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