Here are 9 martial arts tips for what I would do differently if I could start over starting from beginner tips, moving on to intermediate tips and then to pro tips.
00:00 Intro
00:30 Advice #1
01:11 Advice #2
04:24 Advice #3
06:11 Advice #4
08:04 Advice #5
10:27 Advice #6
12:16 Advice #7
13:40 Advice #8
15:03 Advice #9
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Welcome to the Martial Arts Journey KZhead channel!
My name is Rokas. I'm a Lithuanian guy who trained Aikido for 14 years, 7 of them running a professional Aikido Dojo until eventually I realized that Aikido does not live up to what it promises.
Lead by this realization I decided to make a daring step to close my Aikido Dojo and move to Portland, Oregon for six months to start training MMA at the famous Straight Blast Gym Headquarters under head coach Matt Thornton.
After six months intensive training I had my first amateur MMA fight after which I moved back to Lithuania. During all of this time I am documenting my experience through my KZhead channel called "Martial Arts Journey".
Now I am slowly setting up plans to continue training MMA under quality guidance and getting ready for my next MMA fight as I further document and share my journey and discoveries.
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If you want to support my journey, you can make a donation to my PayPal at info@rokasleo.com
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Which advice do you think is the most important?
#5. If the instructor's answer is, "Just do what I tell you. Once you develop the skill, you'll understand," then head for the door.
@@DagwoodDogwoggle Agreed!
I think learning martial arts and not training for self-defence and/or combat is a waste of time, because all martial arts stem from the need of defence or combat in the first place. I did Aikido for 10 years, and to a great degree I regret not taking fighting more seriously.
#1 to know what you want from your training is gold. Self defense is not combat sport is not health benefits, though one aspect can also support another. Rokas, what is your opinion about inner martial arts? You trained Aikido for so long but never mentioned such aspects as Chi Gung. I just read that ueshiba probably studied ba gua and therefore could do what he was able to do (but because of the history between China and Japan to that time nobody should know). Thanks! 🙏🙂
I think #3! Going around to "try before you buy" was my mentality. Since I'm starting martial arts late, I don't want to waste my years in a place I don't enjoy.
rokas we love you im sorry but the whoosh air sound is driving me absolutely insane
Haha, I'm always open to feedback! Thanks for letting me know. I'll lower its sound in the future, and potentially opt out of using it entirely
@MartialArtsJourney I genuinely didn't notice it until I looked at the comments
@@adamspiveysame lol
Lol, didn't even notice until I read it. Now it drives me crazy too. Thanks 😂
Thank you for the reply Rokas
Agreed 100% on trying multiple gyms. I went to a bjj school which was clearly the biggest in the region. I threw up in 6 out of the 8 sessions I went and never came back after (I work out since 2016, I'm not sedentary, I just was suffering from spending too much energy during the roll and not enough cardio atthe gym). I recently decided to try bjj again on another gym and wow the atmosphere is so much better, people don't get offended/angry if I got into a good position and sometimes even let me for me to be able to train the positions correctly (during practice, not rolling). I like it so much now that I might even compete in the future
That's really awesome to hear!
Happy for you!
Lulz I tore my ACL within 3 months, been recovering fine tho, will def come back
Great advice! I spent 20 years of my life in the Martial Arts and have come to the same conclusions you did. We both had to learn these lessons the hard way.
Thanks! Hopefully the new people will take some of these tips and apply it. I really wish I did! (*says while massaging his hurting shoulder*) 😂
I've been training shorin ryu karate for many years and teaching it for the past decade. I realized long ago that there were holes in the style...at least as it is taught today in the US. Frankly, I believe a lot of styles have become watered down due to liability concerns. As an instructor, even with insurance, you're always considering the ramifications of injuries, etc. (let the lawsuits fly!) BUT, with that said, I am also cross-training in BJJ with Judo mixed in there, and I've been incorporating aspects of those styles into my karate classes. I do have to acknowledge that some of the students are in the class solely for a workout, but for those who are interested in stepping up their game, I'm up for it. I love working throws and grappling, and it helps me get better by teaching it to others.
I think most people in this channel have.
Quick correction on a great video: kendo is heavily combat oriented and pretty much not "solo practice" focused, so much that some will argue that it's so much of a competitive sport that it now looks very different from what a sword fight should. It's definitely not a good pick for self defense, and quite heavy on the cultural side, but it's definitely a combat sport. Iaido, on the other hand, is a kata-centric mostly solo focused MA. Cheers!
Good point. I thought the same thing watching the video.
I want to add something to your comment: Kendo has nothing to do with Samurai swordfight...For example there are several videos wich show what happens if a Kenjutsu and Kendo fighter on the same level fight. The fighting style's doesn't match because it's a different context, for once because Kendo doesn't use a Katana shaped like sword, which would be heavier and would allow for different skills. Second, for whatever reason the japanese took everything apart in times of piece during their history, so you have kendo moveset, kejutsu moveset and Iaijutsu moveset, and everything is taught differently and in different seperate schools. All that stuff should be learned as one whole thing. But they don't do it, which has lead to an extreme specification of these singular movesets. Third: Rules to gain points. It's the same in HEMA and sportsfencing. If you bend your martial arts for the purpose to make points, it's watered down. Now hear me out: Kendoka and sportsfencer can be extremely skilled. They are athletes. No doubt about that. But they only interact in a specific set of sportrules to gain points, which is a disadvantage and leads to a different martial arts than what it was supposed to be. I don't say one is better than the other. I'm clearly outclassed by every sportsfencer who has some experience and trained since childhood. But i don't care about that because that's not the system and context i wanna use my martial arts in. On the other hand if you're a Kendoka or a sportsfencer and you're really into the system of sports, i highly encourage to continue with these martial arts because almost nothing will train your body better.
@@Blutroth I think "nothing to do with Samurai swordfight" is a bit too much, but I understand your point. I practice both kendo and iaido and, honestly, I don't care much about "real swordfight", self defense or anything like that -- I'm into the culture and self development bandwagon (and swords, of course). Sure I'd like to learn koryu kenjutsu if I ever have the opportunity, but mostly because I like Japanese MA traditions and paired kata.
@@BlutrothWhich videos do you refer to?
@@Blutroth I think you are mostly correct, but kendo as a competition for points has advantages over other martial arts that do the same (such as point karate or fencing). Firstly, unlike in fencing or karate, a successful kendo strike is considerably more likely to be debilitating or lethal than (comparing a punch, kick or potentially even a stab wound to cutting off a person's hand or disembowling them), so a point match doesn't necessarily take away from its effectiveness (although the best of 3 format is definitely not totally realistic). Secondly, point scoring in kendo isn't an objective "did they hit the target?" system, but rather it is up to the judges' discretion as to whether they believe a cut would have been effective. As such, a lot of technique is preserved rather than optimised away (although some definitely is lost) as judges must be experienced kendoka who often place a high value on tradition. I would also add that while I believe kendo is almost totally useless for self defence, as you will never be carrying a sword on the streets, it is not totally ineffective, as university kendoka have demonstrated that the incredibly small and fast cuts are still effective in tameshigiri (there is a video source for this, but I can't be bothered finding it myself).
I started training in martial arts (Shotokan karate) when I was seventeen years old, over forty years ago. If only I had had access to such excellent advice! To anyone looking to start training (or who feel that their training just isn't working for them), watch this video, and have a good think about what is being said.
🙏👊
Quick comment on trying to push through fatigue: sometimes you feel too tired to train. I recommend doing the warmup before deciding. I find that 2/3 of the time, I'm good to go after the warmup. If I'm still tired after the warmup, I sit out or go home. Training fatigued can lead to injuries.
I can definitely relate to a good few of these - especially the treating your body well because if you don't, you will have to work a whole lot harder when you're older to offset those mistakes. Good tips and advice!
I started Judo almost a month ago, at 44. Best decision ever! The dojo is awesome as the people in it and every training is a wonderful exprience. It's challenging but the satisfaction I'm getting in learning new things every time is immense. The only thing I would change if I could would be starting judo before :) but everyone's path is different, I dedicated a lot of years to another passion of mine (volley) and other sports and I don't regret it, and maybe if my past had been different I wouldn't appreciated Judo so much now, who knows! But if you're struggling making the decision to start practicing a martial art, don't wait and just do it following the awesome suggestions of this video and you'll have the time of your life :)
Is Judo hard on the body? I'm 35 and considering starting. I've been active my whole life so I'm not in bad shape, just wondering if I'll break my head lol.
@@janzafar7577you'll learn how to fall. But try jiu-jitsu instead. You'll probably get hurt, but tap.
Thanks so much! I took taiji to help me heal from MMA overtraining. I ended up falling in love with the soft practice and gave up fighting for healing. Happy to have found what works better for me! 👍🏻 Sending support to everyone hunting for the right path for themselves. Keep going! You got this!
I was by Bluue Sky (Chung Min BoupSa), originally healing, and fighting arts were taught together. As you age, the healing becones of greater importance. Many arts have separated over time, or the teachers withheld some knowledge. Acupuncturie and massage were included in sone arts, but the wide curriculum does not fit in many peoples modern world.
❤ my humility, neck, knees, hips and lumber totally appreciate your advice..I just wish you had been around with this advice in the 80's. You are doing martial arts a great service.
Nr 8 is something the whole world needs to hear, not just martial arts students. It's so easy to feel like you are able to take more stress when you are young, but it's still going to accumulate. I am so happy I've taken care of my body and stayed away from the craziest stuff.
Great advice came to the same answers after 43 years of mixed training and still able to say i enjoy it more now for following the same steps you talk about which i employed about 15 years ago after a serious injury.
Awesome video Rokas ! I'm an aikidoka for years now and I started taking boxing classes this month. I loved and still love the cultural aspect from aikido, but now at 30 I wanted to take a more "contact-oriented" art. Very extremely different vibes but I like it and I'll be practicing both arts in parallel 🙂
This video was really helpful. Thank you so much.
Aikido was my first martial art too. I started training in it just cos there was a teacher along the road from me when I was a kid. After 8 years training in it I also became disillusioned by it when I realised it didnt really work. I've now bee trying Jiu-Jitsu which I'm really enjoying, but I am also coming back to Aikido for its philosophy for peace and finding the flow in everyday life. Something my Aikido teacher always said, but I just didnt understand cos i was too young. Thank you for sharing your learning journey with us! :)
I've not done aikido but this aikido bloke was a bouncer for many years and got into many fights. He slightly adapted his aikido and said it was very effective in the street. kzhead.info/sun/e9qEZ8WZgp6AeX0/bejne.htmlsi=bylqG-Lfr6IEByyO&t=8
Rokas you are a wealth of practical information. Thank you and God bless you and your wife!
Thank you for well meaning and been honest. Respect.
Thank you, Brother for all advice
This is the best channel about martial arts I know, by far. Keep up the great work!
I often think about what I would have done differently if I had the chance to do it over again, and that includes Martial arts. This was a truly great discussion of that topic. And I think tip #9 is the most important of all, and not just for martial arts, but for everything. I basically quit playing Golf because I got pretty good too quickly and started to put _way_ too much pressure on myself, making the experience more stressful than fun.
We will support you all. Keep working hard.
For me, tip 8 was by far the most important. I am recovering from a major back surgery because I didn't respect my deadlifts.
Fantastic advice right here! Train for longevity is what my instructor has told me countless times!
As a person who had trained for 38 years, I have to say you're right on point. So many rabbit holes you can go down.
Great advices Rokas! Thank you!
Excellent advice Rokas 😃👍👍🥋🥊💪🙏
He has all the points. Practice what make u fell better both mental and physic. Wellbeing. Healthy life and long term commitment.🎉
Always nice to see another Lithuanian martial artist
Great messages to be getting out to the community. I remember trying out several different karate schools and being able to tell the difference in quality as well as the difference in how the teaching style works for me. My initials school is still probably one of the best for me, I accelerated quickly through the lower ranks, because I was young and had nothing but time to dedicate to training. I remember when I moved away from that school, someone in my new location accused the school of just being in it for the money because I've gone through for belts in a relatively short period of time. The Sensei was my uncle's friend, I paid $35 a month and $10 a belt Canadian. For that I had a literal open-door policy to the dojo and went three or four days a week on top of my training at home oh to be that young. These days I have settled in at an Arnis school, where we regularly invite instructors of other schools and styles from other gyms to come and train with us and lead the class. I have attended classes now with guest instructors in American boxing, wing chun, judo, bujinkan, I'm sure you get the gist of it. Have fun, learn everything.
great video Rokas; your journey has given you some real wisdom. wish you all the best 🤟🔥
Really good advice, thank you!!
Perfect advise. Thank you very much sir. That thing about different schools teaching the same thing in different ways, is so relatable to me. It happened to me when I changed from tkd ITF schools during a break in my official school. And there they made me fight against people twice my zise and age at full contact and no mercy (I was a 15 years old, skinny and without clue about nothing in life, fighting against brutes with steroids).
thank you for your advice sir
Amazing video, so thoughtful and so well articulated
If I had it to do all over again.. Whatever I chose, I would learn grappling in a related setting first as my base. Before Karate, I’d have taken Judo. Before KungFu, I’d have found Shuaijiao, or at least San Da. Before Wing Chun, I’d have found a Muay Thai school with an instructor who is also particularly really good at the Thai Plum and preferably with BJJ in the same building. Before Boxing, I would get into Wrestling. Grappling gives you an entirely different appreciation and understanding for the Traditional Martial Arts / striking arts and grappling arts almost always have really widespread competitive opportunities. Also, I would have kept something on the side that I strictly do for fun. I probably would have went and taken Shaolin Kungfu.. not for fighting, but, because I got the book, “Supple Leopard”. Flexibility, athleticism, and natural strength are so important, especially as you age. Shaolin is like the most fun way of getting some stretching and cardio in, and hitting those full ranges of motion, without getting bored. With good flexibility, strength, joint health, and a strong grappling background… from that point, WHATEVER you decide to do, you are going to naturally elevate it. Even MMA has proven that a Wrestling / Grappling foundation, with strong striking added on, gives them the ability to dominate and dictate the fight with a high percentage of success and the longest list of champions.
This is so opposite to what I believed growing up wrestling while being very worried about getting into a fight with a boxer as that's what was considered the most effective martial art until BJJ and MMA became popular. For me, grappling is so easy and straight forward I really can't remember not knowing how to take people down and stay on my feet or how to never get into a position on the ground that I can't use intelligence to turn into a dominant position. But now that I've mastered boxing after 9 years, I am starting to question my grappling skills are getting rusty as it's been advancing so much in the last twenty years
Depends on what you want, sport/mental perspective it's good to try a lot of what you mentioned but MMA is still not the real world...on the street you dont want to be on the ground, you learn grappling/wrestling to get up soon as possible...striking is more useful in the street...BJJ is overhyped in the internet but it's just a tool, useful of course but you always want to know how strike (maybe kick), a good punch can save your life...the faster you handle the situation the better, you dont want to fight in the ground for minutes...believe me
@@quercusroburxthe three taps means your joint is braking or you are out of breath. It takes seconds if you are trained for that. Striking is a must but knowing how to fall and what to do in the ground is important.
I probably would have *gone and taken Shaolin kung fu
I like that Rokas states that the best martial arts for you may depend on your personality (I’m like Rokas, I’m not the most aggressive person but I can be because I was trained to be); Goju Ryu works best for me because of the cultural experience and the continuative contact sparring. I love the Bajiquan kung fu style because it gives the cultural background, gives decent application and helps with health
Wait, do Goju Ryu guys actually spar?
@@Limemill yes we do. Spar, partner drills, pressure test techniques. The works
Today is exactly 1 year after I started my journey, started on boxing and now I am a Muay Thai practitioner that spars fighters and guys 10 years younger and its so much fun but I am 6ft and 210lbs and I did not loose any weight exercising every day for that year just toned my body into lean mean machine. Knees, Elbows and sweeps Love it.
What practical advice. I wish I knew these things when I first started martial arts. I also took aikido early on, and I was told it would take 15-20 years to learn to defend myself. I balked and only continued a little bit longer, but I became discouraged because I really wanted to learn how to defend myself. I grew up being bullied and physically assaulted, and I wanted to learn how to not be a victim when two or more people were ganging up on me. 1v1 wasn't so much of a concern because I could mostly psyche people out but the whole psychological/social dynamics are different when two or more kids egg each other on to increasingly higher levels of violence.
I read the Gavin De Becker book in the late 90s. I just recently bought another copy, it is a great read. My first karate teacher in the 80s, said “I do not teach self defense, I teach you how to fight”.
Hi Rokas, I've been practicing karate for 10 years and aikido for 8 (where I highly appreciated the art of falling or ukemi), and I'm now looking for something new, at 59. I watched this video 5 times: it's very thoughtful and inspiring. Thanks! Samuele
One of your best videos ❤
Very good video. Only did boxing for a couple of months, myself, but I want to try again, maybe with a different martial art. You're very straightforward and that's what I enjoyed most about your video. Honestly hadn't given some of these tips much or any thought until you mentioned them. Thank you for your advice! I wish you good luck in your journeys, in and out of martial arts!
@bootlegmegaboss3304 Do you like to read books on martial art?😁
@@jagger_claw I enjoy reading books in general, but haven't read anything on martial arts yet. Anything you'd recommend?
@@bootlegmegaboss3304 It looks like my comments here are getting deleted for some reason! Can we talk somewhere else?
Another great video! All good tips! I know that trying out multiple styles is very popular these days. There are two ways to do it: 1. Dabble, this is where you take multiple styles for 1-12 months, and 2. Extend, this is where you take a single martial art to Black belt and beyond and go to other schools to learn a specific set of skills to improve yourself and remove blind spots. It’s common for instructors to not like either, but the best instructors know that they can only keep advanced students engaged if they help them extend what they know. The very best martial arts organizations have extension of their art in the DNA of the organization. I would look for a school like this regardless of style! You find it by asking the senior students in the gym. If most have taken another style, that’s a good sign! If the people in the gym look like boxers when they punch and like BJJ / wrestlers on the ground that’s a good sign! I have seen this in JKD gyms, kali gyms, HEMA gyms, MMA gyms, Wing Chun etc. I am sure there are gyms in virtually every style that are like this; fighting is fighting and it all leads to the same place. People try to say “pressure testing” and sport is the ONLY way to achieve this outcome. That’s false, it’s necessary but not sufficient. Training is improvement through problem solving. Sparing is a simulator that can give you good data, what you do with that data is equally important. Also, how you collect the data, e.g. rulesets is equally important.
i like this guys honesty
The sword and the boxing glove is a really good mix... You would learn striking in the grappling behind the sword (Jiu-Jitsu) you wouldn't be an expert on the ground, but you wouldn't be a pushover down there either. In the whole journey of Martial Arts soft styles are harder to learn than hard styles they become more valuable the more skilled you become.
what do you mean by hard and soft styles?
@@brynjones3445 a soft-style is typically uses open hands and a parrying system and instead of a blocking and using the other persons strength against them. Some styles have both like Goju Ryu which means hard and soft or Hung Gar tiger is hard crane is soft. But depending on the person they may only focus on one over the other... Cobra Kai is hard Miyaigi Do is soft.. there is a karate movie called Kuro Obi that goes through the philosophy really well also. I think it's on KZhead. One of the actors are on the Kuro Obi world channel. Most sports are hard because it's not entertaining to be defensive. There may be someone who can explain it better than I can but once you recognize that you can easily point it out
@@nebriancoleman4704 If you hear bullshit like "using someone's strength against them", you should be running from that place anyways. Strength never works against you, even if you have no clze what you're doing.
@@MrCmon113 If you punch as hard as you can and I move Your energy is going in the wrong direction. Don't try to make things too overly complicated.
@@MrCmon113 yes and no. I agree tai chi and most these hand trapping systems have glaring forms but when it comes to close grappling systems( bjj or wrestling) u mainly do use ur opponents power against them, for instance the philosophy of push pull is very important. Or trying to time sweeps.
This video should be called How to pick a martial art and school for beginners or something like that. It should reach more of the people who need it and it's a really good video that I had when I was starting out.
Stretch MORE! The some of the best advice in my opinion as I sit here with a random Charlie horse from BJJ yesterday. Great video
I'm not sure Kendo is mostly focused on tradition. I guess we could say that about Kenjutsu, but Kendo, not necessarily. It seems to me that what they did with Kendo is something similar to what Jigoro Kano did with Judo. It's still a modern form of fighting with samurai swords with a specific set of rules.
Agreed! I just meant that it's not preparing people for physical combat outside of the Dojo, but that's my bad.
@@MartialArtsJourneya kendoka with a stic can be scary tho
@@MartialArtsJourney A lot of the old masters were using their experience from weapons for bare hand combat. You find a lot fighting styles beeing that like baji quan or xing yi which use moves from spear fighting but without spear .Karate has a lot of sword fighting without a sword. I think i made the proposition a few times already, cut a sword off the handle, then grip only the handle and try fight, i am sure you end up better than you did with your pressure testing of aikido back in the time.
@@MartialArtsJourneyI bet youll get your ass handed to you by an experienced kendoka with a stick
What I learned the hard way was you cannot rely on the quality of your teachers all the time. You need to get to the stage of learning by yourself as fast as possible.
There are a lot of videos popping up about BJJ injuries, A lot of people drop out after blue belt and did not reach purple belt because of the injuries. A lot of people talking in those videos saying that's their experience and the no.1 topic with BJJ or Judo. We screwed up our bodies and dropped out without learning any standup or takedowns even after doing BJJ for a couple of years, and this is for a Martial arts that's famous in MMA. If I could start over again, I don't have a good answer right now but it has to be some kind of no-competitive boxing/MT and watered down Wrestling/Greco that gives you longevity. Sounds like a stupid answer but I did boxing non-competitively for 2 years in my 40's without any injuries, granted I didn't get into any hard sparring but the cost benefit is high.
Agree... Well injuries are one off the reasons why I stopped MMA/BJJ (I do still little BJJ) and started to train more Aikido again. With Aikido I can still do Martial Arts and still maintain my physical condition and my skills (and even develope my older skills), but with less injuries altough our training is pretty hard.
@@ironjavs1182 In the 90's, Kyokushin, Muay Thai, MMA took over then scene. Point Karate went out of favor, but if you look at footage of Mikio Yahara in those Karate competition, these guy had speed, timing, balance etc, also their conditioning was also good, lean muscle everywhere. It won't take much to convert them into a ring fighter. Do we want to get punched in the stomach and head after 35 with our daily career and family schedule? We need something that's effective at fighting but train in a way that doesn't get us hurt.
I’m really passionate about martial arts and always dreamt of starting one. Now I have the time and money and I’m thinking about aikido or taekwondo (and maybe hapkido if there’s a great teacher/dojo in my city), but mostly aikido because it seems more light, and I’m truly afraid of getting an injury as I love playing music more than life itself, and so far every other dojo seems hella competitive in comparison
I bet bjj is a lot less injurious than most popular sports like football, skateboarding and skiing.
Very motivating, thanks!
Great video, keep it up!
Great video, what I see as complete realistic self defense is much more that punch and kick. I see 8 elements: 1.Situational Awareness 2.Pre Attack indicators 3.Effective self defense tools (flashlight, pepperspray, knife, gun-training) 4.Sprint Interval Endurance 5.Grappling art (judo, BJJ, submission grappling, wrestling) 6.Striking art (Boxing, Kudo, Thaiboxing, etc) 7.Stop the bleed first aid 8.Knowledge of the self defense law and what elements in the law to adjust to Self defense is more a body guard mindset then a mma mindset, more about de-escalate, escape and evade then fight, confront and win
Exactly. Very well explained👌
Wish I could have heard this like 12 year ago. Nice tips!
Cheers from Brazil Rokas! Great video btw. I've been studying Taekwondo for 21 years, and today i am 3rd degree black belt, and red belt on Hapkido. Since 2022, i've began questioning myself if all i've been trying for two decades was the right thing, based on what Taekwondo is today. So, for the last 8 months, i have studied everything i can about Taekwondo and korean martial arts. From what i've learned, Taekwondo was meant to be an effective martial art, even so i can say that if Kukkiwon and WT decided to, Taekwondo could be sort of a "Korean Kickboxing". Instead, for political influence, Taekwondo droped it's combative roots to be developed as a high-performance sports-based martial arts. So this is the point were i've decided do change things in my dojang. Instead of teaching only the common style of Taekwondo, i've decided to develop in myself what this style lacks: the effective system. So i will now learn both Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, to develop myself as a more complete martial artist, and i will teach a more effective form of Taekwondo, based on self-defense and effective combat, not abandoning its traditional martial, mental and spiritual training. I know i can't change the world, but at least i will change something to my students lives with this. Your story with Aikido inspired me to do this, so keep up the good work man! And thanks for the tips on this video
Man as a Judoka and kickboxer, who has dabbled in just about everything and started as a kid with taekwondo I'd love to see more diversity in it's application and interpretation. I hope you have great success! One day I'd like to open my own judo, kudo, and no gi BJJ hybrid school I hope I can expand the arts in the way you are doing.
@@gajorg69 just keep going man, nobody can tell what you can or cannot do. Martial arts is about evolution through experience. You learn a fighting style from your master, but it doesn't mean you cannot learn others. All the teachings you have through your life in martial arts will develop your unique fighting style, that someday, you will teach others, that in the future will do the exact same thing. For comparation, it is just like the cicle of life itself: a single person, formed by the dna and teachings of its parents life experiences, that will have its own experiences through life and will teach these to its children, students, and the cicle begins again. I wish you success and a great martial arts journey for your life 🙌🏽
Which Taekwondo? ITF or WTF - if it is not ITF its not Taekwondo, the WTF Olympic style is not the original - Americans due to the conflict in South Korea got the watered down version of the real Taekwondo designed for soldiers.
@@DJ-st4rs not only this, but the fact that Kukkiwon and WT were created to form a sport-based style makes this point just worse. What i see is that martial arts evolve with the traditions and one's personal experiences through life, changing it's shape in the process. I do know that our taekwondo is just a sport and is not realy effective as a martial art, so, what i've learn for the past 22 years and what i am learning now will make my style unique, and this, my way of the taekwondo is the one that will pass to my students and will evolve through the next generations.
Thanks Always, great video once again 🙏🙏I would repeat what I chose, Yoseikan Budo ❤️ together with sparring with other Styles practiciants anytime I can (and try some too, cross training ❤️).🥋🥊🤗🙏
Watching your videos inspired me to get back into martial arts. I found my local bjj gym and today is my first class! 2 bbj classes a week and 2 mma💪💪💪
That's awesome! I'm so happy for you
I appreciate that Rokus!
Thanks for these tips Master First I will focus in stretching motility and core strength them I will learn some grappling And finally I will choose a striking martial art
As an ex kickboxer and sky scraper window cleaner I can totally appreciate the train hard rest hard mindset. I only wish that I learned it 20 years ago. Seriously people, you feel it later in life!
I am taking TKD and loving it, I understand that it is considered a punching bag when it comes to practical self-defense, but the cardio and flexibility are great
Wise words! 👏
🙏
Started from Shotokan and convert to full contact karate that introduce more of efficient striking and clinching, currently slowly diving myself in to BJJ to add grappling aspect.
Absolutely great call out on Meditations on Violence book.
I took a couple of kickboxing classes & realized what I want is some foundations in self defense first. So I'm picking up those books recommended.
Good advice hoss. Some of that won’t click with people until they’ve matured but those who use it early will appreciate it later.
great video!
Hi, Rokas! I'm a brazilian guy who train Pa-Kua (or Bagua), and I identify a lot with your history. That's why I stared my own KZhead Channel to "own my own journey", and you're a big inspiration to me. So thank you, Rokas, from the heart! Maybe one day we make a video together! 😁🥋
You know, I've though about Pa-Kua the instant he Said about searching It before joining in. I've did exactly that, and found things that made me reluctant to try Pa-kua. As a practicioner (or ex-practicioner) what are your thoughs about It?
@@WillTower19 I still pratice Pa-Kua and teach it. Honestly, I truly believe in the Knowlegde/Filosophy and some tecniques for self-defense (that I tried and tested myself in pressure tests), but like Rokas says in one of his video - some martial arts are like running a bike. That's ok, it's good for your health, but you can't win against a racing car. Pa-Kua is not entirely for self-defense. It's a Martial Art with some tecnique for self-defense (in my opinion). And I try my best to teach this for my students - what are for self-defense and what it's not. I also praticed other martial arts, combat sports and self-defense system, to learn and see other point of views. And from what I learn, Pa-Kua has great potential and concepts for self-defense and also for fighting, like Aikido and other martial arts, but the instructors aren't good. They don't seek for Excelence (witch I believe it's the essence of Martial Arts - The Seek for Excelence). I recently take a knive-defense course from a krav maga school that the tecniques were so bad... Bad instructors are in all Martial Arts, Self-defende system and Combat Sports. Sorry for the big text, but I couldn't express my toughts in just one paragraph hehe
@@WillTower19 Well search here for Chi Arts Association or Bagua Jiulong both are pretty good and able for the streets
I need so much rest, my coach often times called me if were to be back lol always came back better, faster, stronger, and waaay more technical. Listen to your body, but don't lose motivation!
For what it's worth, one of the reasons I like your channel is because of your experience in the Aikido cult. I like it because I myself was part of a cult -- not a martial arts cult, but a bona fide religious cult! Your videos where you talk about your experiences in the cult resonate with my own experiences. If nothing else, your "wasted time" in Aikido allows people like me to relate to you on a deep level 😭😭
Great advice 👍 good vid 😁
Great info
Rokas - @MartialArtsJourney I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for your videos, particularly the one titled "How I Would Learn Martial Arts (If I Could Start Over)," which I found to be truly excellent. It succinctly encapsulates many insights I've gleaned throughout my years of practicing various martial arts. Regarding your mention of internal and external martial arts, my perspective aligns with the belief that these distinctions are somewhat artificial. It seems to me that in all MA it's all about achieving a harmonious balance, maintaining proper structure, understanding energy dynamics, and utilizing one's physical capabilities optimally. On the topic of Tai Chi, I resonate that a significant portion, around 80-85%, is often taught with a focus on health benefits (good selling option). Additionally, a substantial portion is treated as gymnastics (about 10-15% and you see it mostly in China competitions), leaving only a small fraction, approximately 5% or so, where instructors delve into its foundational aspects as a comprehensive fighting martial art-encompassing grappling, kicking, punching, throwing, and more. It's indeed a nuanced narrative that extends beyond the limitations of this space so I will not take more "space". Thank you once again for your insightful content.
I researched Shoshin Ryu Martial Arts and they have many of the positive elements this video discusses for self-defense. They have a curriculum that has judo and jujitsu, but also have tradtional karate elements and weapons as well. It was interesting to hear they are a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization. They don't charge for belts and tests and all the money goes back into the national organization to further the student's opportunities to learn self-defense. They even have relationships with other major systems and bring in instructors for seminars and they encourage practitioners to seek effective information/techniques. It looks like they only have like 15 schools in the United States, but if there is one near where you live it seems like a great option.
I started for a fun different way of exercising. I do enjoy the addition cultural education. Have been training in Shito-Ryu Karate and BJJ for a long time.
it is good advices good video overall thank you my friend
I have just restarted in my 40s, I used to train Judo for several years getting to 2 kyu. But right now started Kyokushin Karate which I really enjoy.
Great advice
Very good advices!
Glad to hear it!
I can't speak for everyone who has done TKD, but based on my experience TKD is more focused on competition and fitness than cultural experience. The most culture I got from it was learning how to count to ten in Korean. I also never thought I was learning it for self-defense, and the instructor never gave me that impression.
Now that I'm in my mid 40's, I have transitioned more towards training for health. The Daoyin of Baguazhang, a Taoist-Yogic system good for mobility and recovery, combined with combat conditioning systems like DaruStrong and MMAShredded, give me the confidence that I can combat two of the greatest enemies in life: stress and old age. I sometimes miss the combatives and sparring that I did for so many years, but I deeply appreciate the change in focus towards visualization and the meditative principles that make me better at navigating life. Being involved in TCMA for many years, it is unfortunate that many schools which tout their lineage and masters are also the top contributors to advice #6. Its better to be your own lifelong student
Thanks for the video, Rokas! I just feel sad you didn’t overcome your trauma with aikido and generalized the art as a whole again. It’s not totally USELESS for self-defense and that was an in the video of knife attach when you used 4kyo to do the attack for a while when other guys couldn’t. I started “Tomiki aikido “ recently and have enjoyed the way they practice and convert, which is improving my aikikai style in the sense that I’m finding techniques I used to practice ona different way. By the way, I got a black belt in aikikai and I feel it had helped me in my judo ( also got a black belt this month) and even karate practice, because my karate style (gojuryu) has aikido techniques. If I were you I’d try Tomiki aikido, but I know they’re not in Lithuania. Maybe the closest dojo for you would be in Finland. I am already doing what you talk about different martial arts, because my journey started with judo, then I started aikido but stopped both for about 30 years but got back to both 2 years ago and got black belts in both. In the mean time I also decided to start karate to learn to punch and kick other than throwing with and without joint jocks ( aikido and judo) , pinning, choking and using armlocks. I’m practicing 4 martial ( aikikai aikido 2 times, gojuryu karate 3 times, judo 1 times and Tomiki aikido 1 time)arts and enjoying the ride! Forget your trauma with aikido and try different styles or even better, do aikido in Japan, which is what I’m doing.
Would you happen to have a list of books that you recommend for martial artists / self defense nerds? If they are on Audible that would be a bonus. Really enjoy your vids and interviews!
When i said somethin in our messenger group and my trainer didn't agree i thought i was wrong... When he said He did research and admitted to be wrong in front of all his students i knew i'm in the right place with right teacher. He never said "you are doing it wrong" , he always says "as long as it works on Your opponent it's right, if it doesn't work, adapt". And i adapt and learn and i can see progress. I started my journey pretty late (in my early 40ties) but i'm sure i'm on the right path. I would like to add, that Your content pushed me on that path (i trained Aikido in my youth and became very angry with matial arts in general). Your Journey started mine. I started to watch Your channel, Icy Mike, Sensei Seth, Metrolina, Street Beefs, Jeff Chan, Ramsey, Wonderboy and more "no bullshit approach". Now, after 3 years of experience (i know it's nothing in martial arts) i know it was best decision i've made in my life. I'm training boxing, both my kids train Shotokan Karate. Ite became our lifestyle and i'm happy about it. Keep up good work, You are beacon of litght for many people.
Nice video! Now I know what i want to learn. I Think Ninjutsu is my pick.
You have just reinforced my choice in my local Akido school.
Experience with tip #8 - I trained Krav Maga for a year and absolutely loved it. However there was a female instructor who encouraged the students to hit the hard pads as hard as possible bare fisted, continually for most of the session. Even when we hit them real hard she said to do it harder! I ended up injuring my knuckles. Doctor recommended to just let them heal without treatment and it took several years until my knuckles stopped hurting. The bone is a different shape now. Now finally I'm going to enroll in martial arts again, this time probably in MMA (jiu-jitsu, kickboxing mix) but just for fun with more padding. Be aware that you can get injured more in martial arts training than from an actual attacker, if you give in to instructors who push you beyond your body limits.
Number 8 is my bane and just now took up my first martial art at 42.
Most important is WEIGHT TRAINING, regardless of what martial art you chose the physical attributes of strength and “pummeling through” or makeshift RAW grappling will balance out any learned technique or just simply getting winded
It won't balance out you not knowing what to do. But I agree that weight training is more profitable than any particular combat skill, because strength is so generally applicable. It helps in striking, all situations in wrestling and grappling, in moving a washing machine, climbing fences, carrying groceries...
I don't think you wasted any time. I've never trained aikido. But from the outside looking in. It looks like a more cerebral style. The focus on flow, strategy, tactics with minimal effort is not something for a beginner to hone on. So I just think you started from the end. Now you are filling the gaps. In my case I'd like to try aikido and japanese jiu-jitsu after completing a deep dive in the 3 phases of unarmed combat and some degree of proficiency in armed combat. Thanks for the content 🙏
great guide
14:48 i feel almost crazy for saying this but this is one if the BEST vids about martial arts i EVER seen on uuutjjub (of maybe 120 vids so far on many different styles ,excercesis and so on )despite having no exercise or training drills in it !!! 😀😀😀😀👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I've been wanting to get into a martial art for years, but I've always been full of excuses. Too scrawny, too inflexible, too old, etc. But understanding that my goal is TO get in better shape, learn more about myself, and feeling more competent in an area I've never felt competence, I'm trying to find a local boxing gym and see how I like that after a year.
Awesome! Own that journey!
If you want to get in shape, lift weights.
@@MrCmon113 Yeah definitely. And I am, but I wanted something more dynamic to go along with it.
Thank you for the best advices. I'm 49 and the coach always beat the crap out of me during sparring. They don't go along my pace even if I don't want to. And I can't go to another gym cause I've already paid a lump sum. Besides, better gym are expensive. Guess I'm stuck here. Godbless from Malaysia
Great video. Just in time cause i started with judo :D
Awesome! Keep owning your journey!
After watching Baki I’d just learn Yujiro Hanma fist or Ameridote
Great advice, great channel! Icy Mike said it best: the "right school" is close to you, one you can afford, and one you enjoy doing. 😂 i wanted to learn traditional karate, but the closest gym (10 minutes away) is a boxing/kickboxing/MT gym, so i go there. Whereas the karate school is like a 40-minute drive, no thank you, lol 😂😂😂😂
Defintely #6. I've been in a single art for 20 years, and my ability to walk away isn't there now that I've made it my occupation. I just don't have the time to train elsewhere, as the time of classes is always going to be in conflict with when I have to work with my own students. For someone learning as a student, you'll often ramp up to a certain level of proficiency and then plateau. When you hit that plateau, it's not a bad time to move to another art. Younger me would've disagreed and said that perseverance is everything but honestly you'll gain a lot more from doing that over fighting for the smaller gains you'd get sticking with it. The plateau hits a lot sooner in striking arts, so maybe start there, and then move on to grappling, which takes a lot longer to reach that proficient level.
It would be really interesting if you were able to visit other traditional JJJ schools to see how they stack up to what you've already learned. Good video though, Rokas. 😄
I started this month with aikido.. when i was a kid (long time ago) I did judo for long time and i find so hard to do all aikido movements because weirdly enough, i think i still have the judo movements built in!
You'll be better off keeping the judo movements, methinks. In some of Rokas' videos you can see that the only way to pull off some of Aikidos moves is basically to turn them into judo.
With Aikido you have to be relaxed like a whip when striking similar to how you would jab in Boxing or use a sword in Fencing or Kendo. The first thing is learn all the uke skills such as the ukemi, kendo, jukendo, tankendo, & jodo skills. If you have a Bob then you can practice the strikes on it such as shomenate, shomenuchi, yokomenuchi, nodo tsuki, menu tsuki, o tsuki, and gyaku tsuki. There is some Aikido that was added to the Judo curriculum in the 1950s such as Judo Taiso, and Goshin Jutsu. These are good foundation to have especially transitioning into Aikido.