I trained karate when I was about 8. Then Taekwondo and back to karate, shukokai and shorin ryu. I then did a bit of San Shou.
In '95 I started BJJ and I do some boxing as well. I’ll be taking a break soon to get my neck fixed.
Currently doing Vale Tudo with a well known UK team, getting owned on a regular basis but hope to make my debut sometime in the New Year.
Boxing now for 6 years and before that did various forms of Kung Fu for about 10 years and a little bit of Muay Thai too.
Is anyone in AZ? If not, does anyone know of any decent schools (any style) in AZ?
ToShinDo yes I do train there on Saturdays.
Levi1 I know a couple of very good schools in AZ; here they are in there respective categories choose the school by what you want to learn weather it’s self defense or a sporting style like BJJ:
Self defense/reality combat schools:
- Krav Maga center in Phoenix or Chandler locations
- Phoenix Quest Center (modern Ninjitsu) -instructor trained in Japan with the grand master and trained with Stephen K Hayes.
Sport schools/clubs:
- Arizona Combat Sports (Kickboxing and BJJ)- world champion and renowned instructors, probable the best place for BJJ in the state.
- Rick Rufus?s ?Jet Center? (Kickboxing and BJJ)- Rick Rufus (head instructor) is a 6 time world kickboxing champion as well as a K-1 champion and Legend.
Traditional schools:
- Kodenkan of phoenix
- Chinese Shao-Lin center-instructor is a real monk he used to live in Tibet until it fell to china.
- Leininger Olympic Judo-instructor was world champion and a Olympic medallist.
Notable mentions:
- Bruasa academy- instructor never interred or trained for NHB/MMA yet trains fighters in that area.
- Megaton BJJ center- instructor too involved with student conditioning/ not enough time in actual BJJ. I went there for a week, he had the class doing conditioning drills the entire time! I don?t go to martial arts schools to get better conditioned I go to learn about the martial art, conditioning is secondary.
There are very few good Martial arts schools in AZ the ones I listed above are by far the best in the state with world or Olympic champion instructors.
Hope that Helps.
Levi1. I echo Boss’s comments about the Krav Centers and Leninger’s Judo in Phoenix. I trained at Leninger’s before moving over to Krav. A great group of guys there. Mostly brown and black belts, so you learn by fire quickly.
I am a big fan of Krav. Check out the website for the Phoenix and Chandler centers (they are related).
I love training at the Quest Center. When I started training, I didn’t expect to actually see Stephen Hayes. But he was there on my first day, and I trained with him later on that week, and several times since then. Seeing him move and feeling the effect of his techniques makes me want to aim for that kind of proficiency. Rumiko is amazing too, one night I had many half-moon fingernail marks in my neck from grabs to the jugular. There was a show about the Ninja on the Discovery Channel in the spring. Mr. Hayes played a large role in it, and demonstrated some cool things. I’m lucky to live so close to Dayton!
To-Shin Do
BOSS and scottyz - I appreciate the referrals.
I have been doing judo for about 1 1/2years now.
I presently do Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu and am fortunate enough to have an outstanding instructor as well as many great NHB fighters in the school to roll with. I have been here several weeks and the conditioning is still kicking my ass. The school is a rarity in that it has legit ties to the Gracie Lineage, a lot say they do to cash in but it tends to mean a lot of times that the person running it trained in Gracie Jiu Jutsu, but not with any of the family. My instructor is from Rio and is personal friends with the family and has trained under them for many, many years.
Before that, some boxing, and dabbling (which does not mean that much I know) in Kenpo, and Isshinryu. My main art is Ninjutsu, and my sensei taught many forms and elements of combat that are universal to all Japanese arts, which is what Budo is all about. Thus elements of Kendo, Judo, Aikido, ukemi, wrist grabs and so on. It really is a versatile, highly adaptable art.
One thing I don’t think many here may be into (who knows?) is the internal side, which I have pursued for years either in the form of study, meditation, or practicing internal arts, like Tai chi, which I’ve done for a little while. The cool thing about martial arts is that there is such a spectrum, in that you can take it as extrinsic (sports, combat) or intrinsic (spiritual, philosophical) as you like. I can say that the internal side can lead to seeing through the illusion of life, but the journey getting to it is unique to everyone.
I consider myself a mediocre martial artist really, and that is because the intangibles such as pacing and “flow” I have not mastered, so I have not always “felt” it, which is ultimately what its all about. But I am finally starting to, which is also what its about, and why I train. Balance and well roundedness, and the continued search for knowledge, wisdom, and self improvement.
I’ve trained in a variety of styles over the past 13 years. Most of the time, I’ve been studying multiple styles concurrently.
2-1/2 years of TKD/Sport Karate
2-1/2 years of Aikido
4-1/2 years Japanese Jujutsu (DZR)
5-1/2 years Judo
6 years BJJ (Rickson Org.) *
1 year Ninjutsu (baloney version)
1-1/2 years Chen Tai Chi & Chi Gung
6 years Shinbudo Cross-Training *
1-1/2 years Inayan Escrima *
3 months Capoeira Capuraginga
- = currently practicing
I’m not terribly advanced, in my opinion, but I have a large toolbox. Work, injuries, and having to move has prevented me from training consistently enough to attained full instructor ranking in any of these arts. In 2001 I placed in 3 of 4 divisions I entered in the Midwest Submission Grappling Championships. After it became a NAGA event in 2002 I medaled again. I will return this fall if my schedule allows me to train consistently.
I know a little about Krav Maga (Israeli military, right?) but I’ve never really heard about how the techniques are. Could anyone that’s taken it fill me in? I’ve heard there’s a good school near me and I’d kind of like to check it out (given more time and money…) Also, I’ve heard the name Vale Tudo, and that’s about all I know. Any info or good sites about either style would be appreciated!
To-Shin Do
Hi,
Me JKD, mma
My girlfriend, Combat Submission Wrestling, JKD, Pekiti tirsia Kali and a little Silat
Where’s your fight in quabec??
-LP
Aikido & JuJitsu from about 1973 to 1990.
Played around with Judo / Karate for a few of months.
Also did a little sword / jo work with the Aiki,
Old dax