I’m not always sure how to respond to the question of, “does this technique work in a street fight?” or, “Will what you teach work for self-defense?”. The answer is both “yes” and “no”. This article will look at the difference between martial arts for self-protection and simple self-perfection.
When it comes to practicing martial arts you have two, often misunderstood, concepts; Personal Perfection and Personal Protection. What it comes down to is not as much what you train, but how you train. Under what circumstances, in what environment, in what state of mind, etc., are you training?
When you are in the dojo practicing your techniques with your partner, you are mostly in the realm of personal perfection. We scrutinize hand placement, footwork, stance, body position, weight distribution, grace, and fluidity of the execution of movements. That’s why most of us stay with martial arts. It’s the continual feeling of improvement and body control that often inspires us to make martial arts a major part of our lives.
Even if you are sparring kickboxing or MMA or grappling, you may be notching it up in terms of spontaneity, resistance, pressure, but you are still in a mode of personal perfection.
When it comes to martial arts for self-protection, the efficacy of a certain technique is directly linked to one’s ability to execute that technique under pressure and in a multitude of situations.
This ability requires, not only repetition but repetition in an environment that simulates the conditions that make up a high-pressure situation. Much like how military or law enforcement personal have to create simulation scenarios for being ready for what they will encounter in the field.
Don’t get me wrong, techniques in martial arts are highly effective because we meticulously dissect what it is that makes something work; how you use your body mechanics to deliver a strike or what your grip is like when executing a choke or how the body must be aligned to successfully lock a joint. But where and when a practitioner will be able to pull off has many variables.
My instructor once said that every individual reason for practicing martial arts is valid and no one approach is more valid than the next. Whether you train martial arts to win combat sports or just to stay in shape, meet new people, protect yourself or your family, all are as valid as the other. Just be honest with yourself where you stand in that world and understand the difference of training methods and what part of your life those methods are there to serve.
But keep in mind; the better equipped you are with the right “tools” (solid footwork, hand speed, perceptual speed, coordination, fitness) the higher your chances of survival and success in a self-defense situation.
Here is my last thought on competitive martial arts: There are rules. In a real self-defense situation, there are no rules and some of the most impactful moves that you will need are ones that you have not only not practiced, but you have avoided using. The eye gouge, the face scrape, the punch to the windpipe, and everyone’s favorite knee to the groin are the stills you may need to call on to getaway. Now some martial arts like Kav Maga and their likes are structured at using all those things that are banned in other martial arts. This is where you are going to need to reflect back on WHY you are doing this. If the reason is truly self-defense then practice those things that will get you out of the situation and find the right type of martial art for you.
Martial Arts, at one time, meant survival. Now they are just a commodity.
As a old bodyguard 1/3 of a sec. Is all the time I have , I will do my job , coming home alive is what matters with my boss , no rules is right , there is no right method , the one right method is the one were you and your clients come home alive.
Please give more on program,
Diane
Being Military trained is always good. it. gets less so when you are 80 years old. My only option is end it quickly and finally, any way I can.
I agree with just about everything said in this piece. I agree that the traditional dojo/sport arts are a good method of exercise and discipline, just like most other kinds of sport. What I find disturbing is that these “sport arts” all to often present themselves as being “self-defense” arts, while deriding “street fighting” as being mere thuggery. It was also my experience that these schools wasted the time of students with endless repetition of basic techniques without the necessary drills in perception and and judgement that produce a good fighter, rather than just an imitator of techniques. Some may be offended by these comments, but I feel that my own personal experience supports my statements. Winning a kata trophy has almost nothing to do with surviving a genuine assault. As the author of the above piece states,,, know the difference between “performance” martial arts and self-defense.
I for one did practice martial arts and I can say that it did give me the basic foundation for fighting. However, as you pointed out the most effective techniques were not taught to the beginning students. It was only after reaching more advanced belts that “helpful and useful “ training was employed. Even then our instructors were hesitant in going into great detail. I had to learn my defense moves the hard way.