretty cool but I don't know any one that's taken it.
I have a friend that I work with thats a 3rd Deg blackbelt in TKD that I can ask but I wanted to see what other folks think of WingTsun.
What would you guys suggest?

[JKD_Jay]

Check out both schools, and see which one makes you feel more comfortable. Some TKD schools are more point fighting/forms oriented, which may or may not be what you're after. Don't be limited by location either. I am completely unfamiliar with the part of the country you're in, but is it possible to expand your search area? An extra 15 or 20 minutes in the car would be worth it if you found the school that was perfect for you...

[Uncle Max]

Well as for the Area both schools are about 30min-1hr drive.
Traffic sux in Houston. The TKD school is good by what I hear TKD students. Many in that school do Olympic stuff http://www.ustu.com/index-a.html

What I'm not sure is about the WingTsun style a form of KungFu. It seems there aren't too many people that know about it. I saw some Vids and it looks pretty cool. But since I'm not in martial Arts it maybe just my juvenile idea of Martial Arts. I'd like to have a lot of hand and feet movements not just kicking. Maybe even weapons after doing in it for a while. Like using staffs and things of that nature.

[Uncle Max]

The TKD school is Elite TKD Center (Sugarland)

Hi Uncle Max!

There are two basic strands of unarmed Martial Arts - Striking and Grappling.

Both Taekwondo and Wing Chun are striking arts, but still couldn't be more different. Taekwondo specialises in very impressive lookind high kicks. However, you need years of practice to make them effective. Wing Chun has very fast punches (though they are not as strong as, say, a western boxers) and low kicks. They fight close up and have developed something called "chi sao", which is where they keep their arms in contact with their opponent and can react to an opponents movements before the eye has even seen them.

The above descriptions are VERY brief, but give you a little flavour.

The grappling arts are things like Judo (if you've seen that on the television). Nowadays the best known grappling art is probably Brazillian Jiu Jitsu. In the 1990's no rules competitions took place and a Brazillian famly called the Gracie's cleared up. People who have studied their arts (and incorporated it into their own) have beaten them,but rarely. Their general strategy is to take their opponent ot the floor and then use ground wrestling moves to make them submit (i.e. strangles or arm locks etc.)

Many agree that the best arts are those that combine striking with grappling. And that is how the participants in Mixed martial Arts events now train.

I think it would be true to say that Thai Boxing has an exceptionally good reputation as a striking art. Why not combine that with Judo (as there are Judo clubs all over the place).

Anyway, as long as you find something that suits you, thats the main thing. Good luck.

[CHOKE UK]

Uncle Max , i agree with BRI THAI,
You also have to consider what suits you.
By that i mean, some people may enjoy a more passive martial art greatly and so do it for many years, but they then try to step up to a more aggressive one, and get a SHARP SHOCK!
As Bri-thai mentioned thai-boxing has a good reputation, but i have seen many other martial artists, blackbelts included, come into the muay thai class very confident and step into the ring full of themselves with lots of fancy high kicks and ellaborate blocks etc, but get the shock of their lives as a mediocre thai boxer, goes right through them.
But this doesnt suit everybody, as it if full-contact and you need to be very fit ,dedicated and strong minded.
So it depends on the individual
Many full contact martial art classes have very high drop put rates. So sometimes its best to start with something with less contact. Although this is not as effective, it is better than dropping out and doing nothing.
And if you have never tried anything before, then although you may think you know how you will feel about it, you wont until you actually do one for a while. And remember there are good/bad teachers in every martial art. But good luck

[Uncle Max]

Thanks Guys, well I'm going to try WingTsun tonight. Like you guys said since I'm so new to the sport I think I won't know what I'll really like untill I try it. Too many styles and so little time.
I'm glad you guys have this forum to help out the newbies.

Thanks a lot guys!!!!

[TracyKarate]

Bullies and cowards live by their "reputations". I believe good training will in turn put you in a good state of mind. This will set you free of a lot of the egos and "chest-puffing" that is unfortunately prevelant in some schools today. Choose whichever school will help you grow spiritually as well as physically and mentally. You will thank me for this later!

[TracyKarate]

Bullies and cowards live by their "reputations". I believe good training will in turn put you in a good state of mind. This will set you free of a lot of the egos and "chest-puffing" that is unfortunately prevelant in some schools today. Choose whichever school will help you grow spiritually as well as physically and mentally. You will thank me for this later!
Also, try to steer away from training that is sport oriented. If self defense is what you are looking for make sure the school you choose addresses real life street situations into their teachings. Sportive combat is in certain instances acceptable but overall very limited.

Don't women repeat themselves? I mean they go on and on. They would repeat themselves word for word but, because they say so much, they often try to repeat themselves but end up saying something a little bit different.

Do you know what I mean?

[Uncle Max]

Originally posted by TracyKarate
Bullies and cowards live by their "reputations". I believe good training will in turn put you in a good state of mind. This will set you free of a lot of the egos and "chest-puffing" that is unfortunately prevelant in some schools today. Choose whichever school will help you grow spiritually as well as physically and mentally. You will thank me for this later!
Also, try to steer away from training that is sport oriented. If self defense is what you are looking for make sure the school you choose addresses real life street situations into their teachings. Sportive combat is in certain instances acceptable but overall very limited.

Thanks Tracy!!!! I went Monday night and self defense is what I guess WingTsun is for because that's what they focused on all night long. The class is small and the instructor seems like he's really trying to help the students. The first hour was showing a form or what ever they call the move. The Second hour the students paired up and one was the attacker and the other person defended him/her self with what they were just tought.

Uh Hey Bri-- I wonder if women repeat themselves because mostly we don't listen. Women start talking : Blah Blah Blah Blah Hey are you listening!! Blah Blah Blah.
Hehehe

[Flash]

It seems like you're already settled into the Wing Tsun school but you might also want to check out Tim Mousel's school (and no, I am not Tim Mousel in disguise).

[Uncle Max]

Originally posted by Flash
It seems like you're already settled into the Wing Tsun school but you might also want to check out Tim Mousel's school (and no, I am not Tim Mousel in disguise).

Where here in Houston?
I only found another school in Houston that tought WingTsun and it was the Houston WingTsun school. Like a chapter from Austin or something.

[Flash]

LOL - yes, Tim Mousel has a school in Houston. You know, Tim Mousel - the guy who's the administrator of this webpage. I don't have his phone number handy but you might try posting a 'Hey, Tim - where's your school post?' if you're interested.

[Uncle Max]

Originally posted by Flash
LOL - yes, Tim Mousel has a school in Houston. You know, Tim Mousel - the guy who's the administrator of this webpage. I don't have his phone number handy but you might try posting a 'Hey, Tim - where's your school post?' if you're interested.

Ahhh and he teaches WingTsun?