seanpuffy

Congrats on your Phase1, thought that was some months ago. I assume your well into your P2 training by now. Wait for your next test where you have to not only do all your P1 material, but you have to take a full P1 test. Oh the things we put ourselves through. I have done the Phase training for instructors and thats a week of full day training. I recommend it to anyone who gets the oppurtunity.

Thank for all the comments. i just started going to the gym about 2 weeks ago so hopefully in a month i can take some more and see if adding weight training to my workouts helps to get some more bulk and definition. I can imagine it will. As of right now all i get is alot of cardio and i do alot of grappling so i am building strength from that but it's not the same as weight training.

Since i have been taking and recently started teaching Krav Maga i am semi partial to this style. But like a few people have said it's about being well rounded fighter that will make you the safest on the street. Whats good about krav and other styles like it is that you will work your stand up, some ground work and choke/weapon defenses. But what really makes it good is that when you train you train for real life situations and not sport. In krav there are no rules like most MMA. If you train sport MMA there is no groin shots, eye poking, fish hooks, ear tears, hair pulls, using your keys or a rock on the floor as a weapon. The reality on the streets is if somone is going to attack me i am going to do anything possible to remove the threat. If that means chopping to the thoat or a solid knee to the groin then so be it. The one constant in a fight is that you just never know whats will happen. You could have a stand up brawl just as easy as you could trip, fall and find your self being kicked while on the ground. So you want to find a style that will work all these situations. I think if you just do kickboxing/ Muay Thai or just do BJJ you limit your self. Now if you combine the 2 you stand a much better shot. Add that in with choke, headlock, knife/gun defenses and you highly increase your chances of being safe on the street. But like i always say in class your best defense is the Nike defense. If possible turn and get the fuck out of there before a situation ever happens. That is what will keep you alive. Leave your ego at the door. You can train forever but the odds are always going to be against you when there is a knife stabbing towards you.

I highly recommend Krav Maga. I did Tae Kwon Do for about 8 years took a few years off and then started doing Krav about a year and a half ago. i have to say i love it. I have done a host of martial arts in the past- japanesse and brazilian Jui Jitsu, Aikido, karate and tae kwon do. Krav is by far my fav. In november i went for a 7 day (of hell) Phase training and became certified as a level 1 instructor. I started teaching right after. What i think i like most about krav is simplisity and practicality of it. Since it's roots are from a military training background, it is designed to make a student able to defend themselves in the shortest time possible. So the moves are practical, to the point and don't need years and years of practice to be capable in it like some martial arts. it's really based on street practicality and not sport. I know not all Krav school are the same but most if not all will cross train you in all aspects of martial arts. So in Krav you will learn kickboxing/muay thai. Most Krav schools don't have official belt systems but they classify you in levels. Level 1 is beginner and in Level 2 you start sparring which is kickboxing for the most part. in my school we also grapple (brazilian jui jitsu). I think it's important to be a well rounded and be cable in standup as well as on the ground. There are so many good marital arts out there and everyone has one that fits them. So i recommend sampling a few and see what you like. But my vote is krav, especially since you will learn kickboxing/muay thai anyway!!!!!!!!!!

Its great to see a site for vegans, especially one centered around fitness. I have been vegan for about 8 years and veg prob another 6 before that. I have always had a issue gaining muscle, but seeing some of the progress of people on this site it gives me alot of motivation to work on it harder. I have always had an 'athletic" build but got very lazy a few years ago and jetted up to 230 pounds. I am 6'2" and my normal weight before that was in the 180's. About a year ago i got tired of the way i let myself go and decided to start doing something about it. I used to be very into martial arts but hadn't done anything for the last 5 years. So i decided to get back into it and joined a Krav Maga (an israeli martial art) school about a year and change ago. I don't lift wieghts or run at all. So all the progress i have made has just been from krav maga. I am back down to 195. I Am happy at this weight but would like to gain more upper body because i think i am to small for my height. I am planning on joining a gym this month so i hope that will show more progress. Included a before ( year or so ago) and then Now. Hope after a few months in the gym i can bulk up abit and show some more definition. Thanks again for all the before and afters and the motivation it has given to put in even more effort to achieve the goals i have for myself. http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/xaurrax/CIMG0369.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/xaurrax/CIMG0368.jpg http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c85/xaurrax/IMAGE_191.jpg