Martial arts in Sheffield

[ads21]

Hi everyone. Just after a bit of advise really. I've been doing kickboxing now for nearly 6 months and really enjoy going. I go twice a week but really want to do three times. The two classes I go to are great, but the other ones going tend to be full of kids, which can be fun still at times, but its nice to get stuck in train more intensely with adult classes only.

 

I've been looking at other martial arts but am unsure of what to try. Reason why I took up martial arts is for self defence on the street. I've taken a look at Aikido and Muay Thai as well as JKD. Thursdays and Fridays are best days for me.

 

Anyone tried or go to Wicker Camp? Looks good from what I read about the place. I do freestyle kickboxing which is light contact using dipped foam pads. Is Muay Thai more like full contact? Or is it a case of you only go light or full contact if you wish? Hope this is making sense!

 

Thanks in advance.

[evildrneil]

Wicker Camp is excellent as a training centre. Muay Thai is full contact but training is done with pads and sparring is optional (though recommended). Aikido may not be appropriate for self defence (depending on where you train) have you thought about judo as a grappling alternative?

[ads21]

Wicker Camp is excellent as a training centre. Muay Thai is full contact but training is done with pads and sparring is optional (though recommended). Aikido may not be appropriate for self defence (depending on where you train) have you thought about judo as a grappling alternative?

 

Yeah I did look at Jiu Jitsu, but enjoy the punching and kicking side of things which I gather they don't do much of that? Unless I'm mistaken. Muay Thai does look good I must admit, but prefer light/semi contact. Being very tall as well, I didnt know if a martial arts which involves throws would suit me?

[lotar]

If your after a martial art for " the street " then you need to look at something that deals with knife, handgun defense aswell... sports martial arts are very different to street attacks... good luck with your search.

[stussonicos]

Hi ads21

 

I both train and teach at Wicker Camp - if your wanting to learn Muay Thai, Wicker Camp is the number 1 place in South Yorkshire. We have produced many many succesful fighters and have champions at area, English, British, European and World level. I woudl say that if your interested pop down tot he gym, talk to some of the instructors and students and by all means stick aroudn and watch a beginners class - the first lesson is free so if you bring some kit you can jump in. Obviously not everyone wants to compete and not everyone will be good enough but like some stated earlier - Muay Thai is full contact and controlled sparring is encouraged and is enjoyable.

I'm not saying Muay Thai is ideal for self defence, certainly not on the streets of todays Britain although Muay Thai will get you very fit, will make you strong, will condition your body and will get you used to striking people correctly and effectively and will also get you used to being hit and being able to stay calm and cope with that - something that I dn't think either light or semi contact martial arts can do nearly as well.

 

Hope this helps a little

 

West

[themadrev]

Hi ads21, If you are looking at Muay Thai then you really can't get any better than the Wicker. If you want 'street self-defence' then Lotar, who has posted on this thread, really knows his stuff. I tend to think that it's good to train in a striking and a grappling art (bjj, judo or wrestling) and add in all the self protection stuff. Or you could have a stab at MMA to see how you put stuff together. It's a good chance to have a wee wander round different places and see how everyone trains. Best Wishes, Noel

[Spanna2005]

Yeah I did look at Jiu Jitsu, but enjoy the punching and kicking side of things which I gather they don't do much of that? Unless I'm mistaken. Muay Thai does look good I must admit, but prefer light/semi contact. Being very tall as well, I didnt know if a martial arts which involves throws would suit me?

 

Hi!

There are punches and kicks involved in jiu jitsu as you learn to defend from these attacks, as well as from weapons including knives, bottles, broken bottles, chains, big sticks, baseball bats. Is that street enough for you?

We've also got some pretty tall guys (6' plus) at my jitsu club who would appreciate some more training partners of their size if you would like to come and try it out. PM me if you are interested. The sessions are pretty quiet at the moment as the students are mostly away for the Easter so you will get personal attention.

And we do a lot of throwing, but if a 6'2" guy can be taught to do a hip throw on me (5'2") then we are doing something right

 

Disclaimer - we use training weapons i.e. rubber, plastic, wooden for safety purposes. Our style of jiu jitsu operates under a grading system where you will be permitted to learn advanced techniques once you have achieved the required skill level.

Basically, what I'm saying is that you won't get to learn the really cool stuff until you've spent a bit of time working on basics such as falling safely, and moving out of the way of attacks etc.

 

Hope to hear from you!

[toreador]

Hi everyone. Just after a bit of advise really. I've been doing kickboxing now for nearly 6 months and really enjoy going. I go twice a week but really want to do three times. The two classes I go to are great, but the other ones going tend to be full of kids, which can be fun still at times, but its nice to get stuck in train more intensely with adult classes only.

 

I've been looking at other martial arts but am unsure of what to try. Reason why I took up martial arts is for self defence on the street. I've taken a look at Aikido and Muay Thai as well as JKD. Thursdays and Fridays are best days for me.

 

Anyone tried or go to Wicker Camp? Looks good from what I read about the place. I do freestyle kickboxing which is light contact using dipped foam pads. Is Muay Thai more like full contact? Or is it a case of you only go light or full contact if you wish? Hope this is making sense!

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi ads

It looks to me that you still want to do Kickboxing but are probably looking for a more serious Kickboxing club?

I train at the AFK Kickboxing club. We do have a lot of people who train with AFK for competition purposes who are competing regularly and often but also we have a lot of people who just like to train and some grade while others just enjoy the social side of it. We have classes 4 times a week. On Mondays you have a choice of a fighters or a beginners class. While Tuesdays and Thursdays generally mix them and we also have a "Bagwork and Fitness" Class on Fridays. Its a good gym even though it does look a bit "spartan" like an old school "Rocky movie" type setting.

All the instructors are dead friendly and will have time for anyone new as we cant fit more than 20 people in the gym at a time anyhows so is perfect for a lot of one to one time.

 

If you want to take up Kickboxing seriously then AFK is the place to go.

 

http://www.sheffieldkickboxingclub.co.uk

Ring 07775 914155 and ask for either Farhad or Big Andy.

[chefkicker]

Hi everyone. Just after a bit of advise really. I've been doing kickboxing now for nearly 6 months and really enjoy going. I go twice a week but really want to do three times. The two classes I go to are great, but the other ones going tend to be full of kids, which can be fun still at times, but its nice to get stuck in train more intensely with adult classes only.

 

I've been looking at other martial arts but am unsure of what to try. Reason why I took up martial arts is for self defence on the street. I've taken a look at Aikido and Muay Thai as well as JKD. Thursdays and Fridays are best days for me.

 

Anyone tried or go to Wicker Camp? Looks good from what I read about the place. I do freestyle kickboxing which is light contact using dipped foam pads. Is Muay Thai more like full contact? Or is it a case of you only go light or full contact if you wish? Hope this is making sense!

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I see exactly where you are coming from.

I have seen kickboxing clubs where the training is literally one person holds a kick shield while the rest of the students take a kick at the shield and go to the back of the line.

 

AFK serves the purpose for a variety of people when it comes to kickboxing.

 

If you want to do it just for Fun ,Fitness and Gradings then there are the Beginners classes (monday/tuesday /thursday) are all suitable as well as the Friday evening Bagwork class.

 

If you want to fight then you have the option to go to any of the classes for mere mortals or even to ake part in the specialised Fighters classes as well as the invitation only special squad training sessions (which are not for the feint hearted).

 

Our track record is second to none with an 85% win ratio and we are THE most active club competitively in Sheffield with our fighters taking part in Fight nights, Interclubs and Tournaments week in week out literally.

 

Our classes that would suit you are as follows:

 

Monday = 830pm = Beginners class. This class starts straight after our Fighters class and has a good balance of Technique and Fitness training.

Most of the techniques are done against the Thai-Pads although we do use the bags in the last few minutes.

 

Tuesday= 7-830pm. This class is taken by AFK's very own "Big Andy". Big Andy likes to throw in a lot of street self defence techniques along with his usual Boxing combinations on focus mitts and more flamboyant techniques such as Spinning back kicks and Side kicks on the Kick Shield.

 

Thursday = 830pm. Beginners class. This class alternates between myself and Mark Howarth (AFK's friendly face). We normally start this class with a few quick rounds on the bags before getting down to the technical side. The second half will generally be dedicated to one particular technique area.

 

Friday 630pm = Bagwork and Fitness class.

We start this class with a few rounds of skipping and then shadow boxing (with 0.5 kilo hand weights as an option if you want to increase hand speed)

then move to the dreaded 10x3 mins of Bagwork (pace yourself if you are unsure LOL) and we finish with the "Abs of Steel" workout at the end.

 

After the bagwork session there is the option to stay for the "Open Sparring" where we invite kickboxers from other gyms around the local area to come down and spar with us (we had kickboxers from Hull come down last week). Strangely enough only the fighters stay for this while other members will stick around and watch

 

AFK have always had an open door policy and we dont mind people from other martial arts styles or even other kickboxing clubs (but take permission from your sensei or kru first ) comign down to spar. Everyone benefits in the long run.

 

Everyone is assured of a warm welcome to this friendly atmosphere.

 

07775 914155

 

http://www.sheffieldkickboxingclub.co.uk

[Fred1]

Take a look at the Tengu Dojo on Valley road. A mixture of Japanese martial arts. Just Google Tengu Dojo Sheffield and you'll see all the vids and website.