Martial arts anyone?

drummingman

drummingman

Gold Member
I’ve been fascinated with martial arts since I was a kid. Over the years, I’ve studied different styles. Muay Thai, karate, wing chun, boxing, bjj, aikido. I have really bad tendinitis in both of my wrists so I’ve always been a bit paranoid of getting injured. I had to stop taking Muay Thai and karate because I couldn’t take the blunt force of punching things over and over again (specifically with my left wrist). But I’m looking to start taking Aikido lessons again next month. I know that there’s always a risk of getting injured but I feel like martial arts is something that I really need in my life. No matter how many times I try to walk away from it I always come back because of my continued fascination with the arts.

I make my living teaching and playing drums, so I have to be careful not to get injured to where I can’t play. And the instructor that I’m going to be studying with knows my concerns so that’s cool. For me, I think doing martial arts again will really help with my drumming, at least from a mental and emotional standpoint. Because whenever I come back to drumming from doing martial arts on the days I’m not drumming I feel like that will keep me inspired behind the kit. Because it’s not just drumming 24/7 for me at that point.

Anybody here currently do martial arts and if so, how has that affected your drumming? Is it something that you are concerned about when it comes to injury and that affecting your ability to play the drums? Also, what are some positive things that martial arts have done for you not only as it pertains to your drumming, but in your life in general?
 
I tried a four week trial at the local dojo and sucked so bad, I called it quits after four weeks.
 
drummingman said:
I’ve been fascinated with martial arts since I was a kid. Over the years, I’ve studied different styles. Muay Thai, karate, wing chun, boxing, bjj, aikido. I have really bad tendinitis in both of my wrists so I’ve always been a bit paranoid of getting injured. I had to stop taking Muay Thai and karate because I couldn’t take the blunt force of punching things over and over again (specifically with my left wrist). But I’m looking to start taking Aikido lessons again next month. I know that there’s always a risk of getting injured but I feel like martial arts is something that I really need in my life. No matter how many times I try to walk away from it I always come back because of my continued fascination with the arts.

I make my living teaching and playing drums, so I have to be careful not to get injured to where I can’t play. And the instructor that I’m going to be studying with knows my concerns so that’s cool. For me, I think doing martial arts again will really help with my drumming, at least from a mental and emotional standpoint. Because whenever I come back to drumming from doing martial arts on the days I’m not drumming I feel like that will keep me inspired behind the kit. Because it’s not just drumming 24/7 for me at that point.

Anybody here currently do martial arts and if so, how has that affected your drumming? Is it something that you are concerned about when it comes to injury and that affecting your ability to play the drums? Also, what are some positive things that martial arts have done for you not only as it pertains to your drumming, but in your life in general?
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Just my 2 cents from my past experiences.

Did a bit of Taekwondo in college, and a couple of years of Hapkido a while back. I am not currently doing any martial arts.

My understanding from my previous Hapkido instructor was to practice "soft" martial arts to avoid any injuries. So, no more practicing to break the bricks or trying to win the combat with one strong punch. What if you miss?

My other suggestion based on my own experience is to avoid those weekend martial arts events . In many of those events you must sign a sheet of paper stating that you do not hold the event organizers responsible for any injuries. In these events people are not careful and they can easily injure each other even while practicing let alone actual competition.
 
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In drumming, you can be tense BEFORE the note, but you must be relaxed at the moment of impact, or it will sound bad.

In martial arts, you must be completely loose before the moment of impact when you strike, but you must be completely tight at the moment you strike, or it will have no force.

Also, in martial arts, you must be completely loose when you take a hit, or you will be hurt.
 
Despite being age 60 and retired, I got certified as a reserve deputy sheriff in May. Part of my training included some hand to hand techniques. The key take-away from my training is I got no business getting into a fight with anyone. :)

Martial arts is a lot tougher than it looks. Everyone thought that as a former Army guy, I'd know all about this stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth. All my Army training was involving firearms and even that wasn't very helpful because I had challenges adapting from the Army issued pistol to the sheriff department's choice.

One of the challenges with hand to hand fighting is trying to strike the balance of subduing someone just enough that you don't hurt them. Most police situations aren't like the military where you're trying to kill an adversary. With police training, you're actually trying to be as gentle as possible.

I think one (weird) advantage I may have as a drummer is accuracy with a collapsible baton. Since I'm used to playing drums, I think I could be fairly accurate if I ever had to strike someone with a baton. On the downside, I found that a baton requires a lot more arm action, and less wrist and finger movement like playing drums.
 
Shotokan karate here.

I think karate has helped in many areas of my life. I'm the fittest I have ever been, I feel good physically and mentally and I'm sleeping decently.

As for drumming, it doesn't bother my wrists or hands at all. We practice on pads or bags once in a while and if I was worried about injury, I'd just ease up and not put 100% into each strike.
 
A J said:
Despite being age 60 and retired, I got certified as a reserve deputy sheriff in May. Part of my training included some hand to hand techniques. The key take-away from my training is I got no business getting into a fight with anyone. :)

Martial arts is a lot tougher than it looks. Everyone thought that as a former Army guy, I'd know all about this stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth. All my Army training was involving firearms and even that wasn't very helpful because I had challenges adapting from the Army issued pistol to the sheriff department's choice.

One of the challenges with hand to hand fighting is trying to strike the balance of subduing someone just enough that you don't hurt them. Most police situations aren't like the military where you're trying to kill an adversary. With police training, you're actually trying to be as gentle as possible.

I think one (weird) advantage I may have as a drummer is accuracy with a collapsible baton. Since I'm used to playing drums, I think I could be fairly accurate if I ever had to strike someone with a baton. On the downside, I found that a baton requires a lot more arm action, and less wrist and finger movement like playing drums.
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Second that, the Navy has some teams (other than the Seals of course) called VBSS (Visit Boarding Search and Seizure).
they get fire arms training shooting thousands of rounds, and some hand to hand combat.. me with my very limited knowledge of martial arts would wipe the floor with them. (and no, I am not implying that I am a bad ass, I am just pointing out how limited the training is). That is also true for Seals (everybody thinks those guys are invincible), the ones I worked with were little guys (most were about 5'6'' at most and very slender maybe weighed 160 lbs soaked and wet). If I had to fight one of them one on one, they would also get destroyed.
At the time that I studied martial arts, our instructor did something that I wish other combat trainings would do: He put us in groups of 4, gave each a number and he would say.."everybody against number 3" It was supposed to be street fight style for the aggressors (so no rules on what you could do) and the attacked (number 3 in this case) had to use Only what we learned to defend himself.
It was not like the movies where the bad guys take turns, no, you were getting kicked and punched from 3 different directions at the same time. but you learned really quickly when to block and when to attack, so now, the aggressors also had to be alert to not get their assess kicked.
This made us extremely quick against 3 opponents, so one opponent was much easier to deal with. We also learned very early on that we never attacked first, we waited for the rival to attack, find the opening and then strike. That proved much more effective than striking first. The funny thing is I never studied martial arts with the intention of using them, so far I have never really needed to.

Maybe drumming and martial arts can work in harmony because there is a certain rhythm to martial arts too, if you can find it you can do much better.
 
A J said:
Despite being age 60 and retired, I got certified as a reserve deputy sheriff in May. Part of my training included some hand to hand techniques. The key take-away from my training is I got no business getting into a fight with anyone. :)

Martial arts is a lot tougher than it looks. Everyone thought that as a former Army guy, I'd know all about this stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth. All my Army training was involving firearms and even that wasn't very helpful because I had challenges adapting from the Army issued pistol to the sheriff department's choice.

One of the challenges with hand to hand fighting is trying to strike the balance of subduing someone just enough that you don't hurt them. Most police situations aren't like the military where you're trying to kill an adversary. With police training, you're actually trying to be as gentle as possible.

I think one (weird) advantage I may have as a drummer is accuracy with a collapsible baton. Since I'm used to playing drums, I think I could be fairly accurate if I ever had to strike someone with a baton. On the downside, I found that a baton requires a lot more arm action, and less wrist and finger movement like playing drums.
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What police do is not martial arts, strictly speaking. They are related, though. The great majority of suspects are just trying to get away. Martial arts are mainly designed to stop a direct attacker, whereas cops are usually (not always) dealing with someone who just wants to escape. Both skill sets benefit greatly from knowing human nature and being able to read people in the moment, though lol
 
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Aikido has several different schools . I trained in Yoseikan, Yoshinkan and Ki . Some say that it's not a realistically practical system of self defence . I haven't found myself in a circumstance that requires my training since .

Maybe it does work .
 
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I was one of the only boys in my neighborhood that didn't do martial arts..... BECAUSE of my drumming. I didn't want to lose drum time to another activity.

I have always been intrigued by the discipline side of them, but not really the punching, kicking etc. Maybe in the future I will try Tai chi(?)

I got all of my punching and kicking out via hockey....
 
ravenson said:
Aikido has several different schools . I trained in Yoseikan, Yoshikan and Ki . Some say that it's not a realistically practical system of self defence . I haven't found myself in a circumstance that requires my training since .

Maybe it does work .
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O Sensei could definitely defend himself. And I think some of the top teachers are pretty capable of defending themselves. But cross-training in other martial arts never hurts
 
doggyd69b said:
We also learned very early on that we never attacked first, we waited for the rival to attack, find the opening and then strike. That proved much more effective than striking first.
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We do the same thing in Shotokan. We train to wait for an attack then block / slip the attack. As you go upward in rank, your blocks become strikes.
 
Even at low intensity you will turn an ankle eventually/have someone accidentally push when you are at a bad extension point...or some such....regardless of art selected.

If you want to get exercise and have minimal risk of injury that takes you out of the throne, a stationary bike or rowing machine type thing(where you sit) and staying at moderate intensity is your best bet.

There is no mobile physical activity that when worked at an optimal learn/time level that will not eventually lead to an injury that can prevent drumming....including drumming.

Have to accept the risk and live anyway.

With that said, I have seen injury in all arts. It is really about the attentiveness and skill of the teacher AS A TEACHER. Ask about the schools history of injury when doing intro interview.

Weapon based arts(Fencing, Escrima, Kali, Kendo) are no safer.

The most common issue I have seen is twisted ankle/wrist...so be sure to consult your instructor then consider wrapping your ankles/wrists.

Identify the idiots and refuse to pair with them. Always keep your intensity within your comfort zone...never push...which will impede your progress. Watch your fatigue level and call it well before fatigued. listen to your instinct re: when something seems to be going bad(too much aggression) and walk away immediately.

Always use proper equipment that is in good order, of course.
 
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