the most practical self defense "system"

[dboxer911]

ive done just about every type of martial arts, full contact, self defense thing u could possibly imagine..based on my experiences i will rate the best art for for practical self defense for everyday situations..

Taekwondo- very beautiful martial art but very limited in practical self defense..u will learn mostly high flyin kicks with too much emphasis on "safety"..also not enough development in the punching area which is highly effective in street self defense..i give taekwondo a 1 out of a possible 5 for self defense

karate- basically same as taekwondo..some karate dojos offer a more full contact based karate which is more effective for street use..still lack development in the punching area..kicks taught in karate are usually more practical than flashy..regular karate 1 out of 5..full contact karate 2.5 out of 5

grappling- some think this is the ultimate martial art becasue of the success of the gracies in UFC..in reality is isnt all that practical in an everyday situation..i would want to take my man out quick not wrestle around with him on the ground for a few minutes..besides in a real fight it is usually very quick and a wrestling match would prob get broken up very quick..also grappling is essentially useless for multiple attackers..i give it a 1.5 out of 5

boxing- most fights are fist fights and it only takes one or two punches to KO the bad guy..boxing is the ultimate training in street self defense..i have never seen a good boxer loose a street fight..in boxing u learn how to throw accurate hard punches and devestating combos..even a 150 lb guy can knock the shit out of someone 225 if he has been properly shown how to throw a punch..the only downside to boxing is lack of good powerful kicks and when a fight gets inside the boxer hasnt been properly trained to deal with his opponent..i still give boxing a 4 out of 5

kickboxing- good combonation of practical kicks and punches..i think kickboxers lack the devestating punching ability of a pure boxer but balance it out with some good hard pratical kicks..also when a fight gets tied up kickboxers are taught to clinch and not fight..still a badass sport..4 out of 5

thaiboxing..IMO the best practical self defense system..teaches good punching tecniques similar to boxing..good practical hard kicks and also teaches one how to fight in close with elbow and knee strikes..only downside to thai is emphasis on hands are usually not as much as in boxing but that depends on the trainer..if ur trainer is really into teach good boxing fundamentals then theres no better art..5 out of 5

i havent covered every martial art just the ones i have been exposed to..from what ive seen kung fu is worthless in practical situations, akido may have some practicality because of the in-close standup fighting..just my opinion..im sure some disagree but no doubt about it a well trained thai boxer can kick some ass!

 

[FitnessFrk]

if you think kung fu and aikido are useless in a street fight you obviously haven't studied them.

 

[Kwai-Chang Caine]

dboxer911,

I for the most part agree with you. To be more specific I think the following skills are essential for any person looking to defend themselves effectively and simply.

1. Muay Thai:
This art provides its practicioners with all the things you mentioned. It is easy to master, extremely brutal, and the difficulty of the training conditions you like few other martial arts can.

2. Sprawling:
Mastering the sprawl will make you almost impossible to take down. This manuever is especially important in street fighting as the ground isn't the best place to be.

3. Slams, suplexes, trips and throws:
Cement or hard ground in general can be a very strong ally in a fight. Knowing how to make an opponent hit the ground with extreme velocity is a valuable skill. A good slam or throw can put a man on dream street in the flash of an eye. This is a great skill for multiple attackers as well.

4. Philipino weapons training:
Knowing how to use a knife or stick in a fight can make you deadly in the most serious sense of the word. Unlike your everyday blade carrying punk, Kali and Escrima practicioners have stick and knife fighting down to a science. In short, they will carve you like a pumpkin.

5. Soft tissue striking, biting, and small joint manipulation:
Although extremely unsportsman like, soft tissue striking, biting and small joint manipulation can break your attackers will to fight. Attacking the eyes, groin, or throat as well as grabbing and bending fingers back until they break will take the fight out of your opponent. Biting, although dangerous to both you and your attacker, can be extremely effective. A bite is the ultimate technique of desperation and self defense. It shows your attacker that you are willing to do anything to save yourself.

6. Grappling and Submissions:
Although better suited for competition, grappling and submission training is still important. Knowing how to finish an attacker on the ground is just as important as any of the other skills I mentioned above. The ground may not be the first place you want to be, but its still good to know what to do in case the ground is where you happen to end up. Some people down play its importance on the street, but its better to be prepared for it, than to become a victim because you didn't know what to do. Remember, anything can happen.

7. Sprinting ability:
If space is not as issue, running away is the best way to get yourself out of a jam, especially if that jam consists of 4 or 5 guys.

8. Conditioning:
Muscular strength and edurance as well as cardiovascular endurance will save your life. It is what seperates good fighters from great fighters and it will help you combat the phenomenon known as the "adrenaline dump."

9. Psychological warfare:
Acting like an insane MOFO can prevent a fight in a lot of cases. Yelling, screaming, and a variety of other outbursts can send your attacker this message-I am damaged goods, move on to someone else.

 

[dboxer911]

kwai-chang caine,

very well said..i couldnt agree more!!

 

[Thaibox]

Excellent post KCC

AlthoughI would bump everything down one place and make a new number one.

1. Heart - without this, the most conditioned, well trained fighter doesn't have a prayer in the intense situations of reality. This is the difference between a true warrior and a "black belt"

 

[FitnessFrk]

Thaibox...you are 100% correct !

good post Kwai-Chang...

 

[Kwai-Chang Caine]

Thanks all.

Great addition (heart) Thaibox!

 

[RiverRun]

I suspect that each of the "systems" that you all have mentioned have some very valid feautres that are useful in a "street fight." The point of all the systems mentioned is that they each are reality-based.

Many martial artists seem to have trained with the goal of competing in tournaments. The REALITY that many ancient martial artists were training for is very different from the reality in a tournament hall. Many instructors train their students toward competition, rather than reality.

So even if you are a "text-book" master of aikido or ninjutsu or taekwondo, you may get your @ss wiped around the street if you haven't learned the natural flow of a real fight or learned to use your instincts.

My 2 cents -- the best system of martial arts is one that incorporates aspects of all available disciplines and trains its students as close to reality as is practical. So using the blending techniques of aikido followed by a mangling kick or eye gouge can save your life one day.

On the point of bending fingers: the pain associated with bending the fingers is increased with the fewer number of fingers -- bend back one or two rather than all four... When the finger snaps and breaks, it may go numb, and then you have a VERY angry opponent who is feeling less pain than before. Keep the finger(s) under control and use another submission technique while the opponent is distracted by the excrutiating pain. If the person is drunk/drugged, you may not be able to get them to submit with pain/pressure points.