Hi guys, I'm new and know everything.

Let’s get this settled in order. First, in regards to Qigong - it’s all BS. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble… well no actually I’m not. Chi/meditation/yoga all that stuff is just fine for relaxation techniques and whatever sense of inner calm they might give a practitioner. However, in claims to anything supernatural this has been debunked so many times over the past 100 years I’m always surprised people still fall for it.

Look up James Randi on Ytube and you’ll learn all you need to know about the false claims of Qigong and anything else about reading minds, walking on paper, chi powers etc.

As far as studying things for self defense I would suggest finding a legit MMA school. Minus that find a good BJJ school, preferably Gracie or anything that goes to self defense but any BJJ will work for you in real life. You can get by with a Muay Thai school or even a Krav Magra school (maybe, here). However, you will have a giant hole if a fight ever goes to the ground, which most fights do. Warning: make sure you are interested in FULL CONTACT if you do decide to join a Muay Thai gym. Also, there are two types of MMA gyms: One type is specifically tailored to train cage fighters, the other is tailored to teach people different aspects of fighting for a real life situation. Both will work in real life but you will find the former being much more demanding physically and a bit less practical on the streets (who do you know walks around greased up and wearing tight shorts all day?) Also, they won’t teach things like “make sure to turn your head when applying x so the guy doesn’t rip your eyes out.” These types of small hints.

How to tell if a gym is legit. There are a few ways. First, do they offer free or trial classes? If no, it’s not legit. Or, at the least the instructor is such a dick you don’t want to train there anyway. Long term contracts? These sometimes mark a non-legit gym. Phenomenal claims by the instructor(s)? The more bad ass an instructor claims he is, the less likely he is to be able to take money from a 4th grader. Do they let you observe classes? If so, how many times? This should be infinite. If they don’t let you watch without signing up walk away.

These are preliminary tests. Next, take a demo class or two. How does it feel? Does it feel legit? Did it feel like people respected your newness? A real gym where people help eachother get better will accept the fact you’re new. A gym out to prove something will whip on you to show you what’s what. Did you do something surprisingly well against someone only to have them give you the ol’ “I wasn’t trying…”? Bad sign.

Really, you’ll be surprised by your own ability to sense the BS of a bad gym. I think the most important thing to remember is that if you feel red flags you’re probably right.

Most of all, talk to the members. Try to discern past their obvious gym love and see if it’s actually a good gym. Fanboy responses are a bad sign. Real people responses talking about a real gym, which includes the bad sweaty smell and all, is a good sign.

Oh, lastly look at the belt progression system. In my home gym in the states I’ve trained for 4 years and I’ve seen a total of 2 black belts ever awarded at the gym (including instructors). If everyone is walking around with high belts that’s not really a good sign.

Hope this helps.

One of the easiest ways to spot a BS gym? The instructor is on auto repeat about his “cred” - usually about how he’s the greatest since Hu Fuk Dat some 800 years ago in rural China.

I’m going to be harsh here, but I suspect it’s for your own good (I might be wrong). He’s actually being truthful with you as far as he knows about his reasons. To him, the craptastic “sparring” his students do is wonderful; however, to someone who isn’t swallowing his BS (hence: a master in Wing Chun) it will look like dweebs on a school ground fighting over a 1st grade crush. Really, it’s because Wing Chun has very little application for real situations and most “sparring” isn’t exactly live. Judging by the fact you previously did some boxing I think you’d be overwhelmingly let down. The reason the boxers let you watch is because they know that’s the point of boxing - to use it. Wing Chun’s only real purpose is to learn it for fun.

I suggest moving on to a real gym, likely meaning outside of the TMA. As a personal rule I stay away from anything with “combat” in the name of it as those tend to be old karate instructors trying to cash in on the MMA fad; your experience may differ.

[QUOTE=Strokerman01;2664806]I suggest moving on to a real gym, likely meaning outside of the TMA. As a personal rule I stay away from anything with “combat” in the name of it as those tend to be old karate instructors trying to cash in on the MMA fad; your experience may differ.[/QUOTE]

The one he’s referring to is legit - http://kombatarts.com/. Among other things, it’s hosting the first Canadian Dog Brothers Gathering this weekend.

Again, if he’s got his heart set on learning CMA for whatever reason, Augustin Ngu is a good choice. If he’s got Kombat Arts available to him, he really should go there instead.

[QUOTE=Strokerman01;2664804]As far as studying things for self defense I would suggest finding a legit MMA school. Minus that find a good BJJ school, preferably Gracie or anything that goes to self defense but any BJJ will work for you in real life. You can get by with a Muay Thai school or even a Krav Magra school (maybe, here). However, you will have a giant hole if a fight ever goes to the ground, which most fights do. Warning: make sure you are interested in FULL CONTACT if you do decide to join a Muay Thai gym. Also, there are two types of MMA gyms: One type is specifically tailored to train cage fighters, the other is tailored to teach people different aspects of fighting for a real life situation. Both will work in real life but you will find the former being much more demanding physically and a bit less practical on the streets (who do you know walks around greased up and wearing tight shorts all day?) Also, they won’t teach things like “make sure to turn your head when applying x so the guy doesn’t rip your eyes out.” These types of small hints.[/QUOTE]
The Gracie nutriding is strong in this one.

[QUOTE=Strokerman01;2664804]Let’s get this settled in order. First, in regards to Qigong - it’s all BS. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble… well no actually I’m not. Chi/meditation/yoga all that stuff is just fine for relaxation techniques and whatever sense of inner calm they might give a practitioner. However, in claims to anything supernatural this has been debunked so many times over the past 100 years I’m always surprised people still fall for it.

Look up James Randi on Ytube and you’ll learn all you need to know about the false claims of Qigong and anything else about reading minds, walking on paper, chi powers etc.

As far as studying things for self defense I would suggest finding a legit MMA school. Minus that find a good BJJ school, preferably Gracie or anything that goes to self defense but any BJJ will work for you in real life. You can get by with a Muay Thai school or even a Krav Magra school (maybe, here). However, you will have a giant hole if a fight ever goes to the ground, which most fights do. Warning: make sure you are interested in FULL CONTACT if you do decide to join a Muay Thai gym. Also, there are two types of MMA gyms: One type is specifically tailored to train cage fighters, the other is tailored to teach people different aspects of fighting for a real life situation. Both will work in real life but you will find the former being much more demanding physically and a bit less practical on the streets (who do you know walks around greased up and wearing tight shorts all day?) Also, they won’t teach things like “make sure to turn your head when applying x so the guy doesn’t rip your eyes out.” These types of small hints.

How to tell if a gym is legit. There are a few ways. First, do they offer free or trial classes? If no, it’s not legit. Or, at the least the instructor is such a dick you don’t want to train there anyway. Long term contracts? These sometimes mark a non-legit gym. Phenomenal claims by the instructor(s)? The more bad ass an instructor claims he is, the less likely he is to be able to take money from a 4th grader. Do they let you observe classes? If so, how many times? This should be infinite. If they don’t let you watch without signing up walk away.

These are preliminary tests. Next, take a demo class or two. How does it feel? Does it feel legit? Did it feel like people respected your newness? A real gym where people help eachother get better will accept the fact you’re new. A gym out to prove something will whip on you to show you what’s what. Did you do something surprisingly well against someone only to have them give you the ol’ “I wasn’t trying…”? Bad sign.

Really, you’ll be surprised by your own ability to sense the BS of a bad gym. I think the most important thing to remember is that if you feel red flags you’re probably right.

Most of all, talk to the members. Try to discern past their obvious gym love and see if it’s actually a good gym. Fanboy responses are a bad sign. Real people responses talking about a real gym, which includes the bad sweaty smell and all, is a good sign.

Oh, lastly look at the belt progression system. In my home gym in the states I’ve trained for 4 years and I’ve seen a total of 2 black belts ever awarded at the gym (including instructors). If everyone is walking around with high belts that’s not really a good sign.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]Make sure to stay in the Japan kid. Come back when you’re less ignorant.

Do they let you observe classes? If so, how many times? This should be infinite.

Seriously? Plenty of legit places would take issue with that. Infinite?

Damn, I guess my gym isn’t legitimate. It doesn’t offer free introductory lessons.

[QUOTE=Strokerman01;2664804]Let’s get this settled in order. First, in regards to Qigong - it’s all BS. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble… well no actually I’m not. Chi/meditation/yoga all that stuff is just fine for relaxation techniques and whatever sense of inner calm they might give a practitioner. However, in claims to anything supernatural this has been debunked so many times over the past 100 years I’m always surprised people still fall for it.

Look up James Randi on Ytube and you’ll learn all you need to know about the false claims of Qigong and anything else about reading minds, walking on paper, chi powers etc.

As far as studying things for self defense I would suggest finding a legit MMA school. Minus that find a good BJJ school, preferably Gracie or anything that goes to self defense but any BJJ will work for you in real life. You can get by with a Muay Thai school or even a Krav Magra school (maybe, here). However, you will have a giant hole if a fight ever goes to the ground, which most fights do. Warning: make sure you are interested in FULL CONTACT if you do decide to join a Muay Thai gym. Also, there are two types of MMA gyms: One type is specifically tailored to train cage fighters, the other is tailored to teach people different aspects of fighting for a real life situation. Both will work in real life but you will find the former being much more demanding physically and a bit less practical on the streets (who do you know walks around greased up and wearing tight shorts all day?) Also, they won’t teach things like “make sure to turn your head when applying x so the guy doesn’t rip your eyes out.” These types of small hints.

How to tell if a gym is legit. There are a few ways. First, do they offer free or trial classes? If no, it’s not legit. Or, at the least the instructor is such a dick you don’t want to train there anyway. Long term contracts? These sometimes mark a non-legit gym. Phenomenal claims by the instructor(s)? The more bad ass an instructor claims he is, the less likely he is to be able to take money from a 4th grader. Do they let you observe classes? If so, how many times? This should be infinite. If they don’t let you watch without signing up walk away.

These are preliminary tests. Next, take a demo class or two. How does it feel? Does it feel legit? Did it feel like people respected your newness? A real gym where people help eachother get better will accept the fact you’re new. A gym out to prove something will whip on you to show you what’s what. Did you do something surprisingly well against someone only to have them give you the ol’ “I wasn’t trying…”? Bad sign.

Really, you’ll be surprised by your own ability to sense the BS of a bad gym. I think the most important thing to remember is that if you feel red flags you’re probably right.

Most of all, talk to the members. Try to discern past their obvious gym love and see if it’s actually a good gym. Fanboy responses are a bad sign. Real people responses talking about a real gym, which includes the bad sweaty smell and all, is a good sign.

Oh, lastly look at the belt progression system. In my home gym in the states I’ve trained for 4 years and I’ve seen a total of 2 black belts ever awarded at the gym (including instructors). If everyone is walking around with high belts that’s not really a good sign.

Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

http://qkme.me/35ecti

[QUOTE=Strokerman01;2664804]…even a Krav Magra school[/QUOTE]

Krav Magra. The indigenous martial art of rural Tasmania.