NationStates Jolt Archive

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.

I heard tae kwon do focuses all on hands and arms. I heard they always block and never use their legs.

But seriously, what you seek is "boxing."

But seriously, what you seek is "boxing."

Yea, but I won't be carrying a glove around with me everywhere lol. I could do bare knuckles boxing.

If I were you, I would stay away from martial arts and look at boxing.

How would I use boxing in self defense though?

I would say, take a street fighting course. Some places offer it, and they teach you how to do stuff like knife fighting, so you can stab people in the back and steal their money.

I heard tae kwon do focuses all on hands and arms. I heard they always block and never use their legs.

I got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and it is does have a good focus on the legs. Not as serious as others, but you would be dumb to go in thinking you can get away without using them.

I think that with a bigger reason you should really consider some MA that builds up your balance, instead of just ignoring it. I know it may be hard in the beginning, but the results pay up very nice, if you hang to it.

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.

I had the good fortune to be able to study choy li fut kung fu several years back, for about three years. Even though this system generates power even for hand strikes from your stance and from the twisting of your waist, it involves a lot less "perching yourself on one leg" like such systems as taekwondo. Sifu told us that the balance of hand-foot techniques in choy li fut is about 70%-30% in favor of hand techniques.

Other systems that are similar to choy li fut (i.e. are Southern Chinese systems with much more emphasis on rooted stance and hand techniques than many other types of systems) would be hung gar, choy mok and hung fut (which specializes in leading with your left hand, which throws most oppoents off since most people are righties).

Another good choice for you would be taijiquan, which was taught alongside choy li fut's 'external' techniques at my school. It's amazing how much stronger taiji makes you, and it's pretty much all using your hands (assisted by your waist and stance, of course) to deflect attacks and perform counterstrikes with minimal effort on the part of the practitioner.

Since moving to Pennsylvania from San Diego, where I studied kung fu, I have considered enrolling in the local aikido dojo. Aikido is an excellent 'internal' system which also emphasizes balance and minimal effort.

Of course, keep in mind that no matter how bad your balance now, practicing any martial art will build up those muscles especially in your thighs, gluteal area and waist, which has an amazing impact on your overall balance. So even if none of these systems are taught where you live, just pick one that is available to you and practice it with diligence and sincerity. I went from a total klutz to a scarily coordinated person within three short years myself :)

I really do hope this helps. As you can probably tell, you asked a question that really piqued my interest!

Take care
-Jameel

I can't think of the proper name, but the thai fighting doesn't use legs much iirc

possibly Lua (the Hawaiian martial arts). I don't remember tons, but I think it focuses on arms

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.

I think you will find that under any competant teacher, the pace of the class will ensure that by the time you reach the level where you challange your sense of balance with leg techniques, your balance has radically improved.

If not, boxing's your bet, because every art will require learning footwork to defend yourself.

I heard tae kwon do focuses all on hands and arms. I heard they always block and never use their legs.

Pure hearsay. The name of the art is Foot Hand Way, so I think it's safe to assume there's a lot of kicking going on in it.

Muay Thai boxing may be good for you. You use your knees but not as much as your hands.

This what i see from tae kwon do

http://www.break.com/index/kickedhead26.html

http://www.thatvideosite.com/view/2219.html

http://www.thatvideosite.com/view/1670.html

This just in, block.

Kenpo/Kempo might be what you are looking for. It does use kicks, but it also likes getting in people's faces and then handing them their eyes, balls, and breaks both their arms for good measure.

Mainly your legs are for getting wide and low to get in close.

Yeah, Tae Kwon Do is about 70% kicking, with some punching thrown in to give you something to do when you are too close to kick. At least, ITF is...the traditional Tae Kwon Do.

edited for typo

You could always just use old school pugelism. Boxing, but bare fist and with a few more tricks that aren't allowed in the ring.

If you go to www.swordforum.com (http://forums.swordforum.com/) and go to the Historical European Swordsmanship and ask about Pugelism. You'll get quite a few teachers and be able to mix in a few things like dagger combat etc too. I'm currently learning some in addition to my longsword and it's pretty damned effective. The focus on balance, movement and the generation of power makes it very effective.

Aikido and Wing Chun Kung Fu focus heavily on hand movements, and deflection. They are highly stylised and efficient. Krav Maga also has huge upper body components.

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.

No such thing.

All MA's are a focus of mind and body. The whole thing. Unless you are going to just stand still and bitch slap your opponent, you will always need to use your legs. Besides if someone does a round house to your knee, what are you going to do?

No such thing.

All MA's are a focus of mind and body. The whole thing. Unless you are going to just stand still and bitch slap your opponent, you will always need to use your legs. Besides if someone does a round house to your knee, what are you going to do?

Use the first rule of self defence. Don't be there i.e. move.

Although I agree with the rest of your post :)

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs?

Armwrestling (or for the more genteel amongst us, thumbwrestling).

Use the first rule of self defence. Don't be there i.e. move.

I thought the first rule of self defense was don't get into a fight in the first place, no?

I heard tae kwon do focuses all on hands and arms. I heard they always block and never use their legs.

opposite, tae kwon do is based around the legs as they are more powerful and longer reaching than arms.

wtf tae kwon do is the original.

I thought the first rule of self defense was don't get into a fight in the first place, no?

Hey, that's true, I'm just refering to what my teacher says you do once you're already in a combat situation. Qualified myself now? ;)

I thought the first rule of self defense was don't get into a fight in the first place, no?

More or less. That is something that is taught in most MA's. Avoid confrontation.

Yea, but I won't be carrying a glove around with me everywhere lol. I could do bare knuckles boxing.

bare knuckles would hurt a little bit more too.

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.
First wow, be very careful what you believe when people here speak.
You want to know how to bitch about something(everything) NS General is the place to ask, other then that take everything with a grain of salt.


Another poster mentioned Choy Li Fut, its a good art.
Wing Chun another good art.

These are both considered 'Hard' styles not meaning difficult but meaning they way the energy and motion of the body is used.

The poster who mentioned Choy Li Fut also mentioned TaiChiChuan, this is a good art (any of the family styles) it promotes balance and is considered 'Soft'.
I would avoid Akido right off, if you have balance issues Akido is not he place to start.

Wing Chun is easy to learn initially(as in your immediate progress is rapid, so it holds one's interest very well) contact practice is almost immediate with any good sifu as well so you quickly have a realistic feel for the things you are learing.

Wing Chun will teach you balance, and good foot work with out all those stupid flying kicks and spinning kicks.....do not be impressed by flashy moves like that, trained fighters do not get hit by flying round houses--unless they are already knocked half senseless.

To be honest you should train in Western Boxing, strength, fast hand speed, quick foot work, no kicking ---once you are about a year in to that you will find any art you study will come much easier.

The first thing I studied was Western Boxing....short of that go with Wing Chun or Choy Li Fut.

I would avoid Akido right off, if you have balance issues Akido is not he place to start.
In addition, it's not the easiest of arts to get into. Basic training takes 2 years on average. It is, however, an excellent defensive art nonetheless.

Wing Chun is easy to learn initially(as in your immediate progress is rapid, so it holds one's interest very well) contact practice is almost immediate with any good sifu as well so you quickly have a realistic feel for the things you are learing.

Wing Chun will teach you balance, and good foot work with out all those stupid flying kicks and spinning kicks.....do not be impressed by flashy moves like that, trained fighters do not get hit by flying round houses--unless they are already knocked half senseless.
I would agree. Wing Chun is an awesome art. Not flashy, but highly efficient.

No such thing.

All MA's are a focus of mind and body. The whole thing. Unless you are going to just stand still and bitch slap your opponent, you will always need to use your legs. Besides if someone does a round house to your knee, what are you going to do?
Empty my weight, then when they complete their faggy little spin I will punch them in the mouth.

Or while they take the time to spin around like a fecking ballerina I will stomp on the knee of the supporting leg with a basic straight thrust...

Or while they are doing their little HollyWood seen to many movies martial arts routine I will walk away while they so stupidly have their back turned to me.


Or I will move my leg forward 4 inches and the kick will impact outside the point where their power has reached an apex and instead they will more then likely sprain their ankle on my knee.

You want some more options?

YOU must focus on using your whole body no matter what style...your power comes from balnce and your legs ..your legs are the strongest muscle group and transfering that power into your striking motion with the your upper body is what does the damage . Without proper balance you are an accident waiting to happen . So instead of concentrating on a percieved strength you should work on your weakness so it is no longer so .

Knees and elbows are nice but kicks are some of your strongest strikes and are important for defense and MOST important.. movement ..mobility is your greatest asset .


Most martial arts take a whole body approach ..even BOXING..without good legs and balance a boxer is nothing .

Thats incorrect knees and elbows deliver far more power on point then kicks or punches.

You are right though balance is key to anything and that involves foot work.

Thats entirely incorrect knees and elbows deliver far more power on point then kicks or punches.
Not to mention the potential power someone could wield if they knew pressure points as well...that can put kicks to shame.

I am suspect of pressure points to be honest, you have to get a hold of someone to manipulate those.

My last instructor showed me a certain set of strike that will knock you out everytime....he did it laughingly....because after he showed me he thne asked if there would ever be any real way to get the move off against someone who was fighting back and not just standing there letting it happen?

Avoid Capoira, whatever you do! Not a good art for one with ballance issues!
(it's fricken awsome though!)

I am suspect of pressure points to be honest, you have to get a hold of someone to manipulate those.

My last instructor showed me a certain set of strike that will knock you out everytime....he did it laughingly....because after he showed me he thne asked if there would ever be any real way to get the move off against someone who was fighting back and not just standing there letting it happen?
Yes, that is true. Their execution is not easy. It requires you to first distract the opponent sufficiently, usually through punches and kicks, and strikes to sensitive regions, or at least do so very quickly. If you do get to unleash one though, their power is devastating. Our instructor showed us a video of someone executing them on the abdominal region...the opponent was knocked back over 5 ft. :confused: Apparently a high level of specialisation is required, plus extremely expeditious application of the moves.

<snip>

You want some more options?

That arrogant little spiel is taking into account the major assumption that the attacker is turning. Turning is used in exactly one out the eight variations of roundhouse kicking in ITF Tae Kwon Do (that I have learned, there may be more than eight). Thus, there's only about a 13% chance that there bag would be turned to you or that they would be spinning, rendering you badass moves pretty much useless.

That arrogant little spiel is taking into account the major assumption that the attacker is turning. Turning is used in exactly one out the eight variations of roundhouse kicking in ITF Tae Kwon Do (that I have learned, there may be more than eight). Thus, there's only about a 13% chance that there bag would be turned to you or that they would be spinning, rendering you badass moves pretty much useless.
Kicks are usually -like pressure points- best combined with distracting moves. Then they can be devastating. Especially roundhouse kicks.

Meh, I'll just get a gun for self defense. Thanks for trying to help anyway guys.

Meh, I'll just get a gun for self defense. Thanks for trying to help anyway guys.
You should give martial arts a try. You will benefit in more than one way. Guns are just tools...martial arts are entire philosophies.

Thats incorrect knees and elbows deliver far more power on point then kicks or punches.

You are right though balance is key to anything and that involves foot work.


Thats why I quilfied it as "some " why eliminate them from the arsenal ?

And thats why I said Knees and elbows are Nice...I should have said VERY nice...close in elbow or forearm to the windpipe or nose or back of the jaw or a palmstrike to the area behind the ear can be devestating . And knees to the solar plexis will drop most anyone to the ground in an instant .

The reason kness and elbows are so devestating is the small impact patch that must absorb the blow ..the closest thing is if you train to use finger strikes ..they are some of the most deadly ..three fingers thrust into the area where your ribs meet in a V above your abdomen will put down anyone .

and a side kick to the outside of a persons knee joint will cripple them . if they are putting any weight on it .


Meh, I'll just get a gun for self defense. Thanks for trying to help anyway guys.

Not a good idea..I carry all the time ..you can only use a gun if you are willing to kill someone to defend yourself.
Aside from the fact that the gun does nothing you do not make it do ..its only as skilled as the owner. Martail arts will teach you discipline and give you confidance and help keep you in shape ..believe it or not ..the better you get and the more you know the less likely you ever feel the need to defend yourself..and others will notice that and leave you alone and fuck with an easier target. A gun is a weapon of last resort ..and offers no guarantee's .
If a gun is in play someone may die . And you may be that person .

I carry because I have to . I know if I have to use my weapon it will be against someone else with a similar one . I dont look forward to it at all .

That arrogant little spiel is taking into account the major assumption that the attacker is turning. Turning is used in exactly one out the eight variations of roundhouse kicking in ITF Tae Kwon Do (that I have learned, there may be more than eight). Thus, there's only about a 13% chance that there bag would be turned to you or that they would be spinning, rendering you badass moves pretty much useless.

First, I never said their 'bag' would be to me whatever the hell that means.

Second, none of those moves are badass...but then I expect no less from a TKD devotee.
I have never met any group of slackers as large as the TKD community, ITF members especially.

That and Tang Soo Do are the jokes of the MA world.

I have fought bare knuckled against several Black Belts(5th Dan) of TKD and the only people I have met who were even remotely effective with it were members of ROK. They of course had a grasp of what fighting is and were not limited to the weak IFT TKD style.

So spare me your little blather about the ITF, its a joke.

First, I never said their 'bag' would be to me whatever the hell that means.

By "bag" I meant "back." But surely someone as wise as youself has never made a typo.

Second, none of those moves are badass...but then I expect no less from a TKD devotee.

Expect no less of what? Mockery of your arrogance, because you think you can so easily counter an effective kick when you don't take in to account the fact that the overwhelming majority of said kicking type doesn't involve turning, thus eliminating your chance to punch them in the mouth once they have completed their "faggy little spin," or kick their knee while they act like a "fecking ballerina," or walk away while their back is turned toward you.

I have never met any group of slackers as large as the TKD community, ITF members especially.

I wonder if you actually define a slacker as someone who practices Tae Kwon Do, or if you're just being petty and trying to piss me off. Tae Kwon Do is by no definition easy, and since it's hard and takes work to become proficient, by definition slackers wouldn't practice it. Maybe they aren't as extreme as you, but that hardly makes them a slacker. If you're as hardcore as you would have us believe.

I have fought bare knuckled against several Black Belts(5th Dan) of TKD and the only people I have met who were even remotely effective with it were members of ROK. They of course had a grasp of what fighting is and were not limited to the weak IFT TKD style.

I could believe you. Or I could go by the evidence of you previous statements, which direct me to believe that you're embellishing the story a bit. I would say more, but I don't really want to be a troll, so I'm going to leave this conversation saying that, to be blunt, you are wrong.

If I were you, I would stay away from martial arts and look at boxing.

Boxing is a martial art... and a combat sport based upon it.

Does anyone know any martial arts style that focus on your fist and arms and not your legs? Let's just say that I do not have the world's best balance to be defending with my legs. However I am quick with my hands and arms.

First, I suggest working on your balance and foot-quickness. I know of NO martial arts where footwork is irrelevant. You have to be balanced and movable in all of them.

You do NOT, however, have to kick over your head, and be able to stand around on one leg, for all of them. Many forms of Kung Fu tend to focus on your upper body. Hapkido, one of the arts I train in, has absolutely no kicks above the waist. In an actual fighting situation, it puts you at a disadvantage to kick high - you can be pushed off balance far too easily, and it's way too slow.

Finally, I don't suggest that if you have a hard time with balance, flexibility, footwork and whatever, that you EVER avoid it totally. Not everyone is good at kicking people in the head. But then again, not everyone is good at getting in there and punching. A friend of mine I used to train with never really managed to get her kicks much above the belt... but the first time I sparred her I got a bloody nose of one of those fists. The other end of things is found at my current school. Only one person in the entire place can punch worth a dime. Everyone else, if I get too close for them to kick, they just back up and have no idea what to do. Ideally, try to learn both, so you can fight anyone.

I took Kenpo for a while in high school (I sucked, so don't look for any posturing from me-the rest of you...sheesh...)

It was pretty solid, no jumping or anything. We did kick, but it didn't really come up that often. It's a very quick art-it seemed to me the philosophy was "Break as many things as you can and get out." Lots of elbows and quick punches, getting in pretty close. If you watch Kenpo's movie guy (Jeff Speakman...goofy) it also involves punching guys you've already knocked unconcious. There's not a lot of ceremony or affectation to it, just block, move in, break something, and get out.

I have to say that the one that I enjoyed the most and got the most out of, though, was Tai Chi.

I heard tae kwon do focuses all on hands and arms. I heard they always block and never use their legs.

tae kwon doe means the art of kicking and punching. my school i attended several years back concetrated heavily on building up your legs with various excersises and i think we worked on our legs more then our arms.

we also did a little of Hapkido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapkido) which was quite a bit less leg work out. and i hear Aikido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido) is alot less reliant the legs.

my suggestion to the op is to make it a point to get into a martial arts that uses their legs quite a bit so that you would build you legs up and gain the balance you require. if nothing else it can be one hell of a work out. also try to get inot a real martial arts school and not one of these "you have been here for 6 months, heres your belt"

oops. wrong thread.

tae kwon doe means the art of kicking and punching. my school i attended several years back concetrated heavily on building up your legs with various excersises and i think we worked on our legs more then our arms.

we also did a little of Hapkido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapkido) which was quite a bit less leg work out. and i hear Aikido (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido) is alot less reliant the legs.

my suggestion to the op is to make it a point to get into a martial arts that uses their legs quite a bit so that you would build you legs up and gain the balance you require. if nothing else it can be one hell of a work out. also try to get inot a real martial arts school and not one of these "you have been here for 6 months, heres your belt"

In my experience, Hap Ki Do is as demanding on the legs as is Tae Kwon Do (I know that my school has more kicks in Hap Ki Do than in Tae Kwon Do), and more so in that most throws, and joint extention excercises, require a strong sense of balance as well.

Ai Ki Do, where I took it, started with sword, and kicks were a black belt thing, but other schools do it other ways.

Kicks are usually -like pressure points- best combined with distracting moves. Then they can be devastating. Especially roundhouse kicks.

Yeah, in choy li fut we were taught generally to avoid using a kick as a first strike, and never to kick more than waist-high unless doing forms or working as an extra on a Jackie Chan set.

A typical opening for a kick would be created with a fast strike like a back-knuckle to the face or a well-placed elbow or knee. Some techniques we were shown involved blocking an incoming strike with a hand while kicking simltaneously. You are essentially limited only by ergonomics and your imagination...

The word 'roundhouse' has a lot of meanings depending on which system you are looking at. In choy li fut a roundhouse is a snap kick thrown with the back leg, with the upper half of the leg parallel to the ground. That is my favorite kick. It's like hitting your target with a bat. The same move off the front leg is called a wheel kick. Not as powerful but MUCH faster.

The spinning inward crescent and spinning outward crescent kicks involve turning all the way around, which is what I believe our imaginative friend Skibereen was talking about in his earlier post. Both would be ill-advised unless you've already beaten the snot out of your opponent and he is lolling there making no move to defend himself.

I took Kenpo for a while in high school (I sucked, so don't look for any posturing from me-the rest of you...sheesh...)

It was pretty solid, no jumping or anything. We did kick, but it didn't really come up that often. It's a very quick art-it seemed to me the philosophy was "Break as many things as you can and get out." Lots of elbows and quick punches, getting in pretty close. If you watch Kenpo's movie guy (Jeff Speakman...goofy) it also involves punching guys you've already knocked unconcious. There's not a lot of ceremony or affectation to it, just block, move in, break something, and get out.

I have to say that the one that I enjoyed the most and got the most out of, though, was Tai Chi.

You are so 100% on the money! I hurt my knee my first year doing choy li fut and did only taiqi for about 6 months. When I took the external art back up again, my form was perfect, like I'd just fall into the right stance for whatever strike. Also, I never had to be told to relax my shoulders again once I did taiqi; even now, 5 years out of training due to bad knee injuries I carry my shoulders in a taiqi-correct way.

I do apologize if I come across as posturing in any way...taiqi/choy li fut is something I took up after college, devoted the same mental energy to as I did school (it was also a nice distraction from a horribly boring job) and ended up not able to continue because my body wouldn't hold up to the punishment.

I now live in York, PA but did my CLF in San Diego. There is an aikido school down the road, and I haven't re-injured my knee in five years. Until I gather up the 'nards to walk in there and enroll all I can do is subject you good people to my online babble about this stuff.