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What martial arts have you practiced in the past o are practicing now? And what belt or level did you reach?

I've studied Wing Chun (no, seriously, its called Wing Chun) and Escrima, which is stick fighting, some judo and karate. I have also had training in several other weapons forms (nunchaku, sais, katana, bo staff and long pole) both as an aside to Wing Chun (I know, I just keep saying, it huh?) and on their own.

I mainly took the escrima because one of the instructors and a friend of mine who is a student are both hot HOT HOT!

I started out in WTF TaeKwonDo. I did that for about three years before I had to move, and I was a high blue. Once I moved I joined an Okinawan Kempo club, where I stayed about five years (I still kept up with my TaeKwonDo during that time). Unfortunately, I had to move again for grad school (I had just acquired my brown belt).

But ultimately, its not about the style or the belt that you have; its really about the personal gain that you go through and the dedication to the art that matters in my opinion.

Krav Maga-Level 3
Ninjitsu-Belt was pretty dirty
Capoeria-No rank system used
Arnis-beginner levels
Some tai chi and wu shu

Boxing and ground fighting.

weapons: Sai, bullwhip, katana, shuriken, bo, knife and stick fighting.

Really want to get back into Krav Maga in the spring.

i've just done Karate. Got to blue belt before i quit. but hey i was beating black belts so i don't care. I want to take up jujitsu, but don't have the time

oh and have a Jo and know how to use it a little bit.

I practiced Shotokan Karate to First Kyu, then tested for my black-belt with a shoulder injury and failed, but got a one-month re-exam. Then I went off to college and I had no time to continue, so never got the black-belt

Two years ago I practiced Hung-Ga Kung Fu which is the Chinese predecessor to Shotokan (which is Okinawan), but only for a few months as the instructors were poor teachers (but great at the art itself).

In January I start Qi-Gong and Tai Chi as part of the curriculum of the Traditional Chinese Medicine program I've enrolled in. I'll be practicing those for four years minimum as a mandatory part of the course-work.

I kickboxed only for a semester at college before I had to go overseas and look forward to getting back in to it again.

I used to do a bit of Wing Chun (a martial art originally created by Bruce Lee) but i stopped that after awhile thinking it was too rigid. Then i moved onto capoeira which was good fun but i didn't pursue it because it was a school sport thing and i didn't have the time to go into it outside of school.
Now i want to pick up capoeira again and chen style tai chi.

Rocco...you did Arnis? I studied some Arnis with the Escrima.

And you have a bullwhip? Thats hot...you're like Lara Croft but with a penis (and really hot tattoos...and more muscle...uhh, ok, maybe you're not like Lara Croft at all..)

HTF Tae Kwon Do- assistant instructor, 2nd degree black belt, I still practice frequently.

Also studied hapkido, eskrima (still practice), bo staff, grappling, kickboxing, and pressure point tactics.

the schools I was at didn't just focus on the physical, they also taught history and spirituality behind the arts. I sometimes practice just to re-center and meditate.

Aikido here, just got my brown belt. I studied Tang Soo Do a million years ago, and Hung Gar kung fu.

SKA - Shotokan Karate

Tai Chi Chuan

I used to do Tae Kwon Do in college.

Kyokushin Karate - 1st deg. black belt
Judo when I was a kid, but never got good at it

I have been training in Kendo for years but since I moved to this town I haven't found a descent place to train.

Well, maybe next city.

Tommy... I'd prefer to be the male Elektra LOL

Does Croft us a whip??? I've only ever seen, and enjoyed, the movies.

Yoshokai Aikido, purple belt

Kenpo style kickboxing, no belt system

Well, I started Kickboxing at a local gym and stuck with it for 3 years but never was ranked in a system. Im currently an orange belt in American Karate. I havent really practiced any other forms of fighting. I did receive a few lessons through a boxing gym from someone who taught "street fighting." It was a pretty interesting area of fighting. But thats about it. And I did some gymnastics on and off through school and that definitely helped with flexibilty and hand eye coordination when fighting/sparring.

Has anybody seen that show on The History Channel, I think, called The Human Weapon? It's an interesting survey of all kinds of different martial arts, from Okinawan Karate, to French Savate, Indonesian Silat, and even U.S. and Isreali military fighting systems.
I highly recommend to anyone interested in martial arts. (The 'challenge' set up for the show is kinda cheesy, but still...)

Wing Chun and Silat looked especially cool, imho. ;)

I did Judo and Brazilian Jujitsu (which is a little different from the Japanese style) for two years. My instructor had an Incredibly difficult testing process that had normal minimum training time of 1 year per belt level. I was an orange belt when my instructor got divorced and moved to California. Other than that, I've dabbled in Kashima Shin-ryu and Karate, but had to stop when I moved for college. Haven't found a good school that I like yet. :/

Yeah , i like Human Weapon. the history and cultures and of course the efficacy that go with the various fighting techniques is so fascinating . i now have to figure which of the many offereed in sofl which to study. I'd lke to have he confidence that comes with knowing you can protect yourself and he knowledge of body point weaknesses.
what kind of God would make men's bodies so less perfect than a host of other creatures is a very good question chr. Hitchens asks n one of his boks which i better not name in this forum hehe ! made me have real respect for these

I use to take some taek kwon do class but I dont really enjoy it. It to much step to learn and remember. Latter I take some Thai Kick Boxing class but now I dont live in the city anymore I just train by myself at home. I hope probably one day to take some introductory classes in Bangkok Thailand, just so I know the proper step.

By the way, why is everybody saying Tai Chi is a matial art. As far as I know it just a movement to build your internal power and strengthening your chi. You certainly dont go fighting or defending yourself from anyone.

tai chi is a martial art. contemporary tai chi is primarily used to help cultivate internal energy, and to promote health and longevity, but traditional tai chi is full of martial applications. the concept behind tai chi is responding to an outside force by manipulating it. i'm sure you can google a bunch on tai chi as a martial art.

i practice kung fu, wushu, sanshou, qin na (joint locks), and a little bit of tai chi. my weapons are broadsword, straightsword, chainwhip, and i do a little bit of staff and spear.

WOW! Didnt really know that there were THIS many guys interested/ experienced in the martial arts! AWESOME!

Me: 21 years practice. 7 years Kobayashi Shorin ryu/ Matayoshi Kobudo under Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita. Kyokushinkai Karate. Kodokai Aikido only a few months practice though. 6 years Wushu/ San da with master MA Jin Long, san diego.

I LOVE IT ALL! Hit me up guys. Id love to talk to ya and share ideas!

Hey I know Tae bo! Not really, but this thread really makes me want to take something up. Does anybody have any recommendations on a good one to start. I'm not wanting to join the UFC or anything. I've found my evil glare and a blindingly swift kick in the nuts as a back up plan have protected me most of my life. I'm more looking for something to increase my hand-eye coordination and have some cardiovascular benefit to it. Any ideas?

Let's see, started with Tae Kwon Do in LB, CA in the 70's then switched to this little known school called the Philipino Kali/ Chinese Kickboxing Academy in Harbor City, CA. I had fallen under the able teachings of Danny Inosanto and Richard Bustillo.

Studied Kali, Eschrima/Arnis, JKD, Wing Chun and kickboxing. Did that thru the mid-80's then kinda stopped hitting the studio. Life and work caught up. A couple years ago started up again here in WA with a student of my Guro's student. I have been doing Kali, Arnis, Silat and a touch of JKD still. Don't bang anymore but I've got 3 good minutes to finish you then I run. lol

Richard will be coming up here to do a seminar for us in August. If any of you are interested, hit me up.

....Oh, belts. Humm. Hours matter, belts may not. Knowing is not enough, you have to do.

ITF Taekwon-do

Green belt

Love it.


Mike

All in the past: taekwondo (1 year), hapkido (1 year), aikido (4 years), arnis (goofing off), jiujitsu (1 year).

Would really like to begin training in krav maga soon but am working on healing up some sports injuries first!

Cool to see so many guys on here into martial arts and training.

used to do kung fu like 9 years ago and thinking about practising it again soon.

MMA, submission grappling and some kickboxing

Iwama Aikido - 2nd kyu (roughly equivalent to brown belt)

Its been a while, though... about 12 years, I think, since I actually went to a dojo. I just recently found a dojo here and I'm thinking about starting up again, maybe in the spring.

wushu. my forms include long fist, straight sword, spear, mantis, and taiji.

I've studied Aikido, Muay Thai, and Tai Chi. I want to learn Krav Maga and Iaido.

Tang So Do under Chuck Norris for many years.

hey i have spent the last 5 years in okinawa lerning
goju-ryu karate do and i teach at the y um i also do mui-thy and ju jit tsu i love martial arts

Wow, Arter:

That's HARD CORE!! What was it like in Okinawa?

My parents put in Tae Kwon Do
for 3 years. I was such a chubby
awkward kid in middle school.
I remeber this one instructor
would come in to teach our "self defence"
portion of the class. Man he would use
me as an example and slap the shit out of me.
I stoped when I got to green belt. I miss it
a lot! (not the slapping around though :-P)

tommysguns2000 saidI've studied Wing Chun

w00t Wing Chun! I've been training in Wing Chun for a little over a year and I'm loving it!

I looked at a lot of other styles, but they didn't seem to fit me. Most have a big emphasis on body strength (not a forté of mine);) I considered Wushu Kung Fu, but the schools in my area were handled like military school. Form a line, drill, drill, drill, drill. Then "Try and keep up with a form, see ya next class!"

I also considered Tai Chi, but I didn't want to wait until I was 50 before I started to understand the martial aspects of it....

CharlieT saidI used to do a bit of Wing Chun (a martial art originally created by Bruce Lee) but i stopped that after awhile thinking it was too rigid.

Actually, Charlie, Jeet Kun Do was started by Bruce Lee but based on Wing Chun principles. Bruce Lee did start practicing Wing Chun, under the tutelage of Yip Man, the man who brought Wing Chun to the masses.

As for it being too rigid, yes it is in the beginning. But it's a bit of a paradox... The rigidity allows free flow in a fight. heh, Where do you think Bruce Lee got the idea of "Be like water"?

Tae Kwon Do for five years, made it too black belt but stopped before undergrad. Picked up fencing for the next four years but haven't found a new place to do it since. Looking to either pick up wing chun or krav maga while I"m in israel

tang soo doo

I've just started Brazilian Jujitsu and I've only done it for a month now but I have done tons of sports from hockey, to football, gymnastics, track and field, and roller hockey and this is the most fun

Krav Maga...

Brazilian Jiu JItsu for about 5 years; blue belt; competed at NAGA, Grapplers Quest and Casa Grossa tournaments. Train at a local fight gym 3 - 4 days a week; Train gi 90% of the time; occassionally train no-gi to work my takedowns.

BJJ is the ultimate martial art / grappling system.

TKD as a kid, and most recently Muay Thai. However, I haven't found a school that even remotely compares to Thai tradition. Supposedly westerners cant handle it. In any case, Muay Thai sometimes gets a bad rep because of the MMA schools that don't accurately teach it. That being said there are also a few great MMA schools that do it justice when then they teach it. Don't get me wrong I am not down on MMA, I love it. I am just saying some MMA schools have watered it down beyond recognition. Within a few years I plan to spend some significant time in Thailand on a humanitarian project, hopefully I can find time to find a traditional teacher.

It's incredibly awesome to see so many guys into the martial arts here, most of the guys where I live would be to scared of breaking a nail.

I want to learn so many other martial art forms as well, I am just waiting until I've relocated so I can have more access to some of those styles. It's coming before the year is out.

I have studied Tai Chi for nearly ten years and have also taught it recreationally. It's a martial art and anyone can practice. I advise everyone to start young. You can get into push hands and then it starts getting to be fun.

I've practiced judo since I was 8, currently 3. Dan. I'm a stick-to-one-thing kinda guy so I don't do other styles. also studied for one year in japan training at International Budo University, which has a pretty good judo club. now in Denmark coaching the U-17 national team.

have you ever seen a gay guy beating up a straight guy?and how did it end?

hellooo

I started Krav Maga in the spring - I love it. We've also got fight classes as well. I'm level 1 in Krav (lol, lowest level but whatever, gotta start somewhere) and now I'm level one in the fight classes as well (there was a 10 week intro to fight class that you have to do before level one).

Krav is definitely a workout though, and a lot of fun too

I've been studying Kung Fu for about 8 months now. First my Shi-fu didn't want to do color belt levels, but then he changed his mind. Just to keep track on people's experience. I'm an orange belt and started my first weapons training, the bo staff. My school teaches Tan Tui Tang Lang ( Praying Mantis ) and Choy Lay Fut. The first 2 levels we are required to learn both styles and once in the orange belt level we choose which path to take. I'm choosing praying mantis style. I've also been studying Tai Chi under my Shi-fu. Every since I've join the school I've loved every minute of my training.

If anyone has any tips on increasing flexibility, please I'm all ears. Also if anyone has some great workouts to share, I'd love to hear 'em and exchange workouts.

I did N. Shaolin mantis kung fu for a little while, and have some experience with Aikido as well. I really have been trying to find a nice place to study some more, but am going to wait until I move cities for residency.

I took about 6 months of Kung Fu. I would love to get back into it again. I'd also like to learn some grappling type of arts. But......

TaeKwonDo

I work with bullwhips, snakewhips, and stockwhips. Recently I had some informal training with the same fellow who trained Harrison Ford on whips for the new Indiana Jones film, and my bullwhips are made by the same guy who supplied them for the film. I've been using whips at a serious level since 1981.

I also think Krav Maga is a really cool art.

This is me appearing as Indiana Jones at Legoland last March

I started training in Wu Shu (south fist & long fist) with friends in college. I never attended an academy but i compete with high-colored belts.

I used to love the acrobatics and trikz when i was younger. Now, it takes more effort to get off the ground (lol).

I am a sankyu (brown belt) in kenpo karate, I have been studying for three years

more cat pictures

I just bought a book on Drunken Kung Fu, though I'd prefer a good class and instructor.

Well....I started out just regular street fight as a kid then i got introduced to togakure ninjutsu (wakarimaska?)got yondan then got into judo when UFC just came out back in 91' under Blaine Rhinehart.
Have since trained a bit of tang soo do,american karate,also got my faixa azul in BJJ ( eau falo um poco de portuguese..vce?).
Although i profoundly respect all traditional and MMA
i do still believe that if u train under Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei u will have a understanding what a true martial artist is.

I practice Choi Kwang Do. I've been doing this for just over a year. I'm at the orange belt level now.

Kev

Tae Kwon Do - Chun Do Kwon as a youngster for about 4 years, 2nd degree brown (one more brown left before black). Then I turned 16 and became a stupid teenager. lol.
Really, I went into dance from that, jazz,tap. 4 years of Tae Kwon Do and several years of dance , all of which were on concrete floors I think help cause my feet to hurt so much now. But I loved it.

There was this one time when I attended a few classes of Aikido. The instructor I know is cute. forgot his name. Anyway, I might take it up in the future.

First Degree in TKD

brazilian jiu-jitsu. train at Knuckle Up Fitness, Atlanta, Ga.

I trained in TKD as a kid. got a green belt and got bored.

i trained in bjj in atlanta and then took a 7 month break. i now train in nyc in bjj.

Tae Kwon Do : Black Belt @ age 17, 2nd place in the US at the US TKD Open in Washington DC for my division

Tang Soo Do : Part of my curriculum in TKD

Hung Gar Gong Fu : Advanced Handset & Weapons Level 2

Ing Jow Pai Gong Fu (Eagle Claw) : Handset Level 1, my instructor sucked

Kendo : Private Training 2 years

Kenjutsu : Private Training 2 years

Judo
JuiJitsu
Muay Thai Kickboxing

tommysguns2000 saidRocco...you did Arnis? I studied some Arnis with the Escrima.

And you have a bullwhip? Thats hot...you're like Lara Croft but with a penis (and really hot tattoos...and more muscle...uhh, ok, maybe you're not like Lara Croft at all..)

Interesting.

Arnis is a compulsory part of the military training in high school here. So I learned Arnis too.

Hmm, thought I already posted in here but what the hell..

Tae Kwon Do - 1st Dan Black Belt (was on Tae Park US Tae Kwon Do Tournament team till I had to leave for university)
Aikido Yoshokai - 4th Kyu
Muay Thai - 1 Year
BJJ / Submission Wrestling - 1 Year
Boxing - 4 Years (Off and on training)

Fun, I love fighting.

I practice ITF taekwondo since I was 11 years old. I am a 4th degree black belt.. member of the Puerto Rico's National Team, Junior World Champion in 2006 in Italy, Adult World Champion in 2008 in Canada.

mxdmrtalarts saidJudo
JuiJitsu
Muay Thai Kickboxing

you have cool tatts. where do you train in bjj?

Jiu-jitsu all the way!

I just started Xing-Yi Chuang training for 2 months.

Northern Chinese Mantis Kung Fu...Drunken, and Monkey...

apollodok04 saidI did N. Shaolin mantis kung fu...

Same as Apollo, but still practicing; 2 years now and counting.

Limalama as a kid (american-samoan style) - Black Belt

First level of Krav Maga last year while I was living in Atlanta.

Since I relocated and there are no Krav Maga schools near my area I've just started Muay Thay.

Partclman said

Actually, Charlie, Jeet Kun Do was started by Bruce Lee but based on Wing Chun principles. Bruce Lee did start practicing Wing Chun, under the tutelage of Yip Man, the man who brought Wing Chun to the masses.

As for it being too rigid, yes it is in the beginning. But it's a bit of a paradox... The rigidity allows free flow in a fight. heh, Where do you think Bruce Lee got the idea of "Be like water"?

A movie called "Yip Man" is now on in Asia. A movie about Bruce Lee's Wing Chun master Yip Man. I hope they will play it here in the US.

www.combatsports.com

SKA (Shotokan Karate); I am Ikkyū (Brown belt)

My Sensei is extremely conservative, and many people never achieve black belt status. I have been invited to specials a couple of times, and the next time I think I will probably progress to a Black belt.

I have also done a lot of Judo with my partner Iain, some ju jit tsu, and some Kendo.

I'm a member of the Santa Cruz Bujinkan Dojo (Ninjutsu)
I've been studying it for almost two years and it has been the best experience of my life. Ninja martial arts is one of the most bad ass things you can get into. Ten Thousand Changes, No surprises!

There is really no emphasis on achieving a high rank. Everybody trains with everybody. There are no new techniques; you learn as you get better. You learn them all right out of the gate and you just get better and better at them as your proficiency in the art continues.

I've been doing martial arts since 1994. Done Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do for 15 years. I've also have some training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Shorin-Ryu. I've dabbled with Jeet Kune Do Concepts, and just started taking Filipino Martial Arts = Kali Ilustrisimo.
My weapons: The escrima/kali sticks, knife, nunchaku, jo, and sai

I'm very good as a stand up fighter as well as being comfortable on the ground. I'd like to think my best attributes are my kicking skills. Though I have good hand speed and can trap pretty well.

I like the traditional way of teaching when it comes to structure and especially teaching to a beginner. I also like the reality-based training of using high impact shields and gear for the purpose of self perservation. Simulation training is a must if the school has a focus of true "self-defense". I've seen time and time again martial artist that has 20 years of experience get their ass kicked by a street savy guy who has no formal training but has the attributes to survive.

I'm a fan and appreciate the works of Bruce Lee, Dan Inosanto, Prof. Wally Jay, Tedashi Yamashita, Tony Blauer, Gracie Family, Steven Segal, Paul Vunak, and so many more...

Fergus
AIM/Yahoo: jujitsuboy76

I stretch using Tai Chi.

I doubt I'd be useful in a RJ war zone.

Unless I had my keyblade.

My dad started us off with Tai Chi as kids. Then we moved on to Kung Fu and now I exclusively practice Taekwondo.

Taekwondo

studied kendo for 2 years because i wanted to be luke skywalker. studied yang style taijiquan for about 5 years because i thought it was a pretty neat form of meditation; it took me about 3 months to realize that it actually is a kick-ass martial art. now have been studying chen style taijiquan for the past 15+ years, and i'm still a beginner (but i would want me on my side during a fight )

jiu jistu... wi shu...

seaboijo saidI just started Xing-Yi Chuang training for 2 months.

xingyi rocks! I studied it for a year.

Pow!

(inside joke: the fourth fist is called pao chuang)

MUAY THAI

No Formal unless 6 lessons of tae kwon do.... My Martial Flow if Dancer with Raver Kata than anything else. My primary raver tool is Astrojax, in terms of formal weapons would be poi and martial arts fans lit up with LEDs. Rave sparring is hard gotta keep the tempo with music, flow with spar and make it look good.

Soo Bahk Do --- since 1988; currently Sam (3rd) Dan

Have been a student of Shotokan Karate since I was 9. I am a 2nd degree black belt, Nidan class. I lack the discipline to go further.
Plus over the years my attitude has changed. Now when in a fight, I actually enjoy hurting someone, not just defending myself.
BAD bloody place to be mentally.
Cheers,
Keith

40 pounds before I used to practice Tong-Il-Moo-Do, for about 2 years. Until we ran out of instructors. So our college club disbanded when I was just yellow belt.

Tae Kwon Do as a youngster.

Wing Chun & Kajukenbo

Tae Kwon Do and Haidong Gumdo (Sword Art) I have great instructors we do a lot of kicking and punching; the only thing I would like more of is ground fighting/grappling, for pragmatic reasons.

Hi, Been training for 25 years; Muay Thai (Instructor), Nin Sho Ryu (Sandan), Chut Sing Tsong Long (brown sash), Wing Chun, Tae Kwon Do (green belt), Small Circle Jijutsu, Shaolin Chin Na, and dabbled in bunches of other things. i am currently running my own dojo and am out to all my students.

BJJ - 7 years
Modern Army Combatives (Instructor) Level 3
American Kickboxing - 15years
Judo- 5years

Practical exceriser here. Definitly believe in a Mixed Martial Arts approach..

From 8-14 Judo
" " 12-31 Escrima
" " 28- 36 Lao Phueng Maat
" " 36- now Hawaiian Lua

Judo- brown belt
Escrima- family practice till tata lakay passed away.
Lao Phueng Maat- Till instructor was deported back to Myanmar
Lua- invited by my hula brother and never left.

I would like to train for mixed martial arts, not necessarily to fight but just for the training and experience alone.

For show, I practice Wushu.
For meditation and personal development I practice Chen Style Taich
For applied martial arts I do MMA (B. Jujitsu, Kickboxing)
For self preservation... I use a gun. (I'm kidding!)

I strongly encourage anyone who happens to pass by this thread to pick up some form of martial arts for self defense. I want you to have a chance of protecting yourself and escaping a hate crime.

"I will not go quietly into the night"

And to everyone else who've posted on this thread, I implore you to teach, at least the basics to your gay friends and neighbors. We should give no reason to be victims of hate crimes/ gay bashings. Please find the potential hero within yourself and contribute to our survival. We have a responsibility to protect our community.

It only takes a weekend when you have an hour of spare time to teach and make a small difference in someone's life that may possibly save them in some distant future . You will find the experience of teaching and making a difference as enriching for you as your students.

I want to learn Krav Maga. I hear that it's an excellent martial arts for self defense.... or Wing Chun because I was inspired by the movie, Ip Man.

I practice Zen Shoto Kai which is a variation of Shorin Ryu and I also practice Isshin Ryu...I have been training for 11 years now and plan to spend alot more time with it if my body holds up...

I have also been teaching both styles for the past 6 years...you never learn as much unless you try to teach it to someone else!

Basic Level Self Defense Instructor for the military. 2 years boxing, 2 years muai thai, 1 year kick boxing, 6 months submission wrestling. Continuing on with kick boxing and submission wrestling.

Krav Maga Level 1 still because I took 5 months off and am now getting back into the discipline, but I've been doing it for a year.

- done Tae Kwon Do for about a year.
- did some Chinese Kung Fu for several months.

I practice and teach Shaolin Kempo, I am first degree Black belt, been studying for 5 years and still going strong.

I practice Tae Kwon Do, have for about a year and a half. Just passed to Blue Belt and will be fighting in my first tournament on October 18th.

I have to say that TKD is the best thing I have ever done for my self. I lost about 45lbs and have lost about 12" off my waist.

MY only concern is that I am not out at the school, how do you guys handle that. BTW I am 42 years old.

Thanks
John

I am a first degree black belt in shorin ryu karate and have been as far as Egypt for tournaments.

lucas07094 saidI practice Tae Kwon Do, have for about a year and a half. Just passed to Blue Belt and will be fighting in my first tournament on October 18th.

I have to say that TKD is the best thing I have ever done for my self. I lost about 45lbs and have lost about 12" off my waist.

MY only concern is that I am not out at the school, how do you guys handle that. BTW I am 42 years old.

Thanks
John

I'm out at my school. I can't really hide the fact that I'm gay, so I just don't. I talk about my boyfriend as any straight guy would his wife or girlfriend. I don't make a big deal out of it and, generally, no one else does either.

We also have our tournament on the 18. I wonder if it's part of the same network.

My tournament is at Clifton HIgh School in Clifton NJ it is the
America Open TKD Championship. Let me know if it is the same one.

Thanks for your reply.

John

John,

Being an instructor, I would say be yourself. The discipline of any martial art should never draw a line when it comes to sexuallity. The martial arts is a personal journey, it is about the person not their sexuality. If the students have a negative reaction, I would question the school, but to be honest, I have found most students and fellow instructors to be very open.

I take part in tournaments every 6 months. My next one is October 17.

Best, have fun, and be safe!

I've done Shorin Ryu Kempo for 4 years, got my 1st degree black, a little bit of tai chi but didn't go far, and I've been doing capoeira now for about 2 years, and there's not really a universal ranking system in that. Also, I've done Fiore swordsmanship, as well as a bit of Shaolin. Jiu Jitsu, no gi, I've won tournements before, but we don't use a ranking system there either.

I've done
Tae Kwon Do for about a decade
Tai Chi Chuan for about 6 years
Hapkido for 5 years
Sambo for 6 years
Wrestling & Greco-Roman Style for about 8 years

Weapons: Sai, Katana, Knife, Whip, Fighting Fans, Kama, & the Bokken

And never used belts for any of them; all my sensai's thought belts were worthless in acknowledging one's skill.

I'd like to add Jeet Kwon Do to that list
and Kick Boxing

Aikido 2 yrs
Goju Ryu 2yrs+

I do WTF Tae Kwon Do.I'm a blue belt with 1 brown stripe.
I want to start doing Kendo though

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu- black belt

Boxing- used just for better striking

Krav Maga- level 5

Keysi no ranking really

Pankration- Is pretty much like MMA

Wrestled in high school too

Boxing (doing it for 12 months): Tuesdays
Mixed Martial Arts (doing it for 18 months): Thursdays

Will be in New York / Washington DC / Boston / Chicago in April. Anyone fancy a bit of sparing???

Kung Fu (since May): Orange Sash
Capoeira Regional (since June): corda crua
T'ai Chi: been practicing for a few years (Yang style) without rank