I need help

[papa]

Im NJ too

Yo man i live in Jersey and i would love to help you...Just tell me where you live and i can help you.


peace
Papa

[gregimotis]

For good self-defense arts you are getting good advice so far... Boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, Kali-escrima(its filipino, mostly having to do with sticks and knives) also if Krav Maga is around, look into that - it's isreali and it's mean.


There are a couple things you need to understand about Self defense and martial arts besides what art to learn.

The first is that Martial arts can take a lot of work before they are useful for 'street' fighting. Karate/kung fu might take years, whereas Muay Thai or Mixed martial arts or some of those mentioned here will take less time BUT they will also hurt more to learn. By that I mean, you will get bruises, you will be sore and tired, you will get used to being hit and thrown around and it will still take a long time before you can 'defend yourself'.
I'm not saying this to discourage you, I'm trying to help you suceed. Many many people start martial arts, stick with it about two months, then disappear, don't be that person. You have too get through that first 6 months before it really starts to get fun. After that, though, its a blast.

Okay that's number one, number two is:
Everybody gets picked on when they are young (I'm guessing you're young - sorry if I'm wrong), some more than others, but everybody goes through it. If you think you're getting picked on because you're small, you might consider signing up for a weight training class at your school (or community college) in addition to martial arts. Getting big muscles probably takes about the same time as martial arts anyway. This won't make you a good fighter, and it might not help with the bullies, but it would probably make you feel better, right? Almost always, if you feel better about yourself, the bullies don't bother you as much. Usually bullies are picking on people who look weak (not weak as in skinny, weak as in not happy about themselves).

Number three:
Martial arts can be great fun, and you meet a lot of really cool people. You can get in great shape and you will never run out of new things to learn. Even if you don't end up liking the first art you choose, you can always start a different one and learn a completely different way of fighting. Take the good advice on this forum, choose a school, STICK WITH IT for a while, and try to make friends with the people in your school. Don't worry too much at first about learning to fight, just go and have fun. You will learn to fight eventually, but by the time you get there, you probably won't have to.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do.
And welcome to the forum.

[Gotaiken]

hahaha

someone said the same thing on another martial arts forum.....


I need help!!!
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hello, im not in any martial arts, but im really small and i get picked on, what martial art should i do, and can anyone give me any advice.

Leigh R
Yellow Belt
Posts: 101
(24/12/03 17:59)
Reply
Re: I need help!!!
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violence is not the way. address the reasons you get picked on. do you stare at womens' breasts when they are with their boyfriends? there are plenty of small people out there that don't get picked on

(lol, just thought about my first sentence and then the signature below)

Gotaiken
White Belt
Posts: 2
(24/12/03 18:00)
Reply trust me
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please just trust me when i say i get picked on, please just trust me, im 18 and i look like im 13, i dont know why but i get picked on, ive tried to do everything in my power to stop it, but i get picked on, just trust me on this.

Leigh R
Yellow Belt
Posts: 102
(24/12/03 18:04)
Reply
Re: trust me
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no

who picks on you? why do they pick on you? just cos you look young?

prevention is better than cure

Gotaiken
White Belt
Posts: 3
(24/12/03 18:12)
Reply i cant explain it
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please, before u assume that you understand my situation, assume that i know what im talking about, people do stuff to me cause they know i cant do anything back, you dont know me, you dont know how people act towards me, and you dont know why, i dont mean to be rude, but im sick of being picked on, just pretend that i know what im talking about and give me some advice that i can actually use.

[Gotaiken]

stats

im 18, 5,0 and i live in westampton nj, in burlington county

[Gotaiken]

my size has really been a problem for me, because i have no training, my reflexes for blocking is not there, there for i have to rely on what my body can naturally do, and reach is something im not built for, so im pretty screwed. im stuck with a body type that needs proper reflexes and skill but i have none, im very quick and very strong for my size, im benching about 200lbs max, but my strenght and speed arent the problem, because i have no skill in learning how to judge distance, or appropiate timing, im left at a terrible disadvantage, when i was younger i had someone to spar with (i could fight way better then) but now as i have no one, my muscle memory for blocking and slipping is gone and whenever someone attacks im too slow in the reflex area to use my body to reposition itself so i end up in a clinch
(good thing is im really strong and close to the ground, i can easily slam people around, and im fairyly good on the ground, as far as natural instincts go) but i need to develop standing fighting skills.

[CKD]

Seriously have you checked out the websites of the schools I posted? The all teach martial arts known for being effective in combat. Also read up on the Gracies they were small dudes that could take on anyone. All those problems you have had with reflexes and things can be solved if you get into the martial arts. I suggest you look at the schools websites I posted and find the one nearest to you.

[CKD]

Heres a few other suggestions. Find strength in numbers no one is going to mess with you if you have your pals around. Also learn the pre emptive strike which basically means strike first. If you feel like there is going to be a fight and it cannot be avoided strike first. Like run your hand through your hand through your hair nervously and when your hand reaches the back of your head chop his neck. Just strike first. Also like I have said before check out those schools I have posted and get the book The Gracie Way for tales of small dudes whippin big guys.

[Gotaiken]

looking now

[Gotaiken]

my friends cant help anymore then i can....

[Gotaiken]

how enlightening....

[Gotaiken]

thanx everyone

thanx a lot, you helped me a great deal

[BadgerFu57]

Let us know what you find.

And also.... don't go around chopping people.... it just doesn't seem nice. If they are just verbally teasing you, it sucks, but it's no reason for violence. If they get physical though..... I guess you have a right to defend yourself.

[Uber_Tap]

my size has really been a problem for me, because i have no training, my reflexes for blocking is not there, there for i have to rely on what my body can naturally do, and reach is something im not built for, so im pretty screwed. im stuck with a body type that needs proper reflexes and skill but i have none, im very quick and very strong for my size, im benching about 200lbs max, but my strenght and speed arent the problem, because i have no skill in learning how to judge distance, or appropiate timing, im left at a terrible disadvantage, when i was younger i had someone to spar with (i could fight way better then) but now as i have no one, my muscle memory for blocking and slipping is gone and whenever someone attacks im too slow in the reflex area to use my body to reposition itself so i end up in a clinch
(good thing is im really strong and close to the ground, i can easily slam people around, and im fairyly good on the ground, as far as natural instincts go) but i need to develop standing fighting skills.

If you are 5'0 tall, and can bench 200 pounds, I'm guessing you are probably a stocky built person, who may or may not be quick, but most likely isn't. You are never going to have a reach advantage, so I would recommend boxing to start with. I believe boxing offers the most effective ways of closing distance.

Most importantly I think you should expand on your ground fighting and take downs. With your low center of gravity and strength you should be damn near impossible to take down, so you should be able to control people in the clinch. You said yourself that's your natural strength, so exploit it.

Use boxing to compliment your natural abilities. Once you can slip punches and close the distance effectively you will be able to trade punches when you have to, and take the person to the ground when you want to.

[bvermillion]

someone said that escrima was good, what is it???

Escrima is a great style. But I dont believe it is what you are looking for unless you are into fighting with sticks.

[CKD]

Under law you are able to strike pre emptively if you feel that you are in danger and especialy if its uneven odds like there big and your small. But only if they if there is violence that can not be avoided like if your surronded by people and the dude pulls up his sleeve and rears back to punch you you can strike. Also post the martial art school you choose and tell us if it goes well please. Its bothers me when somone asks for help in martial arts says he is going to go to a school and never tells us which school he chooses or how it goes. So tell us which school you choose and update us on how it goes once in a while.