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For the Martial Artists

#21
gjbassist's hamstring tear brings up a good point: injuries are a matter of when, not if. I've been at it for coming up on two years and haven't been hurt too badly yet (a lot of what I study is about avoiding strains) but I once sprained my left knee and ankle simultaneously. The knee sprain wasn't severe but the ankle was and together, it was very painful.

You should also know that martial arts and self defense, though they overlap, are often not the same thing. Martial arts are disciplines that can take many years to learn and often have a sport element. Many are not very practical in actual combat. If your only concern is self defense, there are dedicated self defense classes to consider. These will be oriented towards practical matters that you might not get from a martial art and it won't take years to become proficient. This is why I asked exactly what your safety concerns are; it's easy to ask the wrong questions here.
 
#22
colcifer said:
gjbassist's hamstring tear brings up a good point: injuries are a matter of when, not if. I've been at it for coming up on two years and haven't been hurt too badly yet (a lot of what I study is about avoiding strains) but I once sprained my left knee and ankle simultaneously. The knee sprain wasn't severe but the ankle was and together, it was very painful.

You should also know that martial arts and self defense, though they overlap, are often not the same thing. Martial arts are disciplines that can take many years to learn and often have a sport element. Many are not very practical in actual combat. If your only concern is self defense, there are dedicated self defense classes to consider. These will be oriented towards practical matters that you might not get from a martial art and it won't take years to become proficient. This is why I asked exactly what your safety concerns are; it's easy to ask the wrong questions here.
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+1 to injuries

I train BJJ 2 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week and i can assure you you will get hurt.
It's just a question of where and how bad...
It is so worth it though!
 
#23
Re: injuries, I trained in TKD and other styles for almost 15 years, and the most serious injury I ever got was a broken toe. Which was entirely my fault. I honestly got more serious injuries from playing pick-up basketball (four torn ligaments in left ankle, broken nose, deep thigh bruise).
 
#24
MonetBass said:
Re: injuries, I trained in TKD and other styles for almost 15 years, and the most serious injury I ever got was a broken toe. Which was entirely my fault. I honestly got more serious injuries from playing pick-up basketball (four torn ligaments in left ankle, broken nose, deep thigh bruise).
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I would consider you very lucky then! I'm curious how old we're you when you were training?
 
#26
gjbassist said:
I would consider you very lucky then! I'm curious how old we're you when you were training?
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+1

were you one of those 12 years old TKD black belt or did you train at a grown up age?

A lot of it has to do with how often you train to!
If you train once or twice a week the odds of getting injured are a lot lower than if you train daily and compete.

I see it every day at the gym, everyone is always nursing some sort of injury, sprained knee or elbow, matt burns, busted finger or toe, cauli ear getting out of control, nothing mega serious usually, but always some little thing.
Of course, as soon as one thing gets fixed you hurt something else! And once in a while you get a proper injury that keeps you off the mats for a week or two.

In my experience if you train intensively it is impossible for your body to always be at 100%, you have to get used to being at 90% all the time and learn how to recover while training.
 
#27
BJJ is a sport as are many Martial Arts IMO. I trained for years in quite a few different art's and worked in some pretty rough places where I used some of my skills at time. In most cases a fight or conflict is over quickly, has no rules, is not a sport or place for you to practice "your art." It is an anything goes, grab any weapon and get as many people involved if possible. The bottom line is to walk away healthy no matter how.

In order to do this you need your legs ..foundation and never go to the ground. The other problem is BJJ has you in close contact with an attacker..another place you don't want to be...get distance. If a simple fight starts and then a weapon is drawn those legs are needed to defend yourself get cover, whatever and if needs be to run.

Any art I would be interested in or advise anyone to do would be practical and tactical Krav Maga would be the best in those you listed followed by good old boxing. There are so many trained MA who do not know how to throw a real punch block or evade a punch.
Watch the MMA and you will see where their boxing skills have evolved since MMA first started. There were BB masters getting knocked out with haymakers back then.
 
#28
gjbassist said:
I would consider you very lucky then! I'm curious how old we're you when you were training?
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I started at 16, got my gold belt, then stopped for a few years. Went back at 22, got to blue belt, then quit again. Finally picked it back up at 30 and got my black belt at 34, then 2nd degree at 37. Each time I was training two to three times a week, an hour and a half each day. I also sparred in many tournaments, and the worst injury as a result of those was a cut above my right eye (no stitches, and I won by default due to my opponent drawing blood). So yeah, I'm very lucky, but props to my schools and organization for training people properly to avoid injuries.
 
#29
colcifer said:
NEVER be on the ground. And BJJ guys will curse me for this criticism but it's true: you can only grapple with one guy at a time. If his buddy comes and kicks you in the back of the head, it's a fight ender. This applies to most martial arts to some extent as very few include multiple opponent work (and you'll NEVER study it if you go to a sport fighting place).
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I love BJJ but absolutely, you'd be a fool to take it to the ground on the street. Way too limited in mobility when you're tied up down there.

My advice, do Muay Thai. If you're dedicated you will become an elite athlete, and your reflexes and coordination will increase as well. Muay Thai is great for the street. You learn to defend against basically any attack thrown at you, and for things you haven't dealt with your reflexes will have you automatically dodging them. The real selling point in Muay Thai though is the clinch. Never fight without having a clinch game. Not unless you want to get knocked out, slammed on your head or even worse stabbed. Control the clinch on your terms.
 
#30
I don't know why people think BJJ means falling on your back and waiting for someone to jump into your guard!
It takes around 5 seconds to transition from a take down to a broken arm on someone who has no idea how to defend it...

Yes, you do not want to lie down waiting for someone to kick your head in, but this idea that BJJ is useless "on tha streetz" because of the broken glass, lava, and the 20 people trying to kick you in the head is just stupid!

Anybody who has trained BJJ intensively for a coupe years can handle someone who does not train, and if the guy has 5 friends (like most anti BJJ people like to argue) no amount of martial arts training will help you! Running will...

The best way to make sure you are safe on the street, is not to start fights. Which is pretty easy!
 
#31
carlos840 said:
I don't know why people think BJJ means falling on your back and waiting for someone to jump into your guard!
It takes around 5 seconds to transition from a take down to a broken arm on someone who has no idea how to defend it...

Yes, you do not want to lie down waiting for someone to kick your head in, but this idea that BJJ is useless "on tha streetz" because of the broken glass, lava, and the 20 people trying to kick you in the head is just stupid!

Anybody who has trained BJJ intensively for a coupe years can handle someone who does not train, and if the guy has 5 friends (like most anti BJJ people like to argue) no amount of martial arts training will help you! Running will...

The best way to make sure you are safe on the street, is not to start fights. Which is pretty easy!
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Im definitely not that naive to think that all BJJ is guard work. However, you're wrong about the 5 friends idea. With aggressive stand up and controlling the fight you can come out a lot less hurt than getting beat on the ground. BJJ is one of those things that it can't hurt to know, but isn't really a primary option for open ended combat terms. Obviously 1V1 no weapons it's essentially unstoppable.
 
#32
DaDrew2112 said:
Im definitely not that naive to think that all BJJ is guard work. However, you're wrong about the 5 friends idea. With aggressive stand up and controlling the fight you can come out a lot less hurt than getting beat on the ground. BJJ is one of those things that it can't hurt to know, but isn't really a primary option for open ended combat terms. Obviously 1V1 no weapons it's essentially unstoppable.
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Well we are going to have to disagree...
I doubt that even mike tyson could handle 5 people on his own!
And don't get me started on aikido and krav maga.
If 5 people want to F you up, they will.

Also, why is it that in this story the poor BJJ dude is always the one on his own and the bad guys are always 300?
 
#34
I did a quick search in your area. Looks like you have a Relson Gracie BJJ gym and then a place called Premier Martial Arts that teaches MMA, BJJ, Krav Maga. Both of those places are worth checking out, imo.

Avoid Aikido if you want something that actually works in a dangerous situation. It's fun to do as a social club activity though. Won't get hurt.

Someone mentioned Danzan Ryu JJ and Judo above. That's what I would recommend the most actually, but it's probably not in your area.
 
#35
like everyone has said....dont count on fighting on the ground and winning BJJ style. As you have said most people who start fights have more then one back up guy standing by to lend a hand if they are losing... which means they are gutless right. Muggers work in numbers to minimise there risk.

so the most you might get in is a few hits as a surprise move, to create some space for you to get out of there, thats what my strategy would be, no more then one minute, this minimises your risk.

Whatever art you pick, as you get more experianced training over the years you will realise what it to takes to cop a smack to the jaw and keep standing, so you tend to keep out of trouble and keep your body intact, rely on your mouth and feet more.

But when it comes down to it, i would learn some standup MT for fast hands and elbows strikes and understand what its like to get hit. This will also help you to understand how to slip a punch and counter, then keep doing your BJJ training for fun which is a great cardio workout. Put on a little beef in the local gym too which helps in the grapple.

Another thing is when you get older you tend to recognise dangerous situations too, when you go to the pub or party, if someone is acting agitated you give them some space. This could happen anywhere, dont be the victim by walking down some empty alley when you can take the long way around where there is more people etc
 
#36
Jarrett said:
I Avoid Aikido if you want something that actually works in a dangerous situation. It's fun to do as a social club activity though. Won't get hurt.
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What makes you think Aikido is not a valid defensive martial art? I'm curious because my daughter wants to study it.
Like I said before I studied Hapkido, which is similar to Aikido and I think it has practical applications.
 
#39
I study tang soo do, and also train with a former pro fighter here locally, working on many things from wrestling, submissons, sambo, kickboxing, etc.You can learn many different self defense techniques from several sources. I especially like kickboxing and ju-jitzu. And I've been a serious weightlifter for about 20 yrs. martial arts really has instilled confidence in myself, and I love the cardio benefits. I can't say I've ever needed to use any techniques but it's nice to know them. At 6"3 and 220 I've never had any problems w anyone. Lol. And yes I do have a concealed carry permit , just another thing to feel more secure in this crazy world. I do like the discipline involved in martial arts, I told my tang soo do instructor that learning a musical instrument is very similar in learning martial arts skills. You start off slowly, practicing fundamentals, and slowly evolve over time. The more quality practice and dedication will yield great results over time.
 
#40
I've done martial arts on and off, but somewhat constantly over the years (practiced mostly tae kwon do, grappling, capoeira, wushu and kickboxing). What I can tell you is this: no style is the very best to encompass all the necessary elements of self-defense, so if you want to be prepared for any circumstance try different ones and practice. Krav Maga is one of the few I think is more complete and can be applied earlier down the road. I'd like to try that one myself too.

As for tips, I realized over the years that the last thing you should do if you have to fight is to use upper kicks. Not only do you need a lot of elasticity and to practice them ad nauseum, you can easily be thrown down, lose your balance, or just miss and be an easy target for a second or two. If you can, you should try to use elbows and knees because they are hard, pointy, and can do some serious damage, plus you won't twist the wrist or something. If you should use kicks (for more power or greater reaching), best keep it low, targeting the backside or the sides of the knees. Or the groin. Remember, in a fight for your life there are no rules, so if you need to disable someone, better do it quickly.

But the best tip? As another poster say, better avoid fighting if at all possible. A sensei (well, sifu because I was learning northern mantis wushu at the time) once told me that even if you are the greatest martial artist on Earth, there is a very high possibility you will still get hurt in a fight. I believe him.
 

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