Martial Arts Experiences Discussion Thread

[Naperville]

"You Should Never Grapple Against Someone with a Knife"



Jim

I've seen thousands of escrima, arnis and kali videos. The best videos that I have seen that deal with knife attacks are from the Dog Brothers. It looks like they may have updated their videos since I purchased DVDs. I'll have to watch the new content soon, but this is the material if you have to deal with a knife attack.

Everyone should watch these videos. Especially those in the military security or police force.

https://dogbrothers.gumroad.com/l/dlo-01?layout=profile

https://dogbrothers.gumroad.com/l/zlfp?layout=profile

https://dogbrothers.gumroad.com/l/VfrD?layout=profile

https://dogbrothers.gumroad.com/l/dlo4?layout=profile


Other Dog Brothers Videos
https://dogbrothers.gumroad.com/

Dog Brothers' Website
https://dogbrothers.com/

[James Y]

How to Use Your Forearm as a Tool!



Excellent material.

Decades ago, I became aware that the Karate upward block (Age Uke) was originally an offensive strike to the neck, under the chin, or under the jawline, and was never intended as a block against a straight punch to the face, as it's commonly taught. Someone in the comments section under this video wisely pointed that out.

In fact, all of the common basic "blocks" taught in most modern Karate, Tae KwonDo, etc., were originally offensive strikes. A lot of things that were originally highly effective skills were watered down, and/or purposely taught incorrectly to the masses. That is why much of "traditional" martial arts are ineffective in actual, non-compliant fighting. Whereas in their original forms and meanings, when properly trained and used as intended, those skills were originally highly effective, and in many instances, might be construed as "excessive force."

A true martial artist must actually study and deconstruct what they've learned, to rediscover the original intended meanings and applications of certain "basic" skills that have been misinterpreted, forgotten, or intentionally hidden. Doing that, you will often find a treasure trove of practical skills that are fully adaptable to modern combative situations.

Jim

[SpydieCollector]

I've been interested in MA since 7. Started with mum taking me to local youth club. One day the youth organisers put on a kickboxing display for us kids. It led to a lot of after school mass fights where we all wanted to be Bruce Lee.

Years later the films started hitting the local cinemas, Karate Kid and the like. Further puling me in. By 16 I was interested in karate with a like minded mate. He was doing full contact club training bouts where he'd end up black and blue and often his face looked like a misshapen potato I don't think it did him much good as shortly after, his mum stopped him from going.

It went on through the years. Never lost interest. I think the best parts of martial arts are the incredible meditative states you can reach during training, and at times I've often felt euphoric. Pure magic.

I'd encourage anyone with even the slightest interest in martial arts to pursue it. For there be magic there. Had an argument with your wife? Get training and half an hour later you won't even be thinking about her. Forget all your problems, they go away in training.

No Retreat No Surrender. Best cheesy king fu movie ever.

[SpydieCollector]

"You Should Never Grapple Against Someone with a Knife"



Jim

I live in a very violent city and you can buy these arm protectors off amazon so if someone gives you a random slash because they're fed up with the rain, or something equally stupid, you can fend off the slash with this not cool at all looking arm guard.

Also best cover it up with a coat unless you want to look like you raided Madonna's wardrobe.

[James Y]

"You Should Never Grapple Against Someone with a Knife"



Jim

I live in a very violent city and you can buy these arm protectors off amazon so if someone gives you a random slash because they're fed up with the rain, or something equally stupid, you can fend off the slash with this not cool at all looking arm guard.

Also best cover it up with a coat unless you want to look like you raided Madonna's wardrobe.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences, SpydieCollector!

Yes, martial arts can act as a valve to release pent-up "steam" when you've had a rough day, or whatever it may be.

Interesting arm guards, though except in winter, it's mostly too warm to wear long sleeves where I am. I wouldn't be surprised if, in some locales, they were illegal. After all, we can't have law-abiding citizens fending off attacks by poor, misunderstood people.

No Retreat, No Surrender is probably the only movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in it that I like.

Jim

[James Y]

Did You Spot the Weapon in this Fight?



There's no way to tell if "Blue Jeans" has had training in martial arts, or boxing, or if he came from a street fighting background (or any combination of those things), but it's very clear that this wasn't his first go-round. He's very street savvy.

I actually saw the whole video on another channel years ago. "Blue Jeans" had actually been telling "Khaki" to sit down and relax, but "Khaki" clearly wanted to start trouble. "Blue Jeans" finished it before it even got started.

Jim

[SpydieCollector]

"You Should Never Grapple Against Someone with a Knife"



Jim

I live in a very violent city and you can buy these arm protectors off amazon so if someone gives you a random slash because they're fed up with the rain, or something equally stupid, you can fend off the slash with this not cool at all looking arm guard.

Also best cover it up with a coat unless you want to look like you raided Madonna's wardrobe.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences, SpydieCollector!

Yes, martial arts can act as a valve to release pent-up "steam" when you've had a rough day, or whatever it may be.

Interesting arm guards, though except in winter, it's mostly too warm to wear long sleeves where I am. I wouldn't be surprised if, in some locales, they were illegal. After all, we can't have law-abiding citizens fending off attacks by poor, misunderstood people.

No Retreat, No Surrender is probably the only movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in it that I like.

Jim

I used to think a rain coat and umbrella was enough. Now I wonder if I need a stab vest to go out for a sandwich. It's like watching a Lethal weapon movie live sometimes

Long video, action starts an hour in. I do my shopping there

[James Y]

"You Should Never Grapple Against Someone with a Knife"



Jim

I live in a very violent city and you can buy these arm protectors off amazon so if someone gives you a random slash because they're fed up with the rain, or something equally stupid, you can fend off the slash with this not cool at all looking arm guard.

Also best cover it up with a coat unless you want to look like you raided Madonna's wardrobe.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences, SpydieCollector!

Yes, martial arts can act as a valve to release pent-up "steam" when you've had a rough day, or whatever it may be.

Interesting arm guards, though except in winter, it's mostly too warm to wear long sleeves where I am. I wouldn't be surprised if, in some locales, they were illegal. After all, we can't have law-abiding citizens fending off attacks by poor, misunderstood people.

No Retreat, No Surrender is probably the only movie with Jean-Claude Van Damme in it that I like.

Jim

I used to think a rain coat and umbrella was enough. Now I wonder if I need a stab vest to go out for a sandwich. It's like watching a Lethal weapon movie live sometimes

Long video, action starts an hour in. I do my shopping there

I stay away from crowds nowadays. I never liked crowds anyways, though when I spent my 20s in Taiwan, crowds were almost everywhere during the daytime. I never liked being around swarms of people. At best, it's annoying. At worst, it's ... well, I needn't say more. People tend to behave stupider than normal in crowds.

Jim

[SpydieCollector]

I stay away from crowds nowadays. I never liked crowds anyways, though when I spent my 20s in Taiwan, crowds were almost everywhere during the daytime. I never liked being around swarms of people. At best, it's annoying. At worst, it's ... well, I needn't say more. People tend to behave stupider than normal in crowds.

Jim

I live in an inner city and crowd avoidance is impossible for me day to day. Home sweet home lol. Despite the lunatics.

And you are right. Crowd mentality is outright dangerous sometimes.

[SpydieCollector]

Duplicare post

Still hitting the comment button instead of edit.

I need training wheels on this forum lol.

[James Y]

"Look Out for the Set-Up"



Jim

[James Y]

Weightlifting 87-Year-Old Fights Off People Trying to Steal His Rolex



I really hope that the woman who tried to steal his warch is in a lot of pain.

Jim

[James Y]

Real Self-Defense (Situational Awareness)



Jim

[Naperville]

Real Self-Defense (Situational Awareness)



Jim

Excellent use of a skateboard. Shocked that he could pull that off given how heavy a skateboard is.

Maybe what I need is a skateboard for self defense. I had quite a few back in the 70's and 80's.

[Naperville]

BREAKING NEWS: Knife attack takes out bodybuilder. Girlfriend is the perp!

https://nypost.com/2025/09/08/world-new ... iend-cops/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Valter+de+Vargas+Aita

[James Y]

BREAKING NEWS: Knife attack takes out bodybuilder. Girlfriend is the perp!

https://nypost.com/2025/09/08/world-new ... iend-cops/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Valter+de+Vargas+Aita

Thanks for sharing that.

Don't underestimate any person armed with a knife, including (or especially) someone who is smaller and weaker. If they are determined, they are dangerous, regardless if they have any special knife martial arts, or combat training, or not. I remember some well-known combatives trainer said something like, "Give an untrained but determined person a knife, and they're an automatic 10th-degree black belt."

Jim

[James Y]

Sneaky Calf Kick Counter



The question is asked at the end, "Is it dirty" to counter a leg kick with an oblique kick to the kicker's supporting leg? That this question is asked at all is funny, because not too long ago in the past, ANY type of kicking in a fight was considered "dirty." The typical Thai-style round kick to the thigh or calf would have been called "dirty" and "sneaky."

If you want to know what are the most potentially damaging strikes for actual self-defense, look at what sport fighters, fight fans, pundits, etc., consider dirty, or some call to be banned. With an oblique kick, there is no windup; it comes straight into the target, and all that is required is that the opponent's leg/knee that you're kicking has most or all of his weight on it.

Jim

[cabfrank]

It seems odd that it could be considered dirty to kick someone who is kicking you. I suppose if it is too dangerous for the sport though.

[James Y]

It seems odd that it could be considered dirty to kick someone who is kicking you. I suppose if it is too dangerous for the sport though.

Yeah, I get that the oblique kick is potentially far more damaging than the Thai round kick to the thigh/calf. But (apparently) they haven't banned it yet. I don't know, maybe they have since then; I don't really watch MMA anymore; I only occasionally watch some clips.

The comparison between the two kicks is that while they both require considerable training to become natural, ingrained actions, the oblique kick does not require the level of conditioning to apply effectively as the Thai-style round kick. Without that constant, proper conditioning, using that low roundhouse kick risks breaking your own shin if it's blocked or lands wrong. There are numerous examples of MMA fighters who suffered gruesome breaks to their lower leg bones while Thai kicking to the opponent's leg. It's possible that most of the fighters in question were using the Thai kicks without undergoing the same level of leg conditioning that a real, traditional Muay Thai fighter, or a high-level Kyokushin Karate fighter does.

OTOH,the oblique kick will be effective without requiring the constant extreme shin/lower leg conditioning that a Muay Thai-style round kick requires. Which also means that it is more practical as one's body ages and can no longer maintain the extreme shin conditioning that Muay Thai round kicks require.

Yes, the oblique kick to the knee is very dangerous. I've seen it happen in person. And in my own experience, I was oblique kicked, not on the knee but on my shinbone, which caused my lower leg to swell like a grapefruit (I now suspect that I probably got an undiagnosed hairline fracture). And my opponent had used the 'pendulum-style' delivery; swinging it straight-legged into my shin, without first bending his knee before thrusting the kick. The latter type of delivery is by far more destructive, so I was fortunate that he straight-legged it. That happened back in the late 1980s.

Jim

[James Y]

"You Must Be Violent"



Jim