question about doing martial arts in kilt?

**kiltman with a sword** · 25th December 06, 10:58 PM

hey im not trying to brag, im just saying that i can do these things. against someone with years of martial arts experience, i would probably not win, but i can take care of myself fairly well. dont insult me by saying i dont know anything. ive worked hard to know what i do, and yes, i would have loved to learn from a teacher, but it wasnt feasible at the time. ive had to work twice as hard as my teacher in TKD pushed me, adn i can say to your face that i am a decent fighter. if you have a problem with a guy learning to fight outside of a school, then thats your opinion, but remarks like that have no place here, and are very insulting to people such as me. im going to treat this like a gentleman, and will ask you to do the same. i take every peice of advice very seriously, and weigh it against what i have learned as well.

**Caradoc** · 26th December 06, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Sciuropterus

You have been given good advice by some people who know what they are talking about. Ignore it at your own risk...

Easy on him, Jerry. He's 17.

I remember some of the truly dumb things I did at that age...

**kiltman with a sword** · 26th December 06, 01:07 PM

thank you caradoc, althought i dont know whether or not to be insulted, just a little!

i may not have been able to continue in my martial path, but ive gotten along fairly. another question if i may, what are your opinions on swordplay in a kilt? i dont mean fencing, which does not really appeal to me(no offense to those who practice it), but more medeival sword play? i used to boffer extensively,( boffering is foam weaponry combat) but never in a kilt. when i wore that badly made kilt a had, i tried it once, but as the thing isnt really a kilt, ive never really fought in one. thoughts please!
KWaS

**Caradoc** · 26th December 06, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by kiltman with a sword

another question if i may, what are your opinions on swordplay in a kilt?

Well...

I've fought with a round shield and broadsword as well as a two-handed sword in a "great kilt," or belted plaid but historically such things generally weren't done (see the history of Blar-na-Leine).

In general, they would have dropped their belted plaids - if they won, they could retrieve them. If they lost, well, they didn't need them any more...

Today's soldiers will generally not fight extended engagements while carrying their bedrolls either.

**MacConnachie** · 26th December 06, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Caradoc

Easy on him, Jerry. He's 17.

I remember some of the truly dumb things I did at that age...

Caradoc, I remember a couple youngsters home on leave from the Marines, 30 years ago, saying how umpteen many ways they could break my neck. I finally told one of them that I only knew two, but he'd be just as dead. No one "wins" in those kinds of situations, and I dislike the testosterone-fueled posturing, too. I have been in interesting situations over the years, the last one being several years ago when a guy who claimed he'd been through SEAL training grabbed a ballpoint pen out of my shirt pocket and held it to my carotid, informing me how quickly I could be dead. It was intended to make a "point" to his hangers-on, I guess, but I just calmly stood there and stared him down, the pen at my throat, not saying a word. After a few seconds, he somewhat abashedly handed the pen back to me, and I never saw him around that tavern again. I could just as easily have been dead, but those with more "thunder in their mouth than lightning in their hands" don't worry me as much as the silently brooding types.

As to the question at hand, leave the kilt outside the ring. It's derived from utilitarian clothing which served as outer garb, a blanket, a shelter, a stretcher, and a number of other things, none of which belong in an MMA bout.

**Caradoc** · 26th December 06, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by MacConnachie

As to the question at hand, leave the kilt outside the ring. It's derived from utilitarian clothing which served as outer garb, a blanket, a shelter, a stretcher, and a number of other things, none of which belong in an MMA bout.

I'll wholeheartedly agree with that.

The only reason I've worked out in my belted plaid was to make sure I could still do things the way I wanted to if I had to - you see, I spend at least one entire week every year wearing one while I stand the fire watch at a sizable reenactment/recreation event...

**Rigged** · 26th December 06, 05:20 PM

For sports, wear what works best for the sport. For self-defense, train in what you wear on the street.

**AllenJ** · 27th December 06, 08:30 AM

As I said in the other similarly related thread, I have be training in medieval and reniassance martial arts for some time. I have occasionally done demos and such kilted without much problem. Though I do have do be covered under because of the grappling and throws involved with the art. So historical fencing is not a problem while kilted. Obvious answer given the ammount of martial history that is available reguarding kilted regiments.

**flairball** · 28th December 06, 03:29 PM

KWaS,

If you want to study a martial art then go for it. MMA has gained huge popularity lately, and has grown quite quickly, so if you intend to train in MMA my only advise to you when looking for a dojo is be careful. There are, of course lots of reasons for studying an M.A. If you are interested in a self defense type of art I'd recommend traditional Jiu-jitsu, or the Brazillian version. If you want to learn an ancient sword technique to help further the art then perhaps Kendo, or Iaido are for you. Judo is great exercise, and a fun sport, as is Karate, and TKD if you don't want the intamacy of grappling. These are just a few of what's available of many distinct styles. You just need to decide what aspect of the M.A.'s you are most attracted to.

Next, join a dojo. I know you said there aren't any near you, but I bet if you really search you'll find a few. It's really the only way to properly train. Once you're there, keep a humble demeaner, and train diligently. Remember, and this goes for every aspect of life; you don't do something, until you've done it for ten years. Proficiency can be gained, but true understanding takes time. Lastly, kilts are great, but M.A. training is something completely different. Don't worry yourself with wondering if you can perform in your kilt, or what art would lend it's self to kilt wearing. Just pick one and do it.

Good luck' you'll love it.

**kiltman with a sword** · 1st January 07, 10:46 PM

ive done TKD and wrestling in the past, but never in a kilt. i would love to get back into the whole thing. there is a dojo in my town, but ive been there to watch them, and the teacher didnt even wear a proper uniform one time when i was there! and some of the green belts did their techniques so badly, i could have beaten them with one arm behind my back! they were things i had down as a white belt! if i go to one, it will be a good one, not a mcdojo.