A bout of fisticuffs, then?
January 14, 2010 11:48 AM Subscribe
What competitive, preferably contact, indoor or night sport should I take up? More complications than you care for:
OK I'll try to keep to the relevant details.
My sporting background, because I'd like to do something I'd have a chance at being competitive at. I'm 25, male:
There was a time that I played soccer at a very high level: youth olympics, and an offer to play pro for Bologna (turned down. I was 16. Long story.). That ended with a several month bout with cystic tonsillitis and the associated loss of about 20 lbs. Don't ask. I trained at a high level in Jeet Kune Do with an accredited, second-generation instructor, but I no longer live near to him and "MMA with JKD concepts" just doesn't cut it. I was also doing some fairly strenuous parkour for a while. Currently, my exercise scehdule is something like distance run one day, intervals or vie de park the next, and weight or circuit training the third, and repeat with days off when necessary. I've gotten back into very good shape, but feel sort of guilty that I'm not using it for anything.
Complications:
I can't do much in the sun. I'm on accutane and probably will be for a while. If I exert myself in the sun nearly at all I will be rapidly covered in the worst rosacea you've ever heard of. There's not really anything I can do to mitigate this.
We missed the deadlines for this season of indoor soccer.
I'm moving this fall. I don't know where to yet. Probably somewhere much colder than Texas.
Things I've considered:
MMA fighting. There's a local golden gloves/MMA gym. I plan to check them out, find out what their rules are, etc., but I don't much like the idea of taking up repeated blows to the head as a hobby.
Fencing: There is a pretty active fencing community where I live, and Jeet Kune Do is closely related. I know it's quite athletic, but not in the same way as soccer or more direct fighting.
Parkour: I'm already coming back into it, but you can't compete, and as far as I know I'm the only one around here who does it.
Gymnastics: I'm built for it, but way too old to "be a gymnast." I'd regard it as training rather than sport.
The direct competition is important. An emphasis on overall athleticism is important. Also, I don't want to try and pick up something totally new that it's too late for me to be very good at. Water Polo, for example, is an incredible sport, but not one that I have any experience to help me play.
Any ideas?
OK I'll try to keep to the relevant details.
My sporting background, because I'd like to do something I'd have a chance at being competitive at. I'm 25, male:
There was a time that I played soccer at a very high level: youth olympics, and an offer to play pro for Bologna (turned down. I was 16. Long story.). That ended with a several month bout with cystic tonsillitis and the associated loss of about 20 lbs. Don't ask. I trained at a high level in Jeet Kune Do with an accredited, second-generation instructor, but I no longer live near to him and "MMA with JKD concepts" just doesn't cut it. I was also doing some fairly strenuous parkour for a while. Currently, my exercise scehdule is something like distance run one day, intervals or vie de park the next, and weight or circuit training the third, and repeat with days off when necessary. I've gotten back into very good shape, but feel sort of guilty that I'm not using it for anything.
Complications:
I can't do much in the sun. I'm on accutane and probably will be for a while. If I exert myself in the sun nearly at all I will be rapidly covered in the worst rosacea you've ever heard of. There's not really anything I can do to mitigate this.
We missed the deadlines for this season of indoor soccer.
I'm moving this fall. I don't know where to yet. Probably somewhere much colder than Texas.
Things I've considered:
MMA fighting. There's a local golden gloves/MMA gym. I plan to check them out, find out what their rules are, etc., but I don't much like the idea of taking up repeated blows to the head as a hobby.
Fencing: There is a pretty active fencing community where I live, and Jeet Kune Do is closely related. I know it's quite athletic, but not in the same way as soccer or more direct fighting.
Parkour: I'm already coming back into it, but you can't compete, and as far as I know I'm the only one around here who does it.
Gymnastics: I'm built for it, but way too old to "be a gymnast." I'd regard it as training rather than sport.
The direct competition is important. An emphasis on overall athleticism is important. Also, I don't want to try and pick up something totally new that it's too late for me to be very good at. Water Polo, for example, is an incredible sport, but not one that I have any experience to help me play.
Any ideas?
Sort of obvious and not really at all alike what you've mentioned, but have you thought about basketball? It's not exactly "full contact" but it has direct competition, an emphasis on overall athleticism, etc...and games / a league should be really easy to find.
posted by jckll at 11:53 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jckll at 11:53 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's men's roller derby - I don't know if that would be too much "totally new", but it's indoors, full-contact, competitive.
posted by Lucinda at 11:54 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by Lucinda at 11:54 AM on January 14, 2010
Brazilian jiujitsu?
posted by Madamina at 11:55 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Madamina at 11:55 AM on January 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Denton. I don't know where they compete. I'm sure Dallas too.
posted by cmoj at 11:57 AM on January 14, 2010
posted by cmoj at 11:57 AM on January 14, 2010
How about indoor/turf ultimate in the winter? They play outside in the summer, so that's a no go, but your running-about stamina gained from soccer that I imagine that you want to regain in time for a later soccer season would be kept up, since it involves lots of chasing after a frisbee and changing ends after goals are scored.
posted by urbanlenny at 12:03 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by urbanlenny at 12:03 PM on January 14, 2010
Oops, just realized that you are in Texas, so they might actually play outside all year, and it looks like registration is closed , but that you can join a pickup game.
posted by urbanlenny at 12:06 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by urbanlenny at 12:06 PM on January 14, 2010
ice hockey
posted by rabidsegue at 12:08 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by rabidsegue at 12:08 PM on January 14, 2010
So, you don't want to pick up anything totally new... and yet you've come here for suggestions...
Okay, sarcasm button now turned off: rugby. You might be able to find a local rugby club that practices and plays at night. If you can, I think you'd love it. Especially if you end up playing the 'sevens' version (teams of seven rather than 15) you'd find it to be very athletic and fast and very much a contact sport but without being as focused on the direct physical challenges (scrums, rucks, mauls) as regular rugby.
If you're interested, check out some of the matches and highlights at this YouTube account.
And I don't play it but Lacrosse has always looked awesome to me.
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2010
Okay, sarcasm button now turned off: rugby. You might be able to find a local rugby club that practices and plays at night. If you can, I think you'd love it. Especially if you end up playing the 'sevens' version (teams of seven rather than 15) you'd find it to be very athletic and fast and very much a contact sport but without being as focused on the direct physical challenges (scrums, rucks, mauls) as regular rugby.
If you're interested, check out some of the matches and highlights at this YouTube account.
And I don't play it but Lacrosse has always looked awesome to me.
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2010
Brazilian Jiujitsu or Judo sound right up your alley -- no getting hit in the head, and no getting choked unconscious unless you decide to do something dumb and not tap. Judo is a bit rougher on the body, and is generally fairly cheap.
posted by Comrade_robot at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by Comrade_robot at 12:15 PM on January 14, 2010
I'll second the idea of judo or BJJ. You get the contact, the competition, and a good workout. It'll complement the training you've already had in JKD, but you don't have to take shots to the head.
posted by tdismukes at 1:22 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by tdismukes at 1:22 PM on January 14, 2010
What about kickboxing? Or Capoeira? It's perfect for agressive gymnasts. Also, fencing will kick your ass.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:22 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by DarlingBri at 1:22 PM on January 14, 2010
Along the fencing lines you can hardsuit or fence in the SCA. Very compettive and a lot is outdoor but you are covered head to toe in armor. It can be a real work out and kick your ass, and you get to make some really cool friends.
posted by bartonlong at 1:53 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by bartonlong at 1:53 PM on January 14, 2010
I would submit that, at 25, you have more than adequate time to pick up something new and be good at it...
So seconding basketball, as that fits a lot of your criteria.
Also -- rock climbing. The competitive nature is much more internal/personal, but someone skilled in parkour/gymnastics and martial arts could get pretty good at climbing (I'm talking indoor gym climbing here, obviously) and there's a pretty good competition circuit in many parts of the country.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 2:00 PM on January 14, 2010
So seconding basketball, as that fits a lot of your criteria.
Also -- rock climbing. The competitive nature is much more internal/personal, but someone skilled in parkour/gymnastics and martial arts could get pretty good at climbing (I'm talking indoor gym climbing here, obviously) and there's a pretty good competition circuit in many parts of the country.
posted by Pantengliopoli at 2:00 PM on January 14, 2010
You should do CrossFit.
posted by ludwig_van at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by ludwig_van at 2:29 PM on January 14, 2010
We missed the deadlines for this season of indoor soccer.
Who's 'we'? You might still be able to get into it - many groups (IME) have a House team that takes individuals, or a dropin session at some time. If you go along to that you'll meet people who might know of a team that had someone drop out or move away. Many teams don't have enough players to deal with losses to injury during the season, etc.
posted by jacalata at 2:40 PM on January 14, 2010
Who's 'we'? You might still be able to get into it - many groups (IME) have a House team that takes individuals, or a dropin session at some time. If you go along to that you'll meet people who might know of a team that had someone drop out or move away. Many teams don't have enough players to deal with losses to injury during the season, etc.
posted by jacalata at 2:40 PM on January 14, 2010
Okay, sarcasm button now turned off: rugby. You might be able to find a local rugby club that practices and plays at night.
Or just move to Wales and get amazing training and playing opportunities and never ever ever see the sun again. Well, maybe for twenty minutes every April, but that's about it.
Seriously, rugby is awesome and you would make a fantastic back, with pace, stamina and the ability to take hits. I just started playing at 28 and I am epically rubbish at it, but I'm equally epically unfit, and haven't played an organized sport in 20 years. You'll be just fine.
posted by kalimac at 4:26 PM on January 14, 2010
Or just move to Wales and get amazing training and playing opportunities and never ever ever see the sun again. Well, maybe for twenty minutes every April, but that's about it.
Seriously, rugby is awesome and you would make a fantastic back, with pace, stamina and the ability to take hits. I just started playing at 28 and I am epically rubbish at it, but I'm equally epically unfit, and haven't played an organized sport in 20 years. You'll be just fine.
posted by kalimac at 4:26 PM on January 14, 2010
n-thing Fencing. A 70 year old guy took it up in my son's club. And my teenage son has had the pleasure of being dismantled on the strip a couple of times by a member of the US World Senior team, which is 60+. It's a sport where athleticism certainly helps, but as you age and slow, experience and guile can make up for the decline in reflex speed and keep you very competitive for a very long time.
posted by COD at 5:39 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by COD at 5:39 PM on January 14, 2010
You might give racquetball a shot. Especially at higher levels, it is extremely competitive. Though not necessarily a contact sport, getting hit with r-ball going 70-100 MPH is extreme contact. It's fast, takes a lot of energy to play well, and might be something to consider.
posted by barrista at 6:31 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by barrista at 6:31 PM on January 14, 2010
If I had a gymnast's body, I'd be all over capoeira.
posted by callmejay at 6:36 PM on January 14, 2010
posted by callmejay at 6:36 PM on January 14, 2010
I don't know if it fits your requirements for competitive, but there is a great gym in Carrollton (just south of Denton) that is great.
http://stoneworksrockgym.com/
posted by jmevius at 8:40 AM on January 15, 2010
http://stoneworksrockgym.com/
posted by jmevius at 8:40 AM on January 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
There are tournaments all over the southwest just about all year.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:52 AM on January 14, 2010