Add more punch to your fitness regime with these underground combat courses. By Baey Shi Chen
Aside from picking up selfdefence skills, combat courses can be a good
way of building your mental resilience and self-confidence. So, whether you want
to toughen yourself up, find another way to work off your pent-up frustration,
or simply learn something new, here are a whole slew of combat techniques to
help you perfect your moves. Get ready to rumble.
Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu
The lowdown: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ)
is a martial arts and combat sport that focuses on grappling, ground fighting
and positional strategy. With the goal of gaining a dominant position by using
joint-locks and chokeholds, it aims to force an opponent into submission. With
origins in judo, it evolved into its present form after Mitsuyo Maeda, a
Japanese expert in judoka, brought it to Brazil in 1914. The sport is sometimes
also known as Gracie jiu-jitsu, after another famous practitioner, Rorion
Gracie.
The damage: At Budo Academy, which is run by
Jagsport, Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes are overseen by Kreation Jiujutsu.
Beginners are advised to sign up for a two-session trial package at $90 to
determine their most appropriate level. What’s more, other than Brazilian
jiu-jitsu, the school provides lessons in combat techniques such as chanbara,
judo and sambo. It also runs programs for accredited courses for those who want
to train as instructors in Dynamic Combat.
340B King George’s Ave.,
6297-1202, www.jagsport.com
Capoeira
The lowdown: A dazzling mix of martial arts,
games and dance, this 16th century fighting technique was invented by African
slaves in colonial Brazil. Comprising acrobatic sparring moves and the
innovative use of maneuvers such as slaps, elbow strikes and head-butts executed
to musical rhythm, it is graceful yet lethal. A quintessential part of the
vibrant Brazilian street culture, it even spawned the genre of breakdance, which
is inspired by certain capoeira moves.
The damage: Capoeira
lessons are held by Bantus Capoeira (www.sg.bantus.org) at the YMCA. Lessons
start from $120 per month for students and national servicemen and $150 per
month for working adults for unlimited sessions. Single classes are also
available at $20. A one-time Bantus Capoeira Singapore registration fee of $50
comes with a Bantus t-shirt and a YMCA membership will be levied at $21.40 for
adults and $10.70 for those under 21.
1 Orchard Rd., 6336-6000.
www.ymca.org.sg
Krav Maga
The lowdown: Hebrew for “hand-to-hand combat,”
krav maga developed in Israel, and this formidable self-defence technique is
part of the training regime of the Israeli defence forces as well as other
international militaries. A self-preservation skill that focuses on neutralizing
threats through a quick transition from defensive to offensive tactics, this is
a take-no-prisoners technique that requires endurance and quick reflexes. Krav
maga stands apart from most defence techniques as it is devised from a
combination of martial arts disciplines such as muay Thai, aikido and jiu-jitsu,
and it does not have the set routines common to other fighting
techniques.
The damage: Fightworks Asia conducts regular
krav maga classes seven days a week and boasts the reputation of being the only
certified and approved IKMF (International Krav Maga Federation) training center
in Singapore. Class fees are $200 per month for unlimited training sessions, and
personal training sessions are also available. Basic safety gear consisting of
protective guards and shields can be purchased at $250. For those who want to
acquire IKMF certification, the program costs $1,500 and you need to be
eligible. The school also offers a comprehensive range of combat techniques such
as jeet kune do, boxing, capoeira, muay thai, gungkite kali derecho (SKD), judo
and more.
#04-00 Standard Photo Building, 565 Macpherson Rd.,
6285-6028, www.fightworksasia.com.sg
Muay Thai
The lowdown: The national sport of the Thais,
the ancient art of muay Thai is known as “the art of eight limbs” and is guided
by Buddhist spiritual tenets. With the hands, shins and elbows heavily employed
during combat, available points of contact are increased during bouts, thus
increasing the variety of strategies available to the fighters; and making this
sport especially thrilling to watch. Consisting of a complex series of moves
such as hooks, jabs, knee strikes and uppercuts, muay Thai is good for building
flexibility, agility and stamina.
The damage: At Royal Thai
Fitness, set up by Master Thomas Chan, you get to learn the skills of muay Thai
in a unique outdoor pavilion. Lessons range from basic to expert and include
guided one-on-one sparring sessions. Fees start at $25 per session for group
training to $65 per session for personal training sessions. Alternatively, you
can also sign up for packages consisting of four (individuals, $300 or $360;
group, $140 or $220) or eight sessions.
#05-02, 55 Newton Rd.,
9836-2868. www.muaythai.com.sg
Panuntukan
The lowdow: Known as “dirty boxing,”
panuntukan is a fighting system from the Philippines that developed in the
streets. Based on movements from the kali knife system (another indigenous
Filipino martial art), its movements comprise swift upper-body actions,
prioritizing parries and deflections over blocks. It also includes low-line
kicks to the legs and knees. According to Guro Fred Evrard, founder of Kali
Majapahit, a local martial arts school that specializes in Filipino martial art,
it’s the efficiency in techniques that sets Filipino fighting systems, such as
panutukan, apart from others. “Panuntukan’s techniques look similar to muay
Thai’s, but it has some added tricks. It is not ruled by regulations and was,
kept as a warrior art, with the obvious efficiency that comes with it, he
says.
The damage: At Kali Majapahit, a panuntukan programme
is priced at $99 per month for two training sessions per week, and the school
provides heavy bags, speed balls, wooden dummies and tatami mats so that you can
practice in safety. The school also offers lessons in kali majapahit, a martial
art created by Evrad, and programs specially designed for children as young as
six.
#02-01, 43 Carpenter St., 6534-5254,
www.kali-majapahit.com
Mixed Martial Arts
The lowdown: Can’t decide which
martial art discipline to try? Give Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) a go. A blend of
muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing and wrestling, it is suitable for
learners of all ages and fitness levels and trains you into a complete fighter
adept in four primary ranges of combat—kicking, punching,
clinching/kneeing/takedowns and ground fighting. Chatri Sityodtong, muay Thai
instructor at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts, says, “Ninety percent of all martial
art moves are actually ineffective in real life, but every technique in MMA has
been proven to work in reality. MMA takes the best 10 percent techniques from
every martial art around the world.”
The damage: Boasting
an impressive roll call of professional MMA fighters and instructors, including
top MMA fighter in Singapore, Setsuma Takeda, Evolve Mixed Martial Arts offers
an extensive range of packages depending on the length of commitment of each
participant, and prices start from $189 per month. The school also has a special
program to train professional fighters and offers lessons in individual combat
disciplines such as muay Thai, submission grappling, street self-defense,
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling. It also has a program for children aged six
to 15 years-old to develop discipline and self-defence
skills.
#02-22,1 Selegie Rd., 6337-0082, www.evolve-mma.com