Martial Arts Blog #1- Self Defense

Martial Arts as Self Defence

Simons Blog

Kia ora.

There is an argument that goes on in the Martial Arts sphere that is framed something like this – “bull*#^t that wont work in a real fight”.

This is said about everything. There seems to be no exceptions to this statement – Karate, Wing Chun, BJJ, Judo, Aikido, Tai Chi, Systema, MMA … on and on. Name a martial art and someone, somewhere will say that it wont work for ‘X’ reason.

This is most often said when referencing the ‘traditional’ Martial Arts.

There are a few classics that are constantly bagged on. Aikido, is one that constantly comes across social media streams – “Aikido doesn’t work in a real fight” – tell that to O’sensei who used it many times in real combat, armed, unarmed and even combat with firearms.

But Tai Chi also gets the treatment.

We need to remember that someone, somewhere DID use these traditional arts in real combative situations. Whether we like it or not, these Martial Arts were put together by people who used them. It is our understanding of these arts that has been lost.

Consensual vs Non-consensual Violence

So first of all we need to define what a ‘real’ fight is.

Is the violence – Consensual or Non-consensual?

Firstly. Are there rules involved?

If we bump, slap and roll, we have decided on some unwritten rules, no striking, no biting, no head butts etc etc. Most sparing, in a dojo setting, follows a rule set. There are very few dojo or gyms where stamping your sparing partners face to a bloody pulp, when he is unconscious on the floor, is acceptable.

In a ring, or in the octagon, rules are written and signed before the fight starts. People have been killed in these spaces, but there are rules, and bad luck or accidents happen.

This is consensual violence. We agree to a basic set of rules. Whether they are written or un-written rules it doesn’t matter – we have agreed to do violence upon one another.

Next there is non-consensual violence.

There are no rules. Weapons may come into play. Multiple opponents. A tap wont end the fight. In fact, in the world we now occupy, the fight may not stop at unconsciousness and a beating may occur that has the possibility of ending someone’s life.

This category is virtually always illegal. And this is also where self-defence really comes in to play.

You are defending yourself, or someone else, against unwanted violence.

This kind of violence can happen anywhere, in the street, in your work place, in your home or in any public space.

It is unwanted and most times unwarranted.

The Problem for Traditional Martial Arts

Most of the traditional Martial Arts have been tainted by ‘sport’. As in, ‘we can test if this works, in the ring’. This brings us right back to – consensual versus non-consensual violence.

No, no we cant test it like this. The only real test, is in a life or death self defence scenario. In this light the true testing of these arts is more than problematic.

If you are really keen you could start going to bars, pubs and clubs and start fights. I could give you a list of bars and a list of things you could say in various places that will kick off trouble, “all farmers are useless limp d#&*s and I will fight any or all of you” or go into the toughest bar and start slapping mens and womens bottoms and punch the first person who gets upset – hahaha that is a joke, but you get the point.

Do that every weekend for the next 3 years and your fighting skill will improve massively or you will be killed. I do not recommend this method.

Therefore, at your dojo or gym you really do need some form of pressure testing. You need a classmate or training partner to attack you with a ‘realistic’ type of attack, and you try to defend yourself with the techniques and principals that you were taught.

Does your martial art work when the pressure is on?

In this fashion, you can train different scenarios – being seated, seated in your car, a grab, someone throwing a haymaker, various martial arts techniques or even a surprise attack in an alley or doorway.

These are some simple techniques you can use to pressure test your martial art.

Sparing is the most common method of pressure testing in most dojo. And it is right here that sport martial arts have it over traditional arts…

The pressure test for sport martial arts is in the ring or on the mats, where getting knocked out or any other sort of injury is very real. Overcoming fear and pain is key to understanding your own psyche in these situations, and pushing through pain and pressure gives combat sport martial arts a step up in the right direction.

…but its not the full story for SELF-DEFENCE.

Conclusion

For me, any martial art is a good martial art.

We participate in the martial arts for different reasons. Some people just want fitness and health, some people want combat readiness. What ever your reasons for learning a martial art, there is a school out there for you that will fit your needs.

Combat sport martial arts has a setting for pressure testing its techniques and participants.

Traditional martial arts have a depth of understanding that many modern arts eschew.

Many martial arts and good martial science can get blown out of the water by the sheer force of brutality of a ‘real life’ situation. Some martial arts prepare you better than others.

Choose your art well – but what you really need to do is shut up and train.

Cheers Simon Tarrant

This is my first blog on this page, so you may need a bit of patience and please forgive the mistakes, I will cure them in the future.

Moreover when I write more blogs I will link them to this, and any other blog I write.