Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

[James Y]

Karate's Rules vs Real Fight: Training Can Fail You!



It's true that you will act and react the way you train. If all you train is for a specific ruleset, that is how you're going to respond under stress. It will be very difficult/unlikely, if not impossible, to all of a sudden fight outside of any ruleset you've trained extensively for on demand, under the stress of a real situation. A lot of guys say they can, or easily could if it happened, but that is highly unlikely, unless they came from a background of actual street experience beforehand. Not only the skills, but more importantly, the mindset to use them, has to be ingrained for them to come out in a real, non-sporting situation.

Jim

[James Y]

"You Can't Outdraw a Knife at 21 Feet. Here's Proof."

EXCELLENT video.



Jim

[James Y]

"Why BJJ, MMA, Wrestling Could Get You Hurt ..."



I mostly agree with what he's saying in this video, but instead of saying you should NOT be confident in your martial arts abilities, I prefer to say you should not be OVER-confident in your abilities. Big difference. If you lack confidence in your abilities, you won't be able to apply anything; instead, you'll freeze up. This is true regardless of which martial art or combat sport you train in.

What the knife defense test that the video references fails to address is that in a high percentage of stabbings that occur in real life, the victim never even sees the knife. Not all knife attacks involve a crazy person screaming and running at you with the knife in full view.

I spoke to a guy who had worked as a bouncer years ago, who was later targeted outside of work by a disgruntled patron he had kicked out of a club some days earlier. The guy simply stabbed him as they walked past each other on the street one evening; he only found out who it was later on; his attacker had been wearing a jacket with a hood over his head in winter. Obviously, the bouncer had survived to tell the tale. And he was a highly-trained martial artist, with lots of real fighting experience.

*Edit to add:
Oops, I just remembered something. I think I mixed up two different people in that last story. IIRC, the guy who was stabbed while he and his attacker passed each other on the sidewalk had been a prison guard. The bouncer was someone else, in another, completely different incident.

Jim

[James Y]

Pencak Silat vs Tae Kwon Do

Good kick catching, and sweep takedown / throw. The second one is brutal:



Jim

[James Y]

"Save the Grappling for MMA Fights"

Extremely important info.

Some people may be put off by the tone of voice he uses, but I don't mind it at all. It's his unique way of presenting himself, at least in his videos, and I like his amplification.

From 6:30 to 7:50 he does a self-promotion you might want to skip over. There is important info after 7:50.



Jim

[James Y]

Scary Hatchet Attack Caught on Camera

Note: The actual contact and blood are NOT seen on camera here, and the victim survived.



I'm posting this here because it's important to see how quickly someone who is holding a weapon and intends harm can close the gap and inflict damage. And there wasn't much distance for him to close from the start.

We're only seeing a very short video clip of what happened. This makes me wonder what the guy filming's ex-wife (and child) actually told the ex-father-in-law (the man with the hatchet) about him, or something he allegedly did. There is almost always a reason for something like this to happen in a family dynamic.

Jim

[James Y]

"Does It Matter?"

Note: From 8:33 - 9:55 is a self-promotion you may want to skip over.



I agree 100% with this. This is one of THE major problems with our society now, especially in Western countries. Criminals are coddled and are NOT being held accountable to the degree that law-abiding citizens are, and far more people and governments are supportive of criminals' rights, and are supportive of punishing any law-abiding citizens who have the audacity to protect themselves, and/or their loved ones. This is 100% being purposely orchestrated.

Jim

[James Y]

Trick to Triple Wrist Strength / Karate



This is the way I was taught to make a fist, for the same reason that the late, great Joe Lewis explained here.

Jim

[Naperville]

"Does It Matter?"

Note: From 8:33 - 9:55 is a self-promotion you may want to skip over.



I agree 100% with this. This is one of THE major problems with our society now, especially in Western countries. Criminals are coddled and are NOT being held accountable to the degree that law-abiding citizens are, and far more people and governments are supportive of criminals' rights, and are supportive of punishing any law-abiding citizens who have the audacity to protect themselves, and/or their loved ones. This is 100% being purposely orchestrated.

Jim

I agree with Vee.

Nobody really knows anyone here. It's been a long road for me. Nobody knows the details on how anyone grew up, the threats and beatings they endured for many years, every day 24x7x365 every time they left the home at the hands of thugs, nobody knows why anyone studies martial arts, or why they refuse to now help. A few comments here and there are not a detailed summary.

Still interested in martial arts, and never was interested in fighting, just in ending fights as quickly as possible.

It's like Vee said, it's not the bad guys you worry about, it's the legal system.

[Ankerson]

"You Can't Outdraw a Knife at 21 Feet. Here's Proof."

EXCELLENT video.



Jim

[James Y]

"Does It Matter?"

Note: From 8:33 - 9:55 is a self-promotion you may want to skip over.



I agree 100% with this. This is one of THE major problems with our society now, especially in Western countries. Criminals are coddled and are NOT being held accountable to the degree that law-abiding citizens are, and far more people and governments are supportive of criminals' rights, and are supportive of punishing any law-abiding citizens who have the audacity to protect themselves, and/or their loved ones. This is 100% being purposely orchestrated.

Jim

I agree with Vee.

Nobody really knows anyone here. It's been a long road for me. Nobody knows the details on how anyone grew up, the threats and beatings they endured for many years, every day 24x7x365 every time they left the home at the hands of thugs, nobody knows why anyone studies martial arts, or why they refuse to now help. A few comments here and there are not a detailed summary.

Still interested in martial arts, and never was interested in fighting, just in ending fights as quickly as possible.

It's like Vee said, it's not the bad guys you worry about, it's the legal system.

There are a lot of people who, when they see one person attacking an innocent person for no reason, do nothing; but when the innocent person decides to fight back by defending himself, they'll step in and stop him, saying, "Hey! Take it easy! Stop!"

Jim

[James Y]

"You Can't Outdraw a Knife at 21 Feet. Here's Proof."

EXCELLENT video.



Jim

Nice.

Jim

[James Y]

There is an Easier Way - Keep It Simple



Jim

[VashHash]

This guy goes around the world seeking different martial arts. I do enjoy how the practitioner states the obvious about forms. He approaches fighting with reflexes and not strict forms. I think this is the biggest misconception about martial arts in general. Unfortunately some practitioners never actually fight or spar with contact. They try to use strict form as fighting techniques.

[James Y]

This guy goes around the world seeking different martial arts. I do enjoy how the practitioner states the obvious about forms. He approaches fighting with reflexes and not strict forms. I think this is the biggest misconception about martial arts in general. Unfortunately some practitioners never actually fight or spar with contact. They try to use strict form as fighting techniques.

Yes. Thanks for posting.

I've seen An Jianqiu in videos going back a decade or so. He is the real deal, and that is real Kung Fu (Gongfu). His knowledge and skill remind me of some of my Chinese martial arts teachers; notably, my second Tanglang Quan (Mantis Fist) teacher in Taiwan, and my Choy Lee Fut sifu here in the US. As well as many other Kung Fu teachers and high-level practitioners I've had the pleasure to have met. It is rare to encounter practitioners of that level of knowledge and skill, but when you do, you know it.

The concept behind forms is not to take the postures and sequences literally. They are methods of training and shaping your body and mind to the style of movement; but when sparring (and especially when real fighting), you never take the form literally. The forms are only like textbooks, with the movements practiced in an idealized manner, to train full range of motion, body/breath connection, and whole-body movement, coordination, and power generation. What is important are the IDEAS and concepts that it represents, and NOT the superficial appearance of the form itself. And one technique can have multiple variations in application, depending on the circumstances, positioning, openings available, etc.

In general, form practice should only be one part of the overall training. It should not be the main focus. When it becomes the main (or sole) focus, that is how you get Kung Fu guys who lack the concepts of what it is they are practicing, and who cannot fight. Real traditional Chinese martial arts lack the flashiness of Chinese martial performing arts, such as modern Wushu, from which all practical applications were purposely removed, in favor of extreme levels of difficulty, nearly identical to gymnastics.

My Lung Ying (Dragon Shape) sifu, whom I trained with for awhile before I lived in Taiwan, used to say, "The form is dead. Your Gongfu (skill) only becomes alive when you have developed the ability to apply it freely and spontaneously in sparring / fighting."

Jim


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[James Y]

Sumo Footage

I believe this footage was taken in 1939.



Jim

[Naperville]

"Does It Matter?"

Note: From 8:33 - 9:55 is a self-promotion you may want to skip over.



I agree 100% with this. This is one of THE major problems with our society now, especially in Western countries. Criminals are coddled and are NOT being held accountable to the degree that law-abiding citizens are, and far more people and governments are supportive of criminals' rights, and are supportive of punishing any law-abiding citizens who have the audacity to protect themselves, and/or their loved ones. This is 100% being purposely orchestrated.

Jim

I agree with Vee.

Nobody really knows anyone here. It's been a long road for me. Nobody knows the details on how anyone grew up, the threats and beatings they endured for many years, every day 24x7x365 every time they left the home at the hands of thugs, nobody knows why anyone studies martial arts, or why they refuse to now help. A few comments here and there are not a detailed summary.

Still interested in martial arts, and never was interested in fighting, just in ending fights as quickly as possible.

It's like Vee said, it's not the bad guys you worry about, it's the legal system.

There are a lot of people who, when they see one person attacking an innocent person for no reason, do nothing; but when the innocent person decides to fight back by defending himself, they'll step in and stop him, saying, "Hey! Take it easy! Stop!"

Jim

I have a few situations where that happened, and NO I am not going to talk about them. I'd incriminate myself. It's a time when you find out a lot about people and whether they walk the talk. Most of them talk a line but they don't mean what they say. They are soft and full of baloney.

If it's a clean disruption/kill of a perp, I say give them a written award, $1000+, and a white box of ammo as a gesture that acting for the benefit of the greater society is expected and desirable.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL VIGILANTES

[Naperville]

This guy goes around the world seeking different martial arts. I do enjoy how the practitioner states the obvious about forms. He approaches fighting with reflexes and not strict forms. I think this is the biggest misconception about martial arts in general. Unfortunately some practitioners never actually fight or spar with contact. They try to use strict form as fighting techniques.

I like the idea of traveling around and learning different styles.

When we first moved in where I live there was a very stout and strong steel jungle-gym in the backyard and I used to practice my blocks on it.

Sparring should include contact.

[James Y]

"If You Are Training For Self-Defense Like This, You Are Training Wrong! Listen Up."



Sayf Carman is 100% correct on this. It's especially notable that he brings up the point that most people who train in martial arts are TRAINING TO THEIR YOUTH. This is something I don't think I've seen anybody, on any other martial arts channel, ever even mention. Possibly one other channel has, but certainly not this meticulously.

And when you read most comments under martial arts videos on YouTube, when most criticize what's being presented in the video, they always say, "I would do ..." "I would just run away and leave the attacker(s) in the dust." "I would just take them to the ground and ground n pound 'em." "I'll use my Parkour skills to escape by jumping over walls." Etc., etc.

IMO, for self-defense, it's crucial to have developed a skill-set that is simple, effective, and can be done regardless of age. When I was young, I did train to my youth a lot; but I also understood the need to develop skills that I'd be able to use for self-defense, regardless of age or life circumstances, that are NOT a part of competitive sport fighting, or artistic application demonstrations. Nowadays, about 98% of what I focus on in my own practice are those very aspects.

Jim

[James Y]

Don't Grapple in the Crowd



Jim