THE STUDY OF SELF-DEFENSE

[Combatman]

In all the talks about being a "badass" on the streets or in the ring, some people need a real reality check. I enjoy boxing, kickboxing, grappling, etc. as much as the next guy, but it doesn't mean if you practice these things that you're a badass or can kick the shit out of anyone.
I've gotten more and more into the study of self-defense over the last year or so, for many reasons. One is, it's practical and something you can train the rest of ur life. Two, is it offers real world information you can share with others. Three, everyone's "fighting career" ends, some sooner than others.
I still enjoy combat sports, but self-defense if for life, not just when you're young or in great shape.

[SLJ]

Are you talking about threat awareness and avoidance ?

If so that's totally different from 1 on 1 fighting.

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Eyes open wide, looking at the heavens with a tear in my eye.
Yes there's love if you want it, don't sound like a sonnet.

[Justme]

"Running is easy. So is jumping fences. Whats to study?"

Hitting a moving target.

[Shi Heng Che]

Stamina is important for running. What is also important is to learn how to calm down a situation and this is a very important part of self defense.

[Combatman]

If you think you can run away from every fight, you're kidding yourself. And what about t he guy you can't outrun who will run you down and beat t he shit out of you? Seen it happen more than once. If the other guy had spent a little time training, he might've had a chance instead of getting his ass handed to him.

[thomasaaron]

I would say that therein lies the value of traditional martial arts. They have the "lifelong" perspective. You just have to be realistic about how you train in them.

"Did we whoop 'em again, Josie?
Yeah, boy. We whooped 'em again."
(The outlaw Josie Whales.)

[fuzzie]

Justme wrote:
Hitting a moving target.

So buy something with automatic fire.
Cant miss with 30 bullets to your name. :)

[Justme]

"So buy something with automatic fire.
Cant miss with 30 bullets to your name. :)"

Good point.

[MMA_Phil]

Are you trying to say that a couple of self-defence techniques will help you more on the streets than in MMA?

IMHO fighting is fighting and MMA prepares you well for that. Sure there are no rules on the street, but that goes for you as well as the other guy.
Multiple attackers? Does anybody honestly think that TMA training would give an edge over MMA training in this scenario? I'd run if it was multiple attackers.

Combat sports are as much for life as TMA! You don't have to take MMA as a career, or even compete. Lots of older guys train in MMA. I primarily train MMA for self defence, because I think it's the best thing out there for it.

[Southpaw]

Does anybody honestly think that TMA training would give an edge over MMA training in this scenario? I'd run if it was multiple attackers.


Yes. Do any MMA's train for multiple attackers? I don't see why they would need to...I don't think there are any competitions in which there are multiple opponents.

[Spunky]

I would actually pay to see that though :)

Since some of you MMA people sound so defeatist, it seems that my training would give me an edge against multiple attackers over yours (yes, the ubiquitous "you"). If anything our stuff gets easier with multiple opponents because you can use them against each other through proper movement.

[HAPKO3]

"If anything our stuff gets easier with multiple opponents because you can use them against each other through proper movement."

Bullshit.

When was the last time you sparred more than one person full contact?

Going by what you're saying, the answer is "never".

I happen to do this on a semi-regular basis. Claiming that fighting multiple people is easier than fighting a single person is idiocy.

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I remain, Hapko3

[MMA_Phil]

My point is that with TMAs, sometimes they don't even give you the skills to handle one attacker, but you think that you have the advantage over MMAers in terms of multiple attackers?
I'm not defeatist, just realistic. With multiple attackers, you will be overwhelmed, be taken to the ground and get the shit kicked out of you. Unless they are complete fags, or you are extremely lucky.

"If anything our stuff gets easier with multiple opponents because you can use them against each other through proper movement."

Yeah, right.

[Combatman]

Phil's right, for the most part against multiple opponents, you're fucked.
I have nothing against MMA, as long as there is some realism regarding street fights brought in. The average street punk would be annihilated by a decent MMA guy, no doubt.
The thing I don't like with TMA's are the katas, rigid stances, etc. When I speak of self-defense I'm thinking more of Jim Grover or Kelly Worden, both excellent instructors. No BS.

[Southpaw]

Let's compromise here: It is much more likely for a TMA to train for multiple opponents than it is for a MMA to encounter that type of training. This is due simply to the nature of what these two types of athletes are training for.

That being said, a good number of TMA's are morons, who can not take care of themselves against a 12 year old Girl Scout much less multiple opponents. So, just because they've done drills with multiple attackers, doesn't necessarily mean that some TMA can handle multiple attackers any better than a MMA. They may even be worse. I think just from the nature of the sport, you have to be fairly tough to train in MMA. I don't think that is necessarily true with a TMA. Though that doesn't necessarily make it any worse.

That being said, the idea that fighting multiple people is actually easier than fighting one person is so completely idiotic that it indicates its author has absolutely no experience with even single, much less multiple opponents.