Martial Arts

anonymous

New member
Hi. I'd like to reccomend Martial Arts as a great way to improve self discipline, strength, lung power, and learn how to defend yourself. I have taken martial arts for almost two and a half years now(I think). I'm one belt below brown, and I can tell you: I'm a lot stronger, better self disciplined, and stronger lung-wise than I was before I started! It's a great thing to do, but don't take it at some karate school that promises you a black belt in six months, or that makes all your goals easy to attain.All in all, karate is a great way to improve lung strength and body strength.
 

buggygurl321

New member
Ditto here.I've been studying karate for about a year and a half now and feel so much more strong and healthy. I have a lot more muscle and strength, it's awesome! I am a brown belt currently. It can get very strenuous somedays, and sometimes I have to take a break (especially if I've been away for a week or so) but overal, I sometimes do better than the upper belts! Anybody else take karate?Katie
 

aragorn

New member
Well, shito ryu is one of the four major styles of karate. In my opinion, kenpo is probably the best, because it takes all the best moves from the other martial arts, and puts them together. However, shito ryu is considered the hardest. It has rigorous training involved. We learn a balance between sparring, kata(which is my ULTRA strong point), weapons, and bunkai(techniques).
 

buggygurl321

New member
Do you like sparring? I don't usually, not unless it's ring sparring. However, I love doing weapons! Have you used bo staff and nunchuks?Both are super fun, although you gotta be careful with nunchuks, or you'll get some serious bruises!I also like doing self defense moves, like crossing talons. You?Katie <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

aragorn

New member
Oh yeah, I don't like sparring either. I stink at it, but yes, I have done bo staff. I have also done sai. As for kata, it is a series of pre-constructed moves, performed like a fight. Basically, when done well, it looks like you're fighting several unseen opponents. At almost any tourny you go to you'll see it(I think, I've only been to about four or five)
 

Lilith

New member
Hi, guys (and girls!)I've been thinking about taking a martial art like Tae Kwon Do or something similar. Let me ask, how hard is it to get started? My FEV1 is around 65%, and I haven't done much physical activity since I graduated high school about a year and a half ago. I want to get out and do something, but the last time I exercised I stirred up something in my lungs because I wasn't used to pushing myself and I got sick. Cured with orals, didn't have to go on IV's, but I'm still wary about trying it again. So:1) Would it be incredibly hard to build up my stamina enough for this and2) Which martial art would you recommend?Thanks for any input you might have.
 

aragorn

New member
Hi Lilith,I don't now what a FEV1 is, but if your lungs could take it, I'd recommend some kind of karate. Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu, and Shotokan are all very similar. I would recommend one of those. Its not that hard when you start out, so you could probably handle it.
 

aragorn

New member
PS you might want to try some pushups or sightups or any other excercise that will get you breathing for a while before you start.PPS Tae Kwon Do is cool too.
 

anonymous

New member
Thanks, aragorn. By the way, just so you know, an FEV1 is basically the percent at which your lungs are functioning. In other words, 65% of my lungs are still in good health. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

anonymous

New member
Hello, youngsters (of the martial arts age),I totally agree that Martial Arts is very beneficial to those with Cystic Fibrosis. The excercise involved creates endurance for the lungs, the activity creates a sweat, which detoxes the body (but you have to replenish your isotonics), and it also increases the activity of the digestive tract, decreasing digestion complications (like stomach aches).I had experienced Karate (Tae Kwon Do), Judo, Aikido, and am currently a 4th degree in Iaido (Swordsmanship).Karate has both advantages and disadvantages, though if Kenpo Karate is what I think it is, it combines Karate with similar techniques found in Aikido, but the word, "Kenpo" can be found for several different styles, so it' origin could be from either China, Korea, or Japan.In Japan (where I'm living), there is a style called "Shorenji Kenpo", which is a style that monks used for self defense, and combined Karate and Aikido techniques, but their philosophy was not to kill (They're Priests).The Advantage to Karate, is excercise, and to an extent, self-defence, yet self-discipline is more accurate. Unless you are training on how to use weapons to your advantage, Karate alone needs body strength to make a punch or kick become effective.Judo has an advantage to the fact that it's a sport, and that hitting the mat (Tatami) is similar to getting your P.D. (Postural Drainage) done automatically. The disadvantage, is if you were serious in becoming a Judo-ka, body strength would also be a necessity.After spending time with those martial arts, I've found Aikido to be the most fit. I have lower body strength, but little upper body strength, and found it easier to use the opponents strength to my advantage. Like Judo, it gives an automatic P.D. session, while also including the excercise for the lungs, etc.However, I'm not knocking anything about Karate. As mentioned, I practiced it, too. So, for those of you who are contemplating on joining a martial art, I highly recommend that anyone with CF who wishes to practice the martial arts to do so, based on their own body strength and ability. If one does not have so much muscle, Aikido would be more benefical. If one has little lung involvement and good body strength, Karate would also be beneficial.As my opinion on weapons, I would recommend any weapon (the bo, for example) that a person could easily attain on the street if attacked be their most proficient weapon. The "Sai" is interesting, but not practical, it's illegal to carry in the states.One caution, whatever martial art, if it's contact, you have to be concerned about injury. I was injured in something else, but it was serious enough that I couldn't continue the art I loved (Until I get the money for surgery) because of it.One last thing, because the word "-do" is at the end of most every martial art, it means "the way", therefore indicates a lifelong commitment (or a long term hobby).I hope this is helpful for everyone, and any comments are truely welcome.
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
The long paragraph regarding the suggestion for anyone wishing to get into the Martial Arts is from me.I just started this forum today (I'm the youngster in this case) so the text indicated "by Anonymous", but I'm not anonymous.(In case it happens again, my call sign is 65rosessamurai--something I just came up with borrowing the "65 roses" we all know-- My name is Frederick Merz, and I live in Japan)
 

Hope4CF

New member
Hi! my name is Rebecca I was born with CF and I started taking Tae Kwon Do almost 2 years ago and now have my blue belt. I found some products that were great for improving my performance and help muscles heal faster after workers and such.
I've put a website about CF, its bacially my story and what has helped. click <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.freewebs.com/cflife">here</a> to go to the site.
 
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65rosessamurai

Guest
To Rebecca,
Keep up the good work! Like most of the Japanese and Chinise Martial Arts, the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do may also teach you "Ki", or "Chi", which is the energy, or "aura" built from within yourself. This may help a lot in every endeavor you face. However, my Aikido Instructer explained it as a "Battery", and I can see the resemblence.
When working with others who carry a high energy, some of it may be charging your energy. When in a difficult situation, your energy may be drained (stress, illness, etc.), and you may need that energy charge during that time as well. If strong enough, you may find the energy within yourself, and have enough to even charge others who need that energy!
To aragorn, I missed adding a comment I wish for you to read and take as you wish. Though you may not be good at sparring, it could be seen as a challenge. I was poor at it as well, but by perserverence, I was able to improve. In sparring, it's hard to think of it as a chess game, but the idea is to be two steps ahead of the oponent. learning combination techniques (from katas) may help in the improvement to sparring. Also, a higher ranked person is more difficult to spar with, but easier to learn mistakes from (they may even give a few pointers).
To Lilith,
I started Tae Kwon Do, soon after my first time with I.V. treatment, which was after I graduated from High School. It was difficult at first, but when you work with others in excercise, it seems more enjoyable to me than to do it all myself. As long as the Instructors know and understand your health situation, they will not push you beyond your ability, until they see your endurance improve, then they might push a little more to help you strenthen your body and lungs. (based on My experience)
I wasn't sure if I'd make it, but my will, effort and self perserverence and the love of the art helped me through, I hope it helps you, too!
 
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