A slight withdrawal, proper stance and counter-attack. Jackie Chan, Jason Statham and especially the icon of self-defence and martial arts Chico, Aikido and many others - Steven Seagal. In our eyes it all looks too easy. Bad-tempered villains are angry with their miserable lives so they pick an innocent person in a pub who is obviously to blame. After a short exchange of a few curse words the hero stands up from the table and makes short work of them with his absolutely epic moves. Everybody could do this with a bit of practice, or not? Glasses and chairs fly in the air, but the hero stands tall and unharmed. Is it the same in the real life?
We bring you another episode of our self-defence series. While in the previous episodes we focused mainly on the theory of self-defence, ways to make self-defence as effective as possible, and in the third episode on the disproportionate self-defence which puts you on the other side of a lawsuit that may end in prison, this episode will be about something else. Self-defence is a set of knowledge, experience, skill, luck and many other factors that should play in your favour as a result. Except for this, you may also equip yourself with a pepper spray, expandable baton, stun gun, or even a firearm, you will also need something that cannot be bought. Because self-defence is about physical and mental readiness, which you need to acquire. And that's what we are going to talk about today.self
What are the options, how to prepare for a potential fight and how are these options effective in real life? This and much more. So, let's turn on your e-readers, turn off those notifications on your mobile phones and let's do this.
Art, sport or real-life practice?
Many people around me, and I’m sure around you too, think that karate, judo or other martial arts will prepare them for what’s out there. I will attend karate classes and then show all aggressors I’m the guy. I personally attended a Systema workshop where the instructor asked around if somebody did any martial art. One participant raised his hand. The instructor asked him to show the others. A whirlwind of blows, kicks, round kicks, and for me, in this case, utterly meaningless, unnecessarily strenuous and complex movements, was followed by one quick movement of the instructor, who completely disarmed the karate master in question. At that point I realized:
When it comes to self-defence, forget about martial arts and combat sports.
Why, are you asking? It's all about the purpose.
Martial arts
Martial arts focus comprehensively on the body and mind, they can prepare you for what happens during training and during a fight in a competition. This is all great. You gain a lot of experience and self-confidence. So, you will definitely get something under your skin, but is it really what you need? Mental readiness and self-confidence are very important in self-defence. However, martial arts focus on the complete improvement of the human body and its processes in order to bring them to perfection. Look for example at Kung Fu, Aikido and many other martial arts. Calming the mind, achieving spiritual perfection and many other goals. In reality, on seminars and competitions you will the face opponents in the same weight class with a similar experience level. You know that to counter this technique you need to do this, for other you need to do this and that. Here the rules are clear, some moves, kicks and punches are restricted. Following is a list of popular martial arts:
Judo
Originally a Japanese martial art founded by Kano Jigor. The foundations were laid between 1860 and 1870. Martial art works with energy the opponent uses for his attack. This energy is then used against him in the counter-attack technique. An interesting fact is that the first ever winner of a UFC championship was a Judo practitioner.
Aikido
Again, a Japanese martial art created around 1900. Like Judo, Aikido focuses on transferring the power of an opponent, then disarming him to end the attack. Techniques usually end with a bar on opponent's joint systems. It's founder Morihei Ueshiba says: "To be able to use Aikido properly, you must be willing to receive 99% of your opponent's attack and face death." I personally studied Aikido for several years and liked it very much.
Kung Fu
This iconic martial art comes from China. It is one of the oldest martial arts, which comes along with strong spiritual training and devotion. It was created in 2698 BC. There are thousands of forms of this martial art taught by Shaolin monks.
I purposely chose three martial arts that I think have the best systems of defence against a possible attack. But still applies what I mentioned earlier: They will not prepare you for what's out there.
Combat sports
Aside from martial arts, there is also something very different. Combat sports are designed in a slightly different way than martial arts. Here, self-defence is part of practice which is normally very hard. It tries to prepare you for situations which may occur. Of course, again within rules and in the ring, where no one will jump on you from around the corner. You know what the opponent wants to achieve. You know what techniques he can use, what comes next and how to defend against it. The goal is to win a tournament, a match following exact rules.
Boxing
Historically, boxing comes from England. In 1719, one fencing master came up with an idea to fence with bare hands. This is how the first school that lays the foundations of today's boxing was created. Boxing is practically a combat sport that works mostly with punches. An advantage is speed and the ability to read opponent's movements.
Kickboxing
Kickboxing combines the use of both arms and legs. It practically combines Eastern martial arts with the Western ones. It still focuses on stand-up fighting, not fighting on the ground. The term kickboxing comes from the 50's. Osama Nugochi, a boxing promoter, used this style as a variant of Muay Thai.
MMA
Probably the most complex combat sport to this day. It is a mixed martial art that combines a stand-up fight with the fight on the ground. At the same time, it’s an official combat sport with the least rules. That's why you can see hard punches on the ground, various bars on the joint systems and, above all, often a lot of blood.
The advantage of these sports is that you are able to withstand a blow, you know how to block it and you are familiar with your opponent's movements. However, again there are significant shortfalls that make combat sports only partial solutions to the self-defence mechanism. This brings us to our last stop, the most important one.
Combat systems
Please don’t take me wrong. I’m not trying to tell you that karate, judo, MMA or box are completely wrong and useless. I would not like to face a crowd of people who would like to show me the opposite in front of my house. Which is also why I’ll never tell you where I live. Just joking. I’m only trying to change the view of many people. The view which goes like this:
When I go to boxing classes, I will have fun and be prepared for what can await me on the street on the way home.
I can assure you, you WON’T. Self-defence is the fight with no rules, the fight where you have no idea what to expect from the opponent. Is he serious, or is he just so drunk that he can't do the math? Did he use drugs? Is there anyone else behind the corner who will ambush me from behind? Does he have a knife in his pocket? A used contaminated needle, a gun or a piece of glass? Simply put, nobody will prepare you for this. The adrenaline rush and the brain collapse when an attack comes that you didn't expect. The delay before the brain straightens up again and begins to function normally. What should I do before the attack and what to do after? Is it better to attack immediately, run away or try to deescalate the situation? These are things that can’t be taught. But you prepare for them. There are several options. One of the options are the combat systems.
Unlike martial arts and sports, combat systems do not focus on needless complex techniques and similar useless crap. In five seconds, when someone jumps on you from around the corner with a knife in his hand, you will not recall those 30 different Aikido techniques. The attack won’t be lead in the way you were shown in the classes either. See where I’m going? Moreover, the aggressor may not be your weight, he can be easily 40 kg heavier. You need to take all this into consideration.
The most well-known combat system is certainly Krav Maga. Originally an Israeli self-defence system used by military units. Many experts consider Krav Maga the most effective self-defence system in the world. It has no rules, you will learn to strike on the weak spots like eyes, groin, neck, etc. Exactly the way it's supposed to be, no rules. Just like the struggle for a bare life that self-defence is. It doesn't have to be just Krav Mag, there’s also the Russian Systema or the British Urban Combatives. The goal is always the same - to survive.
Unfortunately, even these systems will get you into the hands of instructors who can interpret the training in their own way. Remember that you should never focus on learning techniques, instead you should learn the principles. These must be as simple as possible so that everyone can do them first and foremost - correctly. Unnecessarily complex techniques and principles are difficult to utilize in a stressful situation.
So, what's better?
What do you think? What’s the best? Combat systems can best prepare you for what you may encounter out there. However, you need to keep in mind one important factor. If there are 30 students at a combat system class and only one instructor, it won’t give you what it should. You will have the chance to practice with your fellow students where each of them will use a different technique, which is great. But many people at the practice means less time with the instructor. That means, if it there’s a chance for it, have your personal instructor. For example, in a group of three to five people. Only then can he pay enough attention to you, take into account your weaknesses and strengths and make them a mechanism capable of the best and most effective self-defence. Such classes may be more expensive, but they are one of the best ways to get prepared.
Another option are various camps and seminars. Here you’ll meet completely different people who follow their own principles. Camps usually take several days. Oftentimes you will face various physical and mental challenges. What are these? This question is obviously correct, because you will depend on these two factors. Through model situations they can pass on you a lot of experience you can rely on.
What's the take away?
If you want to do boxing, please do it, if you choose judo, be my guest. I’m not telling you not to do it, I only want you to know you will not use much of these skills in the real life. In addition, it takes years to train your body and mind so that you can recall a technique in a self-defence scenario. A while ago, my Aikido trainer told me it took 5-7 years to get the techniques in your muscle memory. That's 5-7 years of intense practice. Of course, why not, but isn’t it more practical to learn a combat system which will prepare you better and faster? Even here it will take time, but you will know you do the best you can.
One way or the other, you will learn the most from a real-life situation. Once you have gone through a really stressful situation, it will make you stronger. Only the real self-defence can prepare you for other situations. You’ll become a completely new person in the field of self-defence once you have experienced the shock, fright and stress.
So? Remember my words. Do what you like, but the best way to prepare for self-defence are combat systems. Nevertheless, remember that fight is always the last option. Not in terms of law, the right of self-defence doesn’t require this, but in terms of logic. Deescalation and also what I said in the second episode of this series. Watch your surroundings. That's always the best self-defence. Finally, I’ll add one important thought:
Hoping for luck is not a strategy you should rely on.
This is my good bye, I’ll look forward to see you in the next episode. Then we’ll speak about the self-defence of women and children. So, take care and be careful out there. It's not a Canada here.
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- Lukáš Rojek
- This long-time outdoor and military enthusiast is interested in close combat weapons and firearms. This is accompanied by sports and learning new skills. His articles for our magazine cover both easy and complex topics. You can see him presenting our products on our YouTube channel.
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