How many INTJs here are into martial arts?

[kriss]

Hey people. Thought this would be interesting since I've been into this scene since I was a kid and reasonably good at it. I find the discipline challenging and it's not really a team sport if you like. The training is highly individualistic in terms of goals and long term outcome. I did Tae Kwon Do for 20 years and Wing Chun kung fu for another 5. It also added to my confidence on the playground at school and in life in general. It taught me how to meditate by myself when training at both the dojo and at home. Very no-nonsense as well.

[Danisty]

I've never tried any martial arts, but I am very interested. It just seems that most of the stuff that interests me isn't available here. I wanted to take kendo, but there aren't any dojos that teach it within 4 hours of here. I also think krav maga is very interesting, but good luck finding someone to teach you.

I'm sure there are other martial arts I could be interested in, but I don't generally know the difference between all the others, so I'm not sure which ones would be best suited to me.

[AJB]

I've recently (for about 3 months now) have taken up Judo. I mostly took it up for the level of fitness it provides; however, I also enjoy the other aspects kriss mentioned above (individualistic development and self discipline).

[TheLastMohican]

Tae Kwon Do brown belt here. I quit a several years ago, so I'm very out of practice, but while I was in it I did pretty well. Sparring was my strong point. Forms...meh. Easy, but monotonous.

[Oberon]

I am interested in aikido.

[Homini Lupus]

Tae-Kwon-Do, black belt 1st dan, non agonistic, still practicing.

[Pirate1650]

5 years, just got my black belt in Shoalin Kempo Karate, but we mix in everything, Brazilian Ju-jit-su, Muay Thai, Chin-na, Kung-fu, Escrima, Judo, and whatever else seems to catch our fancy. It is a pretty small dojo but we belong to a network of dojos and all the instructors cross train in different martial arts so I get to learn from each of them.

There is no real "best" martial art as far as I can tell. I suggest finding a dojo filled with people you like so you're motivated to return and keep training. It seems most teachers know a few styles so you could also take advantage of that, they've only told me after I ask, so go ahead and ask them what else they may know. The way I see it, a dedicated student of style x will beat a lazy student of style y. I'm not too sure of this theory but it also seems to me that 3 years spent training in each style x, y and z, would be worth more than 10 years in style x.

Also get plenty of sparring in, that puts all of your techniques to the test (as close as you can get to a real fight) and you can find what works for you.

Conditioning is also important. I notice huge gains when working out. Just being able to "keep your breath" another minute longer than the other guy is also key.

I found Kendo pretty boring, I didn't get too deep in though, only two classes but you had to call out all your strikes ahead of time. If you lied you didn't get any points. You can only get points hitting a certain few spots. You have to walk and stand in certain ways. I thought it had too many rules for a "fight" and since it revolved around points and pretty strict rules it seemed more like sport than self-defence.

I love talking about martial arts, I could do it all day.

[Randomnity]

Hey people. Thought this would be interesting since I've been into this scene since I was a kid and reasonably good at it. I find the discipline challenging and it's not really a team sport if you like. The training is highly individualistic in terms of goals and long term outcome. I did Tae Kwon Do for 20 years and Wing Chun kung fu for another 5. It also added to my confidence on the playground at school and in life in general. It taught me how to meditate by myself when training at both the dojo and at home. Very no-nonsense as well.
I take it you like wing chun, then? It's been highly recommended to me and I'm very interested in learning it when I have the extra money. Right now I'm taking far cheaper (less than 1/4 of the cost) northern shaolin kung fu classes through my university, and I absolutely love it.

I started taking beginner aikido classes as well recently and the difference is dramatic; very very slow paced, much more "mystical", and (seemingly) much less practical. Not a fan so far....

[Lagawrd]

I have been taking Muay Thai for about five years, and brazillian jiu jitsu for about two. They have both been extremely fun and challenging.

[Americano]

I did some TKD a while ago but now I'm more into muay thai and boxing.

[phantasma]

I'm actually more into team sports. They're more interesting and unpredictable.

[Danisty]

There is no real "best" martial art as far as I can tell. I suggest finding a dojo filled with people you like so you're motivated to return and keep training. It seems most teachers know a few styles so you could also take advantage of that, they've only told me after I ask, so go ahead and ask them what else they may know. The way I see it, a dedicated student of style x will beat a lazy student of style y. I'm not too sure of this theory but it also seems to me that 3 years spent training in each style x, y and z, would be worth more than 10 years in style x.Yeah, I didn't really mean best overall. I was talking about which style is best for my personality, body type, strengths, weaknesses, etc. For example, I have pretty strong legs, so a style that utilizes that seems like it would be better for me personally.

I found Kendo pretty boring, I didn't get too deep in though, only two classes but you had to call out all your strikes ahead of time. If you lied you didn't get any points. You can only get points hitting a certain few spots. You have to walk and stand in certain ways. I thought it had too many rules for a "fight" and since it revolved around points and pretty strict rules it seemed more like sport than self-defence.I kind of liked the idea of the rules. It's really structured so I won't have to worry about what I'm allowed to do.

[Pirate1650]

1st point: Ah, okay, good. I've run into too many people who think one style is supreeme and since it isn't offered localy they don't bother taking anything. It may have also been a cop out though or maybe I talk about martial arts too much and they just want me to shut up? Working to your strength is a good idea but it can also be limiting maybe? I've already been taking a mix of styles for five years and I think I'm pretty good at punching so now I want to focus on a kicking or grappeling style to work twords my weekness, since I'm already good at my strength, know what I mean? Just an alternate perspective, I can see working to your strength tough, and kicking is fun.

2nd point: That is up to you, but I was just giving my perspective because I remember wanting to take kendo so I could slice people up and it was filled with rules (you could only hit four or five spots called ahead of time and no running or jumping or erratic movements without specific follow through) and seemed more like a sport instead of a fighting style so I quit after two classes. Not that those kendo guys weren't really good and cleaned house but I felt I learned more and more useful stuff for myself by doing forms and sparring without all the rules (just like a real fight). The gear is awesome though, cool stuff, and that stick really hurts.

[Danisty]

1st point: Ah, okay, good. I've run into too many people who think one style is supreeme and since it isn't offered localy they don't bother taking anything. It may have also been a cop out though or maybe I talk about martial arts too much and they just want me to shut up? Working to your strength is a good idea but it can also be limiting maybe? I've already been taking a mix of styles for five years and I think I'm pretty good at punching so now I want to focus on a kicking or grappeling style to work twords my weekness, since I'm already good at my strength, know what I mean? Just an alternate perspective, I can see working to your strength tough, and kicking is fun.That definitely makes sense. I think I'll probably go with something that plays towards my strengths first though so I can build some confidence. Starting martial arts at 30 will definitely make me feel old. :laugh: Which forms are best for my strengths though? Which forms have a lot of kicking, for example?

[ssrprotege]

I used to practice kendo when I was in middle school.

[schmidt]

Aikidoka since the age of six.

[Homini Lupus]

That definitely makes sense. I think I'll probably go with something that plays towards my strengths first though so I can build some confidence. Starting martial arts at 30 will definitely make me feel old. :laugh: Which forms are best for my strengths though? Which forms have a lot of kicking, for example?

If you neek kicking, you might consider TaeKwonDo. It's all about kicking. There should be other martial arts with a lot of kicks, like Capoeira, but I dont know them first hand.

[einnelsate]

Got my junior black belt in taekwondo 2 years ago. :D

[Pirate1650]

That definitely makes sense. I think I'll probably go with something that plays towards my strengths first though so I can build some confidence. Starting martial arts at 30 will definitely make me feel old. :laugh: Which forms are best for my strengths though? Which forms have a lot of kicking, for example?

Heh, my Tashi always says he gets younger every day. He is training to fight in the cage and he is fifty years old, the only thing is I think he is having a hard time finding equal aged competition and the other Tashi is fifty-six I think and she looks like she is thirty! I plan on doing martial arts the rest of my life, it's the fountain of youth.

Like the others said Tae Kwan Do is mostly kicks, seems to be pretty popular too so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a school.

Personally I think it is better to find an excellent school staffed by people you want to return to than to have a specific style. Most places give a few weeks free to try it out and then you can try a few places and see which is most welcoming/encouraging and don't mind answering questions.

Ah, also, remember all those black belts were white belts once and they fell all over the place and got dizzy before too. Just put in the practice and you'll be there in no time. I've seen a few people give up too fast becuase the black belts appear to make it look easy and they haven't gotten it yet.

[Danisty]

Heh, my Tashi always says he gets younger every day. He is training to fight in the cage and he is fifty years old, the only thing is I think he is having a hard time finding equal aged competition and the other Tashi is fifty-six I think and she looks like she is thirty! I plan on doing martial arts the rest of my life, it's the fountain of youth.Sounds good! I'll start martial arts and stop aging!

Ah, also, remember all those black belts were white belts once and they fell all over the place and got dizzy before too. Just put in the practice and you'll be there in no time. I've seen a few people give up too fast becuase the black belts appear to make it look easy and they haven't gotten it yet.I'm too stubborn to quit. ;D

[zibber]

Possibly off-topic: My only martial arts experience is two years of (shotokan) karate, but I'm way into watching technical (mixed) martial arts and puroresu (youtube "UWFi" for example) matches.

[TheLastMohican]

Possibly off-topic: My only martial arts experience is two years of (shotokan) karate, but I'm way into watching technical (mixed) martial arts and puroresu (youtube "UWFi" for example) matches.

And I shall follow suit and take it further off-topic...

This guy has great instructional videos.

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[augustus]

I am a brown belt in Kung Fu. I have also tried Taekwondo.

Didn't have the commitment to pursue it with other interests so nowadays I focus on weight training and running.

[kriss]

Do you think Bruce Lee was an INTJ? Certainly fits the profile. Sarcastic sense of humour, day dreamer and philosopher? Always looking for a better way to improve his skills....

[Mong]

I did karate for a little while but eventually dropped out because there was just too much going on in my life at that time. I did like it though

[skare]

I did Tae Kwon Do and liked about all the hard kicks. It really improved my coordinating skills, balance, knowledge of my own body, power, speed, etc... But our dojo went maybe a little too much in to competition line, and I thought the competition fighting isn't my main thing, although I like the fighting idea and love competing.

Then I have started Wing Tsung Kung Fu, and it has been something really really extraordinary for me. It opened me a whole new martial arts world. In my years of kwondo, I never felt the connections in my body or what is behind the moves that I made.

But in WT all the things we do goes so deep that the feeling when you feel in your body that now you are doing it right and well, is just amazin. And for just a basic punch, there is always something new and more deeply to figure out when you continue training.

I also like the idea that we dont learn moves, we train our body and reflexes with moves and reactions but in the end we just have to forget all of those moves and let our body react what ever is coming.

Also, for a INT type, all of the stuff we do in our training makes complete logical sense to me :) And lots of thanks goes to our two teachers how are willingly to sacrifice their own time almost 10 hours per week in order to teach us.

I think WT is for everyone how wants to know ones own body and learn efficient martial art. We have couple of 40-50 year old men along and it's great to see their skills groving. Unlike many other martial arts, WT doesn't require good physical condition. We don't do push ups and line running to warm up, that's just wasting training time. We do warm ups and stuff like that with our own techniques that in same time improves our skills.

There is also no competitive aspect in this martial art. (well i think there is some chi sao competitions)

I warmly recommend this art to everyone.

[Homini Lupus]

My Tae Kwon Do gym too became more and more clearly all about competition, and while I am clearly below that level, I decided to face the adversity and go on. Yes, I don't win very often, but I know the guys I face are really motivated, and the fact than I can be a challenge to them helps my self confidence. Given that, I don't understand many aspects of agonism, martial arts are for myself, not myself for martial arts.