Below is a post by Hedgehogey taken from the Shaolinwolf forums.

I'm sure it has been covered here before, but I thought it was a good post and worth cross-posting over here.

I'd like to see a similar post put up by people who train specifically in forms and self-defense techniques to better be able to handle a street fight.


'Vale Tudo competition is not exactly the same as a fight on "teh str33t".

HOWEVER, and here's something VERY important to remember, it is a WHOLE LOT closer than forms training, techniques practiced on a compliant partner, drilling, or whatever "str33t scenario" or "self defense" that you train in class.


'Let's make a chart of comparisons between typical "self defense" (SD) training and vale tudo (VT) fighting, showing the differences and similiarities with a "real str33tfight":

1: People actually hitting each other:

Vt: Yes
Sd: No

2: Adrenaline dump/stress and fear:

Vt: Yes
Sd: Usuallly not

3: opponent resisting your techniques

Vt: Yes
Sd: Usually not

4: people allowed to REALLY use "dirty tactics" (actually using them, no holding back):

Vt: Sometimes
Sd: No

5: Possibility of serious injury:

Vt: If you don't surrender
Sd: No

6: Stomps to the head allowed (with full force)

Vt: Usually
Sd: No

7: Dudes coming back to kill you afterwards:
Vt: No
SD: No

8: Getting jumped for real:
Vt: No
SD: No

9: Opponent pulls a 9 milli and puts a few holes in you
Vt: No
Sd: No

As you can see, though neither are exactly the same as "Teh Str33t", Vale Tudo fighting is MUCH closer than "self defense" training.'

We all know this that is why he posted it there and not here.

true (well, maybe not true - have you read some of the posts on this site too) - but I am sure there are others who could argue the flip side (even here)

If the "Self Defence" that someone is taking answered the questions as posted above, then yes VT would be better.

I was able to answer "YES" on 1 - 5 for my self defence training (Tracy's Kenpo). We don't 'practice' stomping each other's heads (#6), but we do practice stomping pads/floor as if they were someone's head.

Where does this put my SD training. . . I guess training methods like that aren't included in this survey. Maybe we can't sum up all martial arts/ training styles into 5 or 10 yes or no questions.